Detroit Tigers

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New Year's Hopes: #7.

By Sean Heyboer | January 7, 2009 | Trumbull and Michigan

7. Fernando Rodney will act as if he cares.It pains me to see Justin Verlander fail. The kid gives his heart and soul out there. When Barry Zito gets rocked, and he gets rocked a lot, I feel for him. Players with heart draw me in.But when Manny is being Manny or Orlando Cabrera boots a ball, I honestly could not care less. I often times feel that way about Fernando Rodney. I'm not in the business of picking a Tiger who I like the least, but if the shoe fits, well then the shoe's name is probably Fernando and it is probably wearing a crooked hat too - you know, to go along with the shoes. I mean...what?I'm tired of him giving up leads and looking as if he has better things to do. What else do you have to do?Your line of thought looks like this:Do-Rag? Check.Terrible facial...

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Tigers sign Alexis Gomez to minor league deal

By Matt Wallace | January 7, 2009 | Take 75 North

You know how you can tell it's a slow time in the offseason? I'm not the only one of the Tiger bloggers talking about their signing of Alexis Gomez to a minor league deal. There is some chatter about him possibly filling a temporary role as a lefty bat in the outfield, but I really can't see the Tigers choosing Alexis Gomez over any of Brent Clevlen, Marcus Thames or Ryan Raburn. I don't care what side of the plate they bat from. If you disagree, let's think about this. The Tigers are going to have four bench spots like always. One of those goes to Matt Treanor. Another one goes to a backup shortstop, who we'll assume is going to be Ramon Santiago. I think the Tigers will probably try Jeff Larish as their backup for the corner spots. Another possibility would be letting Raburn be the backup...

Read more | 4 Comments | Tags: Detroit Tigers, minor leagues, Tigers

Initial Thoughts of MLB Network

By Alan Smodic | January 6, 2009 | MVN Outsider

Much like DirecTV's MLB Extra Innings package, the MLB Network is more baseball than one can handle. -- programwitch/Flickr.com

On January 1, Major League Baseball followed in the footsteps of the NFL and NHL by unveiling its own channel -- the MLB Network.If you don't already know what this exactly is, MLBNetwork.com's about page helps:MLB Network stands for Major League Baseball Network, which means access to more baseball than America's ever seen! This new 24-hour network delves into the world of baseball, going far beyond the field. Fans can tune in at any time for fresh perspectives, current news, the latest trade rumors, pre and post-game banter, highlights and more.Again, if you've seen the NFL or NHL networks, just picture those and think baseball. I wasn't sure if I'd receive the channel (I get the NFL network, but not the NHL), so I was surprised to see it coming in through my satellite. Obviously, I checked it out.I was impressed with my first viewing. The first show I saw...

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Cordero to audition for teams.

By Sean Heyboer | January 6, 2009 | Trumbull and Michigan

Chad Cordero is feeling healthy and will throw for a few interested teams in the very near future it seems. According to the report, the interested teams are the Angels, Mets, Rangers, Cardinals, Diamondbacks and Tigers. I am hoping the Mets and Angels will pass on him due to their Fuentes signing and K-Rod/Putz signing respectively. I have said it before, but Cordero could be a great fit - if healthy.-s...

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Arizona Diamondbacks, Chad Cordero, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels, MLB, New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals, Texas Rangers, Tigers

the true story of the Gerald Laird trade

By Samara Pearlstein | January 6, 2009 | Roar of the Tigers

This is the true story, exactly as it happened. I mean, let's be honest, it's precisely this sort of piercing insight into front office maneuvers that brings you here to Roar of the Tigers again and again, or at least once and then very occasionally thereafter. Two pages, pure lazy refusal to use a ruler, 100% of FACT! Click for bigger, as per usual. And, for no particular reason, here's Guillermo Moscoso, aka the old cheese for which Gerald Laird was traded. Wearin' his old cheese hat. Boring offseason is boring....

Read more | 9 Comments | Tags: Detroit Tigers, MLB, Texas Rangers

New Year's Hopes: #8.

By Sean Heyboer | January 5, 2009 | Trumbull and Michigan

8. The Tigers compete against the White Sox. Oh, how I wish I were Michael Barrett.Let me make this clear; it would be very easy to say I would like the Tigers to win the Central. The is way too obvious. What I am hoping for is that they simply compete against their biggest foe. To not lay down against the White Sox. To show up every night and pound Ozzie Guillen.The achilles heel for the Tigers always seems to be the White Sox. Oh, and in case I haven't made it clear, I hate the White Sox. I arguably hate them more than the Yankees and Red Sox combined. Every loss against them is a crushing blow to my entire livlihood. It's like Michigan losing to Ohio State and then Ohio State sleeping with your sister.I hate their stupid blonde dyed hair, their awful cocky announcers, their "she gone" and "you can...

Read more | 3 Comments | Tags: Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers, MLB, Tigers, White Sox

New Year's Hopes: #9.

By Sean Heyboer | January 3, 2009 | Trumbull and Michigan

9. Carlos Guillen becomes Iron Man.When I say Iron Man I don't mean Tony Stark - member of the Avengers and Marvel comics superhero. I don't even mean the modern Iron Man, Cal Ripken. I just expect a ballplayer that is less brittle than, well, peanut brittle. I want Carlos Guillen on the field. I don't expect him to play 162 games this year, but I would be happy with a healthy 145. When healthy, Carlos Guillen is one of the steadiest bats in the American League. His defense has been suspect at times, but he is a pure hitter. He can fit in easily almost anywhere in the lineup, and is a threat from both sides of the plate. When he is hurt, or not even a full 100%, the offense suffers.Carlos will make the switch to LF this year - his fourth position in 2 years. The switch is supposed...

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Initial Thoughts of MLB Network

By Alan Smodic | January 6, 2009 | MVN Outsider

Much like DirecTV's MLB Extra Innings package, the MLB Network is more baseball than one can handle. -- programwitch/Flickr.com

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Winter Meetings Primer: Hudson and Crede top values on IF; How to assess pitching market; Rumor mill

By Brandon Rosage | December 5, 2008 | MVN Outsider

With four days until the start of baseball's Winter Meetings in Las Vegas, The Pitch assesses the market at each key position. Hosts Joe Aiello and Brandon Rosage start with the pool of free agent infielders, ranking Orlando Hudson, Joe Crede and Casey Blake highly above sluggers demanding more dough. Moving past Manny Ramirez, the discussion moves to good-value outfielders, like Raul Ibanez and Bobby Abreu. The show sorts through the overrated and underrated hurlers on the pitching market, including praise for Oliver Perez, Derek Lowe, Randy Johnson and Jon Garland. Join the discussion, listen in and participate via e-mail (thepitch@mvn.com) or in the comments....Read more

Read more | Discuss | Tags: audio, Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, MLB, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants

Hot Stove Dishes - November 28, 2008

By Brian Joseph | November 28, 2008 | MVN Outsider

The latest buzz served up from baseball's Hot Stove League. Ten of the hottest stories, moves and rumors from the past week: Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia -- the L.A. Angels "shell game" continues.The Angels haven't made an offer to Mark Teixeira even though they want him but have floated the idea of offering big money to CC Sabathia -- even though it might be tough to match the Yankees' gigantic offer -- and Teixeira's side has countered. Teixeira's agent Scott Boras revealed that Teixeira has had offers worth considering. All of the peripheral talk from the Angels about Sabathia as an alternative target and Teixeira's interest from other clubs stems from a difference in years of service the club is looking to give Teixeira and the 10 years that the slugger is seeking. You got to love the Hot Stove posturing, don't you? Brian Fuentes wants major cash and K-Rod doesn't want...Read more

Read more | Discuss | Tags: A.J. Burnett, Baltimore Orioles, Barry Bonds, Brian Fuentes, CC Sabathia, Detroit Tigers, Francisco Rodriguez, Freddy Garcia, Houston Astros, Jake Peavy, Ken Griffey Jr., Los Angeles Angels, Mark Teixeira, MLB, New York Mets, Oakland Athletics, Rafael Furcal, Randy Wolf, Roger Clemens, San Diego Padres, Toronto Blue Jays

In search of Dodgers fans (a case for Joe Beimel?)

By Alan Smodic | November 19, 2008 | MVN Outsider

Joe Beimel shows off his tattoo - Malingering/flickr.com

...because I need your help on this one. I, like mostly anyone else who will be reading this, go through the news each day and like to sort through the "hot stove" reports that every media outlet has. Today, I ran across this little bit that caught me by surprise. It's a report written by Jason Beck, who covers the Detroit Tigers at MLB.com. In it, the agent for left-handed reliever Joe Beimel claims that at least six different teams have interest in the journeyman pitcher. "Across the board, things are starting to pick up some," agent Joe Sroba said Wednesday. "That's to be expected [after the signings]."Sroba estimated that at least a half-dozen teams have had talks with him on Beimel, including the Tigers. He would not confirm whether he has received an offer from any, nor would he speculate whether Beimel could sign soon. Still, it was clear...Read more

Read more | 5 Comments | Tags: Detroit Tigers, Joe Beimel, Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB, Pittsburgh Pirates

System Overview: Detroit Tigers

By EJ Fagan | October 25, 2008 | MVN Outsider

Today begins the first part of a 30 part series for this offseason. I will look at each individual team farm system, assessing their strengths and weaknesses. We start today with one of the weaker organizations in baseball, the Detroit Tigers.Overview: The Tigers traded away most of their worthy prospects before the 2008 season. They sent able starter Jair Jurrjens to the Atlanta Braves for Edgar Renteria, and Cameron Maybin and Andrew Miller to the Marlins for Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis. The result was a strengthened major league team, but a virtually empty hole remained. They helped themselves a bit in the 2008 draft, but have a long way to go if they want to compete with division rivals Kansas City and Cleveland in the young player department.Strengths: The top two pitchers in the Tigers organization are real blue chippers. They managed to hold on to Rick Porcello, their...Read more

Read more | 2 Comments | Tags: Detroit Tigers, Minor League Baseball, MLB, Prospects, Rick Porcello, System Overview

MLB Power Rankings

By Daniel Rathman | September 22, 2008 | MVN Outsider

The MLB Power Rankings will run on Outsider every Monday night until the conclusion of the regular season.� This is the second-to-last edition of the Rankings; next Monday's edition will be the last.� The final week of the regular season is upon us.� Yeah, already.� Hard to believe, isn't it?� The Halos, Rays, and Cubs are into the playoffs.� The Dodgers and Red Sox are, for all practical purposes, in.� Two of the Mets, Phillies, and Brewers will make it, as will either the White Sox or Twins.� All the other teams will be hitting their La-Z-Boys when the final outs of their games are recorded on Sunday.� Here's how the league stacks up in the penultimate edition of the Power Rankings. Note: some of the statistics and records below are through SATURDAY's games. 1.� Los Angeles Angels, 95-59 With the AL West division locked up and home-field advantage essentially...Read more

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MVN: Most Valuable Network

New Year's Hopes: #7.

Tigers sign Alexis Gomez to minor league deal

Initial Thoughts of MLB Network

Cordero to audition for teams.

the true story of the Gerald Laird trade

New Year's Hopes: #8.

New Year's Hopes: #9.

Top Stories of 2008 for Tigers' Farm

Initial Thoughts of MLB Network

Winter Meetings Primer: Hudson and Crede top values on IF; How to assess pitching market; Rumor mill

Hot Stove Dishes - November 28, 2008

In search of Dodgers fans (a case for Joe Beimel?)

System Overview: Detroit Tigers

MLB Power Rankings