What are you talking about with the Fister trade? The guy had a sub-2.5 ERA last year. You don't think the Tigers could've used that? Even if Fister has a rapid decline, you don't think we could've gotten SOMETHING for him after a pretty good 3 year run with us? Something more than the utility player (who was traded for a 40 year old shortstop, who was promptly released 1 week later), relief pitcher (who has been absolutely terrible), and low-level pitching prospect (who was later traded for a guy who has a near 6 ERA this year and will likely spend the majority of his career in the minor leagues)? The Fister trade has nothing to do with how Fister is doing now, and more with what we got in return. Hell, many other GMs said they were willing to give up a lot more for Fister than what Washington did.
As far as our current players go, say goodbye to Cespedes and Price after this year. Two of our biggest contributors gone, a year after losing our former Cy Young winner because he priced himself out of our range. If they're smart, they'll lock up JD long term now, before he does the same thing. But take out Cespedes and Price, and this is a team that very likely finishes in last place in the division.
It also doesn't matter how good their position players are, their pitching is just that horrible, and it's only gonna get worse when we lose Price. And there's no help coming through the pipeline either. The thought of someone like Kyle Ryan or Shane Greene becoming a mainstay in the rotation after this year is frightening to say the least.
I didn't realize it. Try to not do that again
Ausmus is inexperienced and is in over his head drowing...
Not a whole lot he can do when the starting rotation is comprised of mostly #5's/AAA guys and their bullpen is a dumpster fire (even Soria, who used to be their only reliable arm, has been getting knocked around). The manager is just an easy scapegoat for people that can't accept that this team is just poorly constructed.
No worries, guys. We just signed Neftali Feliz. Everything's gonna be all better now.
From the Detroit News:
Feliz is in his second season after having Tommy John surgery and he was getting roughed up consistently before the Rangers designated him for assignment. He had blown three of nine save opportunities, ultimately losing that role. His ERA was 4.58 and his WHIP 1.678.His fastball velocity, once in the high-90s, was averaging 93.8 mph, and it was getting hit. He has gone to his slider and change-up more frequently.
I feel soooo much better now.
9 back in the loss column after today's bombing, with an absolute disaster in the bullpen and the 4-5 spots in the rotation.
Sell.
The whole, sell off thing is intriguing. I'd be curious to know how much we could get back for Price, Cespedes, and Soria. If its a haul, maybe that really is the way to go.
But its hard to get a guy like Price, and if Verlander build's on yesterday's game, we might not have another 1-2 punch like them again. Its maddening to watch this team constantly piss away opportunities to get back into it, but it really isnt over just yet.
It's either sell now and get as much as possible, or get a few compensatory draft picks this fall. And I don't think we have enough prospects left in the farm system to buy enough to get this team to late October.
We're 44-43 after today's debacle. To get to 90 wins, which is probably the minimum to win the wildcard, would require 46-29 the rest of the way. With Miggy out for 5 more weeks.
Sorry, not happening.
I don't think it will take 90 wins, but the point may be moot. There are a lot of pitchers available, and the Tigers def can put together a package. But said package might include Costellanos and/or Shane Greene. Intriguing that he is starting tomorrow...
The last three years it has taken 88-92-93 wins, respectively, to grab the final wildcard spot. To make any assumptions about anything under 90 wins being enough is dangerous, at best. I wouldn't be real confident about 90 being enough this year, but that's a rough idea of what we need.
Even if it's 88 wins, that's still a 44-31 finish. We've never been 13 games above .500 all season, so that's still a stretch, especially with Miggy on the shelf for another month and change.
Anything under 88 wins, and you and I are kidding ourselves.
Part II
We need three pitchers. One starter, one reliever, and I'll let you pick which one we need for a third pitcher. I don't see the pieces necessary to make deals for three pitchers without blowing a serious hole somewhere else. If we trade Castellanos, who plays third in this organization that you would be comfortable with on a pennant contending team?
I don't like this conversation any more than you do, but that doesn't change the truth. This team is fatally flawed. And yes, that lays squarely at Dombrowski's feet, with an assist from Ausmus' inablilty to properly manage a major league ball club.
welp, I think this series has pretty emphatically answered whether Tigers should buy or sell. Fortunately, the front runners also have loaded farm systems.
I read we'll have 40 million to play with in the offseason, if the sell off nets us a good young outfielder, starting pitcher, and some prospect arms, I think it'd be a no brainer to give up on this season.
Giving up on this year doesn't mean we cant be right back next year.
Price is going to want 200 million, and even if the Tigers wanted to give him it I think theres a fair chance he'd want to go elsewhere.