Still Waiting: 10 Reasons Why I Consider This Offseason To Be a Failure
On November 3rd, I published a preview of the Tigers offseason (link: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/486519-dont-look-back-detroit-tigers-2011-offseason-preview-and-prediction )..
The future looked promising, with over $70,000,000 coming off the payroll, Dave Dombrowski could really go out there and get the Tigers back to the World Series.
But he hasn't done it. He brought in some new guys here and there, but in my opinion he has failed at making the team World Series contenders.
Here are 10 reasons why...
10. You Started and Then Stopped
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The 2011 Offseason started in full swing, hitting Victor Martinez and Joaquin Benoit. Tigers fans were excited, they were finally going to see the Tigers on all the Hot Stove reports in December and January, and everything was great.... And then it stopped.
If you're going to hit the market and really make a splash in free agency, then do it from November to February. Consistently stay on MLB Network's bottom scroll.
But they didn't.
9. You, Yet Again, Wimped Out In Negotiating
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When is the last time Dave Dombrowski went to arbitration with a player? Don't bother looking it up because he never has.
This to me tells me he is a push over who is willing to spend an extra $500,000 to keep sides from going to war. Sometimes this is really good... Sometimes it is really bad.
Joel Zumaya signed a 1 year / $1,400,000 contract with the Tigers on January 14th.
1.4 million? For a man who last time he left the field was nearly in tears through pain?
Toughen up Dave Dombrowski. Arbitration isn't the worst thing in the world.
8. You (Mike Illitch) Did Not Fire Jim Leyland and Dave Dombrowski
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I guess I can see why they are still here, they have never been really given an opportunity at grabbing and using some great talent... In my opinion though, you should have brought in some new talent to take this team to the playoffs.
Face it. What has Jim Leyland done since 2006?
Simple stats...
Before ASG: 59-29 (.671)
After ASG: 36-38 (.487)
Before ASG: 52-34 (.605)
After ASG: 36-40 (.473)
Before ASG: 47-47 (.500)
After ASG: 27-41 (.397)
Before ASG: 48-39 (.551)
After ASG: 38-38 (.500)
Before ASG: 48-38 (.558)
After ASG: 33-43 (.434)
With Leyland
Before ASG: 254-187 (.576)
After ASG: 170-200 (.460)
Can someone please explain this to me?
The expectation should be to make the playoffs. I am a firm believer in the 3 strikes policy, meaning you need to have 3 non-playoff years in a row before being fired... They have both struck out.
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7. You Stayed at Home Too Much
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A great strategy to implement during the free agency period is to search around to other players, see their interest level, and see how much they would cost... In general to 'kick the tires'.
The Tigers this year seemed to do the opposite. They took Brandon Inge and Jhonny Peralta and re-signed them, THEN looked at what was left to get and tried to get it.
This made their options very small and they didn't get a lot of great talent.
6. You Did Not Get a Super Star
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There was over $70,000,000 of cap space that was opened up after that final out was recorded against the Oriole's in early October... But you didn't use it.
Some may call Victor Martinez a star, but I really don't. He is a 32 year old aging catcher who will have to be a DH specialist at some point.
He only has a .214 Caught Stealing % with 6 errors.
His batting makes a great player, but not a star.
The Tigers really needed to open up their checkbook and get an Adam Dunn or Carl Crawford, but they didn't.
5. You Overpaid For What You Did Get
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Really? $16,500,000 for a middle reliever? $50,000,000 for a 32 year old catcher?
If you're going to overspend, why don't you overspend on proven stars in their prime that fills a position of need?
Instead, they overspent on unneeded aging players.
4. You Did Not Trade For Dan Uggla
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Dan Uggla was traded by the Marlins to the Braves for the low low price of Omar Infante and pitching prospect Mike Dunn
Will someone explain to me why the Tigers did not get him???
At this point, the Tigers are looking like they have no power and will platooning a couple players at 2nd base... But we didn't get Uggla?
3. You Did Not Trade Carlos Guillen
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Carlos Guillen is a fat, lazy, china doll... OK, so that's a bit over dramatic, but I can't stand him.
You can't touch him in the cheek with a feather without him pulling up limp for an strained hamstring!
Even though the Tigers would have ended up paying the majority of his contract, it is ridiculous he wasn't traded. There is no point of having him on the team, and he seems to just be slowing s down.
2. You Did Not Help The Bottom 3 Of Our Order
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2010 Bottom 3
7. Jhonny Peralta .253
8. Alex Avila .228
9. Brandon Inge .247
2011 Bottom 3
7. Jhonny Peralta .253
8. Alex Avila .228
9. Brandon Inge .247
Really?
The biggest liability of the Tigers in 2010 was their pure inability to drive runs in at the bottom of the order!
A normal inning consisted of...
Boesch singles
Raburn singles - Boesch to 3rd
Peralta pops out
Avila strikes out
Inge strikes out
It needed to get fixed but wasn't.
1. You Fixed What Was Working!
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Pitching did a relatively OK job in 2010, yet you try to fix it?
Phil Coke had an ERA of 3.76 in the bullpen last year and consistently set up Valverde for the save... So you put him in the rotation?
The only change made to the lineup has been the addition of V-Mart.
The pitching staff has had 3 major changes: Phil Coke to rotation, addition of Benoit, and the addition of Penny...
Why?
I hope the best but expect the worst of the Tigers in 2011 as long as no other major moves are made...
Thanks for Reading and feel free to comment!
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