I haven’t written a lot lately, or anything as a matter of fact. There isn’t much left to say about a team spiraling toward infamy that hasn’t already been said countless times. However, when I opened up my newspaper this morning there was actual Tiger “news.” Mike Illitch has finally decided to speak. While I’m not a proponent of the overly involved owner (ie Jerry Jones), Illitch’s refusal to answer for, or even comment on the product he is putting on the field until now is unacceptable. This interview was granted 160 games into the season, and probably should have been done sooner, but at least it has happened.
There are several points in the article, and I’ll comment on each.
First the good news: “I am going to do what I feel is necessary to field a good team,” said Ilitch. “I am going to go out and sign free agents. I am going to operate like other teams because I feel I have a foundation. I understand our youth and it is not real complicated now. We are going to fill the holes and see how it works. Everybody can pass judgment on it.” I’m thrilled to see that Illitch is willing to spend money to improve the team. Unfortunately, this is coming a little too late. After 10 losing seasons, Dombrowski is going to have a tough time marketing this team to impact level free agents. Dombrowski will have to be a tremendous salesman, and probably still overpay. What’s a tad distubring is that Illitch thinks this team has a foundation. While it does have some pieces (Munson, Pena, Young, and some pitching) I don’t really see a foundation yet.
Ilitch believes things would have worked out better if Comerica Park opened two years earlier instead of 2000. The original plan was to build it behind the Fox Theatre and open in the summer of 1998 when fans flocked to new stadiums across the country in droves.
But Ilitch said civic responsibility delayed the opening. I’m not sure how this would have helped. The only advantage I can see is that Palmer would have looked at Comerica’s dimensions and never signed here. This seems like a typical Illitch statement in which he offers something, and then no evidence to support it.
“I know the Lions lost 12 games in a row, and all you heard was about the coach and the president,” Ilitch said. “I have a bad year and all I hear about is Mike Ilitch. I don’t know about that. Does it bother me? It’s just strange what approach people want to take in analyzing situations.” Well Mr. Illitch, Bill Ford Sr. has been a constant source of criticism. Because while the Lions have had numerous presidents/coaches/players the fact is the Lions have still lost on their watch. At the same time under the current NFL labor agreement, there is a salary cap in place and there is much less owner discretion in setting payrolls. Now let’s look at the Tigers. Since Illitch has owned the team, they get impossibly worse each year. The fans were told that the team needs a new stadium to compete. That worked for a year, and then because of the cost of the stadium, it was necessary to cut payroll. Furthermore, Illitch’s silence only adds to the speculation and criticism. By answering for the team, Illitch could have staved off some of the criticism.
So in summary, I’m happy that Illitch has spoken, and I’m happy he’s committed to making the team better. However, he is still a little delusional.
I’ll be back this week with a season long wrap up and a look into the future as well.
I was surprised at the “foundation” comment as well and I wonder if that refers to the management team as much as to young players. The last thing I want to see the Tigers do is overpay for mediocre veteran free agents only so they can win 70 games instead of 43. They need to develop a sh*tload of players before they are able to compete, and that is at least 3-4 years away. I’d rather see them comb the waiver wire and minor league free agents and come up with another Craig Monroe than go out and spend a fortune for somebody who’s proven but no better. More Rule 5 guys. A solid young OF who could hit and turn Higgy/Monroe into a platoon would be nice. But where do they find such a commodity? A SS would be nice as well, but I doubt they will find anybody better than the current candidates. I hope DD will be able to withstand pressure to spend just for the sake of spending. That’s not what they need.
I too was amazed at the Illitch silence. Coming out on the last day and telling us what we knew all season long was unacceptable. Illitch said the exact same thing after the ’97 season – that he was tired of losing, would bring honor back to the Tigers, and that he would let go of money to do this. People forget that Comerica Park was built using public funds along with Illitch’s money. But a lot of taxpayer money was committed there. The people do have a say, because our money helped finance it. I;litch has done a horrible job of running the Tigers, and should do what any other businessman does who loses investors funds – resign! He has done wonders with the FoxTown area, but lets face it, he blew it with Comerica and it is affecting the Tigers, the fans and the businesses.
Civic responsibility delayed the opening of Comerica Edifice? Really? What does that mean, that somehow Illitch’s respect for the taxpayers delayed anything? Apparently he thinks that fans have short memories.
What delayed the opening of the facility was the stout opposition of those who understood that none of the blandishments used to lure public money and support had any validity. Does anyone remember that once they got the stadium built with a large infusion of public money the Tigers immediately doubled ticket prices?