Baseball purists who yearn for the days before pop music, commercials and in-game entertainment became staples of the game will have the chance to revel in the “good old days” as the Tigers host “Silent Night” on Monday, August 5 versus Anaheim. The Tigers will return baseball to its bare essentials for one night without the electronic, video and commercial enhancements that are commonplace in today’s game. The August 5 game has been added as the make-up game for the Tigers rainout against the Angels on May 16.

But it’s sad that you even would think of trading a 25-year-old who already looks like one of the best pitchers in the league. It’s just as sad that the constant sense of turmoil makes it impossible for the Tigers to live up to even their limited potential.

Tigers righthander Jeff Weaver is the Cardinals’ No. 1 target, and the team likely would part with its top prospect, Class AA righthander Jimmy Journell. But the Cardinals, Diamondbacks and Red Sox might not have enough quality young players to land Weaver. Asked if the Tigers are still asking the moon for Weaver, one GM said, “and the sun, too.” . . .

But perhaps the closest deal, and one that shows just how willing the Tigers are to trade Weaver, is the one the Tigers were hoping to make with Montreal. According to ESPN’s Peter Gammons, Tigers General Manager Dave Dombrowski called Indians’ GM Mark Shapiro shortly after the Tribe traded Bartolo Colon to the Expos, because the Tigers had been trying to land the same prospects the Indians ended up with.
According to Gammons, quoting Shapiro: “(Dombrowski) knew the players because he was talking to (Expos’ GM Omar Minaya about Weaver). He knows about making deals like this because of his Florida experience. He told me you just have to accept the fact that the public won’t like it.'”

6. Jose Lima, starting pitcher, Detroit Tigers ($7.25 million)
In seven-plus seasons, Lima’s won 60 and lost 72, and sports a lifetime ERA of 5.10. He’s being paid big bucks now because, for two years — 1998 and 1999 — he was a very good pitcher for the Astros. Now, he’s a terrible pitcher for the Tigers, sporting an ERA of 11.12 this season in only 22 2/3 innings pitched.

Henriquez, 28, was called up from Triple-A Toledo after the Tigers placed outfielder Jacob Cruz on the 15-day disabled list. Cruz has bone chips in his left elbow and is expected to see doctors next week to find out the extent of his injury and if he needs surgery.

What Dombrowski does between now and the July 31 trade deadline will have everything to do with how fast the Tigers become shipshape.
Like it or not, that probably means trading Jeff Weaver for players who can help the Tigers end this rebuilding charade, which has consumed the better part of 15 years.

What he did, basically, was jump a sinking ship for one that’s never going to go down regardless of how rough the seas get.

Jeff Weaver remains a big commodity, with the Red Sox and Diamondbacks scouting him lately. And Damion Easley, Bobby Higginson and either Shane Halter or Craig Paquette are eminently available. If the Tigers would take on Denny Neagle’s contract (and they’re interested), they remain a candidate to make a big deal with the Rockies.

Tigers catcher Mike Rivera has done nothing but crush the ball since being sent back to Toledo. In the 21 games since his demotion he hit .321 with nine homers and 21 RBIs. He’ll be back in the majors at some point, but will have to improve his defense if he’s going to knock Brandon Inge out of the lineup.