Is Leyland's presence really going to matter? Are My Beloved Tigers ever going to win 81 games? I think they have the talent, and with Bonderman & others maturing nicely it could happen. But I am suspect of Leyland's motive. I would appreciate your honest opinions. And please no sarcasism. Yeah, I know how many they lost in 2003---but I am still a die hard fan.
123819
I think one of the only things Leyland is going to accomplish this season is inflating Pudge's ego even further than it already is. How many "managers" are we going to rely on to try to turn this horrid losing season streak around??? I think we need to start focusing that question to Dombrowski and Ilitch. My one hope for this season is that Leyland really stresses the "basics of baseball" and focuses the ENTIRE team on playing "small ball"
597444
Hey BroadwayPhil, tough loss today for the M's losing in x-tra's to the Rockies, so 14-4 is great against the NL.  But the NL West is horrible, but then again the AL West has had it's problems too.  The AL has really been ripping the NL to shreads.  My BoSox just finished 16-2 against the Senior Circuit.  Seattle would be a top 5 team in the NL, but not in the AL.  The Mariners have been playing a lot better as of late, but I guess we will find out soon when the Mariners get back to playing the AL Teams.  The team that they have to worry about most is the A's, Rich Harden is due back soon from injury.  But Joe Blanton and Danny Haren has been very ordinary and very inconsistent.  Zito has been their best pitcher so far.  The Mariners have to hope that they continue to get good performances from Ichiro which is a given, but Lopez and Johjima have been pleasent surprises for them.  Ibanez just very quietly go about his business, he's so underrated, a good steady outfielder.  Gil Meche has been pitching much better this year which is a plus.  Moyer has done very well, isn't he about 50 now?  God bless him, he's still doing it at his age.  They really need Washburn and Pinero to get better consistency.  King Felix can just flat out dominate when he's on.  So are they in it for the long haul?  Could be, but just as you said the AL is murderers row this year with Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Minnesota, and New York.  You really don't catch a break with teams like that.  Mariners just have to care of business against the under .500 teams and see how it will play out.  They have a chance to win the AL West!!!\n\nPS. - I have Ibanez, Lopez, and Ichiro on my fantasy baseball team, so they are OK by me   :)
437180
Maggs and Sheff will split time in RF/DH most likely, with more field time going to Maggs.  Monroe isn't going anywhere.  He'll continue to play left and may even get some time in right with Sheff playing left (Leyland said it himself).  Maggs is not a good outfielder anymore as he demonstrated repeatedly in 2006 and Andy Van Slyke (the outfield coach and all-around kick-ass dude) is not a miracle worker.  He had a few great catches  that were surrounded by overall sloppy defensive play.  He also lets too many balls drop in front of him (plays too deep).  I know Van Slyke tried to correct that in the fielders, but I think Maggs' knee cuts his range down considerably.\n\nGranderson will stay in centerfield for a few more years until Maybin is ready to come up - they he will move over to one of the corners.\n\nThe real losers in this deal are Marcus Thames (last year's DH and a backup outfielder) and Brent Clevlen.  Thames is expendable now and could very well get dealt or he'll be stuck in Toledo this year (after finally getting his first full year in the majors at 29).  Clevlen could be a future star who is currently the Tigers best fielding outfielder with a cannon for an arm, but has not yet really proven that he can be a consistent hitter.  The fact that he is another right-handed hitter hurts his chance of making the club because our other outfielders are all righties (except Granderson).  Now we'll probably be stuck with Gomez again as our backup just because he's a lefty when the job really should go to Clevlen.
304986
The answer is David Dombrowski. He is the General Manager & Presient of The Tigers.\n\nHe took a chance on Pudge a few years ago, giving him a 4 year 40 million deal. He took a chance of Mags. He traded for Carlos Guillen. He traded for Palanco.\n\nHe's built up our farm system. Look at Granderson, Zumaya, and Verlander.\n\nWhen he took over in 2002, Randy Smith was our GM ( for 7 years)(and RS traded away all our good players).\n\nHe then fired Randy Smith and started building the farm system right away.\n\nAlso, Jim Leyland plays a big part of out current success.\n\nLeyland has The Tigers focused on the game at hand, not on where we were, or where we could be.\n\nHe instills a good positive attitude---something that has been sorely lacking for 12 years.\n\nI am enjoying this while it lasts.\n\nI hope it continues, but I do not have my hopes up too much.\n\nFor the first time in a long long long long long long time it is actually fun to watch them play.\n\nAll those losing years I spent agnozing over them is paying off now.
283033
Try being a Tiger fan. I have been a Tiger Fan For Life, and the last 12 years they havent seen .500!\n\n12 straight losing seasons!\n\nHow about in 2003 they lsot 119 games!\n\nAt least the Blue Jays will win 81 games (or more).\n\nWe could talk about The Lions (whom havent been champions since 1957!)\n\nI am glad the deadwings lost ing the first round! The deadwings are the reason why The Tigers are so horrible (same guy owns both, and he doesnt care about baseball; my Favorite sport).\n\nSo There!
601843
I hate it because I really love my home town team.  They for one thing are not doing things in the clutch.  The bullpen chokes when we have a lead, they give it away and when we have a situation where runners are on base in a tight game, we don't have anyone getting the clutch base hits.  I also think their starting rotation hasn/t been getting the job done.  I'm still going to see them as I'm not a fair weather fan, I just hope they can just get back to some respectability.  I definetly think it is a wake up call.
194585
i just want to say you are a good person for liking the tribe! They are gonne be the 06 champs. the martinez you are thiking of is dennis martinez (el presidente) im not sure where he is. but thome is on the rival white sox who arent doing so well this year so far, hershieser is an espn baseball analysis. sandy plays for the rangers i believe and is like 2nd sting. julio franco is with the braves i think and is like the oldest player in the mlb. omar is short stop for the giants and last i saw of mesa he was pitching for phili. hope that helps alittle and GO TRIBE!
246271
man someone needs to lay off the crack pipe sayin the tigers are better then the sox. look at the records timmie. who has the best record in baseball that would be the sox. is this even a real question because they are the defending champs and have the best record end of story
490583
Pitching is the only thing we really need,I hope they made a really good bid on this Matsuzaka!! I heard Andy Pettite Had dinner with Joe Torre Last night,And i read in todays paper,he said if he pitches next yr he wants to come back to the yankees,Roger Clemens if he plays next yr,WILL FINISH HIS CAREER IN BOSTON!! From what i read in todays paper If we don't get Matsuzaka,We'll go after Zito,And i belive Pettite is going to come back.Don't forget we have this Kid Phil Huges,Whos also going to be a GREAT PITCHER! And We'll get something for Sheffield\n4 clubs called about him,But Cashman wants to trade him to an NL Team,,Because he's pissed,and he can hurt us in the long run if we trade him to an AL Team,
673695
It is too late for this season.  They need to get rid of Prior and Wood and get some more young pitchers you don't get hurt.  They then need to quit going out and signing free agent who were good 5 years ago (Nevin, Burnitz, Womack, Mabry are all examples of this).  They also need a more consistent bullpen.  I sadly think our beloved Cubs are on their way back down after hitting a "peak" in 03-04.
457198
David Dombrowski is NOT an idiot.\nHe traded those pitchers because The Tigers\nhave a lot of good solid pitching prospects in\nour farm system. The three he gave are going to\nbe average at best....so it was no big loss.\n\nThe Tigers needed a big bat in the line-up, and\nGary Sheffield provides them with that. It is a win/win\nsituation for both teams. Sheffield played for Leyland on \nthat 1997 World Champion Florida Marlin team, so they have \na good history. I am hoping that Sheffield cools his jets and\nrelaxes some. His bat in the line-up only makes The Tigers\nthat much stronger.\n\nAs far as barry bonds goes, Dombrowski & Leyland both \nagreed that they did not want his attitude to mess up a good \nsolid clubhouse enviroment. Regardless of Bond's power, \nThe Tigers didn't want the cancerous attitude he would bring.\n\nThe Tigers are trying to build a winning team, not a whinning team.\n\nAnd I hope you guys get Alou. That would be a sweet addition to your team.
602415
They have a terrific manager and they are playing great.  While a lot of people lean towards the Red Sox, White Sox and Yankees because of their experience in post season, this Tigers team with their outstanding pitching could surprise and go all the way!  I will root for them.
615697
lol jeez I'm thinking not, sorry :(\n\n\nHeck the royals were about to break a major league record of loosing up until just the other day.  I don't think they have the talent or stamina to win.
195474
Being a michigan native, I see them maybe finishing right around 0.500. Their pitching is very young still Bonderman (3 yrs), Maroth (4), Verlander (rookie), and their closer is injured. Their bullpen is weak too, with young talent again. I think their bats will definetely get them some wins however it has been proven you need pitching to win games, and champions think White Sox.
664340
Hell yeah!   It's about time we had a good team in Detroit.  I mean we got the pitching, hitting and defense down.  We just need a left handed bat and a better closer and I honestly think we can go all the way.  But, I'll be happy with just making the playoffs because it's been soooo long.
40105
Being a huge Tigers fan for a time period there I would agree with you. But Illitch has now made it a point to also make the Tigers a winning ball club. That dedication started when he brought Dombrowski in who is considered one of the best GM's out there. He has also trie to get top players just nobody wants to come to Detroit which is why he has had to over pay for some guys such as Pudge and Mags. He made another good move this year by getting rid of Tram (yes he was a great ball player but he couldn't manage worth a lick). Leyland will have more respect from the team and knows how to manage a ball team. In my opinion Leyland alone is worth 5 to 10 more wins this season. To sum it up Illitch is heading in the right direction and starting to pump more money into the Tigers. We will see if it works out though.
648999
Their big problem is is that so far this season, they have not played well against the Big Boys in the AL (Chicago, Boston, New York).  They're 1-5 against the White Sox, 1-2 vs. the Red Sux, and 1-3 vs. the Yankees, which is 40% of their losses.  Since they lost the last series to the White Sox in Chicago, they've teed off on Toronto, Tampa, the Cubs, Milwaukee, St. Louis, and Houston, and go to Pittsburgh before interleague play ends.\n\nThey still have 13 games left with Chicago, 3 each with Boston and New York, and 10 with resurgent Minnesota.  Those are going to be crucial games to see whether the Tigers can hold off the White Sox.