OT- Tigers sign Joel Hanrahan
Dombrowski makes the first move to try and secure some bullpen help, no idea on the contract details or what Hanrahan will be able to provide just 12 months after Tommy John but it's a good and necessary risk for the Tigers.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/05/tigers-to-sign-joel-hanrahan.html#disqus_thread
I can't help but think of this guy: 
But hopefully a good pick up for the Tigers. Need that bullpen help.
Suzanne sucks pussy!
I love that movie... I'd quote more but decorum and all that.
Want some?
i hope he comes out the pen to this song
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ckCwBAhz4oc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Awesome.
wearing a mask, and he just coughs whenever they ask him what his name is
Years ago two buddies and I went to a Mud Hens game vs Norfolk (the Mets AAA affiliate) . We had front row outfield seats and this guy was warming up (for the Tides) literally right in front of us. He looked like a stone giant--huge guy all hard lines. He was throwing so hard in his warmups that the crack of the ball hitting his warmup catcher's glove was distracting people. I've been following his career ever since.
Well that's certainly more reliable than a Jugs Gun. Cool story, bro.
Nice. The guy was an all star not too long ago. I heard this speculation yesterday on the radio that the Tigers were one of the finalists to sign him. Who knows if this will work out but it is worth a shot. Now, if for some chance that Ray is competent and can handle big league starts then I've also been hearing some talk of moving Drew Smyly back to a reliever position. If everything falls in place for them, the Tigers could actually have a very decent bullpen in the near future.
who would be the 5th pitcher if smyly goes to the bullpen? robbie ray?
Robbie Ray yeah. Just talk I was hearing on the radio. Interesting though.
I think it's unlikely and possibly a bit unfair to expect Ray to contribute more than spot starts for the Tigers this year as he's only pitched 86 total innings above Single-A competition. This isn't a criticism towards you so don't take it that way, but we should have some realistic expectations for the kid, he's only 22.
That said his numbers have been solid in Toledo this year, and if he can continue that then expect him to possibly burst onto the scene in 2015.
http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=sa549085&position=P
I agree, it is alot to hope far and expect. I would just like to see a solid relief corp from the Tigers. It's been a weakness on this team for quite some time. I was extremely bummed to see Rondon go down for the season. I was expecting him to play a big role this year. So hopefully this move for Hanrahan will work out for the better.
Not buying this at all. As you said, just talk on the radio. Ray wasn't even expected to come up at all this season, but his great start and Sanchez's blister have created the opportunity to try him out. As a long-term solution, though? I think it's preposterous. We've barely even see Drew start due to the uneven schedule early in the season.
Obviously, Smyly would be an asset in the bullpen if there were a serviceable fifth starter, but the Tigers see him as a starter and I think we should let him get into a regular start-ever-five-days rotation to evaluate how he handles it over a longer term before we decide it's time to put in a 22-year-old who has a lot of developing to do.
Maybe we should make a move for a guy like Doug Fister?
he lands on the big league club, what do we expect the complexion of the bullpen to look like? Obviously Nathan is the closer; do we then trust Hanrahan immediately with the 8th inning responsibilities or ease him into the role? Either way, hooray for bullpen help!
I would expect Hanrahan to get a shot at the 7th inning job, possibly becoming the set-up man if he regains his form. Joba has been much better than some of his #'s indicate, and if he can continue his high K/9 and low BB/9 then i'd think he's your everyday bridge to Nathan.
http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=2692&position=P
I saw some writers suggest that Joba and Joel would alternate the setup job, which seems sensible. In practice there will be plenty of games where the Tigers are tied or behind, or Joba is spent, that Hanrahan would have the opportunity to take a late inning or two; if he's good he'll get just as much key work.
Right now the Tigers are using guys like Krol and Al-Al to fill that role, and that has gone about as well as you'd expect when situational guys are put into full-inning spots.
Yeah that seems like the logical idea, and honestly I haven't seen enough of Ausmus' tendencies to see if he's the kind of the manager that pencils guys into certain roles regardless of the results. He strikes me as someone that would be against that kind thinking but what do I know?
is a situational lefty and Hanrahan is a righty. This changes NOTHING! NOTHING I TELL YOU!
Coke is obviously someone they have no confidence in, but he's there because they just plain need arms. That's why Ortega was called up, too--these aren't guys who are pitching well enough to be in the long-term plans, but you need arms to get through games where things go wrong. Like last Saturday, which I had the dubious privilege of attending as my "Tiger game of the year."
Just get rid of Phil Coke now.
Nice move. He probably won't be a massive upgrade, but at least he'll be another live arm in a bullpen that needs them.
Add in Knebel and this bullpen should be just fine come summer.
The missing piece?