Comments on: Dombrowski talks payroll and closer

By: Chris in Dallas

Chris in Dallas — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 19:56:44 +0000

billfer: I always respect Neyer’s opinions – he’s one of the good ones out there. He’s been pretty hard on the Tigers in recent times, though (of course it’s worth mentioning that he also pegged them to win 90-92 games this season, so I guess he’s not really that down on them).

By: Smoking Loon

Smoking Loon — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 00:35:49 +0000

Ken – at last, someone who understands, someone I can talk to about scones. Do you know how long I’ve kept this inside me?

“The Renteria comment was a mistake but I’m not going to kill him for that.”

Gee whiz. Now you’ve got me thinking that Rob Neyer is, like, a real person or something, and that I shouldn’t be so casually insulting. Buzzkill, man.

By: billfer

billfer — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 23:37:22 +0000

Cool. Thanks Chris, I hadn’t seen that yet. As for Neyer, I don’t think he hates the Tigers. I don’t know that he hates any team. He’s been down on them lately, but I don’t think that is entirely unfounded. The Renteria comment was a mistake but I’m not going to kill him for that.

As an aside, Neyer is one of the indirect reasons that this blog exists in the first place. He was one of the catalysts for bring sabermetrics mainstream and he helped open my eyes to a lot of the stuff. I also discovered Neyer at a time when my interest in baseball had lulled. This math approach to baseball intrigued both the engineer and sports fan in me.

So thanks for the link Rob.

By: Ken in Las Vegas

Ken in Las Vegas — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 23:05:55 +0000

Well, it’s understandable that Neyer would link to this post. There is some really edgy and thought-provoking social commentary on scones and those that fear them. They do look dry, don’t they? I remember first hearing them in the books of fantasy animal world writer Brian Jacques, because apparently that is all that those animals would eat. I remember thinking “Man those sound good. Dripping in honey and laced with cinnamon.” I was so disappointed when I finally saw one. Just looked like a triangular, petrified, muffin.

BTW, how did Neyer overlook our Damion Easley signing as a contributor to the World Series run?

By: Chris in Dallas

Chris in Dallas — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 22:45:48 +0000

For what it’s worth, I think Cabrera worked out fine so far.

By: Plain old Andre (in Chicago)

Plain old Andre (in Chicago) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 22:35:46 +0000

bilfer might want to put up a Neyer-disclaimer lest somebody associate Rob’s nonsense with this site. wouldn’t want ESPN to ruin a good thing.

By: Smoking Loon

Smoking Loon — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 22:28:54 +0000

That Neyer guy is really up on things.

By: Plain old Andre (in Chicago)

Plain old Andre (in Chicago) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 22:24:56 +0000

Neyer: “The Tigers’ great leap forward (GLF) in 2006 was due, at least in part, to Dombrowski (and Illitch) committing huge amounts of money to Kenny Rogers, Edgar Renteria, Ivan Rodriguez, and Magglio Ordonez. Obviously, that strategy worked brilliantly as the Tigers reached the World Series. ”

dammit, Renteria was a sleeper cell, planted back in 06!

“In 2008, the Tigers committed lots more money, this time to holdover Carlos Guillen and newcomers Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis. That worked out even less well.”

well of course it didn’t work out, most of us knew all along that trading for Guillen, past his prime, was a mistake.

By: Smoking Loon

Smoking Loon — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 22:15:21 +0000

Which post, Chris? You mean billfer’s, up top?

By: Chris in Dallas

Chris in Dallas — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 22:09:49 +0000

And BTW Khalil Greene is awful.

By: Chris in Dallas

Chris in Dallas — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 22:09:18 +0000

Hey this post got linked to by Neyer over at ESPN. Of course, he hates the Tigers, but I digress.

By: Smoking Loon

Smoking Loon — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:47:50 +0000

I’ve read so much trade rumor stuff today, I can’t keep it straight. So the Tigers would have to trade for Khalil Greene. And his 6.5MM salary.

By: Smoking Loon

Smoking Loon — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:30:18 +0000

You can’t trust ESPN. You oughta know better. They’re a bunch of scone-eaters.

No, really, I wouldn’t have known any better about Greene myself. I’m advocating going after Adam Everett, after all, which may be worse than eating scones.

By: Plain old Andre (in Chicago)

Plain old Andre (in Chicago) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:19:17 +0000

“What were you doing with him on your fantasy team anyway?”

ouch…hurts so bad. damn espn’s projections!

By: Smoking Loon

Smoking Loon — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:17:35 +0000

OK, upon further review I’m not so surprised the Tigers might be interested in Greene. They wouldn’t even have to trade for him, contrary to the weird trade suggestion (not mine) I posted back there. I think I’d still rather have Everett as the low-cost middle infielder/Santiago competitor for SS.