Who would you perfer to see at DH next year?

[tigers527]

My thinking is that is the Tigers biggest hole. Barring a trade, I looked through the free agents of note. So...here comes the poll. Granted some of these guys can play the field too, but assuming there is not a defensive upgrade from them taking the field (Carlos Lee v Craig Monroe...push, Aramis Ramirez v Inge...Inge)....slot them for DH? Oops, I forgot Rondell White part 2? Aside from the fact White hates DHing.

[Knick9]

Craig Monroe?

I voted for someone on the Tigers now because your lineup can improve if you acquire Alfonso Soriano, put him in left, and move Monroe to DH. Okay, it's kind of a pipe dream, but hey, weirder things have happened.

[tigers527]

Craig Monroe?

I voted for someone on the Tigers now because your lineup can improve if you acquire Alfonso Soriano, put him in left, and move Monroe to DH. Okay, it's kind of a pipe dream, but hey, weirder things have happened.

On most teams I would have no problem with your solution. With the Tigers however, I was and am a vocal HECK NO, guy when it comes to the idea of getting Alfonso Soriano. The reason is simple, the Tigers already have enough guys in the line up that K 100 plus times in a season. Put Soriano in the line up with Monroe, Inge and Granderson, and I bet Incaviglia, Deer, Fielder, and Tettelton will be like, wow, these guys K alot.

For the sake of useless trivia. Those four 1991 Tigers had 549 Ks (if you take out Incaviglia as he had 300ish ABs and thus only 92 Ks, and put in Fryman from the same year you'd get 606 Ks)....The Monroe, Inge, Granderson and Soriano stats of 2006 would have 588 Ks.

[HDH]

The former ragime liked to acquire DHs and have them play in the field. This management team generally prefers multposition players who can field and run. This team already has more DH type players than they can use. I'm in agreement with Alfonzo Soriano detractors. His personality is too high maintenance for my taste, is a bad fielder, and SO too much.

[slugger33]

LOL Who else voted for Bonds?

[EvanAparra]

is a bad fielder.
Except that he was one of the best outfielders in the NL this past year.

[slugger33]

The former ragime liked to acquire DHs and have them play in the field. This management team generally prefers multposition players who can field and run. This team already has more DH type players than they can use. I'm in agreement with Alfonzo Soriano detractors. His personality is too high maintenance for my taste, is a bad fielder, and SO too much.
Bad Fielder?? Where have you been? He had over twenty outfield assists. Oh..kinda off topic, but he was the only player to do this while getting into the 40/40 club.

[tigers527]

The former ragime liked to acquire DHs and have them play in the field. This management team generally prefers multposition players who can field and run. This team already has more DH type players than they can use. I'm in agreement with Alfonzo Soriano detractors. His personality is too high maintenance for my taste, is a bad fielder, and SO too much.

If you have 4 DH types....You do not have a DH. Which of the fellows you are thinking of would you like to see bottom of the 9th down by 1 and 2 outs? Marucs Thames? Chris Shelton? Alexis Gomez? The only answer I have seen, that comes from within I would not mind giving a shot to would be Ordonez in the DH slot, assuming an outfield upgrade. Although, it is speculation as to rather Ordonez would be as productive just sitting and taking his hacks every 2-3 innings?

[TigersFanB406]

I just went with Frank Thomas.

[tigers527]

Just for the heck of it and kill a little time tonight. I looked up the numbers of the guys mentioned, in the year 2006....

Barry Bonds .270 AVG, 26 HR, 77 RBI
Mike Piazza .283 AVG, 22 HR, 68 RBI
Nomar Garciaparra .303 AVG, 20 HR, 93 RBI
Aramis Ramirez .291 AVG, 38 HR, 119 RBI
Frank Thomas .270 AVG, 39 HR, 114 RBI
Carlos Lee .300 AVG, 37 HR, 116 RBI (MLB totals)

Alfonso Soriano .277 AVG, 46 HR, 95 RBI (he was brought up in the thread)

Tigers that played DH last year.

Craig Monroe .255 AVG, 28 HR, 92 RBI
Marcus Thames .256 AVG, 26 HR, 60 RBI
Chris Shelton .273 AVG, 16 HR, 27 RBI
Alexis Gomez .272 AVG, 1 HR, 6 RBI
Matt Stairs .247 AVG, 13 HR, 51 RBI

I will omit one Mr Dmitri Young, for obvious reasons.

I did hear earlier today on the radio, that the Tigers are going to make a HARD play for Carlos Lee. It was also said that he would perfer to play for the Cubs. Maybe, the chance of winning it all and a few extra dollars could bring him here. I wonder, would that mean the end of the Craig Monroe era in Detroit, or would it be a C Mo and C Lee DH/LF rotation? Oh well, in Dave I trust.

[TigersFanB406]

Thanks for gathering all the stats. It looks like it would be a wonderful move to get Lee. I think they could keep Monroe as well.

[tigers527]

Thanks for gathering all the stats. It looks like it would be a wonderful move to get Lee. I think they could keep Monroe as well.

I think the Tigers getting Lee, would at least put Monroe on the "trading block".....could they live with them both, sure. But is Craigs' trade value going to be any higher, then it is now? Keep in mind Craig ALWAYS, and I mean ALWAYS starts out the season slow. As a 4th OFer Monroe really lacks the D you would like from that position. Granted, Craig does make some real nice plays but much of that comes from his athletism overcoming his poor OF instincts (see that almost diving out against Eckstein in the WS, he would of made had he took a straighter route to the ball). Not to be bashing on Craig, but he seems to "lollygag" around the basepaths a bit too (see his triples being the same number as Chris Sheltons).

That all said the thing I really like about Lee, and Aramis Ramirez (the guy I voted for) are the lack of Ks (something the Tigers line up really needs). Carlos Lee had 65 Ks in 624 ABs, and Ramirez had 63 Ks in 594 ABs. For powerhitting guys those numbers are sick. For some perspective, Placido Polanco had 24 Ks in 461 ABs, and Sean Casey had 43 Ks in 397 ABs (MLB totals).

ABs per K
Placido 19.2
Carlos Lee 9.6
Aramis Ramirez 9.4
Sean Casey 9.2

Since the Tigers were real good at K'ing last year, either of these guys would be welcomed in this lineup.

Alfonso Soriano 4.0 (647 ABs and 160 Ks)

For some perspective on that number

Curtis Granderson 3.4 (596 ABs and 174 Ks)
Brandon Inge 4.2 (542 ABs and 128 Ks)
Craig Monroe 4.3 (541 ABs and 126 Ks)

Tigers Team 5.0 (5642 ABs and 1133 Ks)

note....all numbers are rounded off.....example the whole team actually averaged a K every 4.97 ABs

[Gee Walker]

As a low-cost option, for a guy who's a good team player, can play a decent LF, gets on base, has a good career batting average and hits lots of doubles and a few homers...

Has anyone considered current free agent Frank Catalanotto?

[Tram2Lou]

I would like us to make a run at Miguel Tejada. If we bring back Sean Casey at first, we could put Carlos Guillen at DH. I would love to get Carlos in a position where he doesn't have to throw the baseball, and sitting on the bench would mean he never would have to throw the ball, ever!

[tigers527]

As a low-cost option, for a guy who's a good team player, can play a decent LF, gets on base, has a good career batting average and hits lots of doubles and a few homers...

Has anyone considered current free agent Frank Catalanotto?

First, I don't want to watch another Tiger team "on the cheap" for a good long time. If the Wings could be called the NY Yanks of hockey (not fair, as there were always teams in the same ballpark as the Wings salaries), why can't the Tigers keep this up and make themselves better, without being cheap?

But to be fair......the Big Cats stats.
Frank Catalanotto .300 AVG, 7 HR, 56 RBI....11.8 ABs/K (437 ABs and 37 Ks)


I would like us to make a run at Miguel Tejada. If we bring back Sean Casey at first, we could put Carlos Guillen at DH. I would love to get Carlos in a position where he doesn't have to throw the baseball, and sitting on the bench would mean he never would have to throw the ball, ever!

That post made me laugh. The one thing that perplexes me, why did Guillen go so wrong on the defensive part of the game. He came here being a very solid defender. As his offense grew his D seemed to shrink.....what happened? I would not mind seeing Guillen moved, but I would be weary of the effect it could have on him? I would say one more year for Carlos at SS and then take a look? Not to pimp my choice, but how about Aramis Ramirez at 3rd, Inge SS and Guillen 1B? At least that would slove the 1st base prob the Tigers currently have?

Miguel Tejada .330 AVG, 24 HR, 100 RBI.....8.2 ABs/K (648 ABs and 79 Ks)

[TigersFanB406]

Gary Sheffield.

[tigers527]

Gary Sheffield.

Who knew???? I was thinking of including those Travis Hafner types, but I assumed the Tigers would just pick up a free agent. Well, as I have said before...in Dave I trust....Let's hope that Sheffield can prove to be the Tigers Rasheed Wallace. A fellow that much was said about his attitude, before getting here.

[TigersFanB406]

Haha I was just trying to be funny...acting like I predicted that. Let's hope he tears it up for the Tigers next year.:gt

[Damus/777]

Gary Sheffield.

Don't count your chickens before they hatch!

Since Monroe is still on the Tigers roster, Leyland could not hand the LF position job to Sheffield in that interview where Jim said Sheff would primarily cover the DH spot.

Lets wait & see what develops in the next 4-5 weeks.

My betting cards are on Monroe, Gomez, Perez, Colon and Shelton leaving. Don't completely rule out Santiago, Thames, Grilli and Miner too.