Please, no more trade talk
I’ve been peppered with emails ever since John Kruk speculated that the Tigers should deal Joel Zumaya for John Smoltz. As Jim Leyland put it today: "We’re not trading Joel Zumaya. Period."
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Leyland is smart, it would be stupid to trade Zumaya. Especially since Detroit is in the process of building a winning combination..
Ok, we traded away a young minor league pitcher before for a veteran starter. While Doyle Alexander paid off for that year, look what we gave up in John Smoltz to be able to get him. If John Kruk is actually serious that the Tigers should ever think about trading Zumaya even for an aging John Smoltz then he needs to get his head out of the buffet and start thinking straight. Leyland is also pretty smart to go ahead and knock down the rumors of trading Zumaya. He is a good young pitcher that could be a great one someday.
Good point. The reason for a manager to knock down a trade rumor like that is that he would be worried how it would affect the player rumored to go. In this case, it’s a 21-year-old rookie who has been a big piece to the bullpen.
Is it possible for the Tigers to trade Doyle Alexander for John Schmoltz? As a longtime Tigers’ fan, I highly recommend that trade.
I think it would be worth it if they could trade Alexander’s mustache for Smoltz.
But seriously, to change the topic a little bit, you have to feel good about a team that can come back and win so many games. People have made much of their failure against stronger teams, but I look at this a different way. If they can lose 5 in a row to that team with the potty-mouthed manager, and then come back to win the last game like they did, they are a pretty resilient bunch. Over the course of a game and over the course of the season so far they are showing that they have the confidence and attitude to bounce back.
If the Tigers had actually won the World Series in 1987, I might feel slightly better about that trade. However, an Eastern Division championship is not much to show for trading away John Schmoltz. I wouldn’t mind seeing the Tigers obtain Schmoltz, but it doesn’t need to be at the price of a good young player.
Back in 1987, I was such a fanatic Tigers fan that I actually knew who John Schmoltz was because I was following the Tigers’ minor league players then. I don’t possess that type of fanaticism now. I do know enough about Joel Zumaya, though, to know that it would crazy to trade him for Schmoltz.
How much better would the Tigers have been with Smoltz for the past 20 years? To trade Zumaya with his upside for an aging superstar would be stupid. The core of this team is young! Don’t risk another 20 year mistake for a roll of the dice. Let’s win the division this year…and contend for the forseeable future! GO TIGERS!
TRADE JOHN KRUK!
Unbelieveable! The Tigers are 52-25 and there”s talk of how they should try and improve!? Is anyone having fun yet? When is enough, enough? The magic that this team generates should NOT be touched! You can’t even analize it. It’s like, “Who’s turn is it today?” Every one of those guys has contributed and deserves the chance to continue doing so. Why mess with the chemistry? And Shelton will be fine. I think he’s contributed to his share of Tiger victories. He’ll do more damage in the second half… given the chance. And please, don’t get rid of Zumaya. Yes, it’s too bad John Smoltz didn’t remain a Tiger…What if?.. Don’t let it happen again. How about some old fashioned loyalty? Back in 1968 (Al Kaline and Co.) the Tigers needed to maximize the pop in their lineup for the World Series, they moved Mickey Stanley in from center field to play shortstop. It worked. Point is, this Tiger team has even more flexibility. Do the right thing. Nuff said. GO TIGERS
Please, some one answer this question for me. What does smoltz offer that zoom zoom doesn’t? zoom has a better ERA, hits per nine, oppenents ob%,k’s to walks,(i’m sure i am leaving out something) o ya, how about youth. Why would we trade a kid who is awsome yet not even in his prime yet for a guy who is great yes but aged, all for the “playoff experience”? common tiger fans the answer is simple…..NO
O.K. Zumaya is great, but he is not John Smoltz. Look at the track record of all the young fireball pitchers. Wood, Prior, Matt Anderson for example. It doesn’t last. I wouldn’t trade him for Smoltz either, but to not trade him period is crazy. How about Travis Hafner or Hank Blaylock. Probably not even close to available, but I would take that deal!