To the surprise of no one and the disappointment of many, Alan Trammell was fired as Tigers manager. Here are some random observations I have about Tram's dismissal and what Dave Dombrowski and some of the fans have said since.
Should Tram Have Gotten The Boot?
I have no idea if Trammell should have been let go or not. Was he learning on the job? Without question. Did he make some bad decisions? Yes, but even Joe Torre and Bobby Cox make decisions that could be second guessed. Can they find a better manager? Yes, but that doesn't guarantee the team will perform any better. Did he lose control of the clubhouse? Sure sounds like it. Was Trammell even 25% of the Tigers problems? No way.
You can make a case to keep Tram and one to fire him. In the end, I think Dombrowski felt like Trammell was runover by his players and was just too nice to enforce the law. Thirty or forty years ago a guy with Trammell's history might have been given five years to work things out. Today, with the size of payrolls and the increased pressure fueled by more media coverage than ever, patience with a new manager is in short supply.
Low Key Press Conference
I'm sure some will wail about the Tigers' non-press conference press conference in regards to Trammell's firing. Some will state that the Tigers should have made it a traditional press conference, not an informal meeting with Dombrowski. Honestly, I was surprised, but maybe we shouldn't be.
I doubt a single Tigers employee wants to over-promote Trammell's departure. I'm sure management, out of respect for Trammell, tried to make a low key announcement. It did seem odd, but I think it may have best represented the uncomfortable feeling we all have about the situation.
Of course, I could just be a Tigers slappy. (We all know how much I praise the organization.)
Leyland's Arrival
Is there much question that Jim Leyland will be the next Tigers' skipper? The guy is interviewing, perhaps, right at this moment. Did Tram have time to clean out his stuff before the interviewing began?
Dombrowski had already interviewed Juan Samuel this morning and was going to interview Bruce Fields this afternoon. Both appear to be little more than token minority interviews. I have to admit I find it more than a tad shameful at the apparent speed at which this process is moving. Both because it looks like Tram's successor was picked long ago and because the Tigers don't appear to be interested in really interviewing a broad field.
The Tigers owe it to the players and to those of us who pay to sit in Comerica Park to find the right guy. They should wait to see who else becomes available. I know they want a guy with experience, however, what's wrong with interviewing more than three guys?
The way the Tigers are going about this makes it look like they are thinking "Let's hurry up and interview an African-American and an Hispanic so we can hire Leyland and keep Bud Selig from fining us". That may be totally unfair, but that's the way it's going to look if Leyland is named manager. Especially if it occurs before noon tomorrow, as some have suggested it might.
Not only is it going to look like the Tigers are just providing token interviews to minorities, which in light of the last twelve years of failure is even more pathetic, but it's going make the Tigers look like a second rate organization. Pretend like you are searching for the best guy, even if you really want Leyland to start tomorrow. It's good P.R. and you might just find a better candidate.
If we have a Jim Leyland presser before the playoffs start, with the Tigers interviewing only two other candidates, the hiring will be a poor decision on Dombrowski's part. One worse than firing a Tiger legend.
Help? What Help?
A number of those in Tigertown, including some in the media, are discussing what the Tigers should do this off-season. One of my favorite suggestions is "They need to get a frontline starting pitcher". No, really? I have a question for those who want the Tigers to acquire said "frontline" pitcher: Where the @#$% are they going to get this mythical pitcher from?
Seriously, where is this mystery hurler coming from? There aren't any quality starters available via free agency this winter. Unless, you have a crush on A.J. Burnett. Burnett can barely stay above .500 or healthy or out of trouble with a good team in Florida. Why on Earth would the Tigers sign Burnett to a small fortune with that background?
If you are thinking trade market, then maybe you can get someone, but who would the Tigers surrender to get top flight pitching? Craig Monroe ain't going to bring you Johan Santana in return. Pitching is a limited, pricey commodity. Not many teams are willing to part with good pitching.
The Tigers might acquire a decent starter, either via free agency or trade, but they would probably have to settle for a number two or three-type guy. Sure, that player could pull a Willie Hernandez and have a miraculous season in Motown and capture a Cy Young Award, but that would be more by luck than design.
Saying the Tigers should get quality starters and actually getting them are nearly like planning a trip to Mars. It's fun to think about, but getting there is far more complicated.
The Most Important Tigers
We can talk all we want about the next Tigers manager. We can debate how much time Dombrowski has left in Tigertown, too. However, we fans probably need to concentrate on the most important Tigers. Those would be Jeremy Bonderman, Chris Shelton, Joel Zumaya, Justin Verlander, Curtis Granderson and Cameron Maybin.
They are both the present and core of the future of our local baseball team. All are at different points in their careers, but all need to continue to make progress. All need to be here after Pudge Rodriguez and Magglio Ordonez are gone. All need to be with the Tigers as a unit by Opening Day 2008.
Some might think that's rushing Maybin. It is. The Tigers, however, desperately need to develop their own superstar and Maybin looks like their best bet right now. Trammell always said "The good ones come fast". The Tigers need Maybin to develop fast.
Are They Contenders In '06?
Dombrowski is implying that, perhaps, they are. However, D.D. is also saying that he doesn't think major roster changes are necessary. I disagree. They need a lefthanded power hitter. I think they need an everyday thirdbaseman. They may need a shortstop if Guillen cannot play full time. I wouldn't mind a new outfielder, but that's just me. Of course, they need pitching-both starters and relievers.
Maybe in Dombrowski's mind, that's tinkering, not a major overall. It sure seems like a minor overall, at best.
For a change, the Tigers do have some tradeable players. Whether or not Dombrowski can acquire what he needs with the cards he has dealt himself is another question.
I think the Tigers can make 2006 interesting, but many things have to fall their way. When was the last time that happened?
2 comments:
I know that in listing the most important Tigers, you were focusing on the youth and you weren't just looking at next year. However, I'd put Polanco and Guillen in that group as well. These are the guys that actually look like leaders - and I'm not talking about the guys that talk alot. They lead by doing, and while the young guys all seem to have a good makeup, hopefully they can learn a little something from the middle infielders.
I was looking strictly at the long term, not the short term. I agree that Polanco and Guillen can be leaders on and off the field and are vital to the Tigers immediate success.
I do worry about Guillen's knee, though.
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