Back To Basics

I haven't heard much about Baseball this offseason except for the fact that the Yankees made the big deal with Texiera and the Cubs are bankrupt. Except for that, there hasn't been much to talk about. However, yesterday, as I was looking through the transactions page on ESPN.com, I noticed that the Tigers made a deal. As I began to read it, I soon became very disappointed. It read, "The Detroit Tigers have agreed to terms with pitcher Juan Rincon on a minor league contract; agreed to terms with pitchers Edwin Jackson, Joel Zumaya and Bobby Seay and catcher Gerald Laird on one-year contracts."

As soon as I read the name Joel Zumaya, my face went from a smile to a frown. Why do we keep resigning this guy? Sure he can throw the ball over 100 mph, but it is rarely accurate and the guy is injury prone. Over the past two years he has played in only 49 games, less than half of one season, and in that span only two wins and two saves. Did I forget to mention that he loves to play guitar hero?

On the better side of the infield, the Tigers did sign shortstop Adam Everett, who I think will be a great addition to the team. That leaves the infield at Catcher Brandon Inge, 1B Miguel Cabrera, 2B Placido Polanco, SS Adam Everett, and 3B Carlos Guillen. A pretty soild defence, but after last years performance in the batters box the whole team needs to step up to the plate and knock some out of the park. The outfield of Maggilo Ordonez, Curtis Granderson, and whoever will be named LF, probably Marcus Thames, looks solid as well, and it looks like, so far, hopefully, the Tigers can bounce back after a disapointing 2008 campagin. There were such high hopes, but nothing was fufilled.

The other part of the team that really needs to have a huge improvement this year is the guys on the mound and in the bullpen. Rookie Armando Galarraga was the best starter by far last season. Justin Verlander, Nate Robertson, and Jeremy Bonderman all have a lot of work to do, plus, lets hope that Dontrelle Willis can stay healthy this season.

With spring training about two months away, the teams has a few more months to get in some rest, but there will be no joking around this year. It's back to basics for the Tigers. The division will be tougher than ever before. Cleveland, Chicago, and Minnesota all made bold offseason moves this year, and the Royals were a tough win last season. The outlook for the Tigers this year is a good one, and hopefully they can make a good playoff run.