If you liked the Daye pick "You Are Not Alone"

By Neal Ruhl

Real Deal Bloggin’ Dirty…

Let me set this straight right off the bat…for all of those people who said the Pistons dropped the ball by not drafting Ty Lawson (and judging by the calls into local sports radio, there are a lot of you), the fact that the Denver Nuggets traded to get Lawson to BACK UP Chauncey Billups tells you all you needed to know about him.

This happens with every draft all the time. Just because you saw Ty Lawson and Dejuan Blair and everyone else in the NCAA Tournament, you think you have some inkling about how good that player is because you saw him. Before you bash Joe Dumars's selection of Austin Daye with the 15th pick in the NBA Draft Thursday night, I will ask you this question: who did you want them to take?

Let me make this statement and please try to wrap your head around this: Ty Lawson and Will Bynum are the same player in the NBA. They are both borderline, fringe players that are far from the elite. The NBA Draft is always the same. Once you get past the top four or five picks, the players are all pretty much the same and how good they are depends on the situation they are dropped into.

I agree in some fashion with some of the people that criticize the Daye pick from the standpoint he is 6-10 and only 190 pounds, but he does have a skill set that includes being able to make shots. Is he a project? Yes. Was there anything better? Right now, I would say no.

The “Real Deal”
I wanted to take a minute to speak on the passing of pop icon Michael Jackson. I was, and still am, a big fan of his music. Would I want him to babysit my children? No way. Do I like it when his songs come on at a wedding? Absolutely.

The “Real Deal” is this: you can say whatever you want about his character and all of that, but watching his videos over the last 24 hours, I am reminded about all he did for hunger in Africa. I always see those images and feel bad and think about how I should help do something about it. But then I forget about it and go about my day. Jackson actually did something about it. I guess in some strange way, I could learn a lesson in character from him and his life, as strange as that sounds.

How about you? Be honest…


You can hear more of my opinions on the Pistons and other Detroit area sports teams, on "The Real Deal on Sports" Thursdays from 11 to 1 pm on 88.3 fm Auburn Hills and streaming live at WXOU.ORG.

Tigers caught between rock and a "perm" place…

Real Deal Bloggin Dirty
By Neal Ruhl

Mike Illitch or "The Perm" as I like to call him, may be behind Magglios indefinite benching.


Tiger’s outfielder and 2007 AL Batting Champion Magglio Ordonez was benched “indefinitely” yesterday by the Detroit Tigers.

By now, we all know the deal with Magglio Ordonez and the contract, and if you don’t, then one last time, here are the details of the deal (courtesy of Cot’s Contracts) ; 5 years/$75M (2005-09), plus 2010 & 2011 club options that breaks down as follows...

Signed by Detroit as a free agent 2005
* $6M signing bonus (due 11/05, not guaranteed)
* 05:$6M, 06:$15M, 07:$12M, 08:$15M, 09:$18M, 10:$18M club option ($3M buyout), 11:$15M club option (no buyout)
* Tigers may void contract after 2005 if Ordonez spends 25 or more days on disabled list in 2005 with recurrence of pre-existing left knee injury
* $3M annually deferred from 2008-11 salaries at 1% interest
* No trade protection

2010 option guaranteed at $18M if Ordonez has:
* 135 starts or 540 PAs in 2009, or
* 270 starts or 1,080 PAs in 2008-09
* 2011 option guaranteed at $15M if Ordonez has:
* 135 starts or 540 PAs in 2010, or
* 270 starts or 1,080 PAs in 2009-10

Obviously, the important numbers are the option related 2010 and 2011 seasons. As of today, Ordonez sits 324 AB’s away from accelerating the 2010 option that would pay him an absurd $18 million ($2 million more than Albert Pujols will make in 2010!).
I like Magglio, but this is just a ridiculous number that the Tigers simply cannot afford to stomach for a guy with two home runs. At the same time, this contract presents an incredible dichotomy for the Tigers to deal with.

If they do stop Magglio from reaching these incentives, they effectively kill their chances of obtaining top level free agents. What prime time player is going to want to come to Detroit where the rug could be pulled out from under them at any time?

Also, given the Tigers spending philosophy from last offseason that saw them lose some $30 million in salary and then replace that with the mighty Adam Everett and his robust $1 million deal, what guarantee is there the Tigers would even use that money to get anyone better? Given the fact the Mike Illitch just the other day said “we are going to do whatever we’ve got to do”, is getting rid of the second best hitter on your team doing whatever you got to do? How does Ryan Raburn in a pennant push sound?

The “Real Deal” is this: This was a good contract for the Tigers to take on at the time they did. Dave Dombrowski wrote in some protection for the Tigers with these options and I don’t have a problem if they cut Maggs before the option kicks in.
All this being said, if the Tigers do cut him and don’t replace that money with a player the caliber of a $15-$18 million per year guy, while at the same time ruining your rep in the free agent community, then I guess this was just a bush league move by a bush league organization.

I guess 'The Perm' was just giving lip service when he said “we are going to do whatever we’ve got to do.”




You can hear more of my opinions on the Tigers and other Detroit area sports teams, on "The Real Deal on Sports" Thursdays from 11 to 1 pm on 88.3 fm Auburn Hills and streaming live at WXOU.ORG.

If you still win games by scoring runs, I don't like the Tigers chances...

By Kyle Bauer, Sports Director

The Tigers early first place run of 2009 has nowhere near felt the magic of 2006. Because like the like the number '09 by comparison this team has been upside down.

How is a team with a two game lead in mid-June, generated no buzz? You would think its 2005 again with how flat the coverage has been.

It could be attributed to the Red Wings run. More so I believe its that even the "slapiest" fan can see right through this ball club. Not too many for see the Tigers anywhere near first come October.

There are reasons to be excited about this team though.

Justin Verlander and Edwin Jackson are both putting on all-star displays. Jackson ranks third in the MLB with a 2.39 era and fourth in whip at 1.06. Verlander is coming down off of one of the most dominant stretches in Tigers history. He went 10 starts without a loss and leads the MLB in K's with 110.

Then theres Rick Porcello. The 20 year old rookie who had a May which seen him go 5-0 with an era around 1.20.

These top three starters are well capable of creating electricity that can power a candle lit city such as Detroit. But the power outage at the plate has rendered Tigers optimism in the dark.


Seven games in a row and counting have seen the Tigers score three runs or less. In the midst of Interleague play, Detroit will continue to struggle to score runs without the luxury of a DH batting four times a game, in National League parks. Not that this team looks much better with a DH.

Last year, fans rallied around the Toledo call-ups. Ryan Raburn, Clete Thomas, Jeff Larrish and "insert leaft fielder here" generated a spark in what was a dismal season.
This year, we are seeing why they were simply call-ups and not trade bait or willing everyday players. With injuries to Miguel Cabrera, Carlos Guillen and a struggling Magglio Ordonez, those same cast of characters have been called upon and exposed for the minor leaguers that they are.

Without a slugging Ordonez, .300 hitting Polanco, then healthy Cabrera and Guillen, you've seen Brandon Inge become the Tigers most consistent offensive threat. That scares the hell out of me and it should scare the hell out of you too.

The answer could be rather unconventional. With the current make-up of this ball club, offense could be found in once again reshuffling the order. And no, I'm not talking about Don Kelly leading off. Here's my ideal line up with the DH.


1. Granderson- We've all heard it before. Yeah yeah hes not a lead off hitter. Well whatever, he seems comfortable there and an occasional lead off homer or extra base hit doesn't hurt.

2. Maggs- This is the unconventional part. His power is gone, he can still get on base at a .347 clip and has a .277 avg. The key is that the Tigers need someone on base. While Maggs is way slow for the 2 spot, he can do what Polanco used to be able to do and single himself on.

3. Cabrera- While hes gripping with a hamstring injury, he remains the teams best hitter and on base threat. He can sustain rallies and drive the ball, not with home run power right now but just enough to move runners.

4. Inge- This is another peculiar call of mine but no matter what the order, there will be holes in the lineup. True Inge is a windmill, he can still hit with power and as much power as anyone on the team. Hes come up with some timely hits this season and while I'm scared of him going into a major slump that will knock his avg. done to an expected .240 range, hes still been consistent.

5. Thames- Much of what I said for Inge can be said for Marcus. Hes another strikeout machine. Putting him in the line up everyday would likely up that. Still hes hitting well since returning and I would ride that out. He tore up the NL last year, hitting home runs in five straight games at one point, so when he gets back to playing AL teams regularly, that may be another circumstance that finds him struggling.

6. Polanco- Whatever Polanco's deal is, I would rather have him work it out away from his typical spot in the line up. Sixth still bares some importance but it's less pressure. Such as you expect Inge's avg. to fall, you expect Polanco's to rise. Poly dosent draw walks, so his recent lack of contact creates a deeper impact when he's at the top of the line up.

7. "Insert left fielder here"- Whoever this may be, I believe 7th and 8th in the order are spots that can be sacrificed to a poor hitter. Every once in a while Raburn or Anderson can deliver a surprise big hit, but there is no need for them to be counted on, such as them at the top end of the order.

8. Laird/Sardinha- Both are trainwrecks at the plate. I have to believe Laird will snap out of this at some point. There has to be at least a .250 hitter in there some where. At this point I would love that.

9. "Everetago"- Adam Everett is coming back down to earth from his hot start. If he can pull some more unexpected magic, its a bonus at the bottom of the order. Ramon Santiago has been hitting well most nights. He may get a substantial amount of playing time if this continues. Hes batted as high as second some nights and I don't mind that necessarily but I would rather be safe and play him down in the order.


Another idea could be to swap Inge and Maggs. Inge has speed for a second hitter with some pop and is second on the team with a surprise .367 obp. I believe it would be more productive to get him in the middle of the order to utilize his power though.

Either way there's holes and holes and holes. My figuring is that this is a lineup to try in the home stand against the Brewers and Cubs to see how it goes. If it continues to flounder, the debate on whether to keep or cut Maggs will likely be more clear and the Tigers can either try to improve through trade or bringing up top pro ready prospect Wilken Ramirez (http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=ramire002wil.)
Also by the All-Star break, Cabrera may be healed up and the Tigers will also know Carlos Guillen's fate in regards to his bum shoulder.

The simple answer could lie within the four mentioned players. Maggs picks up the inexplicable power loss, Cabrera becomes 100% and a miracle happens and Guillen returns. I am not sure why it hasn't been theorized that Ramirez should be brought up soon and play left field or have him play right with Ordonez DHing. My only guess is that Wilken only has two minor league options left and the Tigers want to be conservative. Any one of those simple solutions could be the difference, but they're lofty and only simple in fan blogs and on paper.

The pitching south of Rick Porcello is another bleak situation. My only comment at the moment is the Tigers bullpen is fine. Not strong, but the lesser of major concerns. Zach Miner and Alfredo Figaro (http://www.baseballamerica.com/statistics/players/cards/?pl_id=83029) should be considered as interim fourth and fifth starters.



I could go on about the Tigers issues forever. Unfortunately the positives only went on about as long as a Dontrelle Willis start.

You can hear more of my opinions on the Tigers and other Detroit area sports in this blog but also every Thursday on The Real Deal on Sports with Neal Ruhl and Mike Parsons, 11 to 1 pm on 88.3 fm Auburn Hills and streaming live online at WXOU.ORG.

Tuesday Show Red Wings game 3

live 2-4pm on www.wxou.org or 88.3fm with Paul Short and Corey Hagood.

We Preview game 3 as the Red Wings lead the Stanley Cup Finals 2-0.
The stars have yet to shine for the Wings but the role players are we discuss.

Is/can Chris Bosh become a Detroit Piston we discuss.

Tigers-Red Sox to...