Comments on: Game 84: Red Sox at Tigers

By: Kathy

Kathy — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 17:40:41 +0000

Thanks, Ed.

By: Ed

Ed — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 16:56:21 +0000

Kathy….I like to take I94 west until I75…I go south on I75 to I375 and get off off in the left lane and take Madison and park back there…usually 15-20…or you can go farther on I375 and get off on Lafayette and take a right and park down by Greektown for 10-15 or so and walk about 10 blocks..I personally park off madison..easy in and very quick out

By: Kathy

Kathy — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 16:36:42 +0000

Re: Directions to the park. Can we get straight to the park or close to it by staying on I94? We’re coming from the western part of the state and the directions on the website made us almost 45 minutes late last game.

I’ve been to 3 games and we’ve always won. Don’t disappoint me Tigers.

By: Bob S.

Bob S. — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 15:38:02 +0000

I think the plusses of having Miller stay up far outweigh any minus.There’s nothing he can learn in the minors that can substitute for what he picks up pitching for a big league contender,especially one that can give him a lead to pitch with.It’s a completely different situation than what Bonderman had to endure.
I agree about his need to work on another pitch.One possibility is the occasional simulated start,letting Durbin or Miner have his place in the rotation.More than anything,I’d worry about fatigue from having him pitch every five days in game conditions.

By: ron

ron — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 14:23:19 +0000

David said it all. I think the extra inning loss to Cleveland was a wake up call; like when Sheff got plunked earlier in the season. It was a game they should have won.I think it pissed off everyone because they’ve come out swinging since then.Go Tigers.

By: David

David — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 06:51:52 +0000

OK, first of all, last time I checked the Tigers play in the AL, as far as attendance goes we are fourth after only the Yankees, Red Sox and Angels.

And although Detroit and Michigan is hurting our outer rings (descendants of Detroit when it was not crap) have some extremely wealthy spots.

As the A’s and Twins have pointed out you don’t need to be the Yanks or a mid-market to compete.

Oh and how are those Yanks doing now?

It is not how much money you have it is how you spend it and how you draft. And so far Dombrowski has made many good moves (and several dumb).

The way our team looks including the minors I would be very scared if I was any other AL team, esp. in the AL Central.

I especially like him going after guys like Verlander, Maybin, Miller, and Porcello who are harder to sign. Its better to pay a couple mil for a top 5 pick and get them into the organization, get used to playing with a ton of other top talent guys, start breeding winning and get them to want to stay for their career.

Miller is extremely talented, but he needs to locate more often low in the zone. I would not be surprised if he ended up 12-6 with a 3.85 ERA. Plus he can learn another pitch up here and it’s better for him to learn from Kenny Bondo etc. on how to get specific hitters now rather than later. Heck he could win ROY if he keeps pitching like this.

By: Cameron in Singapore

Cameron in Singapore — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 05:48:04 +0000

Whew…
We survived the first game of the Neifi suspension with a win! We still have a tough 24 remaining.

By: ron

ron — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 05:18:54 +0000

MID LEVEL MARKET? SEND MILLER BACK DOWN? SOME OF YOU PEOPLE GOTTA BE ON CRACK. AND DON’T LET THOSE BUSINESS DEGREES GO TO YOUR HEAD. JUST KEEP DOMBROWSKI HERE TILL HE DROPS DEAD AND I’LL GUARANTEE YOU WE’LL BE COMPETITIVE FOR A LONG TIME.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 03:40:36 +0000

Well Dave, I indeed meant the city when I said metro area. My bad. Let me clarify: If you have a city whose core population is in permanent decline, you’re never going to compete with the affluence of Chicago, NYC, LA, Boston; no matter how well the outer rings are doing. There’s a certain amount of capital and disposable income that only flows to cities with a vibrant downtown. Other cities with similiar metro area populations, San Francisco and Seattle immediately come to mind, will always have the affluent advantage over the Detroits of the world. And, unfortunately, that impacts baseball.

By: Jim

Jim — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 03:19:31 +0000

Ah, you mean in the grand scheme…I agree with you definatly then. I thought you meant based on overall salary. It doesn’t help that we’re in the midwest either. Biggest markets in baseball are on the East then in the West..

Stephen I think those numbers are very realistic for Miller..I’d say maybe a smaller ERA but not by much.

By: Dave Wagner

Dave Wagner — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 03:14:59 +0000

Stephen -

Detroit is indeed a mid-level market, but the metro area is actually increasing enormously in population. As usual, it’s the city itself (an extreme minority of the market itself) that is declining. Obviously, this wasn’t the heart of your argument, but to state “those are the facts” after a blatantly false claim isn’t a great way to support your points.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 03:08:23 +0000

T Smith: As usual, well said.

If Miller ends the year 10-7 with an ERA of 4.50 I’d be happy. That seems imminently possible.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 03:00:39 +0000

I’m sorry but Detroit is not gonna be more than a mid market team in any sport, ever. I don’t want to get all urban planning on this, but the declining population rate of the metro area just is not gonna generate either the tv ad money or the luxury box sales, or ticket revenue to make Detroit a big market team. Sure, we’ve sold 2.8 mil seats in a banner year, but a team like the Red Sox regularly sniffs 2.8 and their ticket prices are so much higher than the Tigers.
Those are the facts.

By: T Smith

T Smith — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 02:55:17 +0000

The bottom line here:

This kid is gonna get knocked around some; and he’s also gonna give us seven good innings every now and again. What’s the pros and cons to that? If he gets knocked around (and he will, trust me) how much is that really going to hurt his career — and his worth to the future of this organization?

What he loses in riding the learning curve at Toledo, he gains in pitching along side Kenny et. al. That’s not to say Billfer doesn’t make valid points. But I just don’t see this “experiment” hurting his future all that much. He’s learning here too, and if we can get a quality start every now in then with the deal, I don’t have too much problem with it. I think he has enough talent to do just that.

That said, ask me again after his next start. I still think he’s the weak link in the rotation (which speaks nothing at all to his raw ability and talent. The kid is amazing).

By: Jim

Jim — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 02:47:40 +0000

Mid market? I wouldn’t say that…We’re in the top ten and we’ll move up next year probably.

Miller looked good to me…I don’t mind him being here if he pitches like that for us.

Oh..and trade maybin!