Location: Detroit, Mich. | Ballpark: Comerica Park (41,000) | Spring Training: Lakeland, Fla.
Owner: Mike Ilitch | GM: Dave Dombrowski | Manager: Jim Leyland | World Championships: 4
The solution is going to have to come mostly from within.
The Tigers entered the season with most of their pitching rotation locked into place for at least the next three seasons. The sole exception is 43-year-old lefty Kenny Rogers.
But as of Monday, the only thing the Tigers appear to have in place for their rotation over the next three years is mediocrity.
The rotation is a combined 9-18 with a league-worst 5.55 earned-run average.
"That's basically what we got," manager Jim Leyland said of his rotation. "Those are our guys and they have to do it at some point.
"We've signed guys like Bondo (righty Jeremy Bonderman) and Robby (lefty Nate Robertson). Hopefully, Dontrelle (lefty Willis) is going to be back shortly. We've signed him. Those are our guys who have to do it. It's that simple. There is no other tonic for it. You've got your guys, and you go with them.
"They've got to get the job done. And they're all very capable of getting the job done. It's a matter of doing it. But you've got to get it done at some point."
Robertson, who will start Tuesday's opener in Kansas City, said, "We haven't done our job. We haven't performed. That's obvious. There's no dodging or ducking that."
And with those long-term contracts, it will be tough to make changes.
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Hmmm. This was a little surprising. However maybe DD figured that Edgar would get 6 or 7 Mil plus the 3 Mil buyout and that was more than they wanted to give him. I would have thought getting 2 # 1's or a # 1 and a # 2 ( if the Giant rumor is true) would have given them a chance to get at least couple players to replace Jair Jurgens and (more)
Just so we all have a record, and there is no room for wiggling this year, let's have your prediction for how the Tigers will fare in 2009.
I realize that it's only December, and pieces need to be added, but sometime between now and Spring Training, you need to post your erudite forecast. Dipshit, you are on the clock.
