SB Nation User Blog: miggy4mvp

Some thoughts on Leyland

miggy4mvp — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 20:17:33 -0000

I am beginning to wonder if it is time for Leyland to retire. My intent is not to bash Leyland I am just concered for him.

I am a huge Leland fan; I think 2006 would have never existed if it weren't for him. We would never have gotten Miggy and we would still be waiting for a winning season. I can never appreciate enough what Leyland brought to this team and did for us as fans.

But watching the way he managed the bullpen last year made me think that the game has started to pass him by. He is no longer the skipper that sat in the dugout in 2006 I tried to blame Chuck for last years pitching problems and the way the bullpen was utilized, because in my opinion he was a yes man. I hoped that a new pitching coach would help influence the way the bullpen was used. But with watching last nights game showed me nothing has changed and that Leyland is unwilling to change.

I hate watching great players play to long and become hollow shells of what they use to be and have their legacy hurt. I do not want that to happen to Leyland. I know that it is only two games into the season and a lot can change. I hope that Leyland proves me wrong and gets that extension that he was seeking. I just don’t want to see him get fired or be remembered for not succeeding in Detroit.

Starting Pitching + A Six Man Rotation = Crazy???

miggy4mvp — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 13:47:10 -0000

[Editor's Note: Promoted from the FanPosts, for the sake of discussion. If you'd like to contribute, I'd love to put more of these on the front page.]

This year I am trying to remain pessimistic about the up coming season; last season hurt way too much. With that said, it is hard not to get wrapped up in all the great news that is coming out of Lakeland, most specifically the pitching staff. One might consider all the good news propaganda because it seems that every year we hear the same thing, they say that so in so is in the best shape of their career. I always seem to fall into the trap and expect great things out of that player. But, with spring coming, the weather warming up and the players back in Florida, my pessimistic mood has changed and I am as optimistic as ever (because after all, I am a Tigers fan). Which has me thinking (dangerous I know).

All of the news that we are hearing about D-train and how great Knapp and Leyland think he looks. How Knapp has hardly had to change anything with how Willis is pitching, how he's hitting the strike zone; it seems like all we hear about is him. I know it is still early and he has yet to pitch in a game or to live batters, but I am getting the feeling that he will get the shot at the fifth spot at the beginning of the season (salary being part of the reason).

There has been hardly any information about Miner and Robinson. I know we did hear that Robinson came into camp in the best shape of his life, but there has been nothing about how he is throwing the ball. With Zach there has been no news at all, is he even in Lakeland? I know that he is there, but how the heck is he doing?

The optimistic side of me has got me thinking about Willis and Robinson. If D-train is looking this good and has made this great turn around from last season. If Nate is in the best shape ever and that translates to the field and how he plays. Why not use both of them as starting pitchers? Why not go with a six-man rotation? Crazy? Think outside of the box with me for a moment.

The Tigers could use a six man starting staff until late August. They could then trim it down to the top five pitchers, who would have relatively fresher arms then any other teams rotations, for the last leg of the race. This could give them a advantage for a late season push. They would then place the odd man out in the bullpen (who would be a lefty that Leyland covets). Also, based on Miner’s performance last year, the Tigers could use him for long relief and for occasional spot starts during the dog days of summer. The Tigers could then plug him into the rotation in case of a injury. Remember the regular season is not a sprint, but a marathon. This would just set us up for the last leg of the race and postion us for the playoffs. Still sound crazy?

. I know no other team in the league has used a six man rotation, for the majority of the season, but why not? Who said that it has to be only five? Especially, if there are six pitchers that are deserving to start. It makes sense to me, because it would help save pitchers arms for later in the season when teams are making a late season push and it would make them fresher for the playoffs. It would also help keep a pitcher’s arm stretched out in case of a injury, that way a team would have someone ready to fill in and is use to starting.

Crazy? Maybe, just currently on a high that a new season brings. Just some food for thought.

Can This Get Any Worse??

miggy4mvp — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:58:03 -0000

I try to be a glass half full kind of guy. But, every time I watch the Tigers I get the same rotten feeling in my stomach that I got watching our pitchers throw the ball around like it was a live hand grenade in the World Series of 2006. Do not get me wrong; this is not me jumping off the edge but at times I feel like I could.

I am personally getting sick about hearing about the weather as an excuse. It seems like everyone that I talk to is blaming the start on the weather. Yes, statically speaking offense does do better in warmer weather. But, it is not the fricking weather! I believe I see two teams playing out on the field and playing in the same conditions; one of them seems to be doing just fine. So lets just put that excuse to rest right now.

When is Leyland going to step up and become the leader of this team? This is his team, and I do put a good chunk of the blame on him and his staff. I like Leyland a lot; he is a huge reason why this team had one of the biggest turn around in baseball history. In my opinion Jim is one of the top five skippers in the game right now. But, if he is not careful, he is about to have one of the biggest let downs in history. He needs to get these guys motivated some how, light a fire under them, show them that this level of play is unacceptable, and wake these guys up. Maybe he needs to go “Lou Pinella” in the middle of the game, throw stuff, kick his hat around, crawl on his belly, and pick up a base take it with him; do the mother of all melt downs. Or, he needs to start screaming and throwing things i.e. Bobby Knight. Please Jimmy, just do something; show that you care.

Finally, onto the bullpen problem; these most guys are just terrible; they do not deserve even to be in the Majors. There is no reason to candy coat it and I cannot see Zumaya or Rodney being the saviors. There has to be someone in the Tigers system that can do somewhat of a decent job on a regular basis. Leyland and Dombrowski need to look at all levels, the way some of these guys are pitching there has to be someone that can do better, I do not care if they are in Single A right now, just call them up. Maybe they need to look at moving a starter to the pen for the remainder of the year. For example, put Robinson out there. Granted that would make our rotation weaker but let me explain my reasoning behind this. Nate always seems to do well for the first three innings, then the wheels fall off during the fourth or fifth; so he could only pitch one to two innings a game. He is dominant when he faces lefties and can strike guys out, so he could get that big out with runners in scoring position. Robinson only sees the field once every five games, by moving him to the bullpen, he could potentially pitch every other game or more; which has the possibility of the Tiger hanging on to leads or staying with in striking distance.

I know things can be turned a around, especially when I look at our line-up on paper, it is just a matter of time before they start hitting. All the Tigers need to do is put together a nice little five to six game-winning streak right now and they will be right back in the thick of things just because they are in the Central. The Central will beat the crap out of each other; just like the Big Ten does year in and year out. Can we honestly say that the Royals will be competing for first in August? Do not get me wrong, the Royals are vastly improved from years past and they will probably end up with a record around the .500 level. The Twins do not have enough star power to be a .500 club, but do have enough talent to put up a fight. The Indians have to pitching and the line-up to get out of the early season funk that they are in. And the White Sox are playing at a extremely high level right now, are getting some unbelievable pitching from the bottom of their rotation, and have played the nonexistent Tigers six time thus far. If I were a betting man, I would say that a team would have to win 87 to 93 games in order to win the Central. With that said the Tigers are still in it.

If any team can go last to first then it would have to be these Tigers. So guys, please keep me from jumping.