As I mentioned a few days ago, a lot has been made of the Detroit deal to get Miguel Cabrera, even though it's not a move that fixes any of the Tigers' problems. It does, however, directly effect the Indians, but not the extent that so many people think.
I was right there with everyone else when I started screaming for the Tribe to make a trade, something to counter what Detroit did. And while Jason Bay seemed interesting, my sights were set on Dan Haren.
I might have been upset that we lost out on Haren, but I'm glad we didn't pay the price that Arizona did. If the recent past has taught us anything, it's that we NEED to have depth in Buffalo. We cannot survive without it. The Indians' biggest strength last year wasn't so much any one area on the field as it was the fact that we had so many different guys that we could call up who were able to perform at a high level.
And that's exactly why NOT making a trade before the season starts might actually work out fine for the Tribe.
Here's the thing: the team we saw at the end of last season was not the team that we saw for the beginning of last season. Imagine a team:
1) That has Asdrubal Cabrera all year (brought up August 8th of last year)
2) That has Franklin Gutierrez in right field every day
3) That has Ryan Garko at first base from the start
4) That has Rafael Perez all year (used regularly starting May 29th last year)
5) That has Jensen Lewis all year (brought up July 16th last year)
6) That has a healthy Jake Westbrook all year
7) That has a fifth starter who earns it by battling 3-4 guys for the spot
Would I like to see a better bat in left field or at third? Sure, but we're I think we're going to start the season much better off than we started last season. For that matter, we HAVE those bats for left field and third in the form of Ben Francisco, Sin-Soo Choo, or Andy Marte. It's just a matter of working them in -- not unlike we did Franklin Gutierrez and Asdrubal Cabrera last year.
And while it should be hard to call a 100 RBI season a slump, I would be shocked if Travis Hafner didn't return to form next year. I can't imagine he's doing anything else in the off season but practicing hitting.
Will our offense match the Tigers or the Red Sox or the Yankees? No, but it NEVER WILL. Only an idiot would try to keep up with those teams in such a way. They are loaded and it would be impossible to put together a line-up that could out bash them.
The Tribe has to be better in other ways, and that means pitching, and we have a boatload of that.
Imagine a rotation with C.C. and Fausto at the front and a healthy Jake Westbrook at #3. Then we have Paul Byrd at #4 who, assuming his performance last season was sans HGH, is exactly the kind of guy you want at the back end of your rotation. And now we'll have a #5 starter who is going to have to battle in the spring training for that spot. It could be a rejuvenated Cliff Lee or Jeremy Sowers. It could be Aaron Laffey, who looked impressive down the stretch. It could be the infamous Adam Miller, who didn't give up an earned run last year in spring training. It could even be rising start Chuck Lofgren. Whoever it is, they're going to have to work for that spot, which means we're going to get someone pretty good. That's huge, considering the rest of the league seem to be throwing warm bodies into that last spot.
Now look at our bullpen. As amazing as it is to say, our bullpen could be unbelievable next year. We're returning the core four of Borowski, Lewis, and the two Rafaels. We've added one of the top relievers from Japan. That gives us five guys who can get the job done. I would imagine Fultz will get a spot since they picked up his option, which is fine because we need a lefty to give Perez some breaks. That means, yet again, we will have a number of pitchers battling for that final spot, which can only be a good thing.
We have incredible depth, but not so much that we can just send people away in trades. We have to hold on to it. It's what got us so far last year and what will do the same next year.
So, no, the Tribe don't have to make a big trade to compete next season. They just need to stick with what worked for them last year.
Monday, December 24, 2007
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Well, not exactly...
Okay, I said I'd have a new blog up today (technically, it's still Sunday). But it's the holidays and I spent the day doing holiday things (including flying). I don't think I'm obligated until later in the afternoon tomorrow, however, so I'll move my "Tribe Trade" blog back a day.
Obviously, I won't be blogging on Christmas Day, so I'll push my "Extremes of Parity" blog back to Wednesday.
In other words, we'll be Monday, Wednesday and then back to Sunday this week and hopefully on schedule from there.
Promise.
Obviously, I won't be blogging on Christmas Day, so I'll push my "Extremes of Parity" blog back to Wednesday.
In other words, we'll be Monday, Wednesday and then back to Sunday this week and hopefully on schedule from there.
Promise.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Rocket Fuel
Here's the thing about the Mitchell report: It's awful.
The recommendation made at the end of the report is that no one should be punished and that baseball needs to improve testing and move forward. Look at that again. Mitchell recommends that no one be punished.
Which begs the question: why did he NAME people?
Looking past the fact that Mitchell was working with limited resources, yet had the vaguest burden of proof, he called out individual players for no reason other than to point a finger and say "everyone should hate them."
If no punishments are going to be passed down, then why name anyone? You'd have the same effect by simply stating that steriod and HGH use is widespread and testing needs to be improved. There you go. If no conviction and no sentence is going to come down, then why supply the supposed evidence on that scale?
Truly, the Mitchell report makes the initial Kennedy investigation look professional.
But that's not say that it wasn't illuminating.
Every day, another player steps forward and admits to taking HGH, as accused in the Mitchell report. While it's ultimately unnecessary support for the report as a whole, it's convincing support for the report in specifics.
In other words, every person that steps forward drives another nail into Roger Clemens' coffin.
And, hey, I helped build that box a long time ago. The man is a jackass. They replayed that moment from the 2000 World Series the other day on ESPN and you can actually see Clemens yell at Mike Piazza "I thought it was the ball." No, really, that's what he says. He mistook half of the bat for the ball. That makes sense. Because, you know, not only do they look similar, but he would throw the ball at Piazza in that situation.
I find it funny that people were surprised to see his name in the report. Was it his unquestionable integrity that gave people pause? The man has less integrity than Dick Cheney. In many ways, Clemens is the epitome of what's gone wrong with the game -- and he was, even before his name was linked to HGH. Now's he's the perfect symbol of everything that's gone wrong.
I don't care if they ever prove conclusively that Clemens cheated. I don't care if he denies it until he dies. But if this means I won't be subjected to six months of "Clemens Watch" next year, the Mitchell report will, in my book, become the greatest document ever produced.
Now, an addendum to the last blog.
Jayson Stark on ESPN.com mentions a number of things in his last column. This is one of them:
True, the Tigers will run a lineup out there in which seven of the nine everyday players have made at least one All-Star team since 2005. But they also have a roster full of players with injury histories. So after dealing away seven of their best prospects this winter, they need to stay healthy, because they're short of reinforcements they can call up. "They've pretty much decimated their depth," one AL executive said. "So this is their window."
It's like he read my blog! Granted, I was referring specifically to the Detroit rotation, but it applies to their line-up as well. Because, you know, no one ever lands on the DL these days...
Next: Can the Tribe win the Central without making a big trade?
The recommendation made at the end of the report is that no one should be punished and that baseball needs to improve testing and move forward. Look at that again. Mitchell recommends that no one be punished.
Which begs the question: why did he NAME people?
Looking past the fact that Mitchell was working with limited resources, yet had the vaguest burden of proof, he called out individual players for no reason other than to point a finger and say "everyone should hate them."
If no punishments are going to be passed down, then why name anyone? You'd have the same effect by simply stating that steriod and HGH use is widespread and testing needs to be improved. There you go. If no conviction and no sentence is going to come down, then why supply the supposed evidence on that scale?
Truly, the Mitchell report makes the initial Kennedy investigation look professional.
But that's not say that it wasn't illuminating.
Every day, another player steps forward and admits to taking HGH, as accused in the Mitchell report. While it's ultimately unnecessary support for the report as a whole, it's convincing support for the report in specifics.
In other words, every person that steps forward drives another nail into Roger Clemens' coffin.
And, hey, I helped build that box a long time ago. The man is a jackass. They replayed that moment from the 2000 World Series the other day on ESPN and you can actually see Clemens yell at Mike Piazza "I thought it was the ball." No, really, that's what he says. He mistook half of the bat for the ball. That makes sense. Because, you know, not only do they look similar, but he would throw the ball at Piazza in that situation.
I find it funny that people were surprised to see his name in the report. Was it his unquestionable integrity that gave people pause? The man has less integrity than Dick Cheney. In many ways, Clemens is the epitome of what's gone wrong with the game -- and he was, even before his name was linked to HGH. Now's he's the perfect symbol of everything that's gone wrong.
I don't care if they ever prove conclusively that Clemens cheated. I don't care if he denies it until he dies. But if this means I won't be subjected to six months of "Clemens Watch" next year, the Mitchell report will, in my book, become the greatest document ever produced.
Now, an addendum to the last blog.
Jayson Stark on ESPN.com mentions a number of things in his last column. This is one of them:
True, the Tigers will run a lineup out there in which seven of the nine everyday players have made at least one All-Star team since 2005. But they also have a roster full of players with injury histories. So after dealing away seven of their best prospects this winter, they need to stay healthy, because they're short of reinforcements they can call up. "They've pretty much decimated their depth," one AL executive said. "So this is their window."
It's like he read my blog! Granted, I was referring specifically to the Detroit rotation, but it applies to their line-up as well. Because, you know, no one ever lands on the DL these days...
Next: Can the Tribe win the Central without making a big trade?
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
The Detroit Deal
Once more into the breach, my friends! I have returned, better than ever.
The new and improved, off season RCR with come to you on a regular schedule, too. Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday there will be a new blog. And since it's the off season, I'll be expanding my range of subjects to include all of baseball, not just the Indians, at least until Spring Training.
Now let's get things going...
A lot has been made about Detroit's deal for Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis. It's been referred to as a blockbuster deal. Like many Tribe fans, more than a few expletives slipped out of my mouth when I first read about it. As the days past, I became more and more anxious for the Indians to make a move of their own, something to counter what Detroit had done.
But with time comes perspective. And that Detroit deal is all flash and little substance.
Fun fact: Detroit had the second best offense in the AL last year behind only the Yankees.
Going into the off season, the Tigers had three needs: 1) a shortstop, 2) rebuild their bullpen, and 3) upgrade their rotation.
They traded for Edgar Renteria, sending Jair Jurrgens to Atlanta (more on that in a minute). Point one taken care of.
But as of now, they haven't addressed either one of their other two needs. Their blockbuster trade, in fact, simply improved an area that wasn't a problem and probably made another area worse.
Andrew Miller, who Detroit sent to Florida, has a much higher ceiling that Dontrelle Willis. He's yet to even play a complete season in the minors. Willis' numbers have declined since he became a name in 2003 -- and let's not forget that he was pulled from Florida's rotation in the post-season. Add to that the fact that he will now be in the AL, facing guys named Ortiz, Ramirez, Rodriguez, Guerro, Martinez, Thome, et al, and there's every reason to believe that Detroit's rotation has actually been DOWNGRADED by this trade.
Even worse, they used two guys last year as their 6th and 7th starters: Chad Durbin, who they let go, and Jair Jurrgens, who they traded. They also sent a boatload of additional minor league pitchers to Florida. Let's not forget that Kenny Rogers was on the DL twice last year -- what are they going to do if any one of their starters goes down this year? Or is ineffective, as Bonderman and Robertson were in the second half of last year? We know how important it is to have major league ready guys waiting in the wings.
Their bullpen hasn't improved, either. They picked up the option on closer Todd Jones, who belongs to the Borowski/Wickman school of closing. They also lost Joel Zumaya to injury yet again and have no idea when he'll be back next season. They've yet to add anyone who would could be considered an upgrade from what they had last year.
Yes, the Tigers now have the best offense in baseball. But offense isn't everything. Really, Detroit has become the New York Yankees of the AL Central.
Fortunately, the Indians are the Red Sox.
Upcoming RCR:
Thursday: The Mitchell Report aka Did I need more proof that Clemens is a jackass?
Sunday: The Indians: Why not making a big trade might not be a bad thing
Tuesday: The extreme of parity
The new and improved, off season RCR with come to you on a regular schedule, too. Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday there will be a new blog. And since it's the off season, I'll be expanding my range of subjects to include all of baseball, not just the Indians, at least until Spring Training.
Now let's get things going...
A lot has been made about Detroit's deal for Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis. It's been referred to as a blockbuster deal. Like many Tribe fans, more than a few expletives slipped out of my mouth when I first read about it. As the days past, I became more and more anxious for the Indians to make a move of their own, something to counter what Detroit had done.
But with time comes perspective. And that Detroit deal is all flash and little substance.
Fun fact: Detroit had the second best offense in the AL last year behind only the Yankees.
Going into the off season, the Tigers had three needs: 1) a shortstop, 2) rebuild their bullpen, and 3) upgrade their rotation.
They traded for Edgar Renteria, sending Jair Jurrgens to Atlanta (more on that in a minute). Point one taken care of.
But as of now, they haven't addressed either one of their other two needs. Their blockbuster trade, in fact, simply improved an area that wasn't a problem and probably made another area worse.
Andrew Miller, who Detroit sent to Florida, has a much higher ceiling that Dontrelle Willis. He's yet to even play a complete season in the minors. Willis' numbers have declined since he became a name in 2003 -- and let's not forget that he was pulled from Florida's rotation in the post-season. Add to that the fact that he will now be in the AL, facing guys named Ortiz, Ramirez, Rodriguez, Guerro, Martinez, Thome, et al, and there's every reason to believe that Detroit's rotation has actually been DOWNGRADED by this trade.
Even worse, they used two guys last year as their 6th and 7th starters: Chad Durbin, who they let go, and Jair Jurrgens, who they traded. They also sent a boatload of additional minor league pitchers to Florida. Let's not forget that Kenny Rogers was on the DL twice last year -- what are they going to do if any one of their starters goes down this year? Or is ineffective, as Bonderman and Robertson were in the second half of last year? We know how important it is to have major league ready guys waiting in the wings.
Their bullpen hasn't improved, either. They picked up the option on closer Todd Jones, who belongs to the Borowski/Wickman school of closing. They also lost Joel Zumaya to injury yet again and have no idea when he'll be back next season. They've yet to add anyone who would could be considered an upgrade from what they had last year.
Yes, the Tigers now have the best offense in baseball. But offense isn't everything. Really, Detroit has become the New York Yankees of the AL Central.
Fortunately, the Indians are the Red Sox.
Upcoming RCR:
Thursday: The Mitchell Report aka Did I need more proof that Clemens is a jackass?
Sunday: The Indians: Why not making a big trade might not be a bad thing
Tuesday: The extreme of parity
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