Comments on: Least Valuable Tiger Award (detroit tigers)

By: ChicagoSal

ChicagoSal — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 03:14:30 +0000

I think you guys are overlooking Inge. Yes, he can play all the positions but who cares when you bat .212? He’s been around a long time but still has yet to prove that he can hit major league pitching.

If the Tigers think he’s going to be there everyday catcher than they might as well give up on next season too. He looks terrible behind the plate and I don’t think he can handle pitchers. A few weeks ago on the Fox saturday game, Verlander was in big trouble and couldn’t find the plate late in the game and Inge never went to visit him on the mound. I was screaming at the tv. Verlander needed a break and Inge never came out to pay him a visit and calm him down. Sure, Pudge hated being in Detroit but he knew how to handle pitchers.

In short, Inge can do a lot of things but none of them very well.

By: Leroy Corso

Leroy Corso — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 03:34:51 +0000

Rodney gets the save! Rodney gets the save!

Amazing. Back to back doubles to open the bottom of the ninth, a walk, 2 K’s, a single and a putout at home. LOL

Even when he gets “credited” with a save he reinforces his LVP status!

By: ChiRod

ChiRod — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:20:59 +0000

Well, this is a hard one. My spite pick is for Todd Jones. He was not a valuable asset in 2001 when he did his first stint with the Tigers. I lovingly referred to him as spoiled milk. For some reason beyond my comprehension, maybe because he is reported to be a really nice guy, the Tiger organization brings him back. It’s the equivalent of smelling sour milk then putting the carton back in the fridge hoping tomorrow the milk will better. Of course, people shout about his stats not being that bad. True….but when you bring out a closer, you need someone who can throw strikes, not put runners on the base paths. July is a big month in baseball. In the 10 games he pitched, (9 inns total) he was 3-5 in Save Opps, BUT he gave up 11 hits, 8 runs, 3 BB with an ERA of 6.0 for the month. And the two blown saves were against division rivals, Chicago and Minnesota. Ugh. That hurts. Plus he’s 40….
My not spiteful pick is for Jim Leyland. I know he’s not one of the options, but damn….he baffled me at times this season with some really bad decisions. One in my mind was sticking with Sheff for so long. Really beyond my comprehension. Personnel and pitching changes seemed not well thought out, and the fire/desire to be a great team didn’t seem to begin with Jim. And that really disappoints me because I have a great deal of respect for him as a manager.
Ok, I need to go. My fantasy football draft is on!! Something to look forward too!!

By: Sumthin on the internet?

Sumthin on the internet? — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 14:05:16 +0000

I will take an expectation vs. results approach on this.

Therefore, cross out Nate, Sheff and Inge. I didn’t expect much and got even less. I actually thought Jones got it done as much as he is capable.

A true LVP, like an MVP, has to be selected on this basis: would the team be as bad as it is without him? Would it be so far out of the running without them? If you traded him away to a contender, would he make that team plummet? Does he make all the players around him worse?

Renteria and Rodney. Co-LVPs.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 01:48:39 +0000

I gotta go with Sheffield here. I can’t imagine that his attitude is any better in the dugout than it is off-field. His demeanor can’t be good for anything but lowering team morale.

For most games featuring him this season, I always viewed him as an automatic out. I’m sure that few of us have any faith in him at the plate nowadays. There were high expectations at the beginning of the season, and an average hovering around .230 makes him even more of a disappointment.

I’ll peg Renteria as a close second, but only because of a good start where he had a BA in the .320’s. Unfortunately, he’s fallen over sixty points as the season’s dragged on.

By: Leroy Corso

Leroy Corso — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 21:04:11 +0000

I will come back.

btw, even though I voted for Rodney, he’s the last one on your list that I’d trade away.

By: dettigers

dettigers — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:57:44 +0000

thanks Leroy. great comments. it’s hard to argue with Fernando. please bookmark me and come back often, i appreciate the input.

By: Leroy Corso

Leroy Corso — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:54:48 +0000

Longtime Tiger fan here living in NC. Great blog. Thanks for linking it at the espn boards.

LVP? Not Inge. He is what he is. A weak hitting utility player that comes through in the clutch every once in awhile. He’s valuable because he fills in at any position.

Not Todd Jones. Every save “Tater” Jones has had as a Tiger has been an adventure. I expected him to have a horrible year.

Renteria? Maybe. Expected a helluva lot more from him.
Sheff? Maybe. Pick any year and he could’ve been awarded this honor.

Robertson makes a good case for LVP, but…

I’m going with Rodney. You are right in your comments. He absolutely put a lid on this season earlier this month.

By: arnold drummand

arnold drummand — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:17:20 +0000

i vote Paws as LVP. that “mascot” tried to touch me in an inappropriate place, turning an otherwise uneventful afternoon ballgame into a “very special” episode.

oh my.