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Time To Consider Releasing Sheffield And Rogers
Normally, I’m not a big believer in addition by subtraction. But I do believe it might be time for the Tigers to shake up their house.
First of all, I don’t believe they can go much longer with Gary Sheffield and Kenny Rogers not performing well at all. The Tigers might be wise to bite the bullet - and swallow an enormous amount of money - by releasing both of them.
Sheffield is hitting .189 with two home runs and eight RBI in 106 at bats and contributes little defensively. Rogers has had nine starts with an ERA of nearly seven.
It’s not an easy decision to make. These are great players. Or should we say, "were" great players. It’s obvious father time has caught up to them.
The only time the Tigers seem to have an energy is when they turn to younger players such as Matt Joyce. Or Clete Thomas earlier in the year.
The idea is to win games. To this point of the season, Sheffield and Rogers have only help lose games for the Tigers.
First of all, I don’t believe they can go much longer with Gary Sheffield and Kenny Rogers not performing well at all. The Tigers might be wise to bite the bullet - and swallow an enormous amount of money - by releasing both of them.
Sheffield is hitting .189 with two home runs and eight RBI in 106 at bats and contributes little defensively. Rogers has had nine starts with an ERA of nearly seven.
It’s not an easy decision to make. These are great players. Or should we say, "were" great players. It’s obvious father time has caught up to them.
The only time the Tigers seem to have an energy is when they turn to younger players such as Matt Joyce. Or Clete Thomas earlier in the year.
The idea is to win games. To this point of the season, Sheffield and Rogers have only help lose games for the Tigers.
posted by Pat Caputo at
4:02 PM
7 Comments:
Maybe it's radical, but would Rogers or Sheff make good Pitching or Hitting coaches? Either way, getting rid of those 2 frees you up. You keep Armando around, bring Dontrelle up in Rogers' spot. Platoon Thames and Joyce in Left, Inge at third and Guillen your everyday DH. (Or switch 1b and dh with Cabrera and Guillen) Maybe then you can hopefully find a backup catcher somewhere? Any idea if or when Vance will ever find his way back onto the active roster?
Sheff should have been on the DL since the few couple weeks of the season. That's where he needs to go now. Bring Hessman up and start him everyday at 3rd and move guillen to DH, he does not belong on the baseball field defensively. If that had been the makeup of the team since the beginning, they would have won at least a couple more games. In six weeks sheff can do a rehab stint and if he doesn't do anything then it's time to get rid of him.
I got friends in low places.
Not being a GM or even a fantasy baseball geek, I am not sure of their range of options. I yeild to you on this topic.
Rogers, as special as he was personifying Detroit in 2006 - and making sure the Detroit fans got their Champagne blitz after the Mags tater to go to the WS, I think he should be released - waivers - whatever it is. And we should give him the key to the city.
Sheffield - There is still more Gary there. There is still more babeball. And his slow start may be almost over. But maybe not. I hate to see us toss him out like a fine antique piece of furniture somebody else picks up form our curband benefits from - maybe even beat our brains in with.
As far as picking Osgood or Tukos for a million dollar beer league game, I would take the Ozmiester - I watched Tukows in those first three games of the series.
This is a good point Pat, his stats last year since the injury are just as bad as this year. This was bad signing from the beginning because the Tigers, proven in the World Series, they needed a left handed bat not another righty. What are Tigers record against right handers in 07 and 08? If Gary cannot come back, I would like to see from a fan's point of view is let Thames be your full-time DH just to see what he can do over the next couple of months, I know he has holes in his swing but he might adjust. After month or two if he cannot mature into the role than bring up a left handed stick such Clete Thomas or Jeff Larish. Adam Dunn is suppose to be available, but I would think twice about that one. I know he hits 40 NL homeruns and has lifetime OBP of 380, but does carry 248 lifetime AVG and is below average fielder and runner. Beside the Tigers already have 3 or 4 DH waiting in the wings. I would take a look at Dunn in 09 if Larish or Thames does not pan out.
As we blog back in Spring Training and the few games I watched, Kenny needed that 90 m.p.h fastball not 87 or 88 fastball. His change still pop up at 83 m.p.h. With only 4 m.p.h difference in his fastball, hitters could sit on change and adjust very quickly to his fastball. He needs to make some adjustments, his location seem to be okay. I would give him a few more starts to see he can turn it around. He might hold some trade too. Didn't 86 m.p.h David Wells get sign or traded last year.
Sheffield should have been on the DL a long time ago. Give him a chance to heal. Leyland still has his favorites he caters to.
Wow, pretty drastic suggestion Pat! But I do agree you... both Sheff and Rogers can be replaced by younger and more productive players.
Something drastic has to be done - and soon - or this (what looked in the spring to be an) opportunity for a very special season will be long gone.
I think it's a little early to dismiss Rogers but Sheffield is sure looking like he is done. They have to convince him that a DL stint is in everybody's best interest.
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