Comments on: Lloyd McClendon to be hitting coach

By: Andy in WB

Andy in WB — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 03:47:00 +0000

josh, along that same line of thought, one would think don slaught was crazy to step away from the job, until you hear his reasons why. i never meant any acrimony towards you josh, i like to debate baseball, but i think bull is more important to the tigers in toledo, and i think the tigers and bull feel the same.

By: Joshua M.

Joshua M. — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 02:26:29 +0000

andy none taken, but that is a curious thing about him always being overlooked. It just seems like he would want to be a hitting coach in the majors. If not then I understand the McClendon signing I wasnt implying he wasnt qualified just that I thought Bull should have gotten the job

By: Andy in WB

Andy in WB — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 04:12:10 +0000

Also Josh…
Please rethink your theory, Leon “Bull” Durham spent his entire career being the overlooked guy behind Gary Mathews and Andre Dawson. I think he likes his role with the tigers, he gets a chance to help young players develop into major league hitters.
Do you think that Mags would’ve taken Bull’s advice early in the season to try and hit the ball to right field? When Edgar Martinez told him to do that he listened. (btw another great hitter that’s now a hitting coach, missed that one)
And thank you for pointing out my Torre miscue, but my point was made

By: Andy in WB

Andy in WB — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 03:53:13 +0000

Josh, I didn’t mean to imply that you were turning against Leyland as a manager, I only meant to say that, “yes, you’re the only guy tired of his Pittsburgh loyalties”. Those are the coaches he’s worked with and been successful with, why change what works? Being a manager myself, (albeit in the restaurant industry) for over 20 years, I will always take a former employee that I know is capable over one that I haven’t worked with.

No offense intended.

By: Joshua M.

Joshua M. — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 22:51:38 +0000

Andy re read my post cause I never said I was tired of Leyland as a manager that would make me insane to say the least. I love the guy and what he did for us this year. What I said was I was tired of him being so loyal to the Pirates. I can even understand it to some point, but the point I was making was by passing over the bull you are pretty much telling him he has peaked in our organization and that could cause him to go to another organization. So instead of having two hitting coaches at the major league level which if we had promoted the bull we would have had with him and McClendon. We now have the chance to lose the bull altogether.

By: Jeff M

Jeff M — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 20:50:07 +0000

Freep is reporting it too.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.....9/61110019

By: Jeff M

Jeff M — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 20:49:20 +0000

I just heard (second-hand) that Sheffield is a done deal. Humberto Sanchez + two other minor league pitchers. Not sure if the contract is being reworked. I hope so.

By: Walewander

Walewander — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 20:48:44 +0000

The Yankees and Tigers have agreed on a Gary Sheffield trade, SI.com has learned.

In return, the Yankees will acquire highly touted right-hander Humberto Sanchez and Class A pitchers Kevin Whelan and Anthony Claggett, according to a Tigers source.

The Tigers will extend Sheffield’s contract for two years beyond the one year and $13 million remaining.

Sheffield reunites with manager Jim Leyland and GM Dave Dombrowski, who were all a part of the 1997 world champion Florida Marlins.

By: Walewander

Walewander — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 20:47:17 +0000

According to SI.com, we just acquired Sheffield for Sanchez and two others…

By: Joey C.

Joey C. — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 20:30:04 +0000

Kyle I totally agree with you on the imposing presence of Sheffield. He has, without a doubt, the quickest bat I’ve ever seen. It would certainly be fun watching him bat day in and day out.

By: Joey C.

Joey C. — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 20:28:32 +0000

I don’t think our team is full of character guys, but JD Drew has done enough to prove himself an exceptional jerk, and I don’t think he provides enough of an upgrade to warrant paying out more than 11 mil a season. Do you? Because that’s what he’s after. And I can’t just overlook the injury issue.

The guy is overpaid NOW. Why on earth would anyone want to pay him more than that?

By: Walewander

Walewander — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 18:20:48 +0000

Joey, I share some of your issues about to Drew, but if you don’t think he’d be a major upgrade over any of our OFs (If healthy… I know) you’re insane. And since when have we been a team full of character guys? Kenny, Pudge, Dmitri, even C-Mo all have checkered histories. As Neil Young once sang, ‘Some are saints, and some are jerks…. they’re ordinary people.’

By: Kyle J

Kyle J — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 18:02:55 +0000

I’m afraid that meeting the need for a big-time middle-of-the-order bat is probably going to require adding someone with ego issues. On the one hand, it saddens me that Detroit’s status as a team full of solid character guys may be ending. On the other hand, I think it’s an inevitable consequence of Illitch increasing payroll to try to get the Tigers into the category of perennial contender.

Re: Sheffield: The one thing I’ll say about him is that he has perhaps the most imposing plate presence of any hitter in recent years with the way he waves that bat, like he’s just itching for the pitch to arrive so he can hammer it somewhere.

By: Joey C.

Joey C. — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 17:39:18 +0000

Charlie, rumor central has us closing in on Sheff. I can’t say I’m too excited about that either.

First off it doesn’t address our need for lefty hitting. Second, who are we going to have to give up to get this 38 year old man who’s coming off of injury? Third, where do we put him? Our outfield is crowded enough as it is. Especially when you consider that Maybin may force himself onto the roster before we’re all expecting.

I suppose that you could platoon him and Maggs between right and DH.

If we’re going to make a trade, I’d rather see us trade for a corner infielder with some power. I’m still dreaming of Teixeira–but I’d hate to lose Bonderman.

By: Joey C.

Joey C. — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 17:32:34 +0000

Walewander, you know how some people say that they wouldn’t follow the Tigers if they signed Bonds to a contract? That’s the way I feel about JD Drew.

Okay, that’s an exageration, but I do loath that guy. He’s overpaid as it is. He’s constantly hurt. He only hit 20 homeruns last year. Look at his numbers compared to Monroe’s–he clearly has an edge in OBP (about 90 points higher) and BA (30 points higher), but Monroe hit 8 more homeruns and their RBI and SLG are comparable.

Tell me how 11 million a year isn’t enough dough for a guy with Drew’s numbers? Especially when you factor in that he is constantly injured. He’s a career malcontent who only looks forward to the big money grab. I don’t have any time for a guy like that, and I don’t want him on my team. I think he brings more negatives to the table than positives and I certainly don’t think he’s worth a multi-year in excess of 10 mil a year.