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Count Me Among Those Who Don't Think Damon Fits Tigers
It does smack of desperation that agent Scott Boras has deemed it necessary to sell Johnny Damon like a mop salesman. Although he has been a very good player for a long time, Damon doesn't fit the profile of a club itching for contracts of such aging veteran players to expire. His defense - especially his arm - is awful. Not good for spacious Comerica Park. As a hitter, he is at the age (36) when it's very difficult to know when he'll hit the wall. If I were in Dave Dombrowski's shoes (and be thankful I'm not), I would offer Damon a two-year, $4 million deal. That's because, honestly, it's what his true value is on this market at this point.
Random Thoughts
- It's understood Joe Mauer is a good cut above Curtis Granderson as a player, and he was raised in the Twin Cities, but it has to be discouraging to Tiger fans nonetheless that the Twins chose to keep one of their own, while the Tigers cut Granderson loose to baseball's ultimate big market team - the Yankees.
- A perfect storm for a disaster: Mike Martz as the offensive coordinator in Chicago. We''re talking a big town here. Third-largest in the nation. Still not sure there is enough room to control Matz's ego. Remember the Lions' game at Arizona when he steadfastly refused to run the ball? Remember the home game against Green Bay when, after being criticized by fans and media for not getting the ball to Calvin Johnson enough, all he did was throw Calvin Johnson the ball? It didn't go well for Martz in Detroit nor San Francisco as OC. Why would Chicago be any better?
My column in Tuesday's Oakland Press on Justin Verlander's contract situation: http://tinyurl.com/yec3ey4
Random Thoughts
- It's understood Joe Mauer is a good cut above Curtis Granderson as a player, and he was raised in the Twin Cities, but it has to be discouraging to Tiger fans nonetheless that the Twins chose to keep one of their own, while the Tigers cut Granderson loose to baseball's ultimate big market team - the Yankees.
- A perfect storm for a disaster: Mike Martz as the offensive coordinator in Chicago. We''re talking a big town here. Third-largest in the nation. Still not sure there is enough room to control Matz's ego. Remember the Lions' game at Arizona when he steadfastly refused to run the ball? Remember the home game against Green Bay when, after being criticized by fans and media for not getting the ball to Calvin Johnson enough, all he did was throw Calvin Johnson the ball? It didn't go well for Martz in Detroit nor San Francisco as OC. Why would Chicago be any better?
My column in Tuesday's Oakland Press on Justin Verlander's contract situation: http://tinyurl.com/yec3ey4
Labels: Scott Boras Johnny Damon Joe Mauer Curtis Granderson Mark Martz Calvin Johnson Justin Verlander
posted by Pat Caputo at
2:19 PM
12 Comments:
I completely agree with your Mauer/Granderson comment, but should be note twin city folk are incredibly loyal to home growns (look at how long Kevin McHale hung as GM/coach), and planting Mauer as a fixture is a vital p.r. gesture for new stadium situation. But Twins seem to be pushing all the right buttons while I can't see what the heck the Tigers are doing.
Pat, Tigers do not need another has been or DH. DD can offer a minor league contract and I would be thrill with that.
1. Granderson isn't half the player Joe Mauer is. The only player we have that's comparable to him is Miguel Cabrera.
2. Mike Martz took a putrid offense (under Mariucci) and turned it into a good offense. He made Jon Kitna, a perennial backup, look like a good starting QB. Once the Lions fired him our offense became horrid again and we dropped from 7-9 to 0-16.
The problem here was talent. He had the Lions' offense performing well above expectations. But after the collapse he made a good scapegoat for the ones that were in over their heads (Millen and Marinelli), and the media bought it hook, line, and sinker. Looks like some still do.
Pat,
My thoughts exactly on the Granderson trade. All the new guys may turn out to be Hall of Famers but still Granderson was special. Those types of gentlemen only come along every now and then. He was the face of the franchise and he was simply discarded. Right now I am just not into the franchise, I can't even name the guys that the Tigers got in return. All this because of Ordonez's contract. I am not sure this will end well.
Alan
Granderson was a special person, but not a special player. As the saying goes, "If your not getting better your getting worse." Pat, I caught your prediction on the Twins taking the AL Central. Don't forget, the Twins move to a new stadium this year. There is no telling how they will do outside the friedly confines of The Dome.
Larry Baker,
Great points. The stadium - they needed to justify public funding for it. And you're right - Kent Hrbek, too. They gave him huge money for the time - and he was from the Twins Cities.
Caputo
Barry,
They don't need an outfielder who can't throw, either.
Caputo
Michael,
Actually, Marinelli was the Lions coach when Martz was OC. Kitna threw for a lot of yards when Lions were behind and other teams were in prevent defenses. Didn't pass for nearly as many yards when they won or were in close games. Hallow stats.
Caputo
Alan,
Yeah. It was kind of like, if they don't keep Curtis Granderson long-term, who will they keep. Are they going to sign Verlander to trade him? That type of thing.
Caputo
Anonymous.
Not so sure about Granderson. If he plays well in New York, there will be a large bandwagon proclaiming him "a special player."
Caputo
Pat, I'm well aware Marinelli was the head coach when Martz was here, but he had nothing to do with the offense. Martz had our offense overachieving and was a big part in why we had a 7-9 record in his last season here.
Once Millen and Marinelli scape goated Martz out of town our offense became putrid again, and we went 0-16.
And while Kitna had some empty stats, he still was good enough to lead us to 7 wins that year under Martz. Since then we've had 2 wins in 2 seasons combined ...
Guys,
get over the Granderson trade ... great guy but his batting has been declining for 3 years. Obviously, can't hit left-hand pitching.
Gotta move on, loyalists!
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