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Is A Weakened NFC North Really A Good Thing For Lions?
Loved the comments by NBC’s Al Michaels Sunday night during the Bears-Eagles game when he was discussing how wide open the NFC North race is now that Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers is banged up.
He went over all the teams in the division and got to the Lions, "..and Detroit is Detroit," he said.
Meaning the Lions have no chance.
I agree with him. Who doesn’t? The Lions have been terrible this season. I can’t see them getting into any playoff contention.
But if they were to win Sunday against the Bears - and, granted, that’s a big "if" - their 1-3 record would put the Lions right there in the division race.
Now is that good news or bad news? My contention is the sooner the Lions look to the future, the better.
Is that fair to the team? Or head coach Rod Marinelli? Not sure. I only know the Lions have let people down to such a great degree, and presented so little hope, it’s difficult not to feel that way.
Random Thoughts
- Five reasons the Tigers will contend next year: Curtis Granderson, Placido Polanco, Miguel Cabrera, Magglio Ordonez, Justin Verlander. There is still very strong core there.
- Obviously, I don’t think they should deal Mags. Well, unless it’s for a front line starting pitcher. And that isn’t going to happen.
- Is Brandon Inge the best .203 hitter in the history of baseball?
- Michigan’s Stephen Threet is a better quarterback than most people are giving him credit. So is Michigan State’s Brian Hoyer.
- I usually have a Heisman Trophy vote, but at this stage, I see no clear-cut favorite. I see Javon Ringer as having a fighting chance. Just wonder if he can stay healthy carrying the ball that much.
- College football’s most underrated team is Texas. The Longhorns will prove it a week from Saturday against Oklahoma. It will prove to be the game of the year.
He went over all the teams in the division and got to the Lions, "..and Detroit is Detroit," he said.
Meaning the Lions have no chance.
I agree with him. Who doesn’t? The Lions have been terrible this season. I can’t see them getting into any playoff contention.
But if they were to win Sunday against the Bears - and, granted, that’s a big "if" - their 1-3 record would put the Lions right there in the division race.
Now is that good news or bad news? My contention is the sooner the Lions look to the future, the better.
Is that fair to the team? Or head coach Rod Marinelli? Not sure. I only know the Lions have let people down to such a great degree, and presented so little hope, it’s difficult not to feel that way.
Random Thoughts
- Five reasons the Tigers will contend next year: Curtis Granderson, Placido Polanco, Miguel Cabrera, Magglio Ordonez, Justin Verlander. There is still very strong core there.
- Obviously, I don’t think they should deal Mags. Well, unless it’s for a front line starting pitcher. And that isn’t going to happen.
- Is Brandon Inge the best .203 hitter in the history of baseball?
- Michigan’s Stephen Threet is a better quarterback than most people are giving him credit. So is Michigan State’s Brian Hoyer.
- I usually have a Heisman Trophy vote, but at this stage, I see no clear-cut favorite. I see Javon Ringer as having a fighting chance. Just wonder if he can stay healthy carrying the ball that much.
- College football’s most underrated team is Texas. The Longhorns will prove it a week from Saturday against Oklahoma. It will prove to be the game of the year.
posted by Pat Caputo at
1:07 PM
10 Comments:
Pat,
I know that throwing Stanton out there as QB would be considered giving up on the season, but I actually disagree. It seems to me from watching the first two games (and part of the third - the recording got deleted before I watched it), that Kitna has little confidence in the offense and it is hurting his performance. Just putting someone in there who actually believes in what they are doing, and works hard (if only to prove that they can - in Stanton or Orlovski's case) would probably be a better situation. It would even help pound Marinellis message that he will play the players who work the hardest.
-Marty
I liked Matt Derry's nickname for Threet today. Steven "Incompthreet". He has a long way to go at UM.
Inge might be the best fielding player who bats .203 .
Some batting coach needs to get a hold of him and turn him into a better hitter. Leon Bull Durham maybe?
Hey Pat, Inge hits like a catcher, some power and low batting avg. Inge playing 3B next year means Tigers are creating another position that has to be filled.I would not trade Maggs unless you get a closer or ss. I would not throw in the towel because the Tigers might only need to win 90 games to win the division next year. Tigers have to use their resources wisely because the Tigers are limited concerning trading prospects and free agent money. I do agree with DD not to spend 15 million a season to get K-Rod. They probably could get Fuentes and Jack Wilson for the price of K-Rod. K-Rod might be available at a lower price, if he leaves the Angels, because there are only couple of teams interested in K-Rod. So bidding war may not happen.
Inge supposedly spent all last offseason working on his bat - and it showed in the opening weeks - when nothing else did. But then it went away. Inge is what he is. A really good defensive 3B with a weak bat but good in RBI situations. Not great - but better than a 203 (.205 i think now) hitter.
As for trading Mags - Mags came to us wounded and everyone thought we were getting a gimp - instead we got an AL batting champ (last year) and in the running this year. But people still think of that leg - and his age - and know that he can't get better than he is.
Keep Mags. In my eyes - he's the only glue left to hold this together - and one day will be a great DH.
Marty,
I think you make a good point. I think Stanton might actually give the Lions as good or better chance of winning games. It's possible he would infuse some needed life into what is pretty much docile team at this point.
Caputo
Anonymous,
How is the 'Cuse being doing lately on the gridiron.
Caputo
Barry,
I have no idea what made the Tigers so compelled about naming Inge their starting third baseman for next season already. I make him a catcher. A .200 hitting third baseman not good.
Caputo
Anonymous,
Inge is not without offensive talent. He does have a good hitting stroke and he is very strong. But he doesn't recognize pitches as well as the most consistent hitters in the major leagues. That can't be easily taught.
Caputo
Fred Brill,
Just listening to Dombrowski talk about his roster makes me curious. Dusty Ryan at catcher. What a step back from Pudge.
Caputo
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