VMart isn't getting you anything unless you eat a bunch of that deal, and he can block a trade even if we found the right deal. Sanchez isn't getting you shit, either. We can't move that deal unless he pitches lights out for the next two months. And KRod isn't getting you anything, either. This is where everyone said we would be the last few years. It's not going to be pretty.
Dave didn't sign Zimmermann or Upton, and he supposedly didn't want to resign VMart at that price. It's also unlikely he was the one pushing those JV and Miggy extensions. This is the downside of your owner being a win at all costs maniac. It was awesome for 4 years. It's probably going to suck for the next 3-4 years.
Realistically, if you want them to blow it up, the issue goes beyond being able to trade people. The issue is that, to maximize your return, some of these guys need to get their shit together and play better. And, if they suddenly get the kinds of performance that makes guys like Sanchez, JD, Upton and others moveable, the team is going to start winning more games and they're going to convince themselves they need to see it through.
Tigers would not have to eat anything. He has two years and 28 million remaining, that's not much. Red Sox would take that contract on this off season. We won't get a top 100 prospect for him, but getting rid of the contract won't be an issue.
You said we could get a top 2 or 3 prospect from someone for VMart. He's a DH only with a no trade clause making way too much money. Boston is currently eating $40M with Hanley and Panda, who both need to play DH when Ortiz leaves. Maybe they can dump the money if he continues to hit anywhere near this level over the next few months, but the idea they're getting anything of substance in return for him at this point is a dream scenario at a time in which most teams don't want DH-only guys.
I'm not saying Ilitch has only been bad. I'm saying this is the cost of doing business the way he has. As I said, it was awesome for a while. Now, it's going to be less awesome. They won the division 4 years in a row and could have won a WS in two of those years. Now the devil is collecting.
Everything wouldve been worth it if we wouldve won one or two titles between 2006-2014. I love what Illitch tried to do (except Prince).
And the purgatory won't be that bad for anybody with the perspective of remembering '91-'04. We will be able to trade some of these guys for prospects, and only Miggy, Verlander and Zimmerman are on the books past '18 (assuming Upton learns to hit again and leaves after 2).
Yup. Winning titles is mostly how the chips fall when it comes right down to it. The trick is to put yourself into the position of realistically competing for it for an extended period. See: St Louis Cardinals.
While the bad contracts might start to thin out in '18 I'm not sure where we expect the next wave of top end talent to come from. Signing more guys like Upton and Zimmerman?
Where do superstars ever come from? Drafting and trades. Right now we've got Norris and Fulmer looking like future rotation stalwarts, and they have to assume Burrows can reach a 2nd or 3rd starter range. Drafting 9th this year. Add those guys to Zimmerman and who knows what the rotation looks like in '19. Maybe it's good. Miggy is still DH-ing, Christin Stewart in LF, Moya in RF, couple of decent prospects in CF in the low minors, Castellanos is breaking out, I like some of the SS-2B talent, there is McCann and some more catching in the minors, etc. Fill around those guys with pieces from trades (including maybe a Zimmerman trade in a couple years) and who knows. Where was the next generation of top talent coming from in '03?
Probably not. Fucking albatross. Going to be annoying as fuck when he's still on the team and JD is hitting dingers for somebody else.
Upton isn't going to hit like this all year. From the day we signed him: He's awful right now. He's had these kinds of stretches throughout his career, though, and has still generally been a 3-4 fWAR player most seasons.
I can't speak with certainty but I don't think our farm system ranked at or near the bottom of the league in '03.
It wasn't good back then. Maybe not quite this bad, but Verlander didn't get drafted until 04. Us making the WS in 06 was a damn miracle when you really look at all the stuff that went right after 03.
Bases loaded in the 3rd with 1 out, Miggy hits into a soft double play. They just can't get the big hit right now.
Intellectually I know this is Upton and he'll eventually get red hot for a while, but Jesus it's hard to watch when he's scuffling. I'd bat him 9th until he pieces together a couple solid games.
Lowe was an awful signing. Guy had four good months in his entire career. Apparently that gets you 13 million.
Since this team is already a train wreck I now fully advocate firing Ausmus and hiring Ozzie Guillen.
He was saying that a few weeks ago too. I mean he isn't probably wrong but I doubt he knows shit. It is incredibly rare for a manager to be fired on a road trip so the first opportunity Avila would have is tomorrow.
I assume Lamont gets the job if Ausmus is fired because it is less shake up org wide. Wouldn't mind if Vizquel got the gig either. Matt Martin would be able to fill in as 1B coach easily enough.
That's most likely the case - is an easy guess that they'll fire him on the off day after losing 12 of 13.
Ausmus asked by FSD if he has itch to play again to help snap slump: "Nah, then they'd be calling for me to be released as a player, too."
Moya missed a catchable ball at the wall then air-mailed the cutoff man. I watched or listened to probably 130 games in 2003. This experience is worse.