Tiger Geist

Been reading around and people seemed split on the Pudge trade.

More thoughts I have:

• I did think they should have gotten something else in the trade.
• Detroit must feel their bullpen is really shaky;  I think Zumaya’s tricep tightness showed how fragile they are at the moment.
• All reports indicate that Pudge wanted out.  I don’t think its exactly a “Dmitri Young wants to leave and he’ll help the bullpen”.  I also think Farnsworth is an ass, so there can’t be any expectation that he won’t come in here and be everyone’s BFF.
• A Couple of teams (Marlins, Yankees, Reds) wanted a catcher.  Even with his salary, i bet Pudge wouldn’t have passed through waivers.  Therefore he had to be traded now if they wanted to trade him.
• Maybe Farnsworth was as good as they could get.  They weren’t going to get a starting shortstop;  they don’t need any slow power hitters.
• Depending on whether the espn rumors are true, there are a lot of catchers available right now (Bengie Molina, Greg Zaun, Rangers duo, Yorvit Torrealba).  Some are better hitters, most are younger.  Pudge was at his best lately NOT playing full time.
• In other words… lets not over-value Pudge.  You could get a catcher if you wanted one.  Detroit got a setup man on a team with a better record in a better division.
• Let’s not get too crazy about these sandwich draft picks.  Even with Pudge being unhappy, he could have accepted the arbitration tender, and then Detroit is stuck with him.  Would you rather improve the bullpen or hope that you get a draft pick that might help out in 2012?
• Personally… I think Kyle Farnsworth is kind of a douchebag.  I’d be happier trading for someone with his same skills, same stats, same birthday.  Just not Kyle Farnsworth.  I wonder how many other Tiger fans would feel better about this trade if it wasn’t the big KF coming back to town.

I walk out of a meeting and I found my last post become irrelevent almost as quickly as i posted it.

Pudge to the Yankees;  Kyle Farnsworth to Detroit.

It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me; I never thought Kyle Farnsworth was very good.  I don’t see losing Pudge to be that big of a deal, and it sounds like he is welcoming the chance to catch full time in the big apple.  I enjoy the loyalty he’s shown the team, so if he’s happy with the trade then I’m happy.

I wonder if this means Detroit isn’t done dealing;  at this point, in my opinion, Todd Jones is the worst pitcher in their bullpen.  Could they possibly ship him off to Atlanta, where he wanted to go in the off season?  Jones can’t pitch more then an inning, probably the only pitcher in the bullpen with that restriction, and he’s no longer suitable as a closer.  I can’t guess yet on a roster move, but they have to pull up a catcher from the minors, and they’ll have to make room for him.  Dolsi back to the minors for now?

What to do with Farnsworth?  Family and friends have mentioned possibly moving him immediately to the closer role;  I think Leyland should take a page from the Cincinnati Reds — the 90’s Nasty Boys approach, with Rodney, Zumaya, and Farnsworth taking turns.

Overall, I think they’re a better team then they were when I woke up this morning — they have upgrade the bullpen with minimal impact to the starting lineup, with probably a positive impact on next year’s team.

Last point:  Detroit can now see what they can get with Brandon Inge behind the plate, and maybe he gets hot playing every day.  And Raburn may get some additional playing time at third base.

I take a ‘vacation’ to Michigan and I find myself more out of touch with what’s happened to the Tigers over the last week then when I’m at home in San Francisco.  I’m still digesting the changes.  here are my current thoughts:

• The team is 7-5 since the all-star break.  They’ve gained a game on the division leader, even though they lost a three game series to them.  That’s progress.
• Todd Jones is out at closer.  For now.  It shows Leyland at least recognizes that something isn’t right.
• Sheffield continues to get some at-bats.  Not sure when Leyland will recognize that this isn’t right.
• Zach Miner might be a decent starting pitcher (2-0).  Upsetting that management didn’t see this earlier in the year.
• Detroit can play a lot better;  they can get hot.  I don’t think that the White Sox will play any better then they already have.  I’m still concerned about Minnesota, who is trying to make some deadline deals.
• Some minor leaguers seem to be getting hot.  This can either help the team down the stretch or at least provide some hope for the future.  I don’t see Detroit depleting the farm system any further this winter.
• I don’t see any trades in the next few days.  Most (not all) of the players detroit would try to trade would pass through waivers with their contracts.  If someone claimed Sheffield, I could easily see Detroit just washing their hands of him.
• Would an NL team take Renteria off Detroit’s hands?  Doubtful.
• With a couple of teams looking for catching help (Marlins, Yankees), i doubt Pudge would pass through waivers.
• I had a great lunch at Slow’s BBQ yesterday, and saw Tiger stadium being demolished.  After hanging in the neighborhood, it still makes no sense how anyone could make a logical argument to save it.