Tiger Geist

Pretty frustrating weekend series for Detroit.  Everyone will now clamor for a bat; sure sounds like Detroit could use one quickly.  Zumaya will be out for an unknown amount of time.  But this might affect any move Detroit can make.

If you’re looking at the 2010 team, Detroit was heavily counting on Joel Zumaya as either a setup man or a potential closer.  The hope, of course, was that Zumaya would get through 2009 injury free and effective.  In the last month or two, Joel has not been overly effective.  Now he’s injured.  Again.  The only hope on the situation was that he gave up a home run after he was injured;  nope:

Zumaya said he felt a “pop” in his shoulder on the 33rd of his 36 pitches in Friday’s night game. He’d already given up the three-run home run to Mark Teixeira that was the deciding hit in the Yankees’ 5-3 victory — but after that, Zumaya ran into bases-loaded trouble.

The Tiger bullpen are most likely losing two pitchers in the off-season – Fernando Rodney and Brandon Lyon.  Now Detroit can’t count on Zumaya (fool me once, shame on me.. fool me four times…).  We can assume Detroit will not be big spenders in the off-season; they may have to focus on filling up to three bullpen slots internally.

Second, I noticed the Pirates GM name-dropped Adam Everett in reasons why the Pirates were basically low-balling Jack Wilson on a contract extension.  This makes me think Adam Everett’s price tag will raise above his $1million 2009 contract, and why his agent’s phone will be quite busy this off-season.

Third, Placido Polanco will most likely not be on the team in 2010 as he’ll probably get a multi-year deal elsewhere.

So we already have a weak economic outlook for payroll expansion in 2010, two bullpen slots to fill, possibly the middle infield to replenish… and little confidence in Joel Zumaya (possibly a third bullpen slot and no real closer).  Thats quite a laundry list of issues going into 2010.  What could Detroit possibly ship to another team to return a bat without jeopardizing the next couple of years?  And would any excess talent in an over-loaded position (Jeff Larish?) be better used as trade bait filling roster spots in the off-season?

Help us Carlos Guillen.. you’re our only hope.  Godspeed Guillen.  Godspeed.

Last, a really good read on the NFL anti-trust lawsuit and the possible impact on all sports.  You just never know.