Comments on: Bullpen woes spawn trade talk

By: The Detroit Tiger Weblog » Blog Archive » Tigers linked to crappy relievers

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 20:30:26 +0000

[...] in the week there was talk of Ryan Dempster as a potential target from the Cubs. But again, it’s for a below average player that would [...]

By: Drew

Drew — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 15:04:39 +0000

D-Backs, rather.

By: Drew

Drew — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 01:16:53 +0000

Ken, the only possibility I can find is Miguel Montero of the D-Rays. Thus concludes my dream-research for the day.

By: Chris in Dallas

Chris in Dallas — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 22:06:40 +0000

Well keeping in mind that rumors are just that – rumors – I’d lean more towards Dempster than Sosa. Mostly I look at his K rate to make that decision (he kills Sosa on that front). Plus when he falls apart, he’s got the whole built in ‘Dumpster’ nickname and all. I don’t really think either guy is worth getting excited over. I’d rather hang on to Thames and/or Inge and use an internal option if the need arises for relief help. Odds are you’ll get similar production from a guy like Tata or Vasquez or someone like that if you need to.

By: Mark in Chicago

Mark in Chicago — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 21:10:25 +0000

Just noticed on mlbtraderumors that….

MetsBlog passes along a Jon Heyman WFAN appearance tidbit. The SI.com writer said the Mets and Tigers are discussing a Marcus Thames for Jorge Sosa swap. Thames definitely fits the Mets’ needs, though Sosa seems a little light for him.

Double ugh. Sosa is only marginally better than Dempster. And since Marcus figures to get 300 ABs this year, I would venture that getting only Sosa back is indeed very light.

By: Mark in Chicago

Mark in Chicago — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 21:02:53 +0000

Dempster is awful. It’s baffling that the Cubs are considering putting him in the rotation when he’s had one good season (out of 6) as a starter. He’s also had exactly one good season (out of 3) as a reliever. Career WHIP of 1.55. This is a guy we want to pay $5.5 million to instead of Inge? He’s just not any better than the guys we already have, now imagine him pitching in the AL Central.

It’s going to be tough to trade for bullpen help until we get closer to the end of spring and teams figure who they need to fill holes from injuries and who can’t get through waivers. Zach Miner is a guy they could call upon if they need, and if they get healthy later, he has options to be sent down.

I won’t even discuss the lack of fit Inge is for the Cubs.

By: Chris in Dallas

Chris in Dallas — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:11:07 +0000

Honestly the bullpen woes are kind of overstated. Cumulatively they were just slightly below league average in ‘07, which looks bad. That’s until you remember that Joe Table and Capellan were prominently involved in those numbers. I’m no mathematician, but I think 26 ER in 25.2 IP is going to inflate the group’s ERA. Note that neither of those guys are on the club anymore. Add in some innings thrown by guys named Aquilino Lopez and that further skews the numbers. The core group is, at very least, serviceable. I’m more concerned with the defense on the left side of the infield. That’s going to be a horror show.

By: charlie

charlie — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:54:50 +0000

i used to look at the yankee lineup and think the same thing i’m thinking about the tigers today…how can you spend that much money and have so many potential holes in the lineup.

By: Ken from Cincinnati

Ken from Cincinnati — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:42:58 +0000

I had a really vivid dream last night that Jacque Jones was traded for a catcher with the initials MM. I can’t quite grasp the name. Help me out here. I’m pretty sure he exists.

By: Dave BW

Dave BW — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 13:45:32 +0000

If only we’d had some clear sign that the bullpen was going to be a problem this year

By: Adam

Adam — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 09:17:37 +0000

Trade Clevlen!

By: Jim

Jim — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 05:19:18 +0000

I don’t think they have enough interest in Bazardo.

Infact, there were times late last season I kept wondering why they didnt throw him out there and give him a larger chance…

By: billfer

billfer — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 04:14:22 +0000

Good point about Bazardo. That had slipped my mind and he probably missed what would have been his first appearance.

Eddie – I agree on all counts. I think Rodney will be good for 2-3 months this year, spread out of course. Zumaya doing anything would be a bonus.

By: Brian P

Brian P — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 04:09:05 +0000

I’m hoping the lack of Bazardo appearances is a result of his father’s passing, not a lack of interest or confidence on the Tigers’ part. I think he would be a good choice to regularly work in the bullpen and make starts if there’s a rotation injury. We didn’t get to see Bazardo much last year, but his circle change appeared superb.

As for Dempster, I cringed when I first read his name on MLBTR. It seemed every time I watched the tail end of a Cubs game on WGN, Dempster would enter in a Jones-like fashion and leave everyone biting their nails. Even though he wouldn’t be our closer, I don’t want to have that feeling with two people in our bull-pen.

By: Eddie

Eddie — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 04:07:53 +0000

One more comment. I hate to jump on a premature diagnosis of Rodney’s condition, but biceps and shoulder tendonitis is a bit worrisome if for no other reason than the fact that the labrum tears that typically plague pitchers occur where the biceps connect to the glenoid labrum.

I’m not counting on Rodney this year… or Zumaya for that matter. I do, on the other hand, have faith that the likes of Bazardo, Miner, Bautista, and yes even Grilli can be solid relievers for the team. It may be misplaced faith, but stranger things have happened, and I’d hate to see the Tigers go out and trade a player like Raburn for a reliever who doesn’t help any more than those guys do. Relievers are a strange breed.