Bleacher Report - Articles by John Shull

What to Make of the Detroit Tigers: Predictions for the Lighthearted

John Shull — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:04:39 -0400

The Detroit Tigers have been nothing but short of mysterious this 2008 Major League Baseball season.

By mysterious, I mean this: Poor record, signing a young player to a $150 million contract, and the new development of this saga—trading away an icon.

Where do I start?

The Tigers have been plagued by injuries, that is nothing new. Jeremy Bonderman out, Joel Zumaya playing more video games, and early on in the year it was Curtis Granderson and Gary Sheffield.

You take away those pieces and any team is going to have a tough time keeping up to par.

I am going to make prediction number one and say that Todd Jones will not be a Detroit Tiger next season. Sorry fans, no more door slamming and moustache.

The Tigers' acquisition of Kyle Farnsworth basically sealed the deal. In my opinion, when Zumaya is healthy, he will be the closer.

If he can once again become healthy.

Next prediction I want to make is that fact that Brandon Inge, whether he has an unproductive second half of the season or not, will be the starting catcher next season.

Sorry all of you Tigers fans, but that theory of Detroit bringing back Pudge next season is just that—a theory!

A couple other predictions I am not smart enough to keep in are:

Magglio Ordonez and Placido Polanco will be the only Tigers above .300 this season.

Justin Verlander will finish the season with 14 or 15 wins.

Matt Joyce will emerge, if he already hasn't, as either starting LF or Magglio's replacement when Mags is done

You will see Eddie Bonine once again.

And last but not least, Todd Jones will be seen crying in the bullpen once he realizes that Detroit would have offered him in the trade to the Yankees but he was being payed $11 million a year!

Who you will see and who will you not see in the MLB playoffs come October!

John Shull — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:42:30 -0400

As we finish up with July and head into August, every Major League Baseball fan is getting a little excited; a little nervous; and most importantly, a little hopeful.

Hopeful for what?

Hopeful that their team can stay on top, or make a move and get to the top.

Hopefully my words here will ease some of you, and infuriate some of you.

So, lets get started with the predictions:

AL WEST

Already out: Seattle. Even with the best young pitcher, Seattle needs to get back into the rebuilding mode and start focusing for being a contender a few years from now.

Stand a chance (kind of): Oakland and Texas. Even though Texas has a couple of good young sluggers, and Oakland has a good young team, I can not see either of them catching the red hot Angels. Sorry Oakland and Texas fans, but do not expect a wildcard either.

Locked up: Los Angeles Angels. With a 10-game lead, do not expect the Angels to falter. You will see them in the playoffs.

AL CENTRAL

Sorry but no cigar: Cleveland and Kansas City. Almost a let-down season for Cleveland after a good one last year. Just do not have the momentum anymore. And how do you get rid of C.C.?

Kansas City is a young team, but aren't they always a young team? Enough is enough if your a Royals fan.

In it to win it: Detroit, Minnesota and Chicago WS. Detroit will hit its stride, Minnesota will keep playing good, and Chicago will keep being gritty. Who will win?

If I were a betting man, I would put my money on Chicago winning the division and Detroit and Minnesota fighting over the Wild card. I think Detroit has shot themselves in the foot, and Minnesota is just not as tough as Chicago to win those must win games when it comes down to it.

AL EAST

Same Ol, Same Ol: Toronto and Baltimore. The tough AL East always seems to bury these two teams who have had good years...sometimes. This year do not expect to see either one of them near the top of the standings as the playoffs near.

Could win the Wild card: Tampa Bay and New York AL. I believe that either one of these two teams will win the wild card in the AL but will not be able to win the division. Tampa Bay will fold and New York just has too many other story lines to keep them from their true potential.

And the winner is: Boston. With the return of Big Papi and maybe the best pitching staff in baseball, plus not to mention the fact that they are the defending champions, expect Boston to display its veteran know how and win the AL East.

AL Run-Down:
AL West—Los Angeles Angels
AL Central—Chicago White Sox
AL East—Boston Red Sox
AL Wild card—New York Yankees

NL WEST

Roughnecks: San Diego, San Francisco and Colorado. San Diego may the biggest disappointment of the year while San Francisco is still in the post-Bonds era and Colorado will pull no cinderella out of its bag this year. Count all of these teams out of the chase as of right...now!

Sticking around for a while: Arizona. Sorry Arizona, but you had a good run while it lasted. I can see the NL West coming down to a two-team race all the way through September. Arizona however, will play its last game on Sept. 28.

Walking away victorius: Los Angeles Dodgers.Two names should pop into your head, Brad Penny and Andruw Jones. Look for both of them to have great second halves and lead the Dodgers to the playoffs.

NL CENTRAL

Business as usual: Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Houston. Though some what talented, do not expect to see any of these teams even finish close to .500. I do wish Ken Griffey Jr, the best however.

Walking the tight rope: Chicago NL, Milwaukee. I know, I know but before you start badgering me I do believe that the NL Wild card winner will come out these two teams, but neither will challenge St. Louis down the stretch for the NL Central crown.

Suprise, Suprise: St. Louis. I like many other predictioners (not even a word!) think that St. Louis will win this division. Two games back as of now, I do not expect the Cardinals to go on a losing streak of any kind. The Cards are doing what they always do, staying close until the end and then getting ready to make a run at the final turn.

NL EAST

Man, I am tired: Washington. The only team in this division in my mind that has no chance of anything this year. That number of 16 games behind will only grow as we get closer to the playoffs.

A needle in a haystack: Atlanta and Florida.Though both have fought hard this season, I do not think either have the firepower to compete when it comes right down to it for the NL East crown. I do wish the best for Chipper Jones to hit .400.

Sweating it out: New York NL. Maybe the most talented team in the NL will not win its own division. A contender for the Wild card, maybe.

Winna Winna Winna!!: Philadelphia.This is your year Philly. Get ready to host that trophy because it is yours to win. A very tough race though ahead, but I feel that the Phillies will handle themselves well and bring home the NL East crown.

NL Run-Down:
NL West - Los Angeles Dodgers
NL Central - St. Louis Cardinals
NL East - Philadelphia Phillies
NL Wild card - Chicago Cubs

I will not go into post season predictions as of yet but there you have it.

No matter what happens and whoever wins, I am just looking forward to a great last two months of competitive, well played baseball!

Who knows, maybe someone will emerge as the next Mr. October!

Gary Sheffield: Why He'll Never Be A Hall of Famer

John Shull — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:33:05 -0400

Gary Sheffield, a “journeyman” of Major League Baseball, has seen his days come and go as a “go-to” guy in the MLB.

Now a Detroit Tiger, Sheffield made stops in Milwaukee, San Diego, Florida, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and New York.

He has always been outspoken, a tough teammate and… a coaches nightmare.

Detroit, which seems to be the new, New York, welcomed Sheffield back in 2007— one year after Detroit went to the World Series.

Some think Sheffield is a sure Hall of Famer with 485 career home runs and a lengthy tenure in the MLB, but here are five reasons why Gary Sheffield will not be inducted into the Hall-Of-Fame:

1. For 20-years in the league, Sheffield's numbers are not consistent enough from year-to-year to be considered a Hall of Famer.

In 20-years in the league, Sheffield has played in less than 100 games in almost half of them!

2. Sheffield is a power hitter?

Sheffield has hit only 30+ home runs in only seven seasons.

What would people think of Manny Ramirez, if he only hit an average of 24 home runs per year?

3. Sheffield admitted to using a steroids cream in 2002.

Simple enough, do you see Mark McGuire, Barry Bonds or Jose Canseco in the Hall?

I did not think so.

4. What has Sheffield given to the game?

I will let you answer this.

5. The most important, because Sheffield has been on a few teams— what team would he be inducted with?

So, is Gary Sheffield a Hall Of Famer?

Only time will tell.

Does anyone care about Brett Favre anymore?

John Shull — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 15:31:30 -0400

Brett Favre had 61,655 career-passing yards, 442 regular season touchdowns, 5377 completed passes, and one Super Bowl ring.

My question for the "cheese-heads" out there is, what does Brett Favre have left to prove?

An icon for sure; a Hall of Famer.

Coming back from retirement and being successful?

Not so much!

Already considered one of the NFL's elite, Brett Favre had set the bar for quarterbacks through the 90s and into the Millennium, in terms of leadership and heart.

If his resume is not impressive enough, Favre lead the “Pack” to a winning season every year, but 2005, when the Packers were a disappointing 4-12.

It was decided on Tuesday, July 8 that Favre during a conference call to the Packers head office stressed to them that he wanted to come back and play football, yet again.

Green Bay, surprising, the football/sports world, has been reluctant to offer any kind of support to Favre— that leading to Favre wanting the Packers to release him unconditionally from his contract.

A whooping three years for $39 million— Favre can still make!

The Packers General Manager, Ted Thompson, more than likely will release Favre, but with some conditions.

Those have yet to be determined, but if I were a betting man I would say that some of the stipulations would include not going to a in-conference team and I could even see Green Bay trying to buy out some of Favre's contract.

It does not take a smart man to see that Favre can still play the game of football, but honestly who wants that baggage.

Teams like the Cardinals, Vikings, Steelers, teams that Favre could fit in have no use for a QB who is past his prime and carries a small salary of what you could be paying six or seven players.

Favre is a smart man; he knows what he is doing in wanting to come back and make the rest of his money.

I have to believe he cannot be effective anymore, though some will say he is more competitive than ever now.

In my opinion Favre should just stay at home, take some kind of buy-out if available and not turn into a, Evander Holyfield or Rickey Henderson of the once retired world.

Miguel Cabrera: Bust or Too Early to Tell?

John Shull — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 03:13:15 -0400

As the Tigers approach the All-Star break weaving in and out of .500, I believe one of the more prominent questions on every Tiger fans mind right now is whether or not they believe that Miguel Cabrera has lived up to the expectations that have been set for him.

I hate to say it, but even the most die-hard Tigers fan has to ponder whether or not paying Cabrera 150 Million over eight years was a good idea.

In some intellectual minds, Cabrera just needs some time to adjust. Adjust to the city of Detroit and the fact of playing a new position.

A new position which he has struggled at. Dropping routine throws to not being able to bend over, Cabrera has had some tough times in the first half of the season for Detroit.

Cabrera, batting .292 with 16 home-runs and 56 RBIs, is not a small feat. But putting those numbers aside (most would say statistics prove everything), what has Cabrera brought to the table?

With his position change, he messed up the psyche of the team, causing Jim Leyland to shuffle the line-up over and over. Guys like Brandon Inge and Carlos Guillen never know what position they will be playing from day to day.

Another problem is the fact that he can not bend over. A guy who is 6'2 185 and 24 years old should not be having trouble. Especially a natural third baseman, who has only had about 40 errors through 400 games at third base.

At this point, is it safe to consider Cabrera a bust? In my opinion I personally do not think so.

Though I do not personally agree with his contract, Cabrera has come through in a few situations when needed.

However, lets give him sometime to really settle in.

Here is some food for thought: Move Cabrera back to third, put Guillen back at first (though he is an all-star) and make Cabrera play the way that Detroit had in mind when the Tigers signed him back in the spring!