Not buying on Bonds
Speculation about Tigers interest in Barry Bonds apparently won’t completely die, but barring a change of course, it’s not going to happen. I know I’m not the first to say it, but it’s just not a good fit.
Here’s the hypothetical of the problem: The Tigers go into September with a chance to win the Central. For whatever reason, injuries or whatever, suppose Barry Bonds goes late into the season still trailing Hank Aaron but close. With all the attention that’s going to follow Bonds, both for the record itself and the controversy surrounding it, it wouldn’t just overshadow a pennant race. It might just overshadow everything. That’s a worst-case kind of fear.
But there’s another issue. When Dave Dombrowski was cool to the idea when asked on the radio last week, he said something pretty revealing, that the Tigers aren’t looking for someone who would be a full-time DH. Understandably, he didn’t want to call Bonds a DH, but it’s difficult to imagine him getting much time in the outfield at this point in his career.
Along with the Gary Sheffield rumors — even more publicized because it involves the media center of New York, though still unlikely to happen unless it’s a bargain — there’s the common theme that’s starting to pop up this winter, that Jim Leyland’s reputation for dealing with starts allows the Tigers can take chances with hot-button players. But just because he can deal with supposedly difficult players doesn’t mean the Tigers would want to. If you can avoid risk and still fill your needs, sometimes that’s the easier course.
Jason Beck
Jason,
What do you think about the idea of signing Julio Lugo to play SS, move Guillen to 1st, and then have Lugo bat leadoff? This would be a solution to alot of the tigers current problems, and would not cost us any young arms.
Maybe it is just me but Julio Lugo is more hype than production. Everyone says how talented he is and what a great player he is but I just don’t see it. Give me Erstad and 1B and leading off. Keep Guillen at SS. I think he would be a great fit if healthy. He is not the power hitter everyone wants but he can produce. Give Thames more AB and he could hit 35-40 HR even in Comerica. Monroe is on the brink of a 30+ HR year. Maybe even Ordonez returns to that kind of form? Maybe with this offseason strengthening those knees he has a big year next year. It takes pitchers a couple of years to recover from Tommy John surgery. Maybe time will help Ordonez. I like the core of our team and am afraid that a trade will be made to get rid of some of our key producers such as Monroe and/or Thames.
What do you know about controversey and overshadowing? Who really cares? It’s about a guy who hit 25 home runs last year and would be DHing in Detroit giving him more AB’s and probably more HR’S. It is a perfect fit. Barry Bonds is quiet and totally minds his own business….unlike that media ****, cheater, and liar Kenny Rogers who copied his Tiger teamates and poured champagne on public heads. What a sheep! and a face saver. The Tigers are a boring team. Jimmy Leyland is like Julie Andres from the sound of Music…Mr. Unify everybody. More boring than Cal Ripken. Bring Bonds to Detroit. Leyland fought with him countless times in Pittsburgh. Baseball is entertainment and Detroit is turning into the Morman Choir. Remeber the good ol’ days of bomb fires and turning over cars and scruffy beards?
Jason, get the pot stirring on this one. Ichiro in right field, Mags as the DH. Trade Bonderman, Clevlen, and Miner to Seattle. I think Ichiro would be perfect for Comerica, probably would set a record for triples. And to have Polanco batting behind him, you could hit and run all day long!
Jason,
I like your reasoning on the Bonds issue. I had posted earlier but mostly in jest that it would be a something to look at.
I think just being a good team is enough accomplishment for now. Developing our own depth would be preferrable in any situation to what the NYY have to do to win games.
GOOOOOO Leyland. GOOOO Tigers!
the tigers are boring???? are you kidding me??? and to imply that the days of overturning cars is one that detroit should revisit is ignorant and stupid. the giants have long been my national league team (my dad grew up in alameda), i can still name the starting 8 fielders for the 1989 WS team… and i don’t even mind bonds. yeah, i think he ‘roided up, but he hasn’t failed a drug test. i believe in innocent until proven guilty.
that said, i’m not sure if bonds would work out for the tigers. yeah, he would give the lineup some much needed pop, but i agree that he would prove to be too much of a distraction. bonds has developed a reputation throughout the league, and giants fans are the only ones who will truly support bonds in his quest for the home run crown.
I’ve never minded Barry Bonds. In fact it used to be fun watching late night sports news clips of his sweet swing when he was in his prime. Seems like he used to hit one out almost every day.
Whether or not he took steroids, or how often, or when is bothersome but without test evidence, what are you gonna do? He still had to center the ball. What do you think, Hammerin Hank?
But the Tigers already have 6 guys who hit 19 or more home runs last year. One more guy hitting 25 is not going to improve them. Let San Francisco enjoy Bonds breaking the HR record. Better yet, how about he breaks the record in Pittsburgh. Just a sideline… to compare the use of pine tar to the use of steroids is a bit pretentious. Maybe I’m missing something, but don’t National League pitchers use pine tar on their bats when they have to hit? Some of that must find its way onto their hands I would think.
The Tigers need speed, and a defensive upgrade in the outfield would be nice. Clevlen and Gomez could help in those departments. Ichiro would maybe be a nice acquisition but I think Bonderman, Clevlen and Miner are way too high a price. I would not make that deal.
With all the late inning comebacks and walk off hits this year, the Tigers were anything but boring. Considering all the throwing blunders in the WS, I just wish they were more boring in those games.
Conducive…I can’t argue with your concern about burning cars in Detroit because it might cause unnecessary injury, but if cars could be burned for the simple fact that so many pedestrians are killed daily by distracted cell phone drivers, it might clear some space in the streets. Maybe, I am distracted and a bit disturbed, but I prefer celebrations that involve fans running onto the field. Yes, it is dangerous and yes, it causes damage to the field, but in some wierd way, it allows fans to participate and get a little roudy. The alternative which I hope we never have to witness results from the police controlling us too much.