LSAClassOf2000

February 14th, 2018 at 12:13 PM ^

It is awesome when pitchers and catchers report to spring training as it marks that slow ramp-up to baseball being in our lives again, if you indeed like it (big baseball guy here, BTW), but man, this is probably going to be a rough year for the Tigers. 

I also miss Justin Verlander, so :-( indeed.

mGrowOld

February 14th, 2018 at 12:23 PM ^

Cleveland had a pretty crappy off-season losing Carlos Santana (who would've guessed he could play BOTH lead guitar and baseball at his age), Jay Bruce (we barely knew ya), Bryan Shaw (Innings eater that fans hated) and Chief fucking Wahoo.   But I still think based on our pitching alone the Tribe is the team to beat in the Central for this year anyways.  So I'm really looking forward to a sea of 2-0 games with not much hitting on our part but even less from the other team.

How are the kitty-cats looking?

DrMantisToboggan

February 14th, 2018 at 12:25 PM ^

Tigs looking like they're entering the rebuild. Not gonna be a fun franchise to watch for the near future. Only 1 starter to write home about, Miggy is entering his career's twilight, the recent trades haven't brought in a ton of talent...going to be looking forward to high draft picks in the coming years.

lilpenny1316

February 14th, 2018 at 12:58 PM ^

Maybe, just maybe, Norris and Boyd finally live up to the hype and can give us six, maybe seven solid innings of work to go along with Fulmer.  I don't think the bullpen will give us much of a chance.

I don't know what to expect from Miggy now that all the stories about his ex-mistress have finally been written about in mainstream media locales.  Either he plays like crap because this will hang over his head, or he returns to his 2016 self because all this stuff is out in the open and the crazy lady can't stalk him now.

Maize N' Ute

February 14th, 2018 at 1:07 PM ^

I think you nailed it with Norris and Boyd.  So far, they have failed to lived up to expectations.  They're young guys with some nice upside, but they need to get things in gear this year or else the Tigers may have to start selling them for more minor leaguers.

I don't see Fulmer lasting this year.  He's a young guy who is on the cusp of becoming a big name pitcher.  With the Tigers in re-building for years to come, it doesn't make sense to keep him.  Sell for more assets.

DrMantisToboggan

February 14th, 2018 at 2:05 PM ^

Depending on who is contending at the deadline Fulmer could fetch a good haul. Just hard to strike the balance of rebuilding and giving fans reasons to come to the park. As Miggy's star fades, if there aren't other talented players to come see and the team struggles the Tigs might be in for some attendance issues soon. On the other hand, a game at Comerica is one of the best things to do for an evening in Detroit. 

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

February 14th, 2018 at 3:00 PM ^

Could not possibly disagree more.  Fulmer is 25 this year and still years away from his prime.  If the Tigers are contenders in, say, 2021 or 2022, four or five seasons from now, he'll be 28, 29 and an ace pitcher in the prime of his career.  Guess what contending teams are always looking for?

Any trade for Fulmer for needs to be at least one top-10 prospect - and not just on a team's list, but in all of MLB - plus a couple other top-100 types.  In other words, a haul so ridiculous it's unlikely anyone would do it.

If the Tigers aren't contending by the time Fulmer hits his prime, you can still trade him for a pretty amazing prospect haul.  But he's still arb-eligible through 2022.  In other word, cost-controlled.  That kind of asset demands a ridiculous deal in return.  If Avila gets blown away, maybe - otherwise, you keep Fulmer as your biggest foundational piece of this rebuild, and you have a bonafide ace when it's time to start thinking postseason again.

FLwolvfan22

February 14th, 2018 at 10:07 PM ^

"miggy makes $30 million, shorts kids on child suppot"

What a load of crap, he did the woman, not his wife, who now has his children, hey, that's life, we all have our weaknesses, but his kids aren't starving, he provides well for them. The Freep however would like to see Miggy finance baby mama's caviar and diamonds lifestyle and wants to shame the man because he doesn't feel lke he should have to finance her diamonds and caviar lifestyle. Classic Freep yellow journalism.