Billfer likes long walks in Comerica Park. Check out the 
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Video from Dontrelle’s last start. The delivery still looks very much Dontrelle like, but maybe with a dimmer switch so it isn’t as intense
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Eddie appears to be on the verge of cracking the Elias FA ranking formula. Pudge should be a Type A free agent meaning the Tigers stand to get 2 draft picks if they don’t deal him, and they offer him arbitration (and he declines)
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Granderson ranks 8th and Cabrera is somewhere between 10-15. Clearly defense counts.
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JoePos on the Gobble experience
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MIggy had 5 hits and 6 RBI in last night’s game. The last Tiger great to accomplish the feat? Craig Monroe in 2005.
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Thoughts on Pudge: Good to know he should qualify as a Type A free agent. Knowing that pudge wants to play for a while, he may turn down arbitration to sign a longer term contract some place, if not in Detroit. I remember the Mets being interested and I am sure there are other teams in need of a catcher. Perhaps the Yankees with Porsada’s issues. Boras will squeeze every team to get an offer and create a bidding war, if Pudge continues to hit well the rest of the season. It may be best to allow him to go and get those extra picks in the draft and start rebuilding the system with quality players.
I’d ballpark Pudge’s shot at being a Type A guy at about 95% or something along those lines. I’m basically one step away from figuring out the formula.
I’m in the process of checking infielders, as each positional group uses a different formula. It’s a bit more complicated, but I’m fairly certain Edgar Renteria could qualify as a Type A. Hitting .330 last season should help his cause significantly. Any sort of bounce back in the second half, and Renteria is a definite A. And yes, the Tigers can decline the option and offer arbitration, although that’s unlikely because of the buyout on his contract.
After Renteria, I’ll check on Rogers and Jones, although I’m anticipating retirement or a one year return for both.
“Clearly defense counts.”
As it should! Thanks for the link.
Does anyone out there have any hope for a D-Train return this season?
D-Train probably comes back in September after rosters expand. Depending on whether the Tigers are playing meaningful games would likely determine whether or not he gets any starts.
My opinion is that whatever ails him could probably take longer than a couple of months in Lakeland to straighten out. Is it a weight problem; mechanics; injury (ies)? Maybe all three?
“Is it a weight problem; mechanics; injury (ies)?”
Don’t forget mental, or psychological, whatever you want to call it. Seriously. So maybe all four. But I’m not being pessimistic. I’m sure he’ll be back. Hopefully with the Tigers.
It may be time to start looking into getting another bullpen arm.
Honestly, though, what are the chances that pudge declines arbitration? Not likely, in my opinion.
Oh, and Eddie: have you posted what the formula is yet? I’ve heard it’s very … well, simplistic in the types of stats it uses which doesn’t really surprise me at all when you see the types of players that bring back 2 picks year in, year out.