Comments on: Another wild day in Lakeland http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/03/another-wild-day-in-lakeland/ News, views, and analysis on the Detroit Tigers and baseball Tue, 02 Dec 2008 03:01:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: BaseballinDC http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/03/another-wild-day-in-lakeland/#comment-77911 BaseballinDC Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:21:17 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/03/another-wild-day-in-lakeland/#comment-77911 Rick G's analysis is spot on - unsurprising that those who think trading Walker was a dandy idea don't bother to post any #s. I'm not advocating anything hasty here - just that the Tigers shouldn't settle for the team they currently have if they get the opportunity to upgrade the bull pen. Next, we DO have guys. The question is what there is available for them, but there's usually a deal that can be made with enough money to sweeten it. I agree with Rick that later in the season will probably reveal some better deals, and we'll be able to assess what we need. Again, as he points out, Seay and Byrdyk had abnormal years last year. You better believe if Leyland could get Walker for $4m this season, he'd jump at it. The REAL waste would be to spend what they have and not have anything to show for it. Things will probably shake out in July as the trading deadline approaches, and teams that need to rebuild become more willing to part with current talent. Rick G’s analysis is spot on - unsurprising that those who think trading Walker was a dandy idea don’t bother to post any #s.

I’m not advocating anything hasty here - just that the Tigers shouldn’t settle for the team they currently have if they get the opportunity to upgrade the bull pen. Next, we DO have guys. The question is what there is available for them, but there’s usually a deal that can be made with enough money to sweeten it. I agree with Rick that later in the season will probably reveal some better deals, and we’ll be able to assess what we need. Again, as he points out, Seay and Byrdyk had abnormal years last year. You better believe if Leyland could get Walker for $4m this season, he’d jump at it.

The REAL waste would be to spend what they have and not have anything to show for it. Things will probably shake out in July as the trading deadline approaches, and teams that need to rebuild become more willing to part with current talent.

]]> By: Rick G http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/03/another-wild-day-in-lakeland/#comment-77899 Rick G Thu, 27 Mar 2008 23:13:58 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/03/another-wild-day-in-lakeland/#comment-77899 Normally, I'd agree with Eric regarding the role of a Seay or Walker, but the absence of Rodney and Zumaya, and the perennial uncertainty of Jones puts pressure on every other pitcher. Plus, we play 54 games against teams with Sizemore, Hafner, Morneau, Mauer, and Thome. I'd rather have another solid lefty on the roster than to have to trot the cheese man out there in a tight spot to face one of those five. :( Normally, I’d agree with Eric regarding the role of a Seay or Walker, but the absence of Rodney and Zumaya, and the perennial uncertainty of Jones puts pressure on every other pitcher.

Plus, we play 54 games against teams with Sizemore, Hafner, Morneau, Mauer, and Thome. I’d rather have another solid lefty on the roster than to have to trot the cheese man out there in a tight spot to face one of those five. :(

]]> By: Sam http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/03/another-wild-day-in-lakeland/#comment-77898 Sam Thu, 27 Mar 2008 21:07:44 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/03/another-wild-day-in-lakeland/#comment-77898 Let's not hyperventilate. We are fine with one lefty in the pen. I would rather keep Bazardo (out of options), Bautista (out of options - great Spring) and Lopez (great spring) instead of Byrdak. A lot of manager's overmanage using LOOGY's anyway. The pen is now: Jones Bautista Bazardo Bautista Miner Grilli Seay Who do you cut for a replacement level LOOGY?? -Sam Let’s not hyperventilate.

We are fine with one lefty in the pen. I would rather keep Bazardo (out of options), Bautista (out of options - great Spring) and Lopez (great spring) instead of Byrdak.

A lot of manager’s overmanage using LOOGY’s anyway.

The pen is now:
Jones
Bautista
Bazardo
Bautista
Miner
Grilli
Seay

Who do you cut for a replacement level LOOGY??

-Sam

]]> By: Chris in Dallas http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/03/another-wild-day-in-lakeland/#comment-77897 Chris in Dallas Thu, 27 Mar 2008 21:02:30 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/03/another-wild-day-in-lakeland/#comment-77897 Kevin: Bugs Bunny threw a hell of a changeup... Kevin: Bugs Bunny threw a hell of a changeup…

]]> By: Eric Cioe http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/03/another-wild-day-in-lakeland/#comment-77893 Eric Cioe Thu, 27 Mar 2008 19:12:38 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/03/another-wild-day-in-lakeland/#comment-77893 If we don't make the post season, it won't be because we didn't have a good situational lefty. If we don’t make the post season, it won’t be because we didn’t have a good situational lefty.

]]> By: Rick G http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/03/another-wild-day-in-lakeland/#comment-77891 Rick G Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:52:20 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/03/another-wild-day-in-lakeland/#comment-77891 Letting Walker go was probably not a <i>blunder</i>, but it was a mistake nonetheless. Walker's ERA the last 6 years: 3.71, 3.32, 3.20, 3.70, 2.81, 3.23 (while pitching at least 43 innings each year). Seay and Byrdak both had career years last year Byrdak=3.20 ERA, never below 4.05 before that, Seay=2.33 ERA while pitching twice as many innings (46) as he ever had before - though he did have a 2.38 ERA in 2004 for Tampa in 22 innings. Seay will probably be pretty good this year, but it's far less certain than Walker would be. Seay's younger than Walker, (29 vs. 36) but you don't really look at situational lefties for upside. Walker for $4mil/year would look pretty good right now, wouldn't he? Especially when you didn't have to trade anyone to have him. (It's easy to say when it's not my money!) This team will probably hit their way to 90+ wins no matter what. But there is plenty of time to pick up a reliever at the trade deadline if they need one - no reason to panic now and make a bad trade, especially dealing away more young talent. Letting Walker go was probably not a blunder, but it was a mistake nonetheless.

Walker’s ERA the last 6 years: 3.71, 3.32, 3.20, 3.70, 2.81, 3.23 (while pitching at least 43 innings each year).

Seay and Byrdak both had career years last year
Byrdak=3.20 ERA, never below 4.05 before that,
Seay=2.33 ERA while pitching twice as many innings (46) as he ever had before - though he did have a 2.38 ERA
in 2004 for Tampa in 22 innings.

Seay will probably be pretty good this year, but it’s far less certain than Walker would be. Seay’s younger than Walker, (29 vs. 36) but you don’t really look at situational lefties for upside.

Walker for $4mil/year would look pretty good right now, wouldn’t he? Especially when you didn’t have to trade anyone to have him. (It’s easy to say when it’s not my money!)

This team will probably hit their way to 90+ wins no matter what. But there is plenty of time to pick up a reliever at the trade deadline if they need one - no reason to panic now and make a bad trade, especially dealing away more young talent.

]]> By: Kevin in Austin http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/03/another-wild-day-in-lakeland/#comment-77890 Kevin in Austin Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:45:04 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/03/another-wild-day-in-lakeland/#comment-77890 Walker was great, but letting him go at that price was just fine. What's he making this year, $4M? I'm 100% on board with BinDCs point about spending money for all that offense and then being one little piece away. Seems like a no brainer that they'll bring in another piece in the pen. Of course, this assumes that the front office feels they need one. We've been round and round on this over the last week. Seems like 1/2 of us would rather run Bugs Bunny out there, and the other 1/2 think that we've got enough as it stands. Should make for some lively finger pointing throughout the year. Also, Walt at CMU really ripped a gaping hole in Mark's post. I'm anxious to see the next one. Walker was great, but letting him go at that price was just fine. What’s he making this year, $4M? I’m 100% on board with BinDCs point about spending money for all that offense and then being one little piece away. Seems like a no brainer that they’ll bring in another piece in the pen.

Of course, this assumes that the front office feels they need one. We’ve been round and round on this over the last week. Seems like 1/2 of us would rather run Bugs Bunny out there, and the other 1/2 think that we’ve got enough as it stands. Should make for some lively finger pointing throughout the year.

Also, Walt at CMU really ripped a gaping hole in Mark’s post. I’m anxious to see the next one.

]]> By: Joel in Seattle http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/03/another-wild-day-in-lakeland/#comment-77889 Joel in Seattle Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:21:57 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/03/another-wild-day-in-lakeland/#comment-77889 BaseballinDC- It's not just about money right now... there's not a lot of talent out there on the waiver wire. The problem now is we have to give up guys, and we don't have a lot of extra ones lying around that other teams want. BaseballinDC-

It’s not just about money right now… there’s not a lot of talent out there on the waiver wire. The problem now is we have to give up guys, and we don’t have a lot of extra ones lying around that other teams want.

]]> By: Chris in Dallas http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/03/another-wild-day-in-lakeland/#comment-77887 Chris in Dallas Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:33:39 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/03/another-wild-day-in-lakeland/#comment-77887 Letting Walker go was *not* a blunder. Seay and Byrdak filled the same role with equal or better results. Granted now Byrdak is gone, but Seay remains and should do fine. At his age and price tag, Walker had exactly zero upside. Letting Walker go was *not* a blunder. Seay and Byrdak filled the same role with equal or better results. Granted now Byrdak is gone, but Seay remains and should do fine. At his age and price tag, Walker had exactly zero upside.

]]> By: Walt at CMU http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/03/another-wild-day-in-lakeland/#comment-77886 Walt at CMU Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:27:24 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/03/another-wild-day-in-lakeland/#comment-77886 It looks like Guzman is on waivers now. http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080327/SPORTS02/80327024/1050/rss15 It looks like Guzman is on waivers now.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.....1050/rss15

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