Comments on: Why look elsewhere for bullpen help?

By: stephen

stephen — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:37:30 +0000

FARNSWORTH?????

By: Mike R

Mike R — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 23:08:38 +0000

Any discussion on Rick Porcello should immediately include the fact that his best strikeout pitch is not being used. His curveball is something that he’s not using in High-A ball as a 19 year old and I’m assuming that’s by the club’s discretion. This is not uncommon, he’s working on his Slider and Change instead. When he gets his curve back next year he’ll be a monster ground ball machine with 20-25% K Rate — those type pitchers aren’t No. 3 starters. Those are the special ones. Think Roy Halladay.

By: stephen

stephen — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 22:58:12 +0000

i only wish jimmy gobble wasn’t hurt. he’s been the biggest tiger difference maker of the year.

By: Dave BW

Dave BW — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 22:55:13 +0000

Also: “Jose Guillen Wants Out of KC”

Who could have seen this coming.

By: Palmcroft

Palmcroft — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 22:54:00 +0000

BTW, since beer almost equals baseball, Dogfish Head is at Ashley’s Westland strutting their stuff, and I assume the game will be on…Free beer-by-sample. With my current no. 2, the 90-minute imperial ipa.

By: Coleman

Coleman — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 22:49:32 +0000

I see Dave BW has moved from #3 to #2…
meanwhile palmcroft having brought up the bar, I am reminded of some unfinished research there, if I may excuse myself for a moment

By: Chief Monday

Chief Monday — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 22:49:02 +0000

opps, Verlander is 6-1 in last 9 starts.

By: Palmcroft

Palmcroft — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 22:48:27 +0000

Chief,

Yup, things could work out great; that kinda stuff sometimes happens. It would be purely happenstance if the Tigers win a championship with Galarraga and Minor as nos. 2 and 3 and would almost certainly not be repeatable.

Given this team’s current hyper-reliance on offense, the DD plan seems to be to bludgeon the opponent into submission — as long as the opponent is not sporting a stud like Paul Byrd.

If you construct a plan for baseball excellence, an oustanding starting staff must be the centerpiece. Such a staff is nowhere to be found on the Tigers roster at present, or in the planning of the current management. To get there, offense must be sacrificed…by the trading deadline.

By: Joel in Seattle

Joel in Seattle — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 22:47:35 +0000

Dave:

ESPN has already done some hard-hitting analysis of the trade:

“Mark Teixeira’s 2008 numbers are better than all of the Angels’ first basemen combined.”

Wow! One of the league’s better 1B is better than a platoon! I think ESPN has really hit on something here.

By: Mark in Chicago

Mark in Chicago — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 22:44:07 +0000

“However, it seems obvious to me that the Tigers are not good enough to win it all this year.”

Palmcroft,

Was it obvious the Cardinals were good enough at 83-79 to win it all in 2006? With one bona fide ace? Was it obvious the Rockies were good enough to run off 20 of 21 at one point and eventually get to the World Series? I would be careful with such absolute certainties, especially when there is still 2 months left in the season.

Also, the Angels get Teixiera from the Braves for Kotchmann and a minor leaguer.

By: Chief Monday

Chief Monday — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 22:39:16 +0000

Galarraga has been dominant all season. He had that perfect game for 7 innings his last start. That’s domination in my book.

Verlander is 7 -1 with a 3.22 in his last 8 starts. That’s Domination in my book.

Minor has given up 2 runs in his 2 starts since getting called up. He’s 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA as a starter. He could be that third dominating guy you want.

By: Dave BW

Dave BW — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 22:38:41 +0000

Oh crap. Mark Teixeira was traded to the Angels.

By: Palmcroft

Palmcroft — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 22:34:39 +0000

Porcello is a young kid, maybe he wanted to lower the bar and/or lower expectations. Even if he was living at 91-92 and touching the mid-90′s, he’s still only 19. He could become a no. 1 with his excellent mix and the increased velocity that might come with growing into his twenties. He could be fabulous in 2010 or 2011, who knows.

However, it seems obvious to me that the Tigers are not good enough to win it all this year. In addition, the window on the current supporting cast is closing. I contend that the trading deadline on Thursday is extremely important to the contention viability of this franchise as currently constituted.

When/If Porcello becomes a stud to bookend Verlander, the stars will certainly be aligned differently vis-a-vis their offense. Maybe DD will be ready. If DD is waiting for that to happen, 2008 and 2009 are almost certainly mail-in years where the Tigers management will try to reward fans with brief appearances in the playoffs; posturing with Bondo as a no. 2, giving interviews about his great “stuff” and “potential” to mask his solid .500 won/loss reality and lopsided dependence on the ligament strain commonly known as the “slider.”

By: Coleman

Coleman — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 22:32:17 +0000

Dave BW “I’m only a number 3! At best!”

You probably missed it, but this beats all the earlier talk of “number 1″ and “number 2″

By: Chris in Dallas

Chris in Dallas — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 22:31:57 +0000

BTW I would dispute Verlander as a “true” number one starter right now. “True” number one meaning he’d be the best starter on a playoff team. He still walks too many guys and seems to shrink in the big games more often than not. He’s the Tigers best starter by a mile, but there’s a slew of other guys in the league I’d rather have as my ace at this point.