Tiger Geist

Is there any way to say it?  Yes, Detroit is still in first place.  Has there ever been more blatantly desperate moves by a first place team in August?  Ramirez up, Ramirez down, Lambert up, Avila up, Ryan down.

Ramirez recalled Tuesday, designated Tuesday evening.  Remember that part in “my cousin vinny” when Joe Pesci wakes up during the opening arguments and says “Uh… everything that guy just said is bullshit… Thank you.”  Yes, thats basically what happend to all of my thoughts / last post on the Ramirez move.  Sounds like Detroit will make a lot of moves in August between their roster and the farm team.  Maybe none of it means anything.

So, who knows what to think about the recent roster moves.  It would be nice if, I don’t know, a reporter with access to Jim Leyland, Dave Dombrowski, Mike Illitch, or maybe a waitress at the hockeytown bar could ask WTF this all means, why it happened, or what the next steps are.  But we’re all left to speculate.  Here’s what it might mean:  The management is nervous about the team.  Here’s what it probably means:  There is no money to take on a contract.  Here’s what it definately means:  Its a roller coaster from here on out.  You can’t even predict it.

Brian Sabean is on a weekly radio show in San Francisco, and its obvious that he loathes talking to the radio hosts.  But he does it every week, and has done it for the last nine years that I’ve been listening.  Is there anyone taking Dave Dombrowski to task about whatever it is his plans are?  Why are people like me pulling rabbits out of their hats trying to guess what is going on?  “hey, Dave Dombrowski, remember all of those fans you’re begging to come to the ballpark and to buy season tickets for 2010 so you don’t have to sell off Justin Verlander and Edwin Jackson?  Do you want to maybe talk to them about your plans in 2009?”.  Because this statement doesn’t give much confidence:

“We knew when we made the move [with Ramirez] that this might be a day-to-day thing,” Dombrowski said.

Half of the team (maybe more?) is hitting below expectations for the entire season, but Detroit is letting them ride it out.  Wilkin Ramirez got three at-bats.  No I don’t think Wilkin is the savior, but I do think this reeks of desperation.

The Avila / Ryan move is equally baffling.  When does a rookie backup catcher positively affect a pennant race?

I am so confused.

Yes, this is what happens when you take a long lunch — Tigers recall Wilkin Ramirez, demote Casey Fien, no real explanation given.  Kudos to Ian, Billfer, and Kurt to write all of this up already, as i’m way late to the game here, but here are some thoughts)

So what do we know from this?  Or at least, what can we speculate?

• Well, looks like Brian Matusz is left handed;  Detroit obviously feels that Granderson is struggling against left handers (which he definitely is) and they had to make a move to address it (Ramirez is leading off tonight)
• Another roster move is probably coming.  I don’t know if Detroit has the balls to cut Ordonez right now or not; my gut says something related to Marcus Thames or Ryan Raburn
• I think this pretty much answers Detroit’s thought process on acquiring another bat:  if they do, it probably won’t be a corner outfielder.
• On that front, Rich Aurilia is basically available and could backup first and third.  Raburn would be a fit in SF, and Thames probably would too — SF is hurting for outfielders right now, though Thames’ defense would be rough in AT&T park.  I have little faith that Aurilia would come to the AL and hit .300, but Detroit has no real backup first baseman, and i doubt they’re excited about Raburn playing third extensively in case of an injury to Inge.  Aurilia also has playoff experience (2002 World Series), and Leyland seems to like aging veterans whether or not they can hit.
• I imagine that Casey Fien still fits in Detroit’s long term plans;  when there are so many games together and the bullpen was so strung out, its probably hard for the pitching coach / bullpen coach to get a lot of side work in for a reliever that was so effective in Toledo.  If game circumstances were different, Fien probably would have gotten some side sessions going.
• Random thought:  Lynn Henning talks about players who might see time in September.  Its probably quite premature, but I wonder if Detroit is looking at playoff rosters as well; I imagine Ramirez would fit the bill, possibly even bumping Magglio off the playoff roster.  You have to imagine Magglio’s playing time will dwindle to nothing once his option officially won’t vest.
• More random:  Interesting if Detroit includes Raburn or Thames in the right field platoon, further banishing Magglio to the bench.  Magglio’s magic number?  12.  He needs to play in 47 of the remaining 58 games to trigger his 2010 contract.  Twelve games missed and he’s a free agent this winter.