The Tigers Three Ring Circus

I guess it's time to comment on the three ring circus that the Detroit Tigers have become. In the first ring we have Pudge Rodriguez, the Tigers Hall of Fame bound catcher. Pudge, who as Greg Eno pointed out months ago, has not been the same player in his second year in Detroit as he was his first. Something has been wrong with him since Day One of Spring Training. However, Pudge turned particularly surly after the Tigers shipped Kyle Farnsworth to Atlanta.

Pudge's attitude became the story in town when he went to Colombia during his suspension. When Rodriguez was due back in Kansas City, the disgruntled backstop missed his flight. That didn't sit well with Tigers management. The whole story blew-up when Terry Foster reported that Pudge actually got permission to skip town originally from owner Mike Ilitch, after Dave Dombrowski and Alan Trammell said no.

Since returning to the ballclub, Pudge has spent far more time not playing than helping his team on-the-field. Some are wondering if Pudge is hurting or pouting? The speculation increases daily and the stories have taken on a life of their own. They beg the question, should Pudge be traded this off-season?

Then, there is Ring # 2. Here we have Tigers' manager Alan Trammell. Tram is under daily fire, especially from the residents of Tigertown. Trammell's managerial competence is questioned by at least half the folks in town and I'm not counting the media. Regular Tigers fans, even those who adored Trammell as a player, are becoming increasingly angry about Trammell's decision making.

Trammell's supporters often point to the clubhouse decorum he has been able to maintain. Of course, in light of the Pudge stories, his critics now claim he can't control the Tigers' biggest player. There are also rumors that the team likes Tram, but doesn't respect his managerial acumen. The cries for Trammell's removal grow daily.

That brings us to our third and, for now, final ring. In Ring Three, we have Tigers' President and General Manager Dave Dombrowski. There is still a percentage of fans that disapprove of the deal for Farnsworth. They feel like Dombrowski tossed away the year. Unfortunately, that same sentiment appears to be shared by some of the guys wearing the Old English D. (Not surprisingly, Rodriguez leads that rebellious group of players that are ticked off at the Tigers' head hancho.) There is a group of fans, and apparently players, who feel like it's Dombrowski who should get the boot.

Dombrowski, too, maybe having his own issues. If, in fact, Pudge did go over Dombrowski's head and ask Ilitch for time away, only to have Ilitch grant it, Dombrowski may wonder what control he truly has? Toss in the rumor that Ilitch supposedly will not allow Dombrowski to fire Alan Trammell, even if the Tigers' G.M. thought it necessary and you could easily have Dombrowski wondering about his own status. The Tigers' boss has only one year left on his contract and I haven't even heard a rumor about an extension.

Here's what I think. I think if the Tigers trade Pudge, that's fine. There are ways, even if forced to eat a portion of his salary, that the team could improve without their most visible player.

I think if Trammell gets fired, I'd feel bad, but I'd get over it. There are other managers, with varying degrees of experience, available. His loss wouldn't be insurmountable.

I think I don't like the thought of losing Dombrowski. Can he be replaced? Of course, but of the three, he would be the most difficult. Dombrowski is a good general manager, like him or not. He has rebuilt this team and made more good moves than bad ones.

There are darn, darn few general managers with his record of success. Dombrowski could be with the Tigers for the next fifteen years, if Ilitch doesn't screw this up. Yet, the Tigers' owner, if we are to believe the word on the street, is doing everything he can to give Dombrowski reason to seek work in another city.

I think that's not a very good move.

I think the off-season, that began in earnest at the trade deadline, just got far more complicated. Instead of wondering which players should stay and which should go, citizens of Tigertown and, perhaps, Mr. Ilitch may have to ponder who is going to replace the G.M., the manager and/or a Hall of Fame catcher, as well.