Haven’t paid much attention to blogland of late. Been kinda bored in general with the whole thing. But with the trade deadline approaching I thought I’d share some thoughts on the future.

The Tigers will stand pat on the trade front. There is no pressing need that hasn’t been filled from within the system. But that will also depend on how they perform here in the next week. If they get swept by KC (again) then I feel DD will most likely start looking to unload some money burners.

If you read the Detroit Free Press ( like I do) the first name mentioned is trade talks is Pudge. Yes he’s had his ups and downs as a Tiger. But name me ONE catcher that will be a free agent at the end of the season that has anywhere near the credentials of Pudge or the basic skills to become as seasoned a player as Pudge is. I personally can’t think of any. Pudge’s contract is up at the end of the season, and you know damn well there will be teams looking seriously at him.

Miguel Cabrera: Not going anywhere till 2015. He’s been called a bust so far by a lot of the Detroit press. I am willing to give him the benefit of a doubt. He’s been playing with a bum leg most of the year. What I’d like to see happen in the off season is the Detroit staff take and have his but in the training/weight room all damn winter. get his butt into better shape, shed a few more pounds, get him REAL comfortable and educated about playing 1st base, and he’ll be back to his all-star form next year.

Edgar Renteria: Another bust by the Freep standards. I don’t know. He had only one year in the AL on a team that is a hell of a lot tougher to crack then the Tigers. I agree with some of the other bloggers in that maybe he’s not in as good a physical shape as he needs to be. Having a twanged hamstring right now doesn’t help. I seriously think Leyland needs him to sit and play Santiago for about a week. Let his leg heal and maybe hit the gym for a bit. I think a 15 day trip to the DL and young Mr. Holloman get a little more time at the bigs would work too.

Dontrelle WIllis: Nuff said. IF he regains his mechanics, then fine. If not… Lot of money wasted.

Sheff: If he doesn’t kick it up a notch soon, more money wasted.

Kenny Rogers: One more year please. If for no other reason than to become a second pitching coach behind Chuck Hernandez. The guy can teach the younger guys so damn much. Like he has already. If a miracle happens and the Tigers win it all.. He’ll retire happy. 

Todd Jones:  Same here. A WS win and he walks into the sunset to become a color analyst for some lucky network.

Inge: If Pudge walks, He’ll return full time behind the plate with Sarhdina as his backup.

Maggs: They need to pick up any options he has and work out a new long term deal.

Carlos Guillen: Ditto.

The rest of the outfield: Grandy is set for 5 years. In left, Clete Thomas is the starter next year with Thames in the DH role. Joyce is another good choice though he is more a Rightfielder than a lefty. Good back up though.

The infield: Biggest question will be shortstop. Do they move Guillen back, bring up Holloman, another Free agent, give Renteria another chance, Give Santiago a chance.. you could go nuts on that position alone. Like I said earlier, First is set with Cabby. He is such a prototypical first baseman as was Frank Howard, Boog Powell and Norm Cash. ( I’m dating myself with those names) But I seriously think that with a little more coaching and cosistency, the debate will become who is the better all around 1st baseman.. Cabby or Pujols. Polanco is set at second for as long as his health holds.

The rest of the Pitching staff: Who will be gone after this year: Rodney, and Fossum most likely. Whos on the bubble: Seay, Miner, Aquilino Lopez, Nate Robertson. ( is it me or is his arm as dead as it was when he went on the DL last year?) Wonder if he doesn’t have that same Thoracic compression syndrome that took out Bondo..If he has a good winter, Zoomer will be the closer next year.

Thats my take for now.. I don’t know if I’ll keep this up much longer.. we’ll see. Now excuse me, but I am going to go read Alyssa Milano’s blog. Could MLB ever have a better looking spokesperson?

As usual the big market teams dominated the voting. Forget the stats, how the players are actually doing in reference to their historical performances.. The names still carry the weight. Forget that their teams are not even in first place, and the first place teams hardly have any starters. Where does that leave us? As usual, with a stuffed team of the Red Sox and Yankees when there are players whom are doing far better statistically sitting home watching.

This part of why I am personally stuffing the ballot box on the last player vote for Evan Longoria. The Rays are most definitely under represented here this year. I won’t say the Tigers are under represented, but I definitely feel Grandy and Polanco should have been selected as well. Where would the Tigers be right now without them? The answer is as plain as the Tigers record. Look how they played in the first month of the season. Thats all the answer you need. I just hope that the MLB powers that be selecting the HR derby teams pick Marcus Thames. Hoo boy what a show he could put on!

Yup.. I had totally written the Tigers off back in the month of May. Then I just went into let it ride mode. And here the Boys come. Back to .500; back in the thick of the Central race. So my hats off to the Tigers. One hell of a month of June. I can only hope July is even better.

I am making one of my summer month pilgrimages to visit my daughter in Ypsi next week. So we’re looking at tickets to the 8th of July game against the Indians. Will probably go to Stub Hub to get them. I already have tickets to a game against the Rangers in Arlington in August. How many Tigers fans can say they’ve seen the Boys in 3 different parks in one season? I can! Saw the last spring training game here in Houston, Comerica next week, and Arlington in August. VERY tempted to see about a trip to KC or Minnie. Forget Chicago or Cleveland.

Off to Minnie tonight for the boys.. Hope the Metrodome is a LITTLE more friendlier than it was last trip thru. Who can forget the beginning of the May flop?

BEST news I’ve heard all season. Joel Zumaya has been activated! It’s still going to take a serious post All-Star surge for the playoffs, but a one of the biggest pieces of the puzzle is back in place.

How about Mr. Thames’s power display this past week? When he’s drawing comparisons with McGwire, Horton, Greenberg.. Actually gets a opponents crowd to boo him instead of going Who? The shot he hit to dead center in AT&T Park? Even got compared to Mr. Bonds’ power. I may add WITHOUT a steroid controversy but we won’t go there…

Back to Zoomer. How fired up will he be in the 7th or 8th if he gets to come in and hold a lead on his first day back in his hometown? What will his presence alone do for the pitchers confidence on the mound when he knows he has a serious back up out there in the pen?

We’ll see with the San Diego series. Kind of amusing to me is the Tigers next 2 opponents are the last 2 teams they faced in the Series.

Side note: Got tickets this week to see the Boys when they visit Arlington in August. 6th row off the field next to the visitors dugout. Sweet seats!

Despite the sweep of the Sox this week, and
the string of quality starts. I am still slightly pessimistic
that the Tigers have turned the corner finally and are
beginning the march for the playoffs. Not that they’re going
to improve, they already have. That much is obvious. But
improve to the point where the Central crown is within reach?
I seriously think it may be too little too late there. What I
am looking forward to is the Interleague play this next 2
weeks. It’s going to be fun to watch!

Dammit that sux big time.I look at Bondo as being one of the steadier arms in the rotation. But I guess it sure makes things a little easier for Leyland with what to do with Willis and Galaragga. I just hope Bondo is ok in the long run.

Glad to see the bats wake up today. Just when I get comfortable with the Tigers having a bad season they win a big one in a big way and get my hopes up all over again. Ah well.

Its just a matter of time now. DD will be selling some serious players come the trade deadline. Since the WIN NOW build up of the payroll and player rolls has failed miserably for this season I look to the trade deadline as the Tigers having a serious Fire Sale. Who’s going to go? Sad to say they will still try to move Inge by then. Carlos Guillen is another one that comes to mind. Maggs is in his last year. Pudge as well. Sheff.. I think we’re stuck with. We’ll be stuck with Todd Jones and maybe Kenny Rogers. But Nate Robertson, Zach Miner, and a few other relievers may not be as fortunate. AS long as they don’t pull another Smoltz for Doyle Alexander moves..

While the Tigers have been on the left coast, I am home in Michigan visiting the daughter. Lil torqued about the Red Wings loss yesterday but oh well. Thats my other sport!

Anyway,The tigers are actually doing what I felt they were going to do on this swing. The best I had hoped they’d come home from the coast with either a 4-5 or a 5-4 record. They just need to split with Oakland these last 2 games. I see no reason why they cannot accomplish that goal. Just time for another bat explosion. By the way, I LOVED that set up of Guillen in left, Inge at third, with Cabby still at first. Finally a defensive set that made sense!

I look for Willis tonite to blow it to start with, then Galarragga to bail his butt out. Guillen is going to have a BIG night at the plate. He is Soooooo due right now.

Waiting and seeing.. Still. But for the most part there are STILL no true signs of the Boys coming our of their season long inconsistencies. At least at the plate. Pitching staff is doing just fine now but where the hell has the hitting gone? I do not blame any of the pitchers used last night in Anaheim for the result. The blame for that mess rests on the lack of offense.

8 shut outs in the first 2 months of the season. Simply pathetic.

That was a more Tiger like series against the Mariners. But since the Mariners are now the only team worse than the Tigers in the AL, I’ll wait and see how things are looking when we get closer to the All Star break. Remembering the Tigers came out of their earlier funk the same way, that culminated with sweeping the Yankees in their ballpark. Then they went to Minnie and we know where it went from there. Now Minnie is coming in tonight for 3 more games. Last time the Tigers played them in Detroit they pummeled them good. Will history repeat itself? Wait and see..

Now the roster is starting to get a little tight. Rodney and Zumaya are getting close to beginning their rehab assignments. So is Vance Wilson. Going to be VERY interesting what moves Leyland and DD make to open the roster spots when they’re ready to rock.

Wait and see.