What to do about the Tigers

This has been the most disappointing Tigers season in recent memory. It's been pretty much the antithesis of the magical 2006 "rise from the ashes" season that they put together. Pretty much everyone in the country figured they would have no trouble scoring runs, and the bullpen would be a problem. Well it turned out that at some point in the season every part of the team failed miserably, and wholesale changes are in order. But...if they make the right moves, inject youth into the right spots, 2009 could be a contending season.

My recommendations for the positions:

C: This position was in a ton of upheaval this year. Pudge started the year there, and late in pre-season Brandon Inge got moved to the backup spot. Once Pudge was traded, Inge took it over. I like Inge, but his hitting has been pretty dismal this year, and it was never very good to begin with. That being said, there isn't a lot on the market in the position, and I am willing to give Inge a partial pass due to the off-season upheaval he underwent, along with his rotating positions, so I say that he starts 2009 as the catcher. We really need to grab a suitable backup, because Dane Sardinha might be the worst hitter I have ever seen. Even a poor mans Brandon Inge at the plate would be better than what we are sending up there.

1B: Miguel Cabrera is a stud, no question, even in a down year (by the incredible standards he has created for himself). But the bottom line is that he is getting too fat, and at 25 if he keeps this up, he will look like Cecil Fielder. His 1B defense is a little rough/lazy, but this is his first year at the position and I expect him to improve.

2B: Most people love Placido Polanco, and point to his high average the last few years. He also is one of the few players who can hit to the opposite field with the intention of moving the runners. But because of the reasons listed above, he is one of the few marketable commodities we have left. His high average tends to be somewhat empty, and his range at 2B is incredibly lacking. Because of that, I wouldn't mind trading him if we can get some value for him, but I fully expect us to hang on to him.

3B: Carlos Guillen is another that played musical positions. Hmmm...no wonder the team had some struggles, 3/5 of the infield moved to new positions this year, and even those roles weren't well defined until several months into the season. I'm not sure what to do with him, he can still hit, but he has some significant injury issues, and his defense can go from good to piss-poor. I think we are stuck with him here. The main problem is that he probably needs to DH, but I don't believe he hits for enough power to DH, and we have so many other potential DH's on this roster.

SS: What to do with Edgar Renteria....he has pretty much looked indifferent to me the whole season, both at bat and in the field. I don't believe Ramon Santiago is more than a utility player. Renteria had a terrible season 2 years ago in Boston, only to follow it up with a career year in Atlanta. I'm willing to give Renteria one more year to figure things out.

LF: What a mess. My opinion is to trade Marcus Thames for anything we can get (I know, a lot of people love him). He hits 20+ HR's, but they are in spurts, and then he goes through a month without hitting a damn thing. Inject Matt Joyce or Clete Thomas into this position.

CF: Curtis Granderson....perhaps the only player on the team I struggle to say a bad thing about. Should be an OF fixture in Detroit for another 5-10 years...minimum.

RF: Magglio....a lot of articles that I have read have suggested trading him....but despite some comical defense, his production is phenomenal and consistent. He hit .365 in 2007, and in 2008 he has hovered in the .310-.320 range. I say hold onto him.

DH: Currently held by Gary Sheffield, he has been terrible most of his time here due to either injury or old age. I say dump him, eat his salary if we have to and get somebody else in there.

SP1: Justin Verlander. I have said time and time again that I don't believe he's an ace. This year has been further evidence of that. I believe he is a headcase. However, he is young, so he may develop the mentality needed to be an ace/stopper. At this point he is a cooler though. Obviously at this point though, he is our #1 next season.

SP2: Jeremy Bonderman....his season was cut short due to the blood clot and subsequent surgery. I don't believe he will ever develop into a #1 (headcase issues again), but he can be a #2, especially if he ever develops a third pitch of some type.

SP3: Kenny Rogers - he gone.

SP4: Dontrelle Willis - Control problems and injuries destroyed his season. I don't believe we can count on him at all for next season, despite the recently extended contract.

SP5: Nate Robertson - total trash this season. Another long term contract signed, this one with absolutely zero merit.

Other:
Armando Gallaraga - Came in in May and has been pretty much our ace. He's obviously one to count on for next season.
Zach Miner - I said that he had #5 pitcher written all over him, and to this point he has done excellent in that role.

Suddenly, a rotation that started the season with 2 RHP and 3 LHP has turned into a 2009 rotation of 4 RHP and 0 LHP with the 5th spot being uncertain. It's reasonably certain that the #5 spot will be manned by a lefty, but the question is, who? CC Sabathia would sure look good in the rotation, and though he would be a match made in eating heaven with Miggy, I don't expect it to happen. If that doesn't happen, perhaps Rick Porcello, one of the top prospects in baseball can enter the rotation out of spring training.

Bullpen: Pretty much the worst part of the team all year long, due to injuries and total ineffectiveness.

Todd Jones - He gone.
Fernando Rodney - The closer until we get better.
Joel Zumaya - I don't believe his future is in the rotation given the list above, so hopefully he gets healthy. If the 2006 Zumaya ever returns, we have a closer.
Kyle Farnsworth - He gone
Bobby Seay - Been very good at times, not so good at other times as the lefty specialist. Think he will still be here.
Freddy Dolsi - Showed flashes of ability, think he will get a shot in short relief next year as well.
Aqualino Lopez - Done a good job in mid-relief this season. Not sure his contract status but wouldn't mind if he was still here.

The rest of the pen is a mystery. Our first round pick (his name escapes me) was a relief pitcher in college, and almost MLB ready.

A lot of questions for the team this season.

Most idiotic hand I've seen in some time

Poker Stars, $1/$2 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 6 Players

BB: $210.15
UTG: $222
MP: $197
CO: $216.45
Hero (BTN): $206
SB: $173

Dealt to Hero (BTN) Ah 8d
3 folds, Hero raises to $6, SB folds, BB calls $4

Flop:($13) 8s Jh Kd (2 Players)
BB checks, Hero checks

Turn: ($13) 8h (2 Players)
BB bets $8, Hero raises to $28, BB raises to $54, Hero calls $26

River: ($121) 6c (2 Players)
BB bets $54, Hero raises to $146 and is All-In, BB calls $92

Results: $413 Pot ($3 Rake)
BB mucked 9h 5s and LOST (-$206 NET)
Hero showed Ad 8h (three of a kind, Eights) and WON $410 (+$204 NET)


Dude just threw me almost $100 with his river call with 9 high!!!