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Another Telling Situation
Random Thoughts
- If the Cardinals are the Tigers opponents in the World Series, look for Jim Leyland to load up his starting pitching rotation with lefthanders Kenny Rogers and Nate Robertson at the top. The Cardinals were 23-24 against lefty starters this season.
- The worst thing that can happen to Michigan State would be for the Spartans to rally down the stretch and get into a bowl game. The John L. Smith charade has gone on long enough in East Lansing.
- You would not see what happened in the Miami-Florida International game transpire in a Michigan game. It just would not happen. It says a lot for Michigan beyond the number of wins it tallies.
- I know Michigan and Ohio State are on a collision course for an epic showdown Nov. 18 in Columbus, but the strongest league in college football is the Southeastern Conference. Getting through that conference unbeaten seems to be an impossible task.
- I am starting to think the Tigers should strongly consider re-signing Sean Casey and making him their every day first baseman next season. But he is not an $8.5 million per year player. I am also starting to wonder if Chris Shelton will ever have much of an impact in the major leagues again. Seems like April was his 15 minutes of fame.
posted by Pat Caputo at
2:44 AM
11 Comments:
I Rule,
You make great points. The Cardinals are underwhelming, especially when it is considered how easily the Tigers beat them during the regular season. It also, however, makes them a little dangerous. They seem to be one of those clubs that somehow survives. The Tigers are kind of like that, too.
Caputo
Thinkingman,
I think he has done enough to merit consideration. If they don't have a better option, why not Casey? Also, the White Sox did trade their center fielder for Thome and still didn't get back to the playoffs. There is logic to what you say, but also a part of me that believes "if it isn't broke, don't fix it."
Caputo
You are right book. Michigan would never pull of what Miami did. I can't believe the NCAA even allowed such a game. That be like Michigan playing Saginaw Valley or Wayne State or a small college like Olivet. It is a disgrace that Miami would lower itself to that level. They deserve all the scrutiny they get. They embarassed their school and cringed all the former great Miami teams as a result. Florida International. Take the freaking week off if you can't find somebody better to play.
I agree about John L. Guy needs to go. The staff should not be allowed to coach football especially for wasting what could have been a good college career for stanton. Let's face it we all say well the coaches aren't the ones playing or the school doesn't have enough talent. Well this is one instant where the below average football fan can see that coaching staff has lost the last 4 games not the players. They have been pathetic.
On to the lions. Come on Caputo we are the days away from the World Series. We are suppose to be in celebration. Then you tarnish it with Lions talk. Bottom line Fire Millen. Rogers should have known better. He is a professional he gets what he deserves. The lions are about to run off another potential great player. Troy Vincent was available. How can the lions not go after a guy like that who was just released. They are 1-5. The offense has shown signs. Yes they got a win, but who cares. Win 3 or 4 more in a row then we will care. Lets see us play like we did against some other then J.P. I am lossman.
In my opinion. I'd like to see Casey back. I think he keeps a positive attitude in the club house. He isn't arrogant like most good players. Which i bet is great for you reporters. However, like you mentioned he isn't 8 million dollar player, especially with his injuries over the past few years. I'd like to see the tigers go after Carlos Lee if they could or go a head and trade for a big leguer. we have enough great arms we can dispose of one to put that beef in the lineup. OUt of curiosity I know we have nice pitching. Would you go after a Zito. Maybe have a Zito, Rogers, Verlander, Bonderman Robertson for next year. Then when rogers expires after next year you Miller or Sanchez should be ready. heck one could go in the rotation and the other can join zumya to solidify that bull pen even more. Just a thought. We could have a lineup of Polanco, Monroe, Lee, Ordonez, Guillen, Rodriguez, Casey, Inge, Granderson or Granderson, Polanco, Guillen, Lee, Ordonez, Casey, Rodriguez, Monroe, Inge. Then put a staff of a Zito(pending you can sign him), Verlander, Bonderman, Rogers, Robertson. Wow and a bullpen of possibly Rodney, Sanchez, Jones, Zumya (as the closer). Maroth, Grilli, Miner, Ledezma long relief. I gurantee playoffs. SO lets recap our offseason acquisitions : Carlos Lee and Barry Zito.
I don't think it matters who we play in the series. I like our staff. I only can hope the momentum does wear off and we can get that same adrenaline after the 7 day layoff. I just don't think either St. Louis or New York can match our pitching. If i had to choose I like to play St. Louis because they are extremely banged up now. IF we play the mets great to, because we can put Detroit over as the best sports town now.
Mr.C. -- Lions - still a mystery. How can management go that long without getting lucky in the draft? They must have Al Capps Joe Biffilspkic cloud over their heads. -- (Nice stadium though) Good thing the tickets are cheap! Tigers-- i like Caseys presence in the tigs line up but i am sure everyone from Mr. I down would like a big HR hitter next to Mags. The trouble is getting one. Vinny
Pat,
How can Shaun Rogers not question every foreign substance that enters his body. Each and every supplement or medical drug should be questioned to the nth degree. How could he take that chance, especally knowing drug testing is inevitable. Could it be that he wanted to get caught? I doubt it, but it wouldn't suprise me.
GregMan
Maddog52,
Yeah, I hear you on the Lions. But they are so messed up, it is incredible. When their best player gets suspended like that, it is a story - a big one regardless. It was just so typical. I agree about the Tigers, too, when it comes to not mattering who they play. Either team they face, they should beat under the circumstances. Both the Cardinals and Mets have used a lot of pitchers. And the American League dominated the National League in interleague play this season.
Caputo
Vinny,
I understand the power arguement about the Tigers first baseman, but they ranked second in the league in home runs. Seems to me what they might need more is a consistent contract hitter rather than another free-swinging power hitter.
Caputo
Gregman,
There are no excuses. Seems like the Lions have tried to pass off all the blame on him, but does anybody ever stop to think about Marinelli's pressure to "make weight" and how it might have led to this problem. Considering all the talk about Mike Williams and weight, it seems like this coaching staff is more concerned about things like that than whether a guy can play or not.
Caputo
Pat, I owe you an apology. In the preseason I commented that I felt you “had a grudge” with Matt Millen. Clearly I was wrong. There is a difference between appearing to have a personal vendetta with a person and explaining the obvious. In Matt Millen's case, I was unable to make that distinction.
The entire Detroit Lions franchise is in complete free fall. While I liked the hiring of Rod Marinilli, as you point out there are some serious questions on his handling of the on-field team. Combine that with Millen's personal decisions (Wow, Dan Wilkerson would look good on the Defensive Line right now with Rogers out, but Cory Bradford was needed more .... Alas) and this team is years away from even reaching respectability.
I understand and respect the competitive nature of Matt Millen. It made him an outstanding linebacker during his playing years. However, at this point there almost needs to be a staged intervention and explain to him that he's the wrong man for this type of work. It would be best if he just accepted the responsibility of his failure as a General Manager and walk away. I doubt any of the other NFL teams would assist with this because they like the easy mark on their schedule.
Mr.Ford needs to hire someone like Ron Wolfe to either run the team or chair an advisory board on who should be hired next and what the team truly needs. The taxpayers of the State of Michigan gave Mr. Ford a state of the art stadium in the late 70's (Still not totally paid off) then built him another one downtown to the tune of half a billion dollars. He needs to stop being so loyal to one person and look at what this teams fans have given him and bring in proper football people.
The one fantastic thing about the Tigers run is it's showed me just how boring and bland the NFL has become. Maybe I'm starting to feel my age, but the National coverage is horrible. My Monday's are pretty much football free and I frankly don't miss the game that much. I don't know if that is a combination of the Tigers success, the Lions failure, or a sports product and league that is so designed by a marketing department that it is irrelevant.
Pat,
I also would like to see Sean Casey back next season in a platoon situation. Hopefully, Dombrowski could pluck a young developing first baseman with power potential, who bats left-handed or switch hits. It might be time for him to move Chris Shelton, as I don't believe he will get over the snubbing this postseason.
I agree with some comments from "i rule" yesterday, regarding the Tigers having a better defense with Santiago at SS and Guillen at 1st, than Guillen at SS and Shelton at 1st. Nothing against Shelton's defense, but Santiago is clearly the Tigers best middle infielder. I only question why Chris Shelton is not the 25th man on the roster over Neifi Perez, as a pinch-hitting option. (click on the link for my reasons)
Anyone have a link for the playoff roster rules? It has been said that changes can only be made due to injury at this point. If that is true, how can Jim Leyland be talking about putting Andrew Miller on the World Series roster? Zumaya is the only one who has been ailing. Miner hasn't been used yet; is he ailing too? The only one who looks to be ailing is Grilli! This does not compute, Book, with the comments you left yesterday. Who would the injured pitcher be, that is on the active roster to be replaced? I always thought that changes could be made for the next series, as long as a player was active before September 1st.
If the Mets advance, as I still think they will, another left-hander would definately be more advantageous; more so than against the Cardinals. I'd still hope to see Mike Maroth; he's maintained that he isn't hurting, and he has the makeup and experience. He also has some rust, bit so do a few others, including Miller. I'd hate to see the kid thrown out there. I can't help but think about another rookie in the World Series, Cardinal Rick Ankiel. He couldn't buy a strike, and it ended up ruining him; he was rushed for no good reason. Why risk than with Miller; he isn't ready for this. Ankiel had more experience than Miller does, and Miller has already shown that he hasn't developed the nerves yet to be pitching at the high stakes level. Mike Maroth deserves it anyway.
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