Tiger Geist

I’m giddy about Gary Sheffield’s release.  Healthy he’s awesome; this hasn’t happened since 2005.  Oh, right, he also was hanging out with Barry Bond then.  Whoops.

Interesting turn of events for the Tigers lately:

1. Spend most of the spring trying to figure out whether you want Ryan Raburn, Clete Thomas, or Brent Clevlen on the team.  Answer argument by trading for Josh Anderson.
2. Try to find a taker for Marcus Thames.  When a suitor can’t be found, do not save $2million-ish by cutting him.  Instead eat $14million by cutting Gary Sheffield.
3. Dontrelle Willis not pitching well?  No problem.  Find a bizarre blood test and put him on the DL.
4. Nate Robertson — – — – — – — ok, no answer for this one.
5. Dontrelle Willis and Nate Robertson not pitching well?  No problem.  Delegate Zach Miner to the bullpen.  Miner pitching really well — no problem; put Jeremy Bonderman on the DL and make no decision on Miner.

I think Dave Dombrowski and Jim Leyland made a tough decision today, a totally unexpected decision.  But what’s next? Anything else unexpected?

Random:  Found this article on espn about the original Sheffield trade from the Yankees.  Keith Law suggests that this trade would force Magglio to DH.

More random:  Ian points out the Rob Neyer article that kind of points out the obvious:  Mike Illitch may be paying out a lot of money for contracts in the next few years.  Some of it is poor decisions by Dave Dombrowski — yes.  But some of it was the fact that Detroit was so crappy for years that they overpaid for players — worked for the Pudge contract, jury is still out for Magglio.  Sheffield was a calculated risk — it was well documented that Gary was a pain in the ass in the last year of his contract; thats why Detroit had to extend his contract immediately.  But doesn’t Rob nullify his argument by calling out Miguel Cabrera’s contract in this article?  Do you really argue the contract of a 25 year old MVP candidate?

I guess it was easier then most of us thought… keep Thames, dump Gary Sheffield.  Obviously a surprise move (and it just about invalidated a post I did not 12 hours earlier), I totally agree with it.  Just did not see it coming.

Upon hearing the news, I assumed there was still a chance that Thames gets cut or traded — based on Detroit’s financial decisions as well as how they feel about Carlos Guillen’s play in left field — but this article seems to clear it all up.  Marcus on the team; rotating door at DH.  This also clears the way for more at-bats for lefty Jeff Larish; I bet he’ll get a few starts at third with a ‘defensive’ substitution in the sixth inning with Inge.

Do you think Sheffield had a long stare down with Jeff Larish as he walked out the door?

Kudos to you Mr. Dombrowski.  I also suggest everyone order a lot of Little Caesars this week.