Tiger Geist

Buster Olney chronicles about Tampa’s woes with getting help — Carl Crawford might be done for the season, and Boston is blocking them from waiver claims for other outfielders (notably Brian Giles so far).  If you claim someone at this point, the other team can just let you have the player — and you’re stuck with their contract (notably, an article here by Olney in 2000 on the Yankees / Jose Canseco deal).

Could, in some way, shape or form, Detroit work with Tampa for Sheffield, pray that Boston claims him, and just let them keep him?  That clears room for any other player on the team that feels like hitting over .230, and frees Detroit completely of next year’s contract of $14million.  Is there any chance this could happen?

I recognize that the answer to this is Mr Garrison’s “NO, NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!  YOU GO TO HELL!  YOU GO TO HELL AND YOU DIE!”.  Why?  Because Gary Sheffield isn’t very good.  But a motivated Gary Sheffield may be decent, and maybe playing in Boston or Tampa would re-motivate him.

But a man can dream.  A man can dream of a world where a $14million dollar DH who can’t hit or field and has attitude problems can somehow be desirable to a low-income baseball team in Tampa Bay that needs outfield help for a pennant race.

Right now it appears Michael Phelps has a better shot at 8 gold medals then the Detroit Tigers have of making the playoffs.  7.5 games back in the AL Central; 8.5 back of the AL wild card.

Sitting at 58-59, with the Chicago White Sox looking at 91 victories (currently with their .560 win percentage leading the central).  That means to keep up, Detroit needs ~33 victories (with 12 defeats) over their last 45 games…. a .733 win percentage.  When they can’t sweep the struggling Athletics, its looking dismal.

Sounds like they’re concerned about Thames’ shoulder (I wondered why he wasn’t playing), and dealing with Sheffield’s attitude.  I’m more concerned with Sheffield’s rapid decline of skill.

Dontrelle Willis had a game in Lakeland.. I still think they keep him shut down for the year.  To that point, once rosters expand in September, i think they need to basically shut down Rodney and Zumaya, if both figure into the team for next year.  Thoughts on their performance later.