OT: Alan Trammell returns to Tigers
Per the Detroit Free Press: "Alan Trammell has returned to the Detroit Tigers, this time as a special assistant to general manager Dave Dombrowski. The Tigers today announced that Trammell will assist in on-field duties at both the major league and minor league levels, be involved in all personnel meetings, travel throughout the minor league system and participate in community relations."
Glad to see Tram back in Detroit. It always seemed wrong to see him in any uniform that didn't have the Olde English D.
November 3rd, 2014 at 11:54 AM ^
Interesting. This sounds remarkably like the position Steve Yzerman held with the Wings under Ken Holland. An apprenticeship.
November 3rd, 2014 at 11:57 AM ^
November 3rd, 2014 at 12:31 PM ^
will never be in the Hall of Fame. Not that I agree one way or the other, he just won't.
November 3rd, 2014 at 12:45 PM ^
"if there's a question then he's not a HOF'r" then he doesn't belong.
In a world where Phil Rizzuto and Jim Rice get in both Trammell and Lou should already be there. Suffice it to say if they had played in Boston, NY or LA we wouldn't be havign this conversation.
November 3rd, 2014 at 1:50 PM ^
If I had to choose even between Alan Trammell and Cal Ripken, my choice always would have been Alan Trammell. But I am a hopeless homer when it comes to the Tigers.
November 3rd, 2014 at 3:12 PM ^
Trammell is 94th in career WAR. There are 240 players in the Hall of Fame. He should be in. The veterans committee will right the wrong that the writers wrought.
November 3rd, 2014 at 3:16 PM ^
And hope that you're right.
November 3rd, 2014 at 3:28 PM ^
is a perfect example of how playing for certain teams alters your HOF chances. If Tram had played for the Yankees, he would have been a 1st ballot HOF, easy. Whitaker probably too.
November 3rd, 2014 at 6:45 PM ^
More WAR stats: he's 8th in career bWAR amongst all shortstops, and 11 in fWAR. There are 24 SS in the HoF, but no Trammell.
Besides what team you play for, what hurt Trammell was that he played all of his games for the same team. The way the HoF voting works, you need to get votes from 75% of the voters. Playing in the AL East his whole career limited his exposure to writers that primarily follow the National League, or live in NL cities. Western voters also didn't get to appreciate him as much as they could have if he spent a few years playing for the Angels or the A's.
Another thing that hurt his chances is that the Tigers only made the post-season twice in his career. Like it or not, some writers don't pay attention to national stories until the playoffs. So playing on an average team for all those years also hurt him.
November 3rd, 2014 at 6:50 PM ^
Sweet Lou has a better career WAR than Trammell, but WAR wasn't appreciated/understood/known when decisions where being made on their candidacy.
Since they played so many games together, it's only right that the vet's committee should induct them together.
November 3rd, 2014 at 11:57 AM ^
November 3rd, 2014 at 12:24 PM ^
I'm a big fan of Trammell, but Kirk Gibson is the epitome of what I don't like in many successful athletes. The guy seems like a total jerk, and the National League seemed to finally figure that out this year. See, for example, THIS.
Now if they brought Sweet Lou back into the fold, I could get behind that!
November 3rd, 2014 at 12:33 PM ^
giving shit to guys who wouldn't blow up catchers on the way to the plate was hilarious. Pretty easy when you've got the physical gifts he did. He was a great athlete and a great competitor during the 2nd half of his career, but never what he could have been. Plus it took Al Kaline 7 years to get it across that a ball headed his way off a right handed bat would slice to his left and this was something you could actually anticipate. Sparty No!
November 3rd, 2014 at 12:25 PM ^
How about the other half of the duo, Lou Whitaker, just for the hell of it? Tram and Lou together again would be cool even in an administrative capacity would be a nice reunion, even if highly unlikely. Nice to see Trammell back with the organization though.
November 3rd, 2014 at 12:05 PM ^
won't be the end of his legacy as a Tiger.
November 3rd, 2014 at 12:08 PM ^
will probably always be my favorite Tiger.
November 3rd, 2014 at 12:22 PM ^
November 3rd, 2014 at 12:23 PM ^
Unless Tram helps the tigers construct a stronger team.
November 3rd, 2014 at 12:38 PM ^
Actually it is. Trammell and the Tigers got messy at the end of their last partnership. A lot of former Tigers and others (see Gibson) took offense to it and felt bitter towards the organization. Trammell not only being offered a role here again, but accepting it is a huge deal in cleaning up any mess that may have been made. This news is much more exciting than you think.
November 3rd, 2014 at 1:30 PM ^
I don't care about hurt feelings. Win games & championships and all will be well.
November 3rd, 2014 at 2:23 PM ^
I'm not sure you fully understand, because we are already speaking the same language as to what the end goal here is. When feelings are no longer hurt, when former members of the program are so longer sour, that is when they are more apt to again become a resource for the organization again. This is less about emotions and more about business/winning than you may think.
Tram may not be the one who gets the job done directly, but people who were previously cold shouldering the Tigers over Trammell's past treatment here just might have the answers...
November 3rd, 2014 at 3:02 PM ^
Tram may not be the one who gets the job done directly, but people who were previously cold shouldering the Tigers over Trammell's past treatment here just might have the answers...
Seems to be more about emotions to me.
November 3rd, 2014 at 3:57 PM ^
I see your literal small details, and raise you big picture perspective.
November 3rd, 2014 at 12:45 PM ^
would be terrible. Guy is a complete douche. Playing the game the "right way" bullshit that the old school guys seem to love. Rightfully got shitcanned in AZ
November 3rd, 2014 at 12:54 PM ^
November 3rd, 2014 at 12:55 PM ^
November 3rd, 2014 at 3:19 PM ^
including a 43-119 season. That's Trammell's record as a manager. I don't care what kind of talent he had he probably has one of the lowest percentages for a guy with over 300 games so your statement isn't supportable by facts. But yeah, he had a pretty good career here and thanks for 1984 and all.
November 3rd, 2014 at 3:54 PM ^
"I don't care what kind of talent he had..." Laugh Out Loud. You're kidding, right? Let's totally disregard the facts that lead to that record. Okay.
Sparky Anderson couldn't have done much with that bullshit team Trammell had that year either.
I'm not saying Tram is Sparky, but let's tell the whole story.
November 3rd, 2014 at 5:01 PM ^
Inorite? "I don't care that Mike Maroth is your ace pitcher. Win more."
November 3rd, 2014 at 1:45 PM ^
November 3rd, 2014 at 2:58 PM ^
He's done the same thing with the Red Wings. Yzerman got started here, meanwhile Chelios, Draper, Maltby and Fischer still work in the organization.
November 3rd, 2014 at 4:30 PM ^
It has worked out for some guys in the past!
November 3rd, 2014 at 1:58 PM ^
Happy to have him back. Sad the coaching didn't work out, but he's a great player and should be part of the organization.