Comments on: Game 92: Royals at Tigers

By: Kurt

Kurt — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 16:29:22 +0000

We have a ton of dingers on this team, what I think everyone likes most about Abreu is hit ability to get on base. That and he’s driven 28.6% of runners in scoring positions. I think right now that’s more important to this club than a bunch more homers. He has higher OBP/SLG/OPS than Soriano against both right and left handers, too.

By: Kyle J

Kyle J — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 13:39:02 +0000

“Not a single major leaguer? Who would we send down to make room?”

Maybe Santiago, since Soriano could play 2B?

By: Nick G

Nick G — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 02:40:24 +0000

Not saying we couldn’t use another one, though. Just want to be absolutely clear of what I’m talking about or somebody might think I’m saying we have Wally Berger…

By: Nick G

Nick G — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 02:31:45 +0000

What do you guys think of Baseball Reference’s “similar batters” list at the bottom of each player’s page? For Abreu through age 31:

1. Bernie Williams (938)
2. Reggie Smith (898)
3. Will Clark (895)
4. Fred Lynn (894)
5. Larry Walker (889)
6. Raul Mondesi (887)
7. Mike Sweeney (885)
8. Wally Berger (885)
9. Chick Hafey (883) *
10. Magglio Ordonez (882)

Hey! We have one of those! An All-Star who bats right…Hint: #10.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 01:44:52 +0000

I’m really kind of confused as to how a guy like Abreu with a .455 slugging perctentage and isolated power of .169 can be viewed as lacking power. That’s not devastating power, but it’s certainly solid.

Throw in that .442 OBA and I’m thinking Abreu would add a lot to the lineup. That’s almost a .900 OPS, which is even with Guillen and behind only Thames as far as current regulars.

By: Jeff M

Jeff M — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 01:22:23 +0000

the Free Press says Soriano would cost: Sanchez, Jurrjens, and Clevlen.

Not a single major leaguer? Who would we send down to make room?

By: Dennis

Dennis — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 22:36:45 +0000

article on espn.com says abreu is gonna want extra guaranteed $$$$$$$$$ for any trade, as in his option year picked up or his contract extended…

By: Kyle J

Kyle J — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 20:39:21 +0000

Great analysis, Matt. Here’s what the Free Press says Soriano would cost: Sanchez, Jurrjens, and Clevlen.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.....9/60717010

By: Matt in Toledo

Matt in Toledo — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 19:26:23 +0000

The way I look at the Soriano and Abreu rumors is this:

Soriano is the same type of hitter the lineup is littered with. He’s right-handed, free-swinging with good power. He might do it better than the guys the Tigers have currently, but what he would cost probably isn’t worth the difference.

Abreu is a completely different animal from anything we have in Detroit. He already has more walks than any Tiger save perhaps Granderson will have at season’s end, and while he may not have great power any more, the Tigers don’t NEED great power right now. They have the fourth best slugging percentage in the league, and they need people on base to make that fact hurt more. When I think of Abreu batting second or third in the lineup, I start involuntarily drooling.

By: Jeff M

Jeff M — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 18:12:57 +0000

but you can’t expect a season like this every year.

Of course not every year… just the next 10

By: Kyle J

Kyle J — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 18:02:36 +0000

Two other current stats for Abreu: .442 OBP, 22 doubles. If we’re looking for a player without any flaw, we’re not going to find him (and over his career, I’d say Abreu has come pretty close to being a player without a major flaw). The power numbers are bound to pick up. If DD can get him for Monroe and a minor league pitcher, I don’t see how you don’t make the deal. The Tigers’ future is fairly bright, but you can’t expect a season like this every year.

By: Jason

Jason — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 16:51:19 +0000

Monroe certainly suspects he’s going – his last postgame interview on FSN was a plea not to “break up the team” as long as they kept winning.

By: Scott

Scott — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 16:29:27 +0000

hmmm, here’s some stats on Abreu: He has 8 HRs so far, with 60 RBIs in 297 ABs. His BA is .286; slugging is . 455. He’s stolen 19 of 23 attempts; his fielding avg. is .994 (1 error so far)…so he’s a much better fielder than Thames. But, he’s only got 8 HRs ( 1 HR / 37 ABs); not really the POWER hitter we need. Don’t forget, Comerica is not really conducive to the HR. If he has power troubles in Philly, he’ll certainly have them in Detroit. He knocks in plenty of runs, and obviously has some speed on the base paths. If we could trade him 1 for 1 with Monroe, I’d do it, but if they want somebody else…..hmmm, I don’t know. In my book, we don’t need (and I don’t want) Soriano….he’s a righty, and worse, a crybaby. He whined like a child in spring training when they wanted to move him to OF. I don’t need that kind of attitude. These guys are getting paid obscene amounts of $; to whine and pout is unforgivable. No, the Nats can keep him….

By: Walt

Walt — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 14:56:15 +0000

Would it be tooo much to hope for Abreu and Soriano? Probably, but I have been pretty spoiled by the Tigers this year.

By: Kyle J

Kyle J — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 14:23:12 +0000

IMO, adding a guy with a career OBP over .400 and a career slugging pct. over .500 would be fairly exciting. It would be a major upgrade over Monroe (who I assume would be part of the deal).

And he may be overrated as a fielder, but he did win a Gold Glove last year. I have a hard time believing he’s worse in the field than Thames.

http://www.baseball-reference......bo01.shtml