What do you think?

[thecrazedhermit.livejournal.com]

I wrote a big tl;dr postmortem of the 2009 Tigers, but the conclusion I drew was that, no matter how much I might wish for a rebuilding, the economics of the situation won't permit one. So, here's what I want before pitchers and catchers report:

One more bona fide Starter

Verlander and Porcello are a top-shelf 1-2. Jackson came back to Earth, but is still a solid #4. We need to fill in that #3 spot. We can't go to Lakeland willing to let Bondo, Robertson, Willis, Miner, Galarraga and Bonine battle it out for two spots of five, particularly considering concerns about Jackson. We know what those guys can do. Let's get one more guy in who can give us 190+ innings and a chance to win every time he goes out. Who's out there?

Randy Wolf: 11-7, 3.23ERA, 1.10WHIP, 160K, 2.76 K/BB (Might be tough to get him away from the Dodgers)

Erik Bedard: Hurt the last two years (only 164IP combined), but maybe we buy low? A la the Twinks and Carl Pavano? He was 28-16 with 392K his last two seasons in Baltimore before he got banged up.

Jason Marquis: 15-13, 4.04, but has only pitched fewer than 191 innings once since he became a full-time starter in 2004 (167 in 208). We could use that kind of consistency.

Joel Pinero: 15-12, 3.49. Doesn't have a huge track record.

A couple bats

Well, I figure we're set at C, 1B, 2B (I'm assuming they let Polanco walk and give Sizemore his shot), and all the OF spots. I'd love to see them go after Orlando Cabrera or Marco Scutaro for the SS job. Also, Chone Figgins is going to be a free agent, and haven't we reached a point where it's time to upgrade offensively from Brandon Inge? The man hit .230 this season, and that's not a consistent .230. That was thanks to two good months (.319 in April, .287 in June). He hit .194(!) from July to September. I know he does all sorts of pretty, slidey crap defensively. I know that. But seriously. It's time. If he were a utilityman, a defensive replacement, fine. Not acceptable for a third basemen in the AL on a contender.

I also think we could perhaps make better use of the DH spot. But given his contract, I guess pencil Carlos Guillen in there. Maybe a whole season in one spot, even if that spot is DH will be good for him.

A little gallows humor...

[buckeyebrain.livejournal.com]

Q: Who bats after Gerald Laird?
A: The other team.