jep
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response 110 of 116:
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Sep 29 14:42 UTC 2003 |
That article says many of the things I've been waiting to hear. It
appears to acknowledge that there is not enough talent within the
Tigers organization to compete; that the only near-term solution is to
go to the free agent market; and that Mike Ilitch is committed to
making the Tigers into a winner.
Now that he's said it, he just has to do it, and Dave Dombrowski, the
general manager, has to spend the money wisely. We can't have more $10
million per year Bobby Higginsons and $8 million per year Dean Palmers
and Damion Easleys; guys who were all, at one time, above-average ball
players but never anywhere near being stars.
We need to see some guys brought into the minors who have the talent
and are given the coaching to succeed at the major league level.
Before that, we need some starting-quality every day baseball players.
Immediately, we need a catcher, shortstop and center fielder who can
field as well as an average major league baseball player and also hit
well. The Tigers don't have anyone on the team, or in the minors, with
any hope of achieving at that level.
The Tigers were able to cut salary for next year by some $20-25
million, and now need to invest that money. They cut Damion Easley
($14 million for this year and next year), and Dean Palmer ($8
million), Craig Paquette ($2 million). They'll also probably lose
Shane Halter ($2 million) and Matt Anderson ($3.2 million).
In another year they'll be able to dump Bobby Higginson ($12 million);
there's no reason they can't apply that money to better baseball
players as well.
All of those guys were signed to big contracts by Randy Smith, who
never had any idea what constituted a good baseball player. Dave
Dombrowski is better at evaluating talent. Therein lies my hope for
next year and the next few years. If Dombrowski is given the money
that Randy Smith was allowed to spend, I think he can build a good
baseball team with it.
But, we'll see.
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jep
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response 112 of 116:
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Sep 29 15:27 UTC 2003 |
Imagine that... (-:
The Tigers can always be worse as long as their record is not 0-162. I
think it's a pretty fair bet that they'll win more than 43 games next
year. I don't distinguish much between 43 and 70 wins, though; either
way you're a last place team. They haven't improved until they're not
last place in their division. I hope they won't be in last place again
next year.
They haven't really improved until they break this string of
consecutive losing seasons. This was the 10th or 11th straight year
with a less than .500 record. I'd be delighted if they win game #82
next year.
They aren't a good team until they make it into the playoffs. They're
at least a couple of years away from that. I can wait if they start to
improve. (If they don't start to improve, I'll wait anyway, of course.)
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