Comments on: links for 2007-08-12

By: Mike R

Mike R — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 22:48:47 +0000

This will seem contradictory to my statements on lamenting the cost of Pudge’s option, but I don’t think there should be any budgetary constraints on the payroll. We’re 5th in the majors at 93.7% home attendance (behind Boston, SF, Chicago Cubs, and St. Louis — yes, ahead of the Yankees) and this is the 2nd year in a row we will turn a profit and this year’s profit should blow last years away. We’re setting record highs in ticket sales and with the prices being increased slightly from last years prices, there’s no reason to not have the ability to be top 3-5 in baseball in payroll.

The only thing that I want coming with that, is fiscal responsibility and not just spending money simply because we have it. Smart spending, but not afraid to meet a players salary demands because we have a lot of revenue coming in that will continue to come in so long as the team is a winner.

By: Vince in MN

Vince in MN — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 22:47:45 +0000

As far as offensive upgrades go, for next year the Tigers need to upgrade at C, 3B, 1B (or SS if Guillen moves to 1st), and the bench is weak. Improving at all three isn’t going to be likely, but 2 out of 3 may be doable. Unfortunately, there isn’t much available as far as next year’s FAs for those positions (A-Rod will be back in NY imho). The farm system is also pretty weak at those positions (at least for the next couple of years), so there won’t be any impact position players showing up from Erie or Toledo. Therefore, any changes will have to come by trades, which means dealing from the vaunted pitching depth (Maybin is I think, and should be, untouchable) along with the current cast of underperformers and current bench players. The question will be how much Illitch and DD are willing to give up and will that include some of the big leaguers on the pitching staff (e.g Bonderman, Robertson).

By: Nate

Nate — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 21:53:49 +0000

I guess the question that I have is (and I really don’t know the answer): what percentage of Pudge’s salary is offset by his off-the-field contributions to the Tigers’ bottom line? His actual cost to the team might be much less than his actual salary, because of jersey sales, and other merchandising considerations. I mean, this is a guy who continues to be voted into the All-Star game despite three straight years of decline.

Another question that impacts this discussion (and again, I don’t know the answer) is what limitations are set on the Tigers’ payroll.

By: Mike R

Mike R — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 21:50:37 +0000

My point remains relatively the same. I mean, I won’t throw an enormous fit like if we were to, say, resign Craig Monroe. That would just be flushing money down the toilet.

By: colin

colin — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 21:42:11 +0000

$10 million Mike R. $3M of the $13M is a sunk cost (buyout).

By: Mike R

Mike R — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 21:20:22 +0000

Nate, all very solid points. I do think that Lo Duca at say $6.5 million for his production is better then Pudge getting $13 million for his (lack of) production.

By: Nate

Nate — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 21:08:07 +0000

I know Lo Duca is also 35, however, he’d be cheaper and he’s more likely to put up a higher OBP.

True. But he’s a good bet to hit for much less power.

Lo Duca’s also battled shoulder problems which have zapped his numbers this year.

Given the speed with which catchers decline, don’t you think he’s a good bet not to bounce back from this injury?

He’s good for .290/.340/.415 most every year

I don’t think this has been true. He’s only slugged above .400 four times in his career. He had a good year last year, but given his performance in Florida since mid-2004, his good 2006 looks more like a late-career fluke due to a high BABIP than a baseline that you can expect him to return to.

and this year he’s only making $6.25 so even if we give him a slight raise he’d still be millions cheaper then Pudge.

This is true. But I think his production would be much worse than you’re making it out to be.

By: Bill A \ Kal MI

Bill A \ Kal MI — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 20:24:31 +0000

“due to Angel Hernandez’s awful strike zone.”

yeah. I think we are onto a very definite problem.

doesn’t the league provide a guideline for calling a strike? and hopefully these Umps can get a little post-game review with some camera data. Doesn’t Gameday document exactly where each pitch went?

what’s the rule? any part of the ball over any part of the plate or is some of these guys looking for all of the ball over the plate? there’s a lot of difference…

By: Kathy

Kathy — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 17:33:08 +0000

Agree, agree, agree….keep Pudge. Ilitch loves him, the little kids love him. Look at all the fans who wear Rodriguez jersey’s. He’s the only guy who agreed to come to Detroit and a godawful team. He’s worth 13 million imho.

By: colin

colin — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 16:12:45 +0000

You don’t HAVE to resign Pudge!!! It’s totally OK to let an expensive, declining veteran walk. Has everyone forgotten Branch Rickey- “Better to trade a player a year too early than a year too late”?

Wait, I have a better idea! Let’s just keep him until he gets 3000 hits! So that way, if he never walks, that just means he’ll get there that much faster! It’ll be great for the fans, and baseball!

By: Coach Jim

Coach Jim — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 15:44:00 +0000

Oh and Kyle J is spot-on. Selig’s priorities do seem to be arbitrary.

By: Coach Jim

Coach Jim — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 15:42:34 +0000

Gotta pay Pudge. Jason is right that as veterans near the end of their careers they are paid more than their last season was worth; just as young players (like Verlander) get paid much less than their previous season was worth. As much as he infuriates me as a hitter (why does ANYONE throw him a strike?) he still has stretches where his AVG creeps close to .300. Defensively he is far from a liability. I would still put him as one of the better defensive catchers in the game. The bottom line though, is that Mike Rabelo is our next in line. Mike MIGHT be able to equal Pudge’s offensive output, but come nowhere near the defense. This is not about BANG FOR THE BUCK. You don’t win your division by having average players for cheap.

By: Kurt

Kurt — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 15:37:38 +0000

I don’t think Rabelo is ready to be a starter. I think he’s fine at the plate for a catcher. Defensively, he’s, so-so. Pudge isn’t the gold glover he used to be, so it’s not a huge dropoff. And while statistically, there doesn’t seem to be any evidence a catcher actually improves a pitching staff, I think there’s something to being Pudge.

What’s out there? Doesn’t seem to be much. How much would Jason Kendall cost for a year? Not that he’s hitting either, but maybe it would cost less. But that’s probably unlikely too.

Given there are few alternatives, I think they almost have to pick up the option.

By: Kyle J

Kyle J — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 15:18:57 +0000

1) You have to pick up the Pudge option–for intangible reasons if nothing else. As much as Pudge caused the team trouble during the end of the Trammell era, this guy is the closest thing we have to an emotional leader. See, for example, his base running exploits and his role as the guy who came out to control Sheffield when Sheff was wrestling his way through Leyland after being thrown out of the game for throwing his bat. For as much as some critics here recently claimed that DD isn’t committed to making the Tigers a year-in and year-out contender, paying a few extra million to a key team leader, especially when there isn’t an obvious replacement on the horizon, is the sort of thing a big-time contender does.

2) Is it just me, or is this draft slotting thing ridiculous? This is what the commissioner chooses to spend his time and political capital on? No wonder the steroids thing has been such a mess.

By: Jason

Jason — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 12:42:23 +0000

Keep him.

first, we gave him the contract, obviously we thought he was worth it. second, i think he’s earned the right to get paid 13m. veterans often get more than what they may be “worth”.

unless you get victor martinez on this team, i dont see any reason not to keep him.