Sheff to have surgery

No, I wouldn't think anything major, at least in a surgical sense. This is a guy who was playing major league baseball a week ago. I just hope we can get at least one good season from Sheff. Besides what he brings the Tigers, I just like watching him hit.

If Mr. Ilitch has anything to do with it, I'd think Pudge will be back.

Sheffield: "watching him hit." I don't like to watch him hit. He always seems off balance and lunging for the ball. If he hits the way he is supposed to next year, I'll keep my mouth closed.

As for Pudge, the best deal might be to get him for 2 more years at $16 mil. That would give him the $13mil + the $3 mil buyout but keep him until they can develop a replacement. He may have to reduce his games played a bit.

I think Sheff will be alright. He has always taken grat pride in his body and keeping it in shape.
The last month or so during the season, I would say 'no way' would they re-sign I-Rod. Although, from what I have heard now, it is pretty much guaranteed, especially with Rabelo not being ready yet. Although, it we can squeeze another year or possibly two out of Ivan, I think Rabelo would be ready to go.

As far as LF. I could really see this as a platoon situation, which I don't particularly like, but what the hey, right. Actually, I think they will look alittle bit for a LF...

I think their main focus will be at SS. Ramon is a great back-up but not ready for the prime time (although I think he was our starter before he got traded for Seattle for Guillen). Ramon is really exciting to watch in the field I will admit. They will find another person via F/A or a trade.

Anyway, I am having to put up with these crazy fans here in Cleveland. I was really surprised they took it to the Yanks last night. I hate the Yanks, but I don't care what anyone says, you never want someone from your own division to win the WS. In any event, this was a blow hard year for Cleveland and it won't happen again. Carmona and CC are good yes, but I have NEVER thought CC was as good as they always said he was.

Then again, with Bondo I don't think he will ever be GREAT, good yes, but never a #1 typer starting pitcher.

Honestly, I get sick of hearing it every year. Bondo - he is still young, blah blah blah......He has been pitching in the big leagues since he was 19, he should have shown more progress than he has by now, in what is it, 5 seasons. I don't know....

Anyway, I have to go and beat down a Tribe fan outside my cubicle...peace out for now!

Sorry you have to put up with that, Ty. Three days of it was plenty for me. I'd prefer Cleveland over New York, however. Look at it this way: Cleveland wins the WS and comes back fat and happy next year. Meanwhile, A-Rod has gone 1-16 in the playoffs and finally decides he can no longer stand the Yankee fans, so he signs with Detroit.

Tigers win division by 17 games in 2008. Nuthin' to it. :-)

I don't think it's fair to say that Bonderman hasn't shown much improvement. Before this season, his ERA had gone down each of his four previous seasons and innings pitched had gone up. Home runs and WHIP had trended downward (though not declining every year) and K's had trended upward. His W/L % had improved, too.

This year was clearly disappointing and I'm frustrated, too. He *is* young, though (about the same age as JV). When he's pitching well, he's an asset to the team, particular after the first inning... ;-)

I don't have any contact with the Cleveland fans, so I don't have any qualms about wanting them to kick the Yankees' collective butts. I think the Indians & Red Sox will provide us with a very entertaining ALCS on their way to face the red-hot Rockies in the World Series.

I would prefer that the Tigers be there, but this post-season is shaping up to be quite enjoyable, otherwise.

matt

Well I hope the WS is more entertaining and saisfying than last year. In retrospect it was one of the wors I have ever seen--and that's not simply because our guys lost. It was just poor baseball played in miserable weather.

I hope Sheff can make a solid comeback and I think we will improve the middle of the order with another bat this off-season.

Interesting comment someone made about tying Pudge's compensation to OBP.

I think he will likely end up here and they will cut a deal for another year. The Tigers really haven't groomed anyone in the farm system. i don't think Rabelo would be an impact player and I am just dreaming over having someone like Martinez, Jojima or Mauer. Torrealba is an up and comer and is only 30.

I think they will try to pick up Renteria or Wilson.

As far as getting a LHB who can play OF they need to expand their horizons and investigate a free agent in Japan by the name of Kosuke Fukudome. I'm sure the only reason he hasn't made it in N. America yet are because of the first 4 letters in his last name!

The Chunichi Dragons drafted Fukudome in 1998 in the first round as a shortstop. Fukudome is fast and has a strong arm but failed as an infielder. He was eventually converted to outfield gradually made improvements, has received 4 Golden Glove awards in the outfield.

In 2002 he had the highest batting average in the league (.343).

In 2006, he batted .351 with 31 home runs and 104 RBIs, winning the Central League MVP award.

Mr. Illitch!! Do they sell pizza in Japan!!

Matt - Maybe you are right. I do think Bondo has shown improvement over the past few years, until this year that is. He did have back-to-back 14 win seasons until this year, which is nice. I honestly don't see him ever getting over the 15 mark. I suppose for the time being he is a GOOD (not great) #2 starter. I just don't think he has the consistancy over an entire season you would like to see - and we have seen that over the past 2 years now - healthy or not.

On the other hand, JV will win 20 next year as long as he stays heathly.

Dan - Nice post about that "Fuku" guy. I will have to check him out.

I also wonder how their overseas (besides Central America) scouting is, compared to other clubs.

Rich - I like your senerio about A-Rod.

About Cleveland, 3-days for you----I am going on 8 years here for me! UGH!

Dan - Your investigative reporting is always great.

After looking him, I believe the Tigers Fans need to start a petition and fan club of FUKU...called nothing else bu the FUKU Club.

He looks like a gamer to me. Check this out.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=rYllEVLkKdM

More on FUKU....

http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Kosuke_Fukudome

After watching that film, I see the guy knows what to do with a waist-high BP fastball down the middle of the plate. Got his bat flip perfected too.

They may have to change his name...........

The Tigers don't do Japan, it seems. They signed a pitcher a few years ago, I forget his name, but that guy was quite possibly the worst pitcher we've ever had. It was ridiculous the way hitters consistently teed off on him. I think our club should be active in Japan, however. Absolutely.

I'll admit I've been somewhat disappointed in Bonderman too, but the jury is still out. Long deliberations, I guess. The reason his age keeps coming up is because, if he suddenly "found it" next season, he'd have another ten years to "use it."

I'm not happy with the way the NL is shaping up this postseason. I've nothing against the Rockies or D-Backs, but I was hoping for a Cubs-Phillies matchup in the NLCS. The way it looks so far, a Colorado-Cleveland WS would be a good show. Just no Yankees-Red Sox, please. We've had enough of that and the entire rest of the USA might like to see something else.

Did we have Torrealba this past spring? He's listed on the Toledo roster in a video game I have, but so far I haven't found any real life evidence of that. Easier to just ask you guys.

Rich, I think I saw him in Lakeland after a Tiger/Met game sometime in March. I'll have to check but I think my daughter got his autograph afterwards. That would confirm. So where did he go?..if it's the same guy.

Yeah, we have a Torrealba who is also a catcher but it is Steve not Yorvit.

Does Cleveland have the mojo? Does Cleveland have the magic?

"And a plague did arise from the waters of Erie. Vast swarms of insects did descend on the tribes of New York, and ate of their flesh, and the warrior Joba did cry out in much anguish, and the Yankee tribe was much vanquished, and there was a great weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth heard throughout the land."

And that's sports for today. Over to Jodie for the weather.......

GUYS, I think I have to continually give you the benefit of my living in the Boston area. One of the main reasons the Red Sox and Yankees are good every year is they hate each other so much. Other than Ty, (whose got it right)your loathing of the Yanks is misguided. Until you all hate the pale hose, indians and twinkies properly, we'll never be good year in and year out.

Indians are pri_ks (Ty quote). Their arrogant as **** and have never given the tigers a bit of credit. That jerk that holds the ball for two hours before throwing it is at the top of the list. GO Yankees, although I think they are toast. Actually not very competitive playoffs so far with every one of them at 2-0. Some of these teams seem to have quit once they were in i.e. phils, angels, cubs. Maybe it will improve when the scene changes to the other parks.

On Bondo, you know my feeling, great arm but no guts so can't handle any pressure. There is a reason he does best in the first half of the year before the pressure of a pennant race heats up. The one notable exception was the clinching game against the yanks last year. That got him a four yr. $40MM deal. If you can get two solid players for him that fill needs peddle his butt out of here before they change their mind.

Enjoy todays games.

Ty you poor bas_tard living in Cleveland.

Men:
I just read that Glavine is not exercising his option to stay with the Mets. So they will be on the hunt for a SP. This is the pidgeon we've been looking for to unload Bondo on. I'd take Heilman for another big reliable bull pen arm but we need more. Problem is I can't find anything, other than their untouchable players, we'd want. Delgado wouldn't be a fit here and is too old. Does anyone know if the Mets have any prospects we'd want?

Hey, it's just hot Stove talk.

Joba's being tried by fire and is choking Rich. Love it. Quoting scripture now Rich? So then Cleveland represents Babylon or maybe Egypt right? Ty would probably agree. I like your thinking on Bondo, JT. I know it's sacrilege to say but his second half meltdowns are getting old. Here's an idea, keep him for the first half of the season, and when he's gone 10-1 or whatever, trade him then. People who hadn't payed attention to his career would think Tiger management was nuts. They'd be lining up to trade. Course, that's right, we wouldn't get anybody anyway.... Oh well, it was worth a thought.

I actually wasn't quoting scripture, Marty, since I made the entire thing up. Actual scripture would have had more goest and whither thou and all that. :-)

I don't know, I can't climb aboard this hate thing. Maybe I'm just a throwback from the Age of Aquarius, but I find it hard to hate people like Ron Gardenhire and Torri Hunter. I don't care for Cleveland after they started a war with us, but that's about as far as that goes with me. I'm rooting against the Yankees and A-Rod as part of my plot to sign him as a free agent. Heh heh heh......

Besides, Yankee fans display enough hate to go around, even for their own team.

Insomnia has me checking the posting board. Good man rp. But, last season (2006)when we whupped the twinkies early in the year like 36-2 in a three game sweep, Gardenhire's comment,"oh, a couple key hits and breaks here and there and we were right with them, our day will come". Are you kidding? He as much as said, "they aren't that good".

He's smug and arrogant and so is his team. I'll give you that TH seems like a decent fellow. I'd rather see a little honesty and humor like Ozzie who would have probably said "well, there's a waste of three days of my life I'll never get back".

How about the playoffs, two sweeps down and two to go. Yawn!ZZZZZZZZ That's what happens when the Tigers aren't in.

Speaking of biblical references, did you see where the Indians unleased a swarm of pestilence on the Yanks. Tiny flys swarming up from Hadees to annoy, distract and consume the opponent. Why couldn't "numnuts" who holds the ball for hours be on the mound and get attacked by the pestilence? Yea, that would have been great!

Regarding the bugs at Jacobs. I know that it affected both sides and I am actually half heartedly cheering for the Tribe right now, but are they the luckiest ******** of all times or what?? To me that just epitamized their season at as a whole. Bugs swarm down just at the right time??

Hi GK, nice to hear from you. I can't say that I'm rooting or cheering for Cleveland, rather rooting against the Yankees. There is a difference. I was rooting for the Philies and Cubs (fat lot of good that did), but not Cleveland.

I'm just sick of the Yankees. They've been there my entire life and they just won't go away. And you want to talk arrogance, J, this is the club that holds a patent on that. There's only one club in all of baseball that thinks it deserves a world championship every season, and it's this one. That is the definition of arrogance.

Are they they only team that does "God Bless America" at every seventh inning stretch? What's up with that? They have to be more patriotic than the rest of us too?

Anyway, I missed the middle innings of tonight's game, but I thought the tide turned when Martinez made that bad decision on that dribbler at the plate. Gave those guys an inch, and they took the mile.

Hope Sheff's surgery goes smoothly tomorrow. I expect it will.

I'm sure it's a matter of perspective RP. Living here and having to live with the Boston media, fans and sports talk radio, I prefer the Yankees over the Red Sox. Or maybe as you suggest, I'm rooting against the Red Sox and for their biggest nemesis. Also, I don't have a problem with God Bless America at every game. It's one of their traditions that they started after 9/11.

Not trying to be a smart a_s, but what traditions do we have at Comerica?

In Boston and New York, the fans influence the baseball they get. In Detroit, we merely accept the baseball we get. I'm trying to get like those guys so we can be good year in and year out. We need to have the feeling that we should be contending for the title every year. It's good for civic pride and good for the city.

Yea, I'll be hoping for a good outcome for Sheff today as well. I think it will go fine.

So a Monday in Cleveland after the Tribe gets it taken to them...Ha Ha Ha....

All this trash talkin to me all season about the Indians over the Tigers, for some reason I don't hear trash talk today...I wonder why!? hummm...idiots.

GK - I agree, they are the luckiest pr*cks I have seen in awhile.

I also agree (obviously) that this would have been a better series between Detroit and Cleveland. The Yanks, even though they won last night, I am not sure they have any gas left in the tank after their chase of Boston and keeping us at toes length at the end.

Oh well...either way, Boston will hand it to either team they play in the next round, be it C-Town or NY.

I am NOT by far a Yankees fan, but just to be a pr*ck myself today, I am going to print out some Yankees signs and stick them on my cubicle walls. It is bad enough that downtown Cleveland (probably some of the same buildings you walked past Rich - including the Federal Reserve) all have GO TRIBE signs all over them....AHHH.....

Speaking of Cleveland, how about FAT BOY Sabathia....have you ever seen a gut like his before..wow! Actually kinda reminds me of David Wells' gut.....I don't know why I am thinking of that....sorta sick....Just trying to keep my post going I suppose...

Anyway, it's time to do some 'work' and what I mean by that, is surf the net for Detroit news...ha ha...

Here is a fat list of Free Agents that I found for our viewing pleasure...let the debating begin!

Catchers

Brad Ausmus (39)

Michael Barrett (31)

Ramon Castro (32)

Jason Kendall (34)

Paul Lo Duca (36)

Jorge Posada (36)

Jose Molina (33)

Ivan Rodriguez (36) - $13MM club option for '08

Yorvit Torrealba (30)

First basemen

Sean Casey (34)

Tony Clark (36)

Adam Dunn (28) - $13MM club option for '08

Darin Erstad (34) - $3.5MM club option for '08

Scott Hatteberg (38) - $1.85MM club option for '08

Ryan Klesko (37)

Mike Lamb (33)

Doug Mientkiewicz (34)

Second basemen

Luis Castillo (32)

Damion Easley (38)

Marcus Giles (30) - $4MM club option for '08

Tadahito Iguchi (33)

Mark Loretta (37)

Kaz Matsui (32)

Jose Valentin (38)

Shortstops

David Eckstein (33)

Cesar Izturis (28) - $5.45MM club option for '08

Tomohiro Nioka (32)

Alexei Ramirez (26)

Juan Uribe (29) - $5MM club option for '08

Omar Vizquel (41)

Third basemen

Pedro Feliz (33)

Mike Lamb (32)

Mike Lowell (34)

Alex Rodriguez (32) - Has ability to opt out of contract after season

Left fielders

Moises Alou (42) - $7.5MM club option for '08

Barry Bonds (43)

Milton Bradley (30)

Adam Dunn (28) - $13MM club option for '08

Cliff Floyd (35) - mutual option for '08

Luis Gonzalez (40)

Geoff Jenkins (33) - $9MM club option for '08

Reggie Sanders (40)

Shannon Stewart (34)

Brad Wilkerson (31)

Center fielders

Milton Bradley (30)

Mike Cameron (35)

Darin Erstad (34) - $3.5MM club option for '08

Torii Hunter (32)

Andruw Jones (31)

Kenny Lofton (41)

Corey Patterson (28)

Alexei Ramirez (26)

Aaron Rowand (30)

Right fielders

Bobby Abreu (34) - $16MM club option for '08

Milton Bradley (30)

Kosuke Fukudome (31)

Shawn Green (35) - $10MM club option for '08

Jose Guillen (32) - $9MM club option for '08

Geoff Jenkins (33) - $9MM club option for '08

Trot Nixon (34)

Reggie Sanders (40)

DHs

Barry Bonds (43)

Mike Piazza (39)

Sammy Sosa (39)

Mike Sweeney (34)

Starting pitchers

Tony Armas (30) - $5MM mutual option for '08

Kris Benson (33) - $7.5MM club option for '08

Paul Byrd (37) - $8MM club option for '08

Shawn Chacon (30)

Roger Clemens (46)

Matt Clement (33)

Bartolo Colon (35)

Josh Fogg (31)

Casey Fossum (30)

Freddy Garcia (32)

Tom Glavine (42)

Livan Hernandez (33)*

Jason Jennings (29)

Joe Kennedy (29)

Byung-Hyun Kim (29)

Brian Lawrence (32)

Jon Lieber (38)

Kyle Lohse (29)

Rodrigo Lopez (32)

Greg Maddux (42) - $8.75MM player option or $11MM club option for '08

Eric Milton (32)

Tomo Ohka (32)

Russ Ortiz (34)

Odalis Perez (31) - $9MM club option for '08

Andy Pettitte (36) - $16MM player option for '08

Joel Pineiro (29)

Kenny Rogers (43)

Curt Schilling (41)

Carlos Silva (29)

Julian Tavarez (35) - $3.85MM club option for '08

John Thomson (34)

Brett Tomko (35) - $4.5MM mutual option for '08

Steve Trachsel (37) - $4.75MM club option for '08

Koji Uehara (33)

Jeff Weaver (31)

David Wells (45)

Kip Wells (31)

Randy Wolf (31) - $9MM club option for '08

Jamey Wright (34)

Jaret Wright (32)

Closers

Armando Benitez (35)

Joe Borowski (37) - $4MM club option for '08

Francisco Cordero (33)

Octavio Dotel (32) - $5.5MM mutual option for '08

Eric Gagne (32)

Todd Jones (40)

Al Reyes (37) - $1MM club option for '08

Mariano Rivera (38)

Bob Wickman (39)

Middle relievers

Jeremy Affeldt (29)

Antonio Alfonseca (36)

LaTroy Hawkins (35)

Jorge Julio (29)

Joe Kennedy (29)

Scott Linebrink (31)

Troy Percival (39)

David Riske (31) - $2.85MM club option for '08

Russ Springer (39)

Julian Tavarez (35) - $3.85MM club option for '08

Mike Timlin (42)

Luis Vizcaino (31)

Kerry Wood (31)

I am cheering for the Tribe (although I keep on bringing up my food) to beat the Yankees. Above all the Yankees have got to be stopped. Then I hope the Indians get the **** kicked out of them by Boston. I was truly hoping that it would be the Angels and the Cubs in the Series but obviously those hopes are dashed. But above all the Yankees must not advance. I cannot believe they are pitching Wang tonight on three days rest. Pretty risky I would say. Obviously they only have three starters they trusted. By the way the evil in me was thrilled to see that jerk Clemens come out of the game yesterday so quickly. Hopefully we will never have to see that piece of work pitch ever again.

So I just read on another site, that a prediction for the Tigers is to sign Octavio Dotel & Eric Gagne.
I think Jones will take the money and run, so we will be in need of another closer, although I am not sure how I feel about Gagne - about as predictable as Jones, but with ingury problems. I would say Zoom for it, but not after being hurt of the majority of 07.

That Alexei Ramirez seems interesting - had a .332 BA with 87 home runs and 391 RBI in seven seasons with Pinar del Rio in Cuba. He had a .335 batting average with 68 RBIs, and led the league with 20 home runs last season.

I would take those sort of numbers for Guillen's replacement. The average is there, although the career RBI and HR are alittle low. But hey, someone to plug into the 7th spot with Rodriguez and Inge hitting behind would work.

Detroit will never take a chance on a foreign player that isn't already established though...

WoW...the more I look at the list of free agents at the SS position, DD better than thought this through (which I am sure he did)about moving Guillen to firt and getting rid of Casey before getting another SS. Maybe we really are headed in the Jack Wilson direction, Marty.
I guess he had a decent year, .296, 141H, 292B - not alot of RBI's but doesn't strike out much, which we could use.

But, have you ever seen a more goofy looking ba***** in all your life though?! WOW!! He looks like a rat that could eat corn on the cob through a screen door.

There are a few solid ballplayers on that free agent list, but certainly no franchise changing names, other than Alex Rodgriguez. A-Rod should be listed as a shortstop. He's only at third because of Jeter. I'd spend the money on him if he was available.

Trot Nixon is a lefthanded bat who's probably looking to get out of Cleveland. Andruw Jones had a horrible year for some reason.

Pitchers Joe Kennedy, Livan Hernandez. What's the situation with Freddy Garcia?