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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

A few thoughts:

(1) Illitch and co. are spending far too much $$$ NOT to get a lefty reliever or whoever else Leyland thinks he needs in the pen.

What’s the point of giving Cabrara and everyone else so much dough unless you spend a little bit extra to get the last piece in place. Sort of like spending a ton on a new master bath, but then saving a few bucks on a really chintzy sink. That’s all people will see when they look around.

Reminds of the Yawkey Red Sox – a lot of Cadillacs in the parking lot and no WS to show for it.

(2) I thought letting Walker go was a mistake. Now I think it was a major blunder.

(3) The starters will, I think, be very good this year and they’ll need to eat innings because no lead will be safe with the bullpen, including Todd Jones.

Your ‘idle speculation’ is wrong, once again.

Raburn = not going anywhere.
Guzman makes the team. Thomas does not.

Source?

I very well may be wrong – and as you point out it wouldn’t be the first time. But I have 2 days yet before I’m officially wrong unless you know something I don’t.

Raburn = not going anywhere.
Guzman makes the team. Thomas does not.

I hope I’m wrong but I can’t help to think we are going to see a fair share of football scores at Comerica this season.