http://www.easternecho.com The last time we saw the Tigers, they were walking off the field in Minnesota after blowing the Central Division over the last two weeks of the season. The heartbreaking failure down the stretch carried over to the questionable off-season changes made by Tigers General Manager Dave Dombrowski. en-us Gryphon 2.3.1-dsw (pewabic)/Foundry5 Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:02:23 -0500 webmaster@easternecho.com http://www.easternecho.com/index.php/comment/view/622 To the author, Nick Shlain: I notice part of the motto of The Echo involves “nonsense”. I assume your piece “Tigers’ Offseason Moves Dim Division Title Prospects” falls under that category. You suggest the Tigers are “not predicted to contend”. To whom are you referring to? The Tigers are being called potential contenders by respected analysts from ESPN’s Jason Stark, to Tim Kurkjian, to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of Fox Sports, to solid local beat writers like Lynn Henning of the Detroit News. I know your level of experience is rather limited, and I would strongly suggest you do a little more homework before throwing out blanket statements like “a closer is nonessential for a team like the Tigers that is not expected to contend”. Opinion stated as fact is a real credibility killer. Thu, 25 Feb 2010 05:57:57 -0500 http://www.easternecho.com/index.php/comment/view/622 http://www.easternecho.com/index.php/comment/view/623 the curtis trade was never about money, im so tired of authors not doing their research. they traded two guys under team control for 4 years (ejax neing salary arbitration eligible) for 4 guys under control for TWENTY TWO years combined. DD said over and over again, they were not dumping salary, (which should be obvious to anyone scratching their heads on the deal since Curtis was affordable), it was about filling holes in the bullpen and getting back players that can help the team contend for the length of Verlanders new contract. If another player was worth as much as Curtis to the Yanks, of course Tigers would have preferred to keep Grandy….but he was the tempting bait. Valverde is an upgrade for the closer spot, Damon is a great 1-2 lineup guy. Both are worth the money that Illitch obviously has no problem spending. If Det seriously wanted to dump payroll they wouldnt have extended Verlander with two years left on his contract. do your homework instead of rehashing other failed journalist’s theories. Thu, 25 Feb 2010 09:03:22 -0500 http://www.easternecho.com/index.php/comment/view/623 http://www.easternecho.com/index.php/comment/view/625 “The Tigers traded Granderson and then proceeded to waste the money they “saved” in the process. This leaves the team without its most familiar face, but with an aging roster and little hope of a division title in 2010.” 1) With Verlander, Porcello, Scherzer, Sizemore, A-Jax, Avila, Cabrera are all kids (not to mention all the relievers…) Bonderman, Robertson, Willis, Damon, Everett and possibly even Magglio’s contracts are expiring after 2010- freeing up several spots for younger talent and about $50 million/year to afford the replacements. So how exactly is the roster “aging”? They just got a heck of a lot younger, and will be even younger next year depending on what they do with those expiring contracts. 2) The central division will be won by a team thats just barely above .500…neither the Sox nor the Twins got much better this offseason, so its anyone’s guess who will prevail. Calling them a non-contender in a division that beats up on the Royals and Indians is being a bit naive imo. Thu, 25 Feb 2010 10:56:11 -0500 http://www.easternecho.com/index.php/comment/view/625 http://www.easternecho.com/index.php/comment/view/626 Wow….this guy just swung and missed on all accounts. Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:02:23 -0500 http://www.easternecho.com/index.php/comment/view/626