The Tigers’ season ended in disappointment, but that shouldn’t overshadow a tremendous season in Detroit. This team had its share of memorable moments in 2012, even if the Giants captured the championship. Here are some Tigers-related links…
- Anibal Sanchez said he's open to signing anywhere as a free agent this coming offseason, Joe Rexrode of the Detroit Free Press reports. GM Dave Dombrowski has said re-signing the right-hander is a priority for the Tigers this winter.
- Jose Valverde said he's not yet sure where he'll be pitching next year, George Sipple of the Detroit Free Press reports. The free agent reliever said he'd like to re-sign in Detroit if possible. "I think everybody wants to play for the Tigers. Great teammates, great owner."
- There are indications that Tigers manager Jim Leyland will return for at least one more season, Chris Iott of MLive.com reports. "We're going to talk about some things in a day or so and I'm sure they'll have some type of an announcement," Leyland said, adding that the Tigers will be the final team he manages. Dombrowski has said Leyland would be welcome as the team's manager in 2013.
- However, Leyland spoke of his Tigers career as though it were already in the past, Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com writes.
I would be completely happy with none of those 3 returning.
I wish people who downvoted would at least state their point. (I think this comment will get a bunch of downvotes)
You didn’t state any points as to why they should be let go……..
But I still stated a point as to why they should be, if you dont agree with the statement then write why you actually think it is garbage.
I agree. If you want to keep any of the 3, keep Anibal for next year. There are better managers and closers available right now, even internally…
Please tell me who you’d rather see than Leyland. He’s taken us to the ALCS 3 times and won 2 of em in the last 6 years. He’s a little unconventional at times and really can drive me nuts, but you can’t argue with the results
I actually can argue with the results, he has the top 2 strikehout pitchers, a triple crown winner, and pretty solid offensive production and he can only get us 88 wins? I think this was a WS team, and we just got swept like we didnt belong, Watch game 163 with the Twins for how he gets outmanaged. He sticks with players who are not good too often and plays favorites.
Yes because Jim is the one hitting right? Because its his fault fielder was what 1 for 15 in the series?
Nope, didnt say that. However the team has a whole underachieved for a variety of reasons, and I do blame leyland for sticking with underperforming players and underperforming coaches.
They went to the WS. Only one manager had a better result. How is that underachieving?
They only won 88 games with the best pitcher/hitter in the game and good young players. IF you think getting swept in the WS was the Tigers’ goal you are sadly mistaken. Another manager could get them over this hump.
You’ve still yet to list anyone in particular. Being a long time Tiger’s fan, I remember how bad the 90s and the first half of the 2000s were. These past few years have been fantastic in comparison. Not many teams have made 3 ALCS appearances in 6 years and 2 WS appearances.
To me, Leyland has earned to stay another year if he wants. Even if I disagree with some of his decisions, the results are there.
So you honestly think that this was the best this team could do? 88 wins and a sweep? I strongly disagree.
No, I think they struggled this regular season. I also think they ran into a hot team and their bats went cold at a bad time…
I just don’t see how appearing in two straight ALCS and winning one of em means you get fired. Not to mention the players like this guy. They like playing for em… I doubt it’d set well with the core of the team to let go a guy they like to play for after they made it to the World Series.
Our bats were cold the majority of the postseason and we stumbled in with a .500 record in Sept because CHW imploded. I love how when I was chanting for him to be fired 2 years ago everyone was all for me, now people are bashing me and guess what he hasnt changed anything he has done!
But making it to the World Series eliminates everything they did in the regular season. It doesn’t matter if they won 80 games or 110 games, they are currently the best team in the AL. No arguments, they are the ones that won the ALCS and went to the World Series. In no way, shape or form can that be considered underachieving.
The whole results argument for Leyland is what I am responding to, whose to say if he didnt make those boneheaded decisions we wouldnt be a better team. I am looking at it from that point of you, you guys are looking at it from the “oh he messed up but it kinda worked out”
No, I’m not. I don’t agree with everything he’s done, but I agree with most of it. A lot of his moves made sense from a strategic standpoint. Just because it doesn’t work out everytime doesn’t mean he’s a terrible manager and absolutely deserves to be our manager again next year.
No I agree with you there, obviously you just have a much lower standard for a WS manager than I do.
What?! Making it to the World Series twice in six years is incredible! How is that having lower standards?!
Well I think we should have won this year, and I think Leyland left too many wins out there and we got LUCKY. As I have said numerous times, if you think we cant win a WS then fine go cheer for leyland and staff.
Bringing in smyly for ONE inning in an extra inning game was just ridiculous, bringing in coke for 2 was equally as ridiculous. Just 2 things that he did that cost us game 4. See how easy that was?
I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree on this. =) I think Leyland can lead us to a World Series if our players learn to hit in said series.
You’re complaining about 2012’s best AL manager and team. This makes no sense.
I am not complaining about the team…I am saying a different manager could be better. If you think Leyland is the best manager in the AL you need to look over at the AL west/east. Let me guess you also thought inge was the best fielding 3b since brooks robinson.
I guess if your team doesn’t win 100 games and sweeps the world series 3 years in a row is time to fire everybody!! Haha, I love it how people are so radical.
Not what I said either. I love being misquoted online when my words are right there. If the team had been competitive in the WS I would be more inclined to keep him, however it was embarassing!
So who is your world series manager replacement?
With the recent success of matheny/ventura I wouldnt mind giving the reigns to a young former player. Robert Fick’s name has been tossed around a bunch but there are other veteran guys out there who could help out. Look I dont have long scouting reports on every manager, I just see what leyland does, see what other managers do, and that is how I make up my mind.
The Giants were on a roll & the Tigers were hurt by their layoff, they were just dealt a bad hand
I am torn on whether to agree with this or not. Sure, he went back to the well all too often with Inge/Raburn/Boesch/ bullpen pitcher du jour, but those players were on the major league roster for a reason. All had some kind of track record, so it was perplexing to watch such poor play. I guess it comes to down to when certain managers would pull the plug. I was done with Inge and Raburn, but I wanted to see Boesch succeed. Tough calls.
“I think this was a WS team”….. for your information the Tigers did make the world series *insert u mad face*
WS winning team….
Same. Especially Leyland. Not only is he a good manager but he is a great person. Lots of experience. Yea he may not statistically the best moves (going back to raburn ect.) but the players are humans, and so is Leyland. We don’t necessarily see everything, and there probably is a reason why Leyland continues to go back to certain players, a clubhouse thing.
As for Sanches, will love to see him back. If the Tigers can repeat how they pitched during the postseason (including the world series), I think we will be a great threat, and I think Sanches could contribute to it.
Valverde, I would like to see if he could return to something close to he was when he went 49/49. Don’t sign him immediately, see if he can improve. Next year will probably not be his best year, but if the Tigers could get him cheap and he shows improvement, sure why not?
He DOESN’T want any of the three returning….is what he’s saying.
I will assume you just misread what I was saying.
However Leyland is a good guy and whatever but he has overstayed his welcome. It is time for him to retire and move on. We need a new guy in there to shake things up and perhaps get more out of this team. I am tired of seeing him play favorites and stupidity out of the bullpen. I dont know who will replace him but give someone else a shot at it.
Sanchez will cost way too much money, I would take him on a 2/25 but chances are the starting price will be 4/40 and could approach 4/60. I think that is a bit too much to pay for a 4th starter and would be fine with smyly/porcello/farmhands taking over 4-5.
I am done with Valverde, that guy lost it in the way closers lose it. He just isnt there mentally and lost his edge. We got his best and maybe offer him 1/5 to rebuild value but I would prefer if we invested in the bullpen elsewhere.
Right. Someone that leads you to two World Series in six years and to the ALCS three times has over stayed his welcome. It’s totally his fault that his pitchers missed their marks and hitters forgot to hit, right?
And why re-sign a pitcher that was one of your best when you needed him to be in Sanchez? Yup, overpaying for a 4th starter is a terrible idea when you’re quite thin at that position all together.
Clearly the Smyly/Porcello/farmhands didn’t work out so well for us at the beginning of the season, so why do it AGAIN?! Seriously…
You should be a Yankees fan, not a Tigers…
Someone who squandered other seasons, failed us many times, hires an inept coaching staff, and sticks with underperforming players. I think this team has done its best under Leyland, time to let someone else try.
My argument for Sanchez was that the money can be allocated elsewhere. That was also before Fister came back…He is a good pitcher but if we give him 15 mil a year and Verlander/Miggy become FAs and we lose them that works out great. I also look at who would I rather have Max or Annibal and I pick Max.
Look you telling me not to be a Tigers fan is insulting. If anything I am more of a fan than you because I want our team to achieve more.
What about Joe Maddon? They squandered this year and last year despite going to the World Series. Should the Rays let him go? You seem to be missing the bigger picture. Three ALCS in six years is SUPER impressive and Leyland was a big part of that.
We have nearly $17MM coming off the books this year in free agents only. That’s not including options that could be declined, that’s not including players we don’t give arb to and let go, that doesn’t include anyone we trade and that does not include the money we will not have to pay Inge. And that’s just this year. Yes, we will have to give up money for some of the other players for their arb years, but not a huge amount to not justify re-signing Sanchez. By the way — we have $46MM commited for Verlanders free agent year and $24MM when Cabrera hits free agency. We’ll be just fine.
I’m not telling you not to be a Tigers fan — I’m saying your expectations are that of the typical Yankees fan. If we don’t win four straight World Series titles and don’t have 100+ wins year in and year out, then it’s a failed year. That’s so unrealistic and unreasonable. And that has nothing to do with me not being as big of a fan and everything with me having reasonable expectations.
You should be a Yankees fan, not a Tigers…- that is telling me NOT to do something.
The rays had a historically bad offense and he worked great and gets the most out of his players. Does Leyland? You have one of the fastest guys in the league and he cant steal!
Really you are going to go into all that? Look Jackson/scherzer will get expensive in arbitration and contrary to what some people think I dont think the Tigers can field 4 20mm and be competitive and 3 would be hard. The three players are fielder/miggy/verlander, with that in place you gotta pick your players to give money to. Look if we sign sanchez Iw ill be happy if that means we are expanding payroll, however if that means losing scherzer I will not be happy.
I NEVER said it was a failed year. It was a good year for the team but I think they could have won a WS and ran away with the Central, I think with a better manager we could achieve that. Our coaching staff is terrible, and it starts on top.
Should — meaning that’s what you ought to do. Your mentality if that of a Yankees fan. Period.
He can’t steal because that’s not how this team was built! It has nothing to do with the ability, we don’t ever steal bases! We don’t play small ball like the Angels and Twins. We just don’t.
What’s stopping the Tigers from signing them to deals with $7MM – $10MM a year? Easy. Done. Thanks for playing.
You don’t have to say, you sure are acting like it.
Right you are telling me to do something(cheer for yankees) and not cheer for tigers….So dont be a fan of the tigers….
Well maybe that should change. You play with the talent you have, jackson should be stealing.
And now you have shifted the argument to lowballing our young stars, asking FA pitchers of sanchez level to take 7-10 mil a year or scherzer isnt going to get it done. If they COULD do that then yea I would be for it but they probably cant.
So now you are putting words in my mouth. Straw man.nice.
Ignore…app it finally went through 40 minutes later.
I can understand Valverde but why not Sanchez? He was the Tigers best pitcher down the stretch and into the entire post-season.
He was, I just think he will get too expensive for us to be a #4 starter. That is all really, if we can get him for 2/24 then go for it but I think he will go for 40-60mm and would rather see that money go elsewhere and have smyly step in.
He’d be a number two on many teams. Having a 4/5 of Porcello and Smyly is not a good idea. I don’t expect money to be a factor this offseason. Not with Ilitch desperate for a WS.
right he would be a #2 on many teams but not ours. We have other guys that we need to pay more is what I am saying. No knock against Sanchez, I should would rather pay a #4 starter less than that and save it for our big ace and max. We dont have that much money to spend and the triple crown winner will need a new deal soon.
Trading Turner for nothing would suck, but their top prioty should be to fix that pen.
It would suck, but yes we need to fix that pen.
I think there are only a few candidates whom the Tigers would have considered outside of Leyland. And one of them is gone in Tito Francona. He has the experience they’d be looking for plus he had a stint with the Tigers and Mr. I before. Had the Tigers job opened and the Indians job not, I assume Francona would have jumped at the chance.
People keep saying “fire leyland!!” but they don’t tell you who we should hire. There’s only a few qualified people out there, and to fire leyland (or not re-sign him) we should get an upgrade not a downgrade
Exactly!!
I can see why they would want Sanchez back. He was one of the best pitchers in September. I think without him they don’t get in the playoffs, let alone the World Series. As for Valverde, he impressed me in 2011, but this year he kind of came back to earth. I think we have better options in our system than Valverde (we have a kid in AA who throws 100+ and is closing games for Erie). I think Leyland deserves to stay, since he did get us to the world series. Whenever you get a chance to manage an All Star team, you’ve done something right. I think they need to trade away Porcello and let Smyly get a shot in the rotation all year next season. You could get some pretty good hitting for a young 23 year old with a lot of promise. We could get a pretty good corner outfielder for Rick.
Bruce Rondon!! pitching in Venezuela in the winter league. Hopefully Tigers’ closer in 2014, maybe even sooner
Valverde can go.
Leyland has earned another year in Detroit if he wants it. He’s had better success as the manager than anyone since the 80s if not earlier.
Hopefully Annibal can be had at a decent price. He’d look very nice mixed in with JV/Max/Fister/and either Porcello or Smyly.
Outside of that, the Tigers gotta get a backup catcher. I’m find with Laird as the back up generally doesn’t need to be an offensive powerhouse. Then some BP help. Coke, AlAl, and Benoit(sadly) are all probably locks. Villareal and Rondon should get looks in the spring. Would like to see a solid lefty and maybe a proven late innings guy added to the mix.
On that note, I wouldn’t mind seeing em kick the tires on someone like Cody Ross. Also, as far as closers go… I think Soria deserves a good look as well as maybe Broxton.
Also wouldn’t mind seeing them kick the tires on a corner outfielder. Dirks/Garcia/(maybe)Castellanos are all options…
I could see Rondon perhaps winning the closer role out of Spring Training. I like what I’ve seen from him and that could be a cheap internal option for that position.
Jim Leyland has more major league victories than any other active manager. He has gathered those victories for the most part with flawed teams like the current Tigers. Since I am a Tiger fan I would never say this during the season but this team has needs at SS, 2B, Catcher, and corner outfielders for position players plus better relief pitchers. The fact that the team got to the World Series was because of Leyland and not due to talent.
Not due to talent? Hold on here…Best 3b/1b in the AL, top 2 strikeout pitchers. Infante is average as is peralta, avila is still young so I would hardly consider replacing him as a need, our corner outfield of dirks/garcia and berry worked well, I fail to see the lack of talent on this team aside from bullpen depth. Hard to say a team with that is a flawed team when they arent below average at any position.
The tigers were picked to win the al central by a wide margin but faltered most of the season and were only in the playoffs since white sox was never more than 3 1/2 games up. good to get into the playoffs, not a tremendous season.