46-47 Going into the break are the Detroit Tigers buyers or sellers?

The Detroit Tigers are sitting at 46-47 after a 6-5 loss today at the hands of the Minnesota Twins.  This is a far cry from where writers had predicted the Tigers to have been at this point in the season.  The Tigers were predicted to run away with the Central Division and leave everyone in their wake.  The Tigers have done anything but struggling to get to .500 just this month and then fighting to keep their heads above water once they got there.

So, going into the last game before All-Star break sitting third in the Central with a 46-47 record the question becomes this.  Do the Tigers pack it in for 2008 and sell off some pieces that don't fit into future plans?   Or do the Tigers and their fans grasp at what may be a lost cause and become shoppers for the piece or pieces that could rocket them back into contention by seasons end?

The realist in me says the Tigers should play for tomorrow while not necessarily packing it in they shouldn't look to go out and add some big ticket piece that is only going to help them maintain their level of mediocrity.  But the Tiger fan in me that has been living and dying with these guys since I was 5 years old says fight like hell, make the deals, and get back into the race for the Central Division.  And in this instance I'm going with my heart, the one that beats WITH the Tigers..

Here's what they need to do. 

Look at the Bullpen.  They're better than you think but still there's something missing.  Zumaya coming back brought a level of confidence to an other wise shaky pen.  But Zumaya hasn't exactly been the savior Tigers fans wanted him to be coming back from his stint on the DL.  He's getting better and has topped the 100 mph mark on the gun several times.   Fernando Rodney is still Fernando Rodney in that one day he's lights out and you love him.  Other days he's more terrifying than Cecil Fielder in a speedo.   I've never been a fan of Rodney's (either of his pitching or the way he wears his hat) but he's managed to get the job done when it absolutely needs to be.  Bobby Seay has been in my opinion a very pleasent surprise in that he's a work horse who has found his niche in Detroit.  Then you have the rest of the pen in Lopez, Dolsi, and Fossum.  Lopez of these three has been lights out in delivering a very solid 2.68 ERA.  Fossum is a huge question mark as he scares the life out of me anytime I see him get up in the pen.  That brings me to Todd Jones.  I love Todd Jones from a personality standpoint.  I think he'd make a great replacement for Rod Allen in the booth.  But as a closer Todd Jones is grease fire.  I cringe when I see him trotting in to attempt to save the game in the 9th.  I pray for a sprinkler head to snag his cleats or for a hammy to pop on his trot from the pen.  Leyland announced today that Jones will not be brought in to close games in consecutive days, especially if they happen to be a day game directly after a game the night before.  I thought the definition of a closer was someone who can come in every game that needs to be saved regardless of duration between games?  What it boils down to is this.  Todd Jones is old.  He's starting to decline and cannot handle the day to day duties as a closer.

Here's where the Tigers are buyers.  I know everyone wants Zumaya to be the closer because he throws 100+ mph.  But I would hold off on that until he can show a level of consistence that a Trevor Hoffman, Bobby Jenks or Jonathan Papelbon have.  And he is not there yet.  He's a still a side show that Tigers fans love to watch burn up the radar gun and I'll admit I'm one of them.  But the Tigers need consistence and they need it now.  Leyland doesn't need to suffer minor heart attacks everytime his closer steps on the mound.  The question is who is out there that Detroit could pick up?  Brian Fuentes seems to be the biggest name on the market and is a name Detroit was flirting with lastyear.  The other name I've heard kicked around is Jose Valverde from Houston.  I'm not sure either of these names strike fear into the hearts of the AL Central but they have to be better than living on the edge of disaster nightly with Todd Jones.

Starting pitching is another area  in-which Detroit could use a little help.  Armando Galarraga has been the one leading the charge in a rotation full of potential All-Stars.  Verlander, Rogers, Bonderman have all taken a backseat to this kid.  Granted Bonderman wasn't by choice but Verlander should be the ace of this staff and should be the one sitting at 7-3 if not better but instead he's rocking a 6-9 record with a 4.24 ERA chaser.  Something isn't right in those numbers.  The Tigers really need to consider bolstering that starting 5.  The #5 spot has been by committee for the most part this season as Miner, Bonine, Robertson have all filled the position.  But with Bonderman down that leaves that spot open and for the meantime it looks like rookie Eddie Bonine is the man Leyland has chosen.  Names like Randy Wolfe, Greg Maddux, Aaron Heilman, Jason Marquis, are all names that are floating out there as the deadline looms.  And any of them put into the lineup in Detroit could be more than serviceable as a 5th starter.    

That being said.  Here is my rundown on the Mid-Season awards for the Detroit Tigers.

MVP - Tie - Magglio Ordonez and Marcus Thames. - Magglio started off horrendously this year but has come on in a big way.  He's brought his average back up over .300 found his power and has more or less picked up where he left off last season.  Mags would've definitely been an All-Star had he not landed on the DL.  Marcus Thames is one that may have you scratching your head.  But all he's done is find himself in the top 10 in homeruns in the A.L. as a bench player. He isn't a regular and the guy is hitting .275 with 17 Home Runs and 39 RBI.  This guy should be an All-Star.  How Carlos Guillen was chosen over him to me is an injustice to the guy who has won games and hit big home runs with the Tigers needed them most.  Including a tear of hitting 6 in 5 games.

Cy Young Award - Armando Galarraga - This guy has come out of nowhere as a non-roster invitee to lead the Tigers with at 7-3 record and is top 10 in ERA in the A.L.  He is 4-0 with a 2.89 ERA in his last eight starts and as solid as any pitcher in the A.L.

Rookie of The Year - Armando Galarraga - See above. 

The Tigers have a LONG way to go if they want to get back into the hunt for the Central.  They have the main pieces, now they have to keep them healthy and get everyone on the same page.  Heads may have to roll to get this done but if that's what it takes to get back to the Series then let the chopping begin.  It's been a roller-coaster of a first half and I can only imagine the second half is going to be even more wild.

I hope you all enjoyed my debut article here on Bleacher Report.  I will be hopefully writing many and I look forward to the feedback both good and bad from all of you.  Until next time...

Be Well,

Rob Gibson