Off-season Happenings...

In 1984 my father took me to my first major league baseball game. I was 12. The Detroit Tigers and the Milwaukee Brewers at Tiger Stadium in Detroit. It was a late June day. The sun was shining and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. My Dad didn't make a whole lot of money and our seats were tucked up way under the upper deck in the shade. We sat about 3/4 of the way down the 3rd base line. The Tigers won that day, actually they won a LOT that year. But that day, the CRUSHED the Brewers! 5-1! Kirk Gibson hit a home run, Lou Whitaker stole 3rd base.. I knew, that day, I loved this game! I love the Tigers.

I know it's not because I am a bigger fan than I was then, it might be because I'm older now and I am more aware of how much things are worth. It may be because of the Internet and the real-time updates about what happens in the off-season... but, I "check in" on a daily basis now... EVERYDAY. It's not just the Tigers either. I check in on the Yankees, the Mets (because I live in NY now). Then, when I am done with those teams, I read the headlines about all of the other teams. I know that I'm not alone in this, obviously. I have seen the moves that George "the Boss" Steinbrenner made in the late '90s. Moves that made me shake my head. Things that made no sense to me at the time. In the end, they still don't make a whole lot of sense to me but they won... a lot!

The Tigers have been making moves this off-season. Serious moves. They got a great bat in Victor Martinez, they needed another good hitter. They also signed Joaquin Benoit. If he has HALF the year he did last year in Tampa, the bullpen will be very good. Brad Penny, who is a big boy, is also a great addition.

They have let go of some people too. Damon is gone which is not a problem for me. Frankly, I think he throws like a girl. Look at ANY YouTube video... just saying. Bonderman and Galaraga are gone. That makes me shake my head a little. I thought Bonderman was a franchise kind of pitcher but... Those days may already be gone. It's almost like having a decent pitcher on your team is like leasing a muscle car for a few years. You have it, you REALLY like having it for a few years and then you turn it in and HOPE that you get a better one.

I am happy to see that they re-signed Magglio Ordonez. They need him!

If any team has been making off-season moves to try and win a World Series Championship this year.... it's the Tigers!


The media is still talking about Pujols. I get that he could re-sign and get an extension now but for long term? REALLY? He's been in the league for TEN years. Will he have 8 or 9 or 10 years left in him? I'm not so sure that I wouldn't "let it ride" this year and see how it goes if I was an owner. YES, I am aware that he is the best hitter in baseball, I know he's a hitter. I know he is putting up Babe Ruth-like numbers. But once he's on base... then what? Are pitchers going to worry about him like they will worry about Robinson Cano? If you were a manager, would you tell him to take more than a one-step lead off of first base? I wouldn't.

Now... a little tid-bit for the locals...

I read a blurb about the Mets today that said "Is there any way they could just skip 2011?" I also heard a fan call into a radio show and say that after 27 years, he was giving up on the Mets because he was so disgusted...  I disagree. Yes, I know that they probably won't make the playoffs but they do have some decent players. Foundation type players. Players like Jose Reyes and David Wright. Johan Santana had shoulder surgery but he could have a decent comeback year. They don't need to skip 2011 but use the year as a re-working year. How about bringing up some farm system guys? Don't write off the entire year

Bernie Madoff's scam-o-the-century has affected the Mets far more than what the fan base was led to believe. It will take a lot to get out from under this. It may take Trump money. Who knows if the Wilpons will realize that it's time. Because, really, it's time.

I wish you all a good evening and may all your teams be winners (except of course if the teams mascot is a nut.... from a tree... you all know who I'm talking about!)