It's All Over

Hockey season unofficially began in Detroit today.

The baseball season has, for all intents and purposes, ended with the Cleveland Indians three game sweep of the Tigers. Yes, there is still a possibility the Tigers could make it to the playoffs. There is also a possibility I could win the lottery. Alas, those odds are roughly the same.

The Tigers will now play out the string and we can begin the hot stove league in earnest. Dave Dombrowski will have no shortage of concerns that will need to be addressed this winter. Here are some that immediately come to mind.

Do the Tigers give Pudge Rodriguez $3 million and say "Goodbye" or do they pay him $13 million to play another season in Detroit?

If Pudge is let go, then who is the everyday catcher?

Do they re-sign Kenny Rogers? Injured and over forty, can the Tigers really count on Rogers playing a full season next year?

We know that Justin Verlander, Jeremy Bonderman and Nate Robertson appear to be in the 2008 rotation. Who gets the other two spots?

Should Cameron Maybin and Andrew Miller begin next year wearing the Olde English D or in Toledo?

Does Carlos Guillen move to firstbase? If so, who becomes the shortstop?

Do they re-sign Todd Jones?

If not, is Joel Zumaya ready to be the closer?

Yes, there's plenty of fodder for the old hot stove this winter. It's probably a good thing, though. Winter has arrived a bit earlier than anticipated this year.