Re: Detroit Tigers 2010: Streaker is going to buy me some beer
Funny how at 36 Damon in your opinion is washed up, yet his numbers were better than a bona fide gold glover (who ACTUALLY has won ZERO gold gloves). Sounds like you are the one trying to pull the fast one of me with Jedi Mind Tricks.
Fail.
Granderson's defensive numbers were good enough for gold glove consideration, but they judge that like Olympic figure skating. Grady Sizemore is a heck of a player, but defensively, Granderson deserves some consideration. He also didn't have the benefit of the lineup he will in NYC. We'll see whose numbers go up and who's numbers go down. And I'll take Granderson's non-gold glove over Damon's hole in the glove any time.
Let's break down the lineup and see how well your optimism will hold water.
Typically a team's strength is based on how they stand "up the middle".
Well, now you have an unproven MLer in CF. An unproven MLer at 2b. NO ML at bats. Then at SS, you have adequate fielding, insufferable offense. You have 1 All star pitcher, 1 kid trying to avoid a sophomore jinx, and a hope and a prayer for the rest of the rotation. Plenty of potentially good to great arms, but it will be a work in progress, especially come relief time.
Then you have the catching situation. Offensively, Laird can't hit water splitting into the middle of the ocean from a rowboat. His defensive numbers, outside of his arm, are inflated. His manages a game poorly, and gives up the occasional PB at the most inopportune times. Then you have the sophomore, Avila, who will be the next catcher. Good bat, adequate arm, just needs more experience.
As far as the rest of the starters:
LF is a graveyard of shipwrecked careers. Higginson. Monroe. Thames. Now, we wayyyy oversign for an aging star that has deceiving power numbers away from the friendly confines of the AL east parks, and slow legs. His fielding is adequate, but has no arm. His backups are either an uber-utilityman that has some pop and has an arm, or name the Mudhen of choice, unless they stick Guillen out there occasionally. What fun that will be.
RF is all Magglio, unless Brian Kelly or some other Mudhen backup wants to imitate a ML ballplayer. I hope he is healthy, and I hope Jackson can cover up our outfield's lack of speed.
3B is another "fan favorite". Inge can be a superstar one day, making the most difficult plays with a great glove and rifle arm, then looks like a sandlot kid the next, booting easy ground balls that typically lead to big innings. His batting is just as erratic, Mr. All or nothing.
1B will be carefully microscoped. Cabrera is an adequate fielder now that he has learned 1b, and his power and presence in the order makes him a legit superstar to be- that is unless he continues to leave RISP in key situations. I don't put much stock in a $10MM bomber who hits a ton without anybody on base.
Oh, and IF he re-lapses, maybe the best advice for a guy hungover from one of his binges is, "try to catch the ball that is in the middle"and "try to hit the first fastball you may see".
Okay, mr. jolly sunshine, counter that.
I know the Sox and Twins can't wait.
