Comments on: Game 114: Tigers at White Sox

By: Chief Monday

Chief Monday — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 18:46:44 +0000

In 2007, Jurrjens was terrible his last 2 starts for the Tigers though. After last season, even Bazardo looked better than Jurrjens.

By: Dave BW

Dave BW — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 22:16:15 +0000

Andre —

RE: child-mocking stories

You’re awesome. Seriously.

By: Chris in Dallas

Chris in Dallas — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 21:53:52 +0000

The Louisville Slugger Company loved Jurrjens. He broke more bats per outing than any Tigers pitcher in recent memory.

By: Palmcroft

Palmcroft — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 20:51:39 +0000

Chief:

I thought Jurrjens was one of the smartest young pitchers I’d seen in years. He really knew how to work through an order, how to adjust while on the mound, terrific location and movement. I didn’t see what you did, that is, an overreliance on one pitch.

If there’s such a thing as a “pitchers IQ,” Jair had it. He threw a two-hitter last year that I thought was the finest game I’d seen pitched in ages.

I think Mussina and Maddux are the smartest pitchers going today, and Jair has the makeup to join them. I hated to see him go.

By: Chris in Dallas

Chris in Dallas — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 19:35:15 +0000

Ryan: What you say may be true. But after three or four years or whatever of not getting regular AB, you’d think he might have adjusted to it by now. Not to say that I don’t like Marcus (I do), but some guys are starters and some guys are bench players – I think he’s the latter. That’s not necessarily bad. I think it’s quite a luxury to have power like that coming off of your bench.

By: Ryan In Brooklyn

Ryan In Brooklyn — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 19:31:25 +0000

Chris in D: I’ll agree that Marcus has been steaky in the past. But I wonder if some of that has to do with him never knowing when his next at bat is coming. The positive correlation Rick showed between his PAs and OPS seems to indicate that he might be more productive overall if he saw more regular at bats. This season, we saw him go through an amazing hot streak, followed by the manager proclaiming him the starter in left. That was followed by more of the same platooning with Joyce, Thomas, etc. Not to mention being lifted for defense, often as early as the seventh inning (more lost PAs). I have to think that messes with you as a hitter.

By: Chris in Dallas

Chris in Dallas — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 19:25:57 +0000

One out-of-the-box idea would be to flip Galarraga for someone in the offseason if he can keep up with his pace. I surmise his trade value would never be higher than it is right now. I doubt they’d be able get the haul they got for Jurrjens/Hernandez (coughsarcasmcough), but they might be able to land something decent.

By: Chief Monday

Chief Monday — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:54:29 +0000

That’s what I use to think about Jurrjens. I didn’t think his elbow could take it and though he’d never be a reliable starter. Tiger’s management agreed. So off he went.

By: Palmcroft

Palmcroft — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:09:44 +0000

First, oxycontin and beer only enhance my enthusiasm. Masked by losing, the Tigers started to get things in order in Chicago. Chuckie is, frankly, coaching his *ss off. Good times ‘a comin.

My worry about Galarraga in the future is his heavy reliance on the slider. I carefully watched his near perfecto a few weeks ago, it seemed like every other pitch was a slider. To my mind, he is not a projectible member of a future Tigers staff with such a lopsided mix. His elbow ligament will not take it.

By: Ryan P

Ryan P — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:59:40 +0000

Sheets is a risk health-wise, but if they could get a nice contract laid out (Magglio?), I think it would be a good investmend. Sabathia would be amazing of course, but every time I imagine the Sabathia of the future, he’s in pinstripes. Or somewhere in the northeast, at least. Maybe Illitch and DD have the balls to get him, who knows.

By: Chris in Dallas

Chris in Dallas — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:58:36 +0000

I forgot to add if they can ditch Robertson and his $4 million, that probably would help too.

By: Chris in Dallas

Chris in Dallas — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:57:05 +0000

I don’t know if they try to sign a big FA starter. Sabathia is obviously the prize, but the payroll is pretty high

Not as high as it looks on the surface. The ‘08 payroll was a whopping $137 million (3rd in baseball). Subract the following: $13 million (Pudge), $8 million (Rogers), $7 million (Jones), $10 million (Renteria) and you’re down to right around $100 million. Of course some guys have escelators in their contracts so they’ll be making more next year and there will be holes to plug, but I think they could free up enough payroll to make a push for a Sabathia. And after ‘09 Sheffield’s contract is gone as well. I’m no economist, but I think they should give it a shot. Sheets is too risky health-wise.

By: Mark in Chicago

Mark in Chicago — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:49:57 +0000

So far I’m with you Joel. Battlestar has been pretty lucky, but appears to be at least a competent starter. He could act as a swingman if we are able to land another starter, too Miner is clearly more comfortable in the rotation and has strung together a nice couple starts. I think he deserves a shot as the #5 next year if he keeps this up.

I don’t know if they try to sign a big FA starter. Sabathia is obviously the prize, but the payroll is pretty high and the Yankees, Dodgers, Mets, Cubs?, etc. will throw a ton of money at him. Sheets has too much injury history. Also, a guy like Porcello may be ready to contribute by midseason.

So what happens to Nate? Given his perfomance this year, I’d love to see him shipped out of town, but I doubt that will happen. Maybe he gets traded, but his value just isn’t that high, so DD would be selling low. Best guess is he ends up in the rotation next year and there’s no FA signing, except for the bullpen.

By: Ryan P

Ryan P — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:47:55 +0000

The FA starter that I’m really looking at is Ben Sheets. He’s a great pitcher, and I think he’s someone the Tigers would be willing to sign.

By: Chief Monday

Chief Monday — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:46:35 +0000

Galarraga should be the #1 starter if the 2009 season started Tomorrow.