Final Grades -Part 2
For those of you who care, Part 1 was posted yesterday.
OUTFIELD
Marcus Thames Grade-B
Like Jimbo said, streaky hitter. Unbelievable 1st half, completely asleep for most of the second half. Major power, still strikes out too much. Needs to make contact more often with men on base. Average glove. Possible trade bait. I would like to see him back as DH/LF. Not an everyday outfielder.
Curtis Granderson Grade-A
Excuse me while I gush awhile. I still say day in-day out, that he is the finest CF in the game. 5 tool player, who improved again this season. I know he had a GREAT season last year, but this year he proved he can hit left handers, also. Missed 16 games in April, and still put up numbers comparable to last season. Also has cut his strike-outs remarkably from 2 seasons ago. Best glove in CF I have ever seen, and I've seen a lot over my 50 years. Should be a #3 hitter, but we don't have anyone this good to lead off. The straw that stirs the drink. Absolutely un-tradeable. He will be a Tiger for as long as he wants to be.
Magglio Ordonez Grade-A-
Another great season, but I gave him the A- because his power numbers were a little down from his career averages. The steadiest and most reliable hitter on this club. Don't look for him to be traded, his salary and age will scare everyone away. That's fine, because I believe trading him would be a serious mistake. Next years line-up looks to be a little less scary on paper, than this season's looked before we actually started playing games, and taking Magg's bat out of the line-up just leaves a major hole that no one on this roster can fill. Would have been an All Star if it weren't for a mid-season injury.
Matt Joyce Grade-B
This kid came on like gang-busters in July and then tailed off. But he is a left handed bat with power, who will eventually inhabit either LF or RF as a starter. Good bat, with power. Understands how to play the game. Clutch hitter. I like this kid a lot.
Ryan RaburnGrade-C
Capable of playing outfield (where he is an outstanding glove), and infield (where he is not as good). Trade bait also, but I'd like to see him stay. This kind of versatility is hard to come by. Could start for another team.
Gary Sheffield] Grade-D
Supposedly limited by a shoulder injury, not sure if I'm buying all of that. I think his problem is that he can't make contact as he once did. Better in the second half than in the first by a long shot, but .220 for $14M is not going to cut it with me. Double plays galore when we needed just a base hit. Spent the last month swinging for his 500th, typical of his selfishness,(or so I'm told).
Now here's the rub; should have been benched, but wasn't for reasons I'll explain in Leyland's grading. He will probably be back next season, because his contract has one year (actually two) too many in it. ($14M next season). That, combined with his age, make him virtually untradeable. Illitch will not be eating this contract either, so we're stuck with him. Personally, I think he's done, but since he will be back, I'm hoping I'm wrong about him. I will add, that in '06 I thought he was the MVP of the Tigers. If he could return to that form, the Tiger's line-up would be a pitchers nightmare. I just can't see that happening though.
MANAGEMENT
Jim Leyland Grade-D
This grade may shock some of you. Let me explain this for you.
Leyland was a little too bullheaded and loyal this year. Too loyal to players he likes. Renteria and Sheffield should have spent most of the season on the bench when it became their abilities had left them. But Leyland's loyalty to his former Marlins wouldn't let him. Chuck Fernandez and the bulllpen coach wouldn't have been fired, if it weren't for Dombrowski's insistence. I don't believe for a minute that this a "mutual decision". Leyland is loyal to his coaches to the point of blindness. A good pitching coach should have, and would have straightened out some of the pitching problems. I also want to fault his handling of the pitching this year. he knew the bullpen sucked eggs, yet he routinely pulled starters at 100 pitches. (Jim, a couple of decades ago there was this thing called "complete games.") Nobodys arm is going to fall off from pitching another inning or two, especially with the way the bullpen was giving away wins. I'm also going to fault him for letting this season get away. He should have been a little more proactive in this regard. This team just looked like they came to accept losing in the last 2 months. He needs to light a fire under their asses next season. That said, I still think he is the guy to do just that.
Jim Dombrowski Grade-C
Dombrowski will be the first to admit he screwed up, and he did. I'm giving him an average grade because I thought on paper that his off season moves looked great. It was not his fault these players didn't deliver. The Renteria trade was a waste of two fine prospects, especially in light of out pitching woes. Jurrjens would have been a lot of help. Dontrelle may or may not be a bust, we'll know next season. On the other hand MIGUEL CABRERA is a Tiger! Jacque Jones was a bust, and I'm sure he would like another take on Robertson's signing. I understand the Rodriguez trade, we needed bullpen help and Pudge was phoning it in anyhow. But it didn't work out, and he made the trade. Not one of his better moves. Despite all that, he has a big job in front of him this winter, and I can't think of a better guy for the job.
THIS WINTER
We need help at SS and catching. Nobody we have right now appears to be the answer. Obviously we need a stopper and middle relief help. Our salary numbers will prevent them from going after K-Rod, so he will look elsewhere. Rodney will go back to being a set-up guy. A role he's more suited for. Now for the if's.
IF, the pitching staff recovers form, (it can happen, this years AL Cy Young winner was in AAA last season, and the White Sox are winning with pretty much the same staff from their championship team), we could have a pretty decent rotation. Freddy Garcia and Jeremy Bonderman have to overcome arm surgery. IF Dontrelle Willis finds home plate again (he is a former Cy Young winner). IF Verlander returns to form. Now throw in Galarraga, and this isn't a bad list too pick from. And then there still is Robertson, Zumaya and Miner. And lets not forget about Porticello. I know, lots of IF"s, but that is what pitching is, a bunch of IF's. The thing is, that all of these guys have displayed major league talent for some stretch of their careers. In 2006, it all came together. It could happen again. Everybody in out division has struggled with pitching the same way we have over the last few seasons.
As for the bullpen, well there will be some new arms there. Guaranteed. They need somebody who can lefthanded hitting out. Seay was more effective against righties than lefties. Rodney and Zumaya (if he's not moved to the starting rotation), need to be 100% healthy, and that would solve a big percentage of the problem. Dombrowski will be in the market for a new stopper. I also won't be surprised to see a everyday starter traded to fill this need.
THE BOTTOM LINE
This season was a disaster, sh*t happens. Injuries and below average performances from the pitching staff doomed this season. The core is still pretty good, and that gives hope for a rebound. There will be some changes, maybe even one or two that will surprise us.
I'd hate to be in Dombrowski's shoes right now. He's got his work cut out for him.
For those of you who care, Part 1 was posted yesterday.
OUTFIELD
Marcus Thames Grade-B
Like Jimbo said, streaky hitter. Unbelievable 1st half, completely asleep for most of the second half. Major power, still strikes out too much. Needs to make contact more often with men on base. Average glove. Possible trade bait. I would like to see him back as DH/LF. Not an everyday outfielder.
Curtis Granderson Grade-A
Excuse me while I gush awhile. I still say day in-day out, that he is the finest CF in the game. 5 tool player, who improved again this season. I know he had a GREAT season last year, but this year he proved he can hit left handers, also. Missed 16 games in April, and still put up numbers comparable to last season. Also has cut his strike-outs remarkably from 2 seasons ago. Best glove in CF I have ever seen, and I've seen a lot over my 50 years. Should be a #3 hitter, but we don't have anyone this good to lead off. The straw that stirs the drink. Absolutely un-tradeable. He will be a Tiger for as long as he wants to be.
Magglio Ordonez Grade-A-
Another great season, but I gave him the A- because his power numbers were a little down from his career averages. The steadiest and most reliable hitter on this club. Don't look for him to be traded, his salary and age will scare everyone away. That's fine, because I believe trading him would be a serious mistake. Next years line-up looks to be a little less scary on paper, than this season's looked before we actually started playing games, and taking Magg's bat out of the line-up just leaves a major hole that no one on this roster can fill. Would have been an All Star if it weren't for a mid-season injury.
Matt Joyce Grade-B
This kid came on like gang-busters in July and then tailed off. But he is a left handed bat with power, who will eventually inhabit either LF or RF as a starter. Good bat, with power. Understands how to play the game. Clutch hitter. I like this kid a lot.
Ryan RaburnGrade-C
Capable of playing outfield (where he is an outstanding glove), and infield (where he is not as good). Trade bait also, but I'd like to see him stay. This kind of versatility is hard to come by. Could start for another team.
Gary Sheffield] Grade-D
Supposedly limited by a shoulder injury, not sure if I'm buying all of that. I think his problem is that he can't make contact as he once did. Better in the second half than in the first by a long shot, but .220 for $14M is not going to cut it with me. Double plays galore when we needed just a base hit. Spent the last month swinging for his 500th, typical of his selfishness,(or so I'm told).
Now here's the rub; should have been benched, but wasn't for reasons I'll explain in Leyland's grading. He will probably be back next season, because his contract has one year (actually two) too many in it. ($14M next season). That, combined with his age, make him virtually untradeable. Illitch will not be eating this contract either, so we're stuck with him. Personally, I think he's done, but since he will be back, I'm hoping I'm wrong about him. I will add, that in '06 I thought he was the MVP of the Tigers. If he could return to that form, the Tiger's line-up would be a pitchers nightmare. I just can't see that happening though.
MANAGEMENT
Jim Leyland Grade-D
This grade may shock some of you. Let me explain this for you.
Leyland was a little too bullheaded and loyal this year. Too loyal to players he likes. Renteria and Sheffield should have spent most of the season on the bench when it became their abilities had left them. But Leyland's loyalty to his former Marlins wouldn't let him. Chuck Fernandez and the bulllpen coach wouldn't have been fired, if it weren't for Dombrowski's insistence. I don't believe for a minute that this a "mutual decision". Leyland is loyal to his coaches to the point of blindness. A good pitching coach should have, and would have straightened out some of the pitching problems. I also want to fault his handling of the pitching this year. he knew the bullpen sucked eggs, yet he routinely pulled starters at 100 pitches. (Jim, a couple of decades ago there was this thing called "complete games.") Nobodys arm is going to fall off from pitching another inning or two, especially with the way the bullpen was giving away wins. I'm also going to fault him for letting this season get away. He should have been a little more proactive in this regard. This team just looked like they came to accept losing in the last 2 months. He needs to light a fire under their asses next season. That said, I still think he is the guy to do just that.
Jim Dombrowski Grade-C
Dombrowski will be the first to admit he screwed up, and he did. I'm giving him an average grade because I thought on paper that his off season moves looked great. It was not his fault these players didn't deliver. The Renteria trade was a waste of two fine prospects, especially in light of out pitching woes. Jurrjens would have been a lot of help. Dontrelle may or may not be a bust, we'll know next season. On the other hand MIGUEL CABRERA is a Tiger! Jacque Jones was a bust, and I'm sure he would like another take on Robertson's signing. I understand the Rodriguez trade, we needed bullpen help and Pudge was phoning it in anyhow. But it didn't work out, and he made the trade. Not one of his better moves. Despite all that, he has a big job in front of him this winter, and I can't think of a better guy for the job.
THIS WINTER
We need help at SS and catching. Nobody we have right now appears to be the answer. Obviously we need a stopper and middle relief help. Our salary numbers will prevent them from going after K-Rod, so he will look elsewhere. Rodney will go back to being a set-up guy. A role he's more suited for. Now for the if's.
IF, the pitching staff recovers form, (it can happen, this years AL Cy Young winner was in AAA last season, and the White Sox are winning with pretty much the same staff from their championship team), we could have a pretty decent rotation. Freddy Garcia and Jeremy Bonderman have to overcome arm surgery. IF Dontrelle Willis finds home plate again (he is a former Cy Young winner). IF Verlander returns to form. Now throw in Galarraga, and this isn't a bad list too pick from. And then there still is Robertson, Zumaya and Miner. And lets not forget about Porticello. I know, lots of IF"s, but that is what pitching is, a bunch of IF's. The thing is, that all of these guys have displayed major league talent for some stretch of their careers. In 2006, it all came together. It could happen again. Everybody in out division has struggled with pitching the same way we have over the last few seasons.
As for the bullpen, well there will be some new arms there. Guaranteed. They need somebody who can lefthanded hitting out. Seay was more effective against righties than lefties. Rodney and Zumaya (if he's not moved to the starting rotation), need to be 100% healthy, and that would solve a big percentage of the problem. Dombrowski will be in the market for a new stopper. I also won't be surprised to see a everyday starter traded to fill this need.
THE BOTTOM LINE
This season was a disaster, sh*t happens. Injuries and below average performances from the pitching staff doomed this season. The core is still pretty good, and that gives hope for a rebound. There will be some changes, maybe even one or two that will surprise us.
I'd hate to be in Dombrowski's shoes right now. He's got his work cut out for him.
