These are the painful steps to building for next year. The pitching staff with Verlander, Sherzer and even Porcello will be okay. They need to add a bonafide fourth starter. Bonderman, Gallaraga and Toledo du jour won't cut it. The bullpen has been horrid in the second half, mostly because Valverde is probably hurt and the rest of them have been overworked due to injuries.
But, it is the large gap between promising rookies like Wells, Boesch and Jackson that is more of a concern. Rhymes is a nice utility guy, but not an everyday player. Ditto Santiago. Inge and Peralta may not be back, and if one or both are, it will be more miss than hit. Catching is abysmal. Guillen is on his last legs, literally. The only position not up for grabs is at 1b. Rayburn is a utility player. Ordonez needs to be replaced, even if he is a .300 hitter. No sense in even talking about Damon since it seems like the organization is only using him as a decoy or PH now.
I can't see how this team will compete for the division next season unless a major trade is made again to fill in so many holes.
I may be buying the beer soon because of that first half, but in the end there is no difference in finishing with 76 wins or 69 wins. And next year may only be slightly better unless some overhauling is done again.
