Pudge playin' the Tigers? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

grumpyolddude · 01-30-2004, 09:37 PM

The Detroit Tigers, much to the amazement of us fans, have actually spent some money on free agents this winter. While Tejada and Guerrero never game 'em a listen, the have signed some proven talent in Vina and White and picked up Guillen in a trade.

Now, for the past several weeks. Ivan (Pudge) Rodriguez has been shopping himself around, looking for $10 million per year. The Tigers have been the only team to offer that much, but Pudge won't budge. He keeps putting them off, hoping that some contender will step in with an offer that he can take without looking like he's totally dissin' the Tigers.

Now, they are doing this little "check out his back with his doctors" dance to stall the decision. He successfully put it off until Mike Illitch had to leave town on business.... can't do anything until he gets back into town. (These are my characterizations of his actions. I can't prove any malice in his motives)

It's gotten to the point, I believe, that the Tigers should pull their offer. Yes, a catcher of Pudge's talents would be a great aid to the development of a very young pitching staff, but the man obviously would like to play somewhere else. Why else would it be taking a month to negotiate this deal... he really doesn't want to come to Detroit!

The Tigers have kissed Pudge's ass too much already. Let him sign for less than they offered... or sit until May so he can return to the Marlins!

djtestudo · 01-30-2004, 10:27 PM

There is a rumor going around that he has agreed to a deal with the Expos, contingent on the Expos clearing the needed salary. This is supposedly in the form of a five-player deal sending Vidro and another player to Baltimore for Brian Roberts and a couple guys, which is complete pending Vidro signing an extention with the Orioles.

Hrothgar · 01-31-2004, 05:23 PM

He signed already right?

SAM821 · 01-31-2004, 07:00 PM

the tigers are gonna make the deal just as long as they put that injury clause in... to be sure that the money is guarunteeed only if he plays

grumpyolddude · 02-01-2004, 08:34 AM

Updated rumor as of Saturday night: Mike Illitch is flying Pudge in on Redbird One (the Detroit Red Wing's team plane) for a press conference to announce the signing. Story is that he went to I-Rod personally to close the deal.

Too bad that Montreal deal isn't going through. As good as he's been, I have the nagging feeling that Pudge will be another Juan Gonzalez-type mistake for the Tigers.

There's a report that the deal would have a two-year bail-out provision for the team, and a 5th year option. Those, and the injury provision may make it a decent deal. We can only hope... some more.

gov135 · 02-01-2004, 09:00 AM

Pudge is a sure Hall-of-Famer. He isn't being brought in to help the Tigers to a pennant, rather, he is being brought in to put some fannies in the seats.

Pudge's hitting almost certainly won't match last years. And he has a history of getting disinterested with poor teams. But he could help develop some of the young pitching talent of the Tigers.

That said, enjoy having him on your team, and go to the games. After all, who was the last Hall-of-Famer on the Tigers roster?

The Tigers will be better this year... not that it's that difficult. Kansas City is the team to beat in the Central. They made alot of good acquistions and have some nice pitching. Minnesota had an awful offseason, losing alot of talent, especially in the bullpen, once the teams strength. They will almost certainly disappoint. My Cleveland Indians are getting better, but are not yet good enough to compete. This is a pivitol year for some of Cleveland's young talent. In other words, the Tigers aren't looking up at an extremely deep division, and should win some games this year.

Artermis · 02-01-2004, 01:20 PM

I agree.

The Tigers win 65-70 games this year and they will have an easier time next year of getting some more talent in Detroit.

It is well known around the country that Illitch spends money and takes care of his players. Once the team has a shot of winning more...more players will come.

Plus a coupel more bad contracts come off the books in the next few years, which will open up even more money for Dom to go out and get better players.

The young pitchers who lost so much next year will each improve by 5-8 games this year because of better offense and defense.

Tigers with pudge completely revamp their up the middle from opening day last year and each addition is so much bigger than what they had last year.

Detroit could be a poor man's version of Florida. Sanchez and Vina will steal bases and Young and Pudge will drive them in. Detroit just needs the young pitching to keep them in the games.

Art

Bigt6909 · 02-04-2004, 04:52 PM

I think that Pudge will do D-town a lot of good... I can't wait until they start playing

Spartak · 02-04-2004, 05:43 PM

I bet he's gonna whine and want out of his huge contract... like A-Rod... when he had the chance to go to any decent team... like A-Rod.

01-30-2004, 09:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
grumpyolddude Deliberately unfocused Location: Amazon.com and CDBaby	Pudge playin' the Tigers? The Detroit Tigers, much to the amazement of us fans, have actually spent some money on free agents this winter. While Tejada and Guerrero never game 'em a listen, the have signed some proven talent in Vina and White and picked up Guillen in a trade. Now, for the past several weeks. Ivan (Pudge) Rodriguez has been shopping himself around, looking for $10 million per year. The Tigers have been the only team to offer that much, but Pudge won't budge. He keeps putting them off, hoping that some contender will step in with an offer that he can take without looking like he's totally dissin' the Tigers. Now, they are doing this little "check out his back with his doctors" dance to stall the decision. He successfully put it off until Mike Illitch had to leave town on business.... can't do anything until he gets back into town. (These are my characterizations of his actions. I can't prove any malice in his motives) It's gotten to the point, I believe, that the Tigers should pull their offer. Yes, a catcher of Pudge's talents would be a great aid to the development of a very young pitching staff, but the man obviously would like to play somewhere else. Why else would it be taking a month to negotiate this deal... he really doesn't want to come to Detroit! The Tigers have kissed Pudge's ass too much already. Let him sign for less than they offered... or sit until May so he can return to the Marlins! __________________ "Regret can be a harder pill to swallow than failure .With failure you at least know you gave it a chance..." David Howard

01-30-2004, 10:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
djtestudo Baltimoron Location: Beeeeeautiful Bel Air, MD	There is a rumor going around that he has agreed to a deal with the Expos, contingent on the Expos clearing the needed salary. This is supposedly in the form of a five-player deal sending Vidro and another player to Baltimore for Brian Roberts and a couple guys, which is complete pending Vidro signing an extention with the Orioles. __________________ "Final thought: I just rented Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. Frankly, it was the worst sports movie I've ever seen." --Peter Schmuck, The (Baltimore) Sun

01-31-2004, 05:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
Hrothgar He's My Girl Location: The Champagne Douche	He signed already right? __________________ The fortunes of war favored Hrothgar.

02-01-2004, 08:34 AM	#5 (permalink)
grumpyolddude Deliberately unfocused Location: Amazon.com and CDBaby	Updated rumor as of Saturday night: Mike Illitch is flying Pudge in on Redbird One (the Detroit Red Wing's team plane) for a press conference to announce the signing. Story is that he went to I-Rod personally to close the deal. Too bad that Montreal deal isn't going through. As good as he's been, I have the nagging feeling that Pudge will be another Juan Gonzalez-type mistake for the Tigers. There's a report that the deal would have a two-year bail-out provision for the team, and a 5th year option. Those, and the injury provision may make it a decent deal. We can only hope... some more. __________________ "Regret can be a harder pill to swallow than failure .With failure you at least know you gave it a chance..." David Howard

02-04-2004, 04:52 PM	#8 (permalink)
Bigt6909 Crazy Location: Michigan	I think that Pudge will do D-town a lot of good... I can't wait until they start playing __________________ Beer. Now there's a temporary solution. --Homer Simpson

01-31-2004, 07:00 PM	#4 (permalink)
SAM821 Surviving Hurricanes Location: Miami, Florida	the tigers are gonna make the deal just as long as they put that injury clause in... to be sure that the money is guarunteeed only if he plays

02-01-2004, 09:00 AM	#6 (permalink)
gov135 Junkie Location: Midwest	Pudge is a sure Hall-of-Famer. He isn't being brought in to help the Tigers to a pennant, rather, he is being brought in to put some fannies in the seats. Pudge's hitting almost certainly won't match last years. And he has a history of getting disinterested with poor teams. But he could help develop some of the young pitching talent of the Tigers. That said, enjoy having him on your team, and go to the games. After all, who was the last Hall-of-Famer on the Tigers roster? The Tigers will be better this year... not that it's that difficult. Kansas City is the team to beat in the Central. They made alot of good acquistions and have some nice pitching. Minnesota had an awful offseason, losing alot of talent, especially in the bullpen, once the teams strength. They will almost certainly disappoint. My Cleveland Indians are getting better, but are not yet good enough to compete. This is a pivitol year for some of Cleveland's young talent. In other words, the Tigers aren't looking up at an extremely deep division, and should win some games this year.

02-01-2004, 01:20 PM	#7 (permalink)
Artermis Insane Location: I live where all the morons live	I agree. The Tigers win 65-70 games this year and they will have an easier time next year of getting some more talent in Detroit. It is well known around the country that Illitch spends money and takes care of his players. Once the team has a shot of winning more...more players will come. Plus a coupel more bad contracts come off the books in the next few years, which will open up even more money for Dom to go out and get better players. The young pitchers who lost so much next year will each improve by 5-8 games this year because of better offense and defense. Tigers with pudge completely revamp their up the middle from opening day last year and each addition is so much bigger than what they had last year. Detroit could be a poor man's version of Florida. Sanchez and Vina will steal bases and Young and Pudge will drive them in. Detroit just needs the young pitching to keep them in the games. Art

02-04-2004, 05:43 PM	#9 (permalink)
Spartak Bang bang Location: New Zealand	I bet he's gonna whine and want out of his huge contract... like A-Rod... when he had the chance to go to any decent team... like A-Rod. __________________ I can read your mind... looking at you... I can read your mind...