| January 21st, 2011 04:53 PM |
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| Cornejo Crunch |
Here's a line from some national media. It's great to think all of this is just around the corner.
Tiger Questions |
| January 22nd, 2011 09:37 AM |
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| rings |
Good little read.
His note about RP's BABIP skips the biggest reason for the increase: the downgrade of the Tiger infield defense, behind a sinkerball/groundball pitcher. It's not getting better (and we've aided matters by downgrading the outfield defense as well).
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| January 22nd, 2011 11:50 AM |
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| leafer |
Makes the need for that strike out rate to increase more pressing. |
| January 24th, 2011 02:02 PM |
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| Davisontigerfan |
What do you guys think about Scherzer this season? It seems like a lot of people are expecting big things from him. He did finish strong last year, but he has been inconsistent over his short career. |
| January 25th, 2011 08:57 AM |
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| TigersRoarin84 |
I hope we see the Scherzer that pitched from June to September. I certainly don't expect another August like he had, but he was a much different pitcher the last 2/3 of the season the first. Pretty much when he came back from his Toledo stint.
I expect more consistency of the good Scherzer, but I am certainly not expecting him to be one of, if not the best, pitcher in the league like he was in the second half of the season last year. Would be nice to get 15 or more wins out of him this year. We'll need them too. |
| February 21st, 2011 11:05 AM |
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| rings |
A well done overview of the Tigers chances that echoes much of my opinion...read through all his points, especially Jim Leyland's lineups:
http://motorcitybengals.com/2011/02/20/why-the-tigers-wont-win-the-division-in-2011/ |
| February 21st, 2011 01:05 PM |
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| Davisontigerfan |
Quote:
rings wrote:
A well done overview of the Tigers chances that echoes much of my opinion...read through all his points, especially Jim Leyland's lineups:
http://motorcitybengals.com/2011/02/20/why-the-tigers-wont-win-the-division-in-2011/
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Wow! He is Mr. Negative. I can understand some of the stuff he says being true, but a lot of it is everything goes wrong. What if some things go right? |
| February 21st, 2011 01:26 PM |
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| rings |
Quote:
Davisontigerfan wrote:
Wow! He is Mr. Negative. I can understand some of the stuff he says being true, but a lot of it is everything goes wrong. What if some things go right?
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IMO, we're counting on way too many things to go "right." Our team has gotten older. Our pitching is no better than last year and probably worse. Our defense is definitely worse. As I've mentioned before, we were slightly better than average offensively last year, but second to last in run prevention...and I think that's going to be worse this season. He's closer to reality than some of the other rose-colored predictions of "glory," particularly in that the Sox & Twins have both improved or gotten healthy and have higher payrolls than we do:
http://www.blessyouboys.com/2011/2/19/2003139/why-the-tigers-will-win-the-central-division-in-2011
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| February 21st, 2011 04:10 PM |
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| Davisontigerfan |
Right now I think we are a the 3rd place team, maybe 2nd place. The Twins are the team to beat. The motorcitybengals.com article makes us look like the worst team in baseball and blessyouboys.com makes us look like the best. I love these predictions before the season. It gives us something to talk about. |
| February 21st, 2011 05:04 PM |
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| rings |
At this point, I would also predict a 3rd place finish, but I've heard many MORE people trying to say this team is primed to win the division, pointing to Martinez and Benoit. I just don't see a DH and a guy who'll throw about 60 innings as being much of a difference.
I also find it interesting that the White Sox and the Twins are outspending us this year, according to payroll estimates:
Chicago: $125.2m
Minnesota: $115.3m
Detroit: $108.2
Kansas City: $55.8
Cleveland: $53.9
As mentioned earlier, most Tiger fans spent 2010 tempering their disappointment with another 2nd half fade with the consolation prize of $80m coming off the books. In my view, we didn't do much with it save resigning the guys we had. Kind of makes me think it wouldn't have been "overpaying" Polanco to have stayed a couple years ago, considering what we've done with our "savings."
I would've liked to see more attention paid to our pitching staff and a solid defensive SS, leaving either Jhonny or Inge at 3B. |
| February 22nd, 2011 11:31 AM |
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| Davisontigerfan |
Gosh, don't get me started on the Polanco thing! Polanco was my favorite player. I wanted to move him to 3B like the Phillies. If we had Polanco in the 2 hole and at 2B, I probably would say that the Tigers would win the division. Are defense would be good up the middle with Polanco, Avila, and AJAX. I need to quit dreaming!
Does everyone really think Jhonny is that bad at SS? I thought he was pretty decent? I mean he's not going to win any gold gloves because he's not a great offensive threat! |
| February 22nd, 2011 02:04 PM |
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| TigersRoarin84 |
I didn't think he was that good. His fielding percentage wasn't awful, but his range isn't exactly good. I think the problem lies in the fact we have too many guys that aren't particularly solid at their position, not that Peralta alone isn't the greatest SS. |
| February 22nd, 2011 06:38 PM |
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| rings |
Jhonny has nice, soft hands and is certainly serviceable at SS, but he lacks range and has only average arm strength. Considering that our 2B will probably also lack in range or ability with the leather, it may have been a good idea to get a guy who can pick it, considering we're looking for our young sinkerballer to rebound.
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| February 24th, 2011 03:48 PM |
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| jfine |
Quote:
rings wrote:
I would've liked to see more attention paid to our pitching staff ... |
Yup. I'm concerned that our pitching will still suck and thus the entire team will suck. I wish we could have signed a solid starter and a few more solid arms for the BP, but I guess what's done is done. I have a feeling Penny will be yet another bust. At least he was cheap. |