Rumors have it ( and we all love rumors) that one of the potential landing spots for Alex Rodriguez could be in Detroit. As a Tigers fan, I have mixed feelings about this.
Pros:
Ticket sales would be thru the roof. The Tigers didn't have many empty seats last year and with the addition of A-Rod, tickets would be hard to come by in 2008 and beyond.
Getting one of the best players ever definitely has it's perks. The numbers alone for A-Rod are unreal. Pile those numbers with the numbers of Magglio Ordonez, Gary Sheffield, Carlos Guillen, Edgar Renteria ( welcome, Edgar) Placido Polanco and Curtis Granderson. It could be record setting.
The Tigers and Scott Boras know each other. Magglio Ordonez and Ivan Rodriguez were two huge signings when it wasn't encouraging to be a Detroit Tiger. Boras knows how to deal with the Tigers and Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski knows what he's getting with yet another Boras client.
Cons:
Okay, I tried hard to come up with more positives than negatives, but I couldn't.
As good as A-Rod is, his next team will be his fourth team. It says something about the best player in the game when his past teams did not decline after he left. It's highly debatable if he makes his teammates better. Like I said, if he's THAT great, why didn't anyone beg to keep him?
The Tigers have a good nucleus right now. They're going to be fighting for the American League pennant whether A-Rod wears the olde English D or not. Jim Leyland has done an incredible job turning the Tigers attitude into a winning one. Who knows what happens when you add A-Rod to this team. It could go either way.
Where would A-Rod play? Obviously if you sign him, he's going to demote somebody. Will it be Edgar Renteria who the Tigers just acquired Monday? Will it be Brandon Inge, who is nowhere near A-Rod offensively but is better defensively? Will A-Rod DH sometimes? Then what do you do about Gary Sheffield?
My gut says, A-Rod will not be a Tiger next year. There are some things working in the Tigers favor, but I doubt anyone can say with 100% conviction the Tigers would be a better team in 2008 if they add Alex Rodriguez.
I tried to convince myself they would be better, but I couldn't.
On a different not, with the acquisition of Rentaria, what is going to happen with Carlos Guillen? Never mind, i just saw on a different site that hes gonna be at first base.
Anyhow, i think they are set to have a really good season, with or without A-Rod. The one thing that worries me is their pitching. Their starters crumbled in the second half and it has yet to be determined if Zumaya and Rodney are capable of pitching at a high level again.
Also, its hard to believe that Maggs is going to have another season.
Last edited by chitownsfinest on October 30th at 1:06 PM.
They moved Guillen to first base, they weren't thrilled with his errors at shortstop last year. He played a good deal of first last year, seemed to work out for everyone except....
Sean Casey probably won't be back next year.
Mags was incredible, you're right, he probably can't duplicate that again. The pitching ( especially their health) didn't work out so good last year, but I like the nucleus of the pitchers.
He doesn't bring that winning mentality Josh. It took so long for the Tigers to get that attitude, I just don't know if A-Rod is the correct piece for the Tigers puzzle.
The only reason I mentioned Brandon is because he has done everything the Tigers have asked of him. The guy has been there thru it all, and has been professional in everything he's done.
FORGET A- ROD SOME #### TEAM WILL PICK HIM UP ... HE HAS NO LOYALTY CAUSE DEEP DOWN HE KNOWS HE 'S HAVING A GREAT CAREER BUT DOES NOT PRODUCE WHEN IT COUNTS ... HE NEEDS TO MOVE ON THE YANKEE FANS WILL NOT TOLERATE HIS FOLDIN EVERY POST SEASON SAME AS WITH THE RANGERS AND SEATTLE ... HE'LL MAKE THE MONEY THEN SKIP TOWN FOR MORE MONEY WHEN HE DOESN'T PRODUCE ....
While adding the game's best player to an already potent lineup would be interesting, there is no way Detroit is going to spend the money needed to land A-Rod.
As far as where he would play if signed? It would have to be third. Inge has a great arm, but the glove can be shaky at times and I don't think he would sign with any team wanting him to play DH.
Last edited by HawaiiHotAir on October 30th at 5:24 PM.
A-Rod is not a fit for the Tigers Hoit. I have been thinking about this for a few days now. The problem for me is that I am a businessman. I tend to look at all things from a financial point of view first.
Using that criterion, The Giants are the team that makes the most sense. Now that Bonds is gone ticket sales are going to go down. A-Rod being a Giant will hold those sales for a while. The problem is that the cost of maintaining those seats goes up because A-Rod costs more. You have to make up that loss and the natural process is to cut expenses. That means cheapening the product that supports him. The result would be, static revenues and profits and a downward trend in the standings. That eventually will cost the Giants’ seats. If they can’t hold out until he gets near to breaking the HR records it would be a fiscal disaster. Never mind the Giants. I’ll keep working on it.
Tigers owner Mike Illitch spent for Pudge and Mags and isn't a cheap owner, I don't think it would be a money issue Hawaii. I wonder if A-Rod is going to tell people "play me at shortstop or I won't sign with you". He's got all the power here.
I was with you bosox and then you gave up on your own idea...haha. Giants make some sense, but I think A-Rod would go to an A.L team where later in his career he could D.H.
Mixed feelings!!! Yes, it would be great to have A-rod but his defense sucks compared to Inge at third. I dont know where you play the guy. Please dont sell Maggs short, his next season, barring injury, will be just fine and just as good. Yes, love to have A-rod but Ill keep what we have and be plenty happy. Sign Rogers for one more year and look for one more great starter and maybe a great closer. I think Zumaya will be fine and Jones for atleast another year. Would love to have a rock steady guy in the bullpen or starting, not that Verlander isnt. He will win 20 next year. Hope for the best, GO TIGERS
Hoit...You are right. Illitch spent on pudge and Mags with price tags of 10 and 13 million per year. A-Rod will have a price tag starting at 25 mil per year. Illitch has deep pockets but he's not stupid with his money.
The Lions of all teams are getting me pumped every weekend more than Michigan Petey. It's so unexpected with them, where as Michigan is par for the course. But we've got Sparty this weekend, then the Badgers, then that little thing we call the game.........are you ready?
That would be awesome if he went to the Cubbies mariner, any chance you think he comes back to Seattle?
That lineup would be crazy Deez, hell yeah GO COLTS!
You're right, thor. Tigers don't need him, but if he ends up in Mo-town, our odds probably go up of having an even better 2008 than we would have originally.
I can picture him in the olde English D Pig, I just don't think it's going to happen. The Renteria trade probably squashed the A-Rod possibility also.
Hey hoit, I think by adding A-Rod the Tigers will only mess up their payroll for the next decade. With Sheffield 38, Mags 33, Renteria 32, and Pudge 32, getting older and a good chunk of the team over 30 you'll need to replace alot of parts.
To plunk down 35 mil a year on one player would be devastating, especially if you need in the future to shed that contract. Boston couldn't get rid of Ramirez's $20 mil a year. A-Rod's is going to be twice as large...
He's also not a team player..ask Texas...ask N.Y.
He also puts up alot of his #'s when it's garbage time...3 run HRs late in 11-2 ballgames.
Come crunch time he fails miserably.
Yeah socrates, the Tigers do have some older guys, but if they get A-Rod they could have an awesome 2-3 year run until the old guys are finished. Valid point on him not showing up when it matters.
What's up Rev? All is well here, Buckeyes lost last night, I find joy in that. I'd find more joy if Michigan beats them Saturday.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't a large part of his salary STILL being paid by the Texas Rangers? When a player has a contract like that, and a career like his, he doesn't seem to develop a loyalty to any one team. A-Rod is loyal to one person- Scott Boras.
I just realized how late my comment was. Oh well, it's still a relevant topic, as I don't think he (or Boras) has made a decison yet, right? Good post.
Born and raised in the great state of MEE-CHI-GAN. Had a one year stint in Indianapolis where I grew to love all things Hoosier and watched the Colts bring home a Super Bowl trophy. My primary teams remain the Tigers, Pistons, Lions, Red Wings, and Wolverines and I wouldn't trade any of them. Still follow NASCAR, but it's not the same without the black number 3. My favorite sport by far is college basketball. I'll watch pretty much any game between November-Febr uary and March is the pinnacle of it all with the MADNESS. It can't be beat.
