Tiger Geist

Interesting question: Who would you rather have right now, Matt Cain or Placido Polanco? Is it as easy as you think?

Widely rumored that Detroit offered Ugueth Urbina to SF in 2004 for Matt Cain and presumably other players. The Giants were adamant that they were asking for too much. No one knows for sure what the hold up was, but I’ll make the assumption that Detroit could have wrestled a then-19 year old Cain in some sort of deal. Detroit was going nowhere, finishing 72-90. The Giants, however, maybe should have made the deal: they finished one game out of the wild card, and two games out of the division lead. At this point, it might be so long before they’re good again that they may never get much use out of Matt Cain.

No question, Detroit got a steal when they traded the soon to be jailbird Urbina to Philly for a player Philadelphia felt they no longer needed (due to Chase Utley’s star potential). No question that Polanco helped fuel Detroit’s push to the world series two years ago. But lets pretend San Francisco took the deal in 2004.

Assuming the SF trade, going into the offseason after 2006, here are Detroit’s top pitchers (with their late 2006 ages):

• Justin Verlander — hard throwing 23 year old righty
• Jeremy Bonderman — hard throwing 24 year old righty
• Andrew Miller — hard throwing 21 year old lefty
• Matt Cain — hard throwing 22 year old righty
• Kenny Rogers — crafty 137 year old lefty
• Nate Robertson — hard throwing 29 year old lefty
• Mike Maroth — wiffle ball throwing 29 year old lefty
• Joel Zumaya — hard throwing 22 year old righty (with previous starting experience)

Hmm.. sounds like some impressive arms in there. Who is your starting 5? Now, consider the 2006 offseason rumors of a Mark Teixeira for Bonderman deal… now you have no reason to make the trade for Miguel Cabrera, at which point you hold onto your top prospects AND don’t take on Cabrera and Willis’ contract extensions. Right now, I think Matt Cain is a better pitcher then Bonderman… and two years younger. Maybe its a wash over their careers, but Cain is also a lot less expensive.

So.. going into 2007, you’ve some amazing young arms and a farm system full of talent. Now, how do you play out the Sheffield trade? You can move Guillen to third and find another shortstop.. and they’ve probably shaved millions from their payroll.

Knowing now that we miss the playoffs last season, would you trade for Polanco all over again? Not as easy anymore.

Not much else to say today.  Couple thoughts on today’s loss:

• Edgar Rentaria’s hot start has put some of my fears to rest about his return to the american league.
• The Gambler looked solid.  Saw him in a rain-shortened spring training game and we weren’t impressed.
• I like Zach Miner.  But, as a reliever, you CANNOT walk someone on four pitches, nor have the fourth pitch advance the runner on second, losing the force out.
• After watching Miner pitch the seventh, get a few strikeouts and continue to throw sinkers, I stick by my statement that he, not Grilli, should have entered the game for Verlander on Monday.
• Losing doesn’t bother me as much as getting 3-hit by the Royals bothers me.  Tigers were as blah as the weather.

Thoughts in general:

• How happy are the Tigers that Cabrera signed his extension before playing one game in 42 degree Detroit?
• 3 strikeouts in 6 official at-bats… its not fair to you Mr Inge, but the fans are going to be BRUTAL this year if you don’t figure out how to get on base.  Ask Drew Stanton and Dan Orlovsky why they’re fan favorites — its a tough city.
• I see left hand hitting Clete Thomas starting in center next game, and probably some pinch-hitting by either Raburn or Thames for Mr Jones after a left handed reliever is brought in.  No need to panic (and Leyland won’t), but its going to be hard to get the starting lineup in rhythm, and get the bench some at-bats so they can help, and play the match-ups to your favor.
• MLB game day needs to have a smaller imprint on my screen so i can get some work done while trying to watch the game.  Most games will start while i’m still at work and its nice to keep the play by play in the corner of the monitor… so it at least appears i’m working.