Tigers have long wish list

Dave Dombrowski, the Tigers president and general manager, reminded everyone Thursday that "perfect clubs don't exist."

For those who thought the Tigers approached the supernatural with their trade for Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis, these pie-in-the-sky desires remain for a club that has (almost) everything:

1. A shutdown relief pitcher -- left-handed or right-handed -- who could provide even more support for Fernando Rodney and Todd Jones ahead of Joel Zumaya's anticipated return.

2. A talented two-way catcher who could provide reassurance the Tigers will have an appropriate answer to life after Pudge Rodriguez.

3. A speedster who could be plugged into a game in the late innings when a one-run deficit can often be erased by a single base runner.

4. Three good prospects who can help fill some of the holes created when Detroit raided its farm system in the trades for Edgar Renteria, and for Cabrera and Willis.

5. Another starting pitcher who can wait in the wings ahead of Kenny Rogers' likely retirement following the 2008 season (then again, will Rogers ever retire?).

gogetemtigers wrote:

1. A shutdown relief pitcher -- left-handed or right-handed -- who could provide even more support for Fernando Rodney and Todd Jones ahead of Joel Zumaya's anticipated return.

This is what I voted for. With Jones-Rodney-Seay-Grilli (yuk!) as the only locks, this is a definate problem. We need another late innings veteran, 40-year-olds need not apply (Mesa).

gogetemtigers wrote:

2. A talented two-way catcher who could provide reassurance the Tigers will have an appropriate answer to life after Pudge Rodriguez.

If the Tigers end up keeping Inge, then this wouldn't be a problem. However Inge has too big of an ego to accept a demotion to catching. If Skelton pans out, this is not a pressing need. But they can always sign another veteran catcher in the meantime. It's not like we don't need him for the middle of the order like Pudge - oh wait...

gogetemtigers wrote:

3. A speedster who could be plugged into a game in the late innings when a one-run deficit can often be erased by a single base runner.

They have one. Freddy Guzman. Will he earn a roster spot? Probably not, as long as they keep Thames.

gogetemtigers wrote:

4. Three good prospects who can help fill some of the holes created when Detroit raided its farm system in the trades for Edgar Renteria, and for Cabrera and Willis.

They have two years to fill this hole; two will come from draft picks. Has everyone forgotten about Rick Porcello?!! Note the sarcasm folks...

gogetemtigers wrote:

5. Another starting pitcher who can wait in the wings ahead of Kenny Rogers' likely retirement following the 2008 season (then again, will Rogers ever retire?).

Vasquez, Tata, Bazardo, and Porcello are waiting in the wings. Do they have MLB talent?

I'm with you bobrob2004! I thought we went to the winter meetings to correct this. Not that I am not overjoyed with what we got there... but maybe we can get some relief pitchers for Inge!

I voted for relief pitching, too! I also agree with brob though - if Skelton can't be our catcher of the future we need someone else, now! We have a real dearth of catching prospects other than Skelton. For a laugh go look at our milb teams catchers last year. They all hit around .200 and quite a few of them are nearing 30 years old. That won't do at all.

Skelton hit just over .300 in Western Michigan and is 20 or so.

Relief Pitching!

It's practically unanymous!!

We're pretty smart, eh??

tigersaint wrote:

It's practically unanymous!!

We're pretty smart, eh??

Hey, who voted for a new catcher? Don't they know Pudge is going to be around forever?

I voted for relief pitching, Pudge will be here forever

Pudge won't budge, even for Fudge!!

I don't hold a grudge.

I voted for another catcher. We have some decent arms as it is, and have some starters in the farm system that could be converted to relievers if we need them badly enough. It's hard to find a good catcher these days with the beatings their knees take.

Ideally....since DD is in the trading mood.....I'd like to see a package of Grilli, Inge and a prospect (or 2) to Texas for Salty (and maybe a prospect)! WOW...what a lineup then!

Who catches? Salty or Pudge.....

Salty would catch...Pudge gets demoted to back-up. At his age, we want his experience and veteran leadership, but we don't want to risk injury to someone of his calibur. IMHO.

Or....you could put Pudge in at catcher, and let Salty and Guillen platoon 1st base. I dunno...it sure would be a nice problem to have though. lol

GO TIGERS!