R.I.P. Tigers

Well, it looks like our beloved Tigers are ready to roll over and play dead yet again.

For the Metro Detroit youth who've grown up not knowing what it's like to see meaningful baseball in September, the nightmare lives on.

Four losses in Chicago against a supposedly struggling ChiSox team. Outscored 29-6.

The one positive thing you can say about them is at least they know their place, quitting just in time for football season.

So with that in mind, it's time to speak my peace, and distance myself from the team as much as possible until someone intriguing like Justin Verlander or Joel Zumaya comes up for September.


Here's my list of who should stay and go for next season, broken down into convenient categories:

Building Blocks:

Magglio Ordonez, RF- The only truly professional Tiger hitter with plus power, bounced back nicely from injury.
Jeremy Bonderman, SP- Hold off the ace coronation for another year. He needs to stop giving up easy runs in the first inning and use the last few games to work on his changeup. But he's still the real deal and should take off very soon.
Placido Polanco, 2B- Deposits balls into left and right field like coins in a shopping mall fountain and is a natural in the field.
Carlos Guillen, SS- His health will be paramount next season. Perhaps Trammel was right in resting him so much. If healthy he can be a top-notch shortstop.

Complimentary Pieces:

Chris Shelton, DH/1B- Notice how I put DH first. He's capable enough to platoon at first, but doesn't have ideal range and would probaby hit more consistently if given time to rest, as he isn't exactly in tip-top shape. But he can mash to all fields. Almost Edgar Martinez-like.

Curtis Granderson, OF- He's young and needs to work on plate presence, but silky smooth in the field and provides LH power. Should be a keeper. An actual contributing homegrown prospect, wow.

Nate Robertson, SP- His velocity and command are inconsistent, but he is a quality LH starter. Best suited for 3rd or 4th in the rotation.

Fernando Rodney, RP- Could be the perfect setup guy, but if the Tigers are serious about contending next season, they need a real closer. Rodney has a wicked changeup and should throw his slider more next year as he is still healing from Tommy John surgery.

Pudge Rodriguez, C- His salary most likely will make him impossible to trade. If a team like the Mets who is willing to take on his huge salary offers a can't miss deal and there's a plan in place to acquire another catcher, the Tigers should take it. Otherwise, stick with him because he's still great defensively. If only he hadn't suddenly transformed into a Randall Simon at the plate...

Rondell White, OF- A good fill-in guy in case Craig Monroe or Dmitri Young are traded. Sign him to a one-year deal if he takes it.

Ramon Colon, RP/SP- Give him a shot in the rotation, where he was most effective in Atlanta. Some GM's think he might be an All-Star some day, as mentioned in a Peter Gammons column on ESPN.com. Has good stuff and velocity, but needs more confidence on the mound.

Keep in Lesser Roles:

Omar Infante, 2B/SS- Good power, solid fielder (with some concentration lapses). Keep him and get some more at-bats in fall/winter ball to learn how to hit a curve. Good infield sub.

Brandon Inge, 3B- Should develop into a much better fielder than he's shown. Also shows great ability to take a walk, which is a rare commodity in Tiger lineup. But the Tigers need more power and production from either 3B, OF, or 1B. Whether Inge stays or moves to a backup role depends on whether or not Detroit gets that spot filled.

Franklyn German, RP- Not someone you'd trust with the game on the line, but good as a 4th or 5th reliever and could improve if he gets more confident. Probably needs a third pitch.

Nook Logan, CF- Forget about winter/fall ball, get this kid in the weight room and swallow the key. Keep as a pinch runner/defensive sub for now.

Mike Maroth, SP- Should be a 5th starter or ideally a left-handed specialist out of the bullpen.

John McDonald, INF- Finally, the Tigers found a utility man who can bunt. Keep him unless you can find a better option, but it's pointless for Trammell to continue to give him at-bats at the expense of Omar Infante right now.

Put 'Em on the Market:

Carlos Pena, 1B- Young and talented, but far too inconsistent. Don't give him away without getting someone who can contribute, however. Still a great defender and one of few LH power bats.

Craig Monroe- Another talented guy who appears to be hitting his stride. But Monroe is the prototypical Randy Smith-style Tiger- Boneheaded, inconsistent, lacking in the concentration department. At some point, the Tigers need to fill their lineup with more patient and most importantly consistent hitters, and Monroe is a good candidate to be traded right now coming off of a career year.
If you can get a prospect with potential, do it, even though most Tiger fans don't want to hear about prospects right now. His spot can easily be filled by Granderson or White

Dmitri Young- Talented and a great clubhouse guy, but also sets a bad example with his lack of committment to conditioning and his free swinging, lax personality. Not likely to be coveted.
The Tigers need to give him an ultimatum: get in shape or else. Probably won't happen, though.
Take him or leave him.

Dump 'Em:

It's time for the easiest and most fun part of a Tiger fan's job: the cuts.

Jamie Walker, RP- Good with no one on, horrible with people on base. Can't trust him.

Sean Douglass, SP- Lucked his way to five wins, Nate Cornejo-style. He can now join him in Toledo. The bottom has fallen out.

Jason Johnson, SP- A stopgap from day one, and he doesn't seem to like it here anyway.

Craig Dingman, RP- If it looks like a AAAA guy, sounds like a AAAA guy, and plays like a AAAA guy...keep him in Toledo.

Chris Spurling, RP- Speaks softly, carries a large gas can.

Doug Creek, RP- A poor man's Jamie Walker. Scratch that, homeless man's.

Vic Darensbourg, RP- Pitched decently so far, but teams will eventually figure him out and his lack of talent will catch up to him.

Vance Wilson, C- He's hitting .182. Need I say more?

Finally....

Alan Trammel, manager-

Nothing personal, Tram...but this team needs a change of pace...ie a swift kick in the behind. Someone to challenge them, someone to motivate them. A proven professional manager who the players can trust and look up to is a must if the Tigers are serious about competing next year.

Then again, are they ever really serious about competing?

If so, Mike Illitch better open up his wallet and get a proven manager, Cameron Maybin signed, and some pitching help.

We've waited long enough.