PREGAME: Sigh.
List of team and offensive feats that may happen today so there is something to root for:
- Magglio Ordonez needs to not go 0 for 6 and Ichiro Suzuki needs to not make an out and the Tigers have their first batting champ since 1961. Maggs is also looking to see if he can add on at all, and perhaps move ahead of Norm Cash’s .361 average.
- Placido Polanco needs one more hit to reach 200. If he gets to 200, it will mark the first time since 1937 2 Tigers have finished with 200 or more hits.
- Curtis Granderson is at .299 and will try to push that to .300
- Ordonez needs 3 RBI to become only the 4th Tiger to ever drive in 140 runs in a season
- The team is 2 doubles shy of matching the team record for doubles in a season set in 1934
- The team has 1634 hits which is the highest total since the 1934 club notched 1638
Game Time 2:05
DET @ CHW, Sunday, September 30, 2007 Game Preview – Baseball-Reference.com
POSTGAME: Considering what the Tigers had left to play for, everything came up roses today. Polanco got his 200th hit and finished an errorless season. Guillen got his 2 RBIs. Granderson finished over .300 picking up 3 hits (not to mention a walk, a HBP, and 3 steals).
And Magglio Ordonez already had pretty much locked up the batting title, but a 3 hit day pushed his average to .363. That’s the highest mark for a Tiger since Charlie Gehringer’s .371 in 1937. In case you missed it, FSN Detroit was cutting into the Venezuelan broadcast after each Ordonez hit, and while my Spanish skills are limited to what I learned in high school (which has been refreshed by Dora the Explorer), there was no mistaking the excitement.
Even Mike Rabelo managed to get a homer today, and while the bullpen was going crazy for him, his own teammates were giving him the silent treatment.
It really wasn’t the way anybody wanted to the end the season, but all things considered they made the best of what they had today. And it was fun. It was fun watching the team having fun. Exactly 6 months until we get to start it up again.
Unfortunaely, I’ll be at my son’s house while he’s at mine watching the Packers so won’t be able to blog along. From reading different articles in the newspaper, reporters from Venezuela will be all over the place and the game is being shown in Maggs home country. Try to catch up with everyone later and hope we win today. Catch y’all later.
Gotta love they finised on some high notes!
I had a brunch at my house today so I am watching my recording of the game, in about the middle right now. I love that Poly got his 200, Guillen got those RBIs, but I just have this weird empty feeling. Will finish watching the game and post more later.
Wow it was so much easier back in the day when you knew it was over in July . . . .
Wow, the guys finally come through for Nate and finish up with a win and lots of records. Magglio The Magnificent. Will we ever see someone hit like that again for the Tigers?
Still sad, can’t let go.
Billfer, thanks for hosting another great season. Thanks to everyone for their comments and entertainment and best wishes for a happy off-season.
They finished on a high note at least: Maggs (3 for 4) wins AL batting title at .363 – best in MLB!; Guillen knocks in 4 and finishes with 102 RBI; Polly gets 200th hit; Granderson (3 for 4) finishes at .302 (also steals 3 bases to finish with 26 in 27 attempts!) – those are 4 of our 1-5 hitters by the way. Too bad Sheffield kind of crashed and burned with the injuries at the end – even so he led the team in Walks.
Also of note: Rabelo saves best for last and gets his first ML HR; Raburn takes advantage of his last AB, gets a hit and finishes over .300; Robertson pitched well.
It is kind of sad that the season is over, but I am already looking forward to ’08. There will be some big changes over the winter as there are quite a few questions that need to be answered. Let the analysis and specuation begin!
Just finished watching highlights of Mets and Phillies. Willie Randolph looks like death warmed over.
I have real concerns regarding Kenny Rogers and if he will return. Everyone seems to think so, but he has said in recent days he’ll make up HIS mind around November. Does he really want to summon up all that energy required for another season and does he still have the energy to do it.
Should have won 100 games with all that offense.
All those records, ron, and nothing to show for it.
Should have won 79 with the pitching.
Congrats to:
* Carlos for 100 rbi and 20 taters (4 guys w/20+)
* Polly for 200 knocks, and more impressively 0 – zero – errors at the third most difficult defensive position (2 guys w/200+)
* Curtis for beating the heck out of .300 (3 guys at .300+)
* Maggs for a batting title, despite falling short of the MVP, in a season for the ages
I finished watching my recording of the game and I was fine until they did that musical montage at the end of the telecast. That kind of stuff always breaks me up. I feel sad.
That offense was really inconsistent with 4 of the 9 spots being very sub-par. I think we ended up exactly where we should have.
I think missed opportunities were the un-doing of the 2007 tigers.
Danny Knobler is reporting the Tigers are not going to sign Pudge.
Where are you hearing that Kathy. It can’t be.
http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2007/09/tigers_unlikely_to_bring_back.html
I would not bring him back at that price. That money could be used for a big-time shortstop. Pudge’s numbers are very average now, and his defense has slipped, in my opinion.
Clearly this isn’t nearly as importnant as being in the postseason, but Kudos to Maggs, Polly, and Grandy for neatly wrapping up some very, very special seasons.
Now we need to get some players in here to help them out!
And Carlos Pena with 46 homeruns. Yeah that sucks to hear…He’s still one of my favorite players, and I would have loved for the Tigers to keep him and give him a few more years. But who would of thought he would have such a breakout year.
Who is out there to get, at either SS or Catcher? (I am not counting Arod because no way are they going to get him)
Huge mistake if it’s true.
Maybe they are trying to see if he will sign a 2 year or 3 year contract and save some money. But Pudge knows he probably can still get big bucks from another team. I guess we’ll find out in about a month or less. Vance Wilson is starting to throw again, but he’s considered our backup catcher. It’s hard to picture Pudge in another team’s uniform.
Well in all seriousness FA market at best you got, Paul Lo Duca catcher. There really is no one else via trade or FA for that position. And sadly only Jack Wilson and hopefully Edgar Renteria are available for SS vacancy. I dont know about Wilson but I’m gunhoe for Renteria(.332/12hr/57Rbi), watching him in Atlanta tearing it up the last two seasons after god aweful Boston year was great. And as much as I know Pudge is not really worth that option we can’t do a Rabelo/Wilson platoon. That in itself will be at best a .240/15hr/40-60RBI together as a platoon. I say NO WAY to that idea. Keep Pudge for a year and see what the ’09 FA Catching crowd brings ya.
Certainly there’s no guarantee, but I don’t understand so many dismissing the possibility of AROD coming to Detroit. It all makes sense and is a great fit. Detroit is not a small market, its a huge market, ownership has paid big bucks in the past and will continue to do so. They love Boras and vice-versa. Plus, what I’m hearing from Dombrowski, Illitch, Leyland, all seem to hint at it.
I think there’s a good chance you’ll see AROD in Detroit next year, not a slam dunk obviously, but IF he doesn’t resign with the Yanks, I’d say Detroit would be the frontrunners.
At 30-32 million a year? Not very likely.
I don’t want him and his trash wife here. I don’t care how many HRs he hits. Not a fit.
http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/story?id=3337643&page=1&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312
Illitch has stated he doesn’t look at salary alone, he looks at it from an investment standpoint, and that he’d pay any amount if the marginal revenue would increase enough to give him a positive return on his investment. In other words, he’d pay 500 million if the expected return was 550 million.
I think we will be in the talks for AROD…but probably end up with renteria maybe? Its allllll speculation for months now!
ARod may very likely leave NY because of all the negative publiciy and from what we’ve heard and read it really is not a family friendly franchise like here in Detroit. ARod may very well like to get out of NY with his family intact. Somebody is going to pay him 30-32 million a year for an 8 year contract which is what Boras is looking at. Tha’s a lot of money. But it’s going to make for some interesting discussions and I’m looking forward to it. Night everybody.
But you make that money you invest in ARod back solely from his likely HR chase, assuming he stays healthy and on pace. The SF Giants have made BANK on Barry Bonds’ run while fielding one of the worst teams in baseball.
Also, I will say that I’m for bringing back Ivan Rodriguez at a discounted cost but it’ll have to be at about 30% of what his option would cost ($10). Otherwise, his offensive production coupled with defensive struggles (and seemingly increasing inability to block balls in the dirt) are not worth over paying.
Also, Magg’s/Granderson/Polanco/Guillen’s accomplishments were great and all, but I was so excited to see Rabelo’s homer today. I’ve been silently rooting for this kid to hit one out all year long and from May through July he was our best backup hitter on the team. He faded down the stretch, but was adequate for a backup and seemed like a likeable guy.
I don’t think there is a chance of A-Rod coming here. $30 mill out of a $100 mill payroll just doesn’t make sense for anyone. Certainly there are other investment considerations, but this contract would still cut what the team would pay for catching/left field/starting pitching. Paul LoDuca, Jason Bay, and a fifth starter could be had for the price (Bay also costs a top prospect or Nate and a Trahern type prospect). I also have an odd feeling that the Reds are going to turn over a lot of their roster and build for the year after next with Phillips, Votto and Hamilton, and that two pitching prospects (JJJ and DeLa, say), Thames, and Raburn may be enough to get Harang and Dunn. Probably wishful thinking, but this excites me a lot more than A-Rod.
Why would the Pirates trade a guy (Jason Bay) who is under contract through 2009 and under control via arbitration through 2010?
Paul Lo Duca is the same age as Ivan Rodriguez, and just posted a .273/.312/.378 line (while missing a huge chunk of time with what I think was a shoulder injury… yikes) which isn’t far off from I-Rod’s .281/.294/.420 line (both of these were going into today’s games). Plus, Lo Duca was a step down from I-Rod defensively, even though I-Rod’s defense has lapsed.
Also, the deal with the Reds is wishful thinking. Why would the Reds want 2 more OFer’s, (granted, Raburn can play the infield, but that is already filled with a young 3B, albeit disappointing one, in Edwin Encarnacion, a 2B that just had a 30/30 season in Brandon Phillips, and a SS in Alex Gonzalez that is under contract through 2009 with a club option for 2010?), both of whom need to be resigned for 2008, in return for Adam Dunn? Also, 2008 club option gives him a full no trade clause anyways.
As far as A-Rod goes, chances of him landing in Detroit are slim. However, he wouldn’t occupy $30 million of a $100 million dollar payroll, the payroll would likely just increase to over $100 million. Between 2 years worth of sellouts that shouldn’t end next year and Illitch looking to add more seats by the dugouts and whatnot, the funds would be there to accommodate a $130+ million payroll. Unless I’m wrong, but I don’t remember there being a cap imposed by Illitch.
Mike R wrote:
the payroll would likely just increase to over $100 million. Between 2 years worth of sellouts that shouldn’t end next year and Illitch looking to add more seats by the dugouts and whatnot, the funds would be there to accommodate a $130+ million payroll. Unless I’m wrong, but I don’t remember there being a cap imposed by Illitch.
You are correct. I saw an interview this year, I forget all the specifics, but the tone of the one asking the questions was an assumption that payroll was limited. That’s when Illitch corrected him and said that he’d never put a dollar limit on the payroll, rather he looked at each contract as an investment. If it had a positive expected value, he would do it. If it was a poor investment with a negative expected value, he wouldn’t. The amount of a contract, in and of itself, was essentially irrelevant.
If Illitch doesn’t want to do it, the 30 million a year, by itself, will have nothing to do with it, it will be because he doesn’t think he’ll get that much back in the marginal increase in revenue. However, if he thinks he WILL, then he will certainly try.
I’m no expert in baseball finance, so I have no idea how much AROD would increase revenue. But I do think it would be an automatic playoff ticket each year and the start of a dynasty in Detroit. I think that would generate…..a lot.
Leyland was asked if Bonds was a possible signing next year, he quickly and flatly said no, that wouldn’t happen, and that Bonds didn’t fit the situation in Detroit. Then he was asked about AROD to fill SS. His response was completely different, and veeeeerrrry interesting.
🙂
We have to dump Pudge. As much as he once symbolized everything that was great a out Detroit’s renaissance, he now symbolizes all that is wrong: the lack of walks, the declining defensive skills, and representing the fundamentall unsound player that screws this thea, I think Puge and Lo Duc A would be a wash, but pudge seems done giv e lo duca 2 yreas at 5,5 . and we;ll call i t a wash. and lo duca u s sceeaner which the r=eaneeds,
Mike R – Why would the Pirates move Bay? Why do they do anything they do? Why didn’t they jump at the chance to dump Jack Wilson’s salary with Izturis already on the team? If you look around the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette website a little, it really seems that Bay is very likely to be at least shopped. LoDuca would be a cheaper option than Pudge, theoretically. As for the Reds hope, Thames is a cheap Dunn replacement, and Raburn a guy to plug in for whichever young player takes a step back next year. The RF job will also be open, assuming Griffey doesn’t come back, and Raburn can either try it out himself or allow another player to move to right. Also, with contention a couple years away, the Reds are unlikely to keep both Harang and Arroyo long term. Like I said, I don’t find this a likely scenario, but the Reds have done stupider things. Plus if Harang is on the table, I think Andrew Miller becomes less untouchable.
I’m glad to have the feeling that DD is not going to let this become the White Sox situation where all the guys that ‘got you there’ get locked up for long term deals come hell or high water. I don’t really know what will happen, but I think this will be a greatly improved team come March, and I like that.
Who needs A Rod? We got enough offense. Let him stay in NY. It’s a guarantee they’ll never win another World Series.
Well, the Pirates not trading Jack Wilson was because of Dave Littlefield as the GM and there’s rumblings that his uncertain future with the club nixed most trades thrown his way. Now, they’ve got a Mark Shapiro (Cleveland GM) disciple which will bring a better GM as Shapiro is one of the best in the business to learn from.
Thames is not a version of Adam Dunn. Adam Dunn has nearly a .125 point split between his BA and his OBP. He K’s a lot but he also gets on base at one of the best clips in the league. Griffey isn’t as good as gone either, there’s a team option that they very well could pick up. I don’t think they will, but you never know with Wayne Krivisky. Ryan Raburn is another super-sub which they already have a few of, namely, Ryan Freel. Aaron Harang doesn’t need to be “kept”. He just signed a deal that keeps him under wraps through 2010 with a club option for 2011. Bronson Arroyo got an extension after his hot start last year on his current deal so now he’s under wraps through 2010 with an option for 2011. They’ve got their big pieces under wraps and their young kids (Joey Votto, a kid name Jay Bruce on the way to play CF, and a great young pitcher name Johnny Cueto) are on the way/already there. Even Wayne Krivisky isn’t stupid enough to trade away people under wraps for 3-5 years.