SB Nation User Blog: rook34

The worst part about the last few days....

rook34 — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 06:01:12 -0000

is that the naysayers have been proven right.

For most of the last few years, really, since the Tigers re-signed Guillen, signed Sheffield, and went full-bore after the 07 world title, many in the national and local media said that Detroit couldn't continue to do this. They couldn't continue to spend money on players due to the economy or the ridiculous claim that Detroit was a small market. Detroit is not a small market. Smaller than 30 years ago, sure, but it's not Portland or Kansas City or even Minneapolis. It just isn't.

Anyway, with every move, the good (Miggy), the bad (Robertson), and the insane (Willis), people said we wouldn't be able to do this and eventually we'd have to adopt the Twins model of going with kids, counting on your scouting, and hoping the Yankees had an off year. With the trade this week, that has been proven correct in my opinion. A lot of people on this site who are very knowledgable about baseball are putting a happy face on this deal, but I just don't agree. The team, as built today, is riddled with holes. A team that was offensively challenged in 09 has lost its 1 and 2 hitters for 2010, and no replacements are coming. No left handed hitter is coming. Not one that costs anything. Matt Stairs or Scott Podsednik might be coming, but that's it. The lineup is downright horrifying, especially when you start thinking ahead to the inevitable injuries.

The problem with the Twins model? Well, our scouting people and minor league system aren't as good. We made some progress there by stealing Rick Knapp, but that's one guy. And for all the loveable, cuddly feelings the small-market Twins engender, they haven't won a playoff series since 1991. They've won some divisions, and that's to their credit. But they don't advance-ever.

Perhaps the so-called irrational spending since 2004 has been just that, and Detroit has to accept what we are. But that's not what we were told, not by Mr. I or anyone else. Weren't we just on the cover of Sports Illustrated under the heading of The Righteous Franchise? Was it all just spin?

Maybe I'm wrong-fellow BYBers note my pessimism with good reason. But I don't have a lot of faith in this operation right now. There were baseball reasons for Grandy to go, sure. But it's pretty tough in my mind to justify dumping the guy for a couple of lefty relievers and a minor league strikeout machine. There had to be a better deal somewhere. Didn't there? Or was it not about better deals, just cheaper, league minimum deals? I know it's not my money, but this was not what we've been sold by the organization for the last four years.

And the biggest alarm bell going off for me is as follows: What makes everyone think we're just going to spend money like crazy in the 10 or 11 offseasons when the attendance will go through the floor? How are we going to re-sign Verlander? Does he want to stay, even if he gets a $100 million deal? To keep him, we'll have to overpay in the next 12 months, and isn't that what got us into trouble in the first place?

It's not the moves that have shaken my faith in the franchise. It's the way they were conducted, as if they had to be made right away, and what they brought back. It's the worst I've felt as a Tigers fan since, well, before Pudge came. And no one wants to remember those days-at least I certainly don't. I hope I'm wrong and that there's a grand plan already in motion.

Lyon gone to Houston...

rook34 — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:28:26 -0000

per MLB Trade Rumors.

The hits just keep on coming. Also on the MLBTR site, it says we're interested in Podsednik. I relayed this message to my wife. She asked: "Why would we want Podsednik? Because he's basically free?" She has a pretty good handle on the situation.

I know there are baseball reasons, business reasons, whatever. That doesn't mean I have to like it. Who goes away tomorrow? DD said today that he's not doing anything to improve the offense.

Just watched DD's presser.

rook34 — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 02:55:14 -0000

And I'm left with this thought:

Can someone take DD shopping and get the man a decent looking suit? That thing today looked like something out of Sonny Crockett's closet. Not only did I have to watch the man rip the heart out of my baseball team, I had to watch him look like he had been out all night in an 80's disco, even though I'm sure there are no 80's disco in Indianapolis. If you're going to be a mean, tough, all business GM, try not to look like an extra from Miami Vice. Thanks.

Proposed three way deal...vetoed for now

rook34 — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 04:05:59 -0000

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/10475170

Grandy would have gone to the Yanks. EJ to the DBacks. No one's saying who would've been coming to the D. Apparently, at least one of the teams vetoed the deal.

Let's hope this doesn't happen. Unless we get a pitcher and two immediate starting position players, this deal is an absolute crock.

You can do better than this, DD. You can do better.

What makes Kenny Williams...Kenny Williams.

rook34 — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:40:12 -0000

Business as usual on the South Side.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091123&content_id=7707382&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb&partnerId=rss_mlb

Yup. Williams just slammed his closer, the guy he's trying to trade, as being chronically out of shape. That should help his market value tremendously. Not only does he make these comments, but he makes them on the team's own website, after a season of slamming the guy in the paper. Say what you will about DD, but he'd never do this.

Classy as always. Williams makes his field manager look like Mr. Manners.

Not to relive Tuesday....but....

rook34 — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 18:13:15 -0000

Should Polly have had that ball in the 10th?

I've read it many places that Polly should have had that ball in the 10th to turn the game ending double play. The way I saw it, it's a turf grounder that got through. Even if Polly had gotten to the ball, he probably just would have gotten the force at second and the run would have scored anyway.

Doesn't really matter, I guess, but I'm wondering if people saw it the same way I did.

I'm of two minds about tomorrow.

rook34 — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 02:52:45 -0000

Logical or illogical?

The logical portion of my brain says that this is all just too much-Miggy, Porcello in this tough a spot, the ridiculous venue, the time of day (dusk is the worst time to be looking for a fly ball agains that roof). This part of my brain says that the Twins get Rick for 3 or 4 early, we rally and perhaps tie, and then fall vicitm to that most painful of Twin weapons-the add-on run. And then Joe Nathan comes in and concludes our bizarre, yet wonderful season.

The non-logical portion says that this is indeed possible. Why would Grandy have made that play on Sunday if we were supposed to just get our hopes crushed in the worst stadium in professional sports one last time? What if the day's nonsense is utilized by Leyland-purported as an excellent motivator-as a bunker mentality device? What if Kid Rick moves from rookie to phenom? What if the Twins simply have the bad offensive day they are frankly due for?

I guess that's why we watch. I'm not optimistic, as I tend to be more Spock than Kirk. But who knows? Baseball remains the most unpredictable of games. Maybe our guys have one more fantastic effort left in the tank.