Hell of a season. What’s next?

I know it’s been almost a week since the Tigers were ousted from this years playoffs, but you’ve gotta give it up for them.  Finishing the regular season 95-67 and only 2 games back from the best record in the AL is successful in any book.  Aside from the game 6 drubbing in the ALCS, the Tigers put up a great fight in this year’s playoffs.  Taking down the Yanks in the first round in 5 games is no easy task, especially taking on Sabathia and Nova twice, who both had great seasons.  Looking more closely at game 6 against the Rangers, aside from the dreadful 3rd inning, the Tigers would’ve only lost that game 6-5, and God knows a 9 run inning will kill any team’s spirit.  So, taking that inning out of play, who knows where that game or even the series could have gone.  

However, in the interest of reality, all you can do is look back, learn, and move forward.  Which brings us to the point, where do the Tigers go from here?  The offense ranked in the top 4 in Runs, Batting Average, OBP and Slugging in the 2011 regular season.  Clearly, the offense is there, it’s just a matter of finding it when it counts (i.e. playoffs).  The Tigs have about $23 million coming off the books with just 2 contracts expiring in that of the oft-injured Carlos Guillen and fan favorite Magglio Ordonez.  The other free agents-to-be include Brad Penny, Ramon Santiago, Wilson Betamit and Joel Zumaya.  All those contracts added up total around $36 million.  However, assuming the tiger pick up the $9 million option on Jose Valverde’s contract ($2 million increase from 2011), combined with Verlander’s contract increase to $20.1 million ($7.2 million increase from 2011), and arbitration increases with Phil Coke, Max Scherzer, and Delmon Young, the savings from this year to next can estimate around $6 million.  With the 2012 commitments at around $100, look for the Tigers to jump towards their 2008 and 2010 payrolls, $137 million and $133 million respectively, if they want to sign a big name free agent.

So what does the team need?  In my opinion, the biggest needs are a starter to fill out the rotation, a middle infeidler and some middle relief.  The 1 and 2 spots in the rotation are clearly locked up with JV and Doug Fister.  With Porcello and Scherzer shaky at times this year, they could fit anywhere in the 3, 4, or 5 spots depending on who, if anyone we pick up.  If the plan is to bring up Jacob Turner, then he would fill the 5 spot and the rotation would assumably be set.  

Beyond the starting rotation, I think the Tigs need to employ an every day middle infielder.  Whether it be a big name like Jose Reyes at SS or maybe even trying to swing a deal for a 2B from another team, the Tigers simply can’t continue with a platoon in the middle of the infield for an entire year.  True, we already have Jhonny Peralta at SS, but maybe moving him to 2B for a year until Inge’s contract is up may not be the worst option... after all, how many times does a Jose Reyes hit the open market when you have money to burn?

If possible, they’d love for that middle infielder to be able to hit lead off.  Nothing against Jackson, but simply put, he’s not a lead off hitter.  He may have the speed, but he doesn’t have the plate discipline or the base running ability to hit in that crucial spot in the line up.  Lord knows I love his defense and what he brings to that vast plain in the outfield that is Comerica Park, but at the plate, he doesn’t have what you need in a leadoff hitter.  As I was always taught, you want a leadoff hitter that is going to be able to let the rest of the lineup see close to, if not everything, that day’s starting pitcher is featuring.  Swinging at the first 3 pitches is not gonna get that done.

Finally, the team needs to sure of the middle of the bullpen.  Clearly the back end is as clutch as any in the league with Benoit, Albuquerque, and Valverde.  I know Albuquerque struggled a bit in the post season, but in the words of Herb Brooks, “did you ever see him when his game was on”?  However, questions were definitely raised in the postseason, deservedly so, about the middle relief.  With Ryan Perry, Phil Coke, and Dan Schlereth having less than stellar years, something needs to be done.  Either from within or on the market.  

Other than those 3 key needs, the Tigers seem to be pretty set in my eyes.  As of right now the defensive lineup and starting rotations stand as this:

Defensive Lineup

C: Alex Avila

1B: Miguel Cabrera 

2B: ____________

3B: Brandon Inge

SS: Jhonny Peralta 

LF: Delmon Young

CF: Austin Jackson

RF: Brennan Boesch 

DH: Victor Martinez

Starting Rotation

Justin Verlander

Dough Fister

Max Scherzer

Rick Porcello 

____________

Can’t take anything away from the boys this year.  They gave the city of Detroit and the state of Michigan 7 moths of excitement and joy.  So I leave you with this quote by Rogers Honesby, “People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball.  I'll tell you what I do.  I stare out the window and wait for spring”. 

For us Michiganders, we move to our winter tradition of following THE dynasty, the Detroit Red Wings.  Speaking of which, the Wings return from their week long lay off tomorrow night against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Joe Louis Arena.

NHL Realignment

With the 2011-2012 season underway, naturally it’s time to look ahead to the 2012-2013 season to come.  Some changes are in store and could play a huge impact on the playoff picture.  With the Thrashers’ recent move to Winnipeg, they will of course return to the Western Conference next season.   

This is where the big question comes in to everyone’s minds.  When they move west, who moves east?  The three main choices are Detroit, Nashville, and Columbus.  

If Nashville joined the Eastern Conference they’d likely just fill the vacancy in the Southeast Division left by the now Winnipeg Jets.  

If either the Wings or Columbus moved east, this is where it gets tricky.  One of the teams would have to join either the Northeast or Atlantic Divisions.  The Northeast makes most sense.  Based on seniority n the league, the Wings should have the first choice of whether or not they would like to move out east.  If they don’t, then it makes sense to move Columbus out there and everyone would be happy.  If the Wings choose to go out East, if given the choice, then there in lies the problems that most people find.  

Nobody, and I mean nobody, wants the Wings to move into the their Division.  With 20 consecutive playoff appearances and the winner of their division 16 times since the 87/88 season, the Wings are a powerhouse.  Doing all of that in the superior conference over the last 20+ years would strike fear into the hearts of any team that is in the division the Wings would join.  

So where does the NHL go?  The simplest fix would be moving the Predators into the Southeast division and leave everyone else where the are.  But can you say they are the most deserving of the options?  How do you determine who is the most deserving?  

There is another option...

How about a complete revamp of the division system?  Rather than working with the current 6 division system, what if we moved to a 4 division system.  Two of these divisions would have seven teams, the other two, eight.  By doing this, you pretty much have to do away with the two conference system.  For playoff purposes, I propose that the league almost go to a NCAA basketball approach.  The winners of the 4 devisions would be the #1 seeds.  After the #1 seeds are set, the next best 

12 records would get the remaining playoff spots and be seeded appropriately.  

So, now the moment you’ve all been waiting for, my proposal for these divisions and movements.  

West

Edmonton Oilers

Calgary Flames

Vancouver Canucks

Winnipeg Jets

Colorado Avalanche

San Jose Sharks

L.A. Kings

Anaheim Ducks

South

Phoenix Coyotes

Dallas Stars

Tampa Bay Lightning

Florida Panthers

St. Louis Blues

Nashville Predators

Columbus Blue Jackets

East

New York Islanders

Ottawa Senators

Washington Capitals

Pittsburgh Penguins

Philadelphia Flyers

Carolina Hurricanes

Buffalo Sabres

Original 6 + 2

Detroit Red Wings

Boston Bruins

Montreal Canadiens

Chicago Blackhawks

New York Rangers

Toronto Maple Leafs

Minnesota Wild

New Jersey Devils

In my opinion, this would be an amazing change for the game.  This realignment keeps the more heated rivalries in tact, and with the NHL’s policy of having all teams play each other at least once, any rivalry not included would still have at least one game against each other every year. 

Feel free to comment on any changes you think should be made or if you agree with this proposal.  

October in the D

There’s no doubt in my mind that FSN should have come up with an “October in the D” song.  No matter what happens with the Tigers in the next week, this has been an amazing month and run for Detroit sports.  With the Lions off to their historic start, the Tigers making the post-season and chopping down that redwood of a team in the Yankees, and not to mention the beginning of the Wings’ much anticipated season and a 2-0 start of their own.  

Last night marked the first time since 1956 that the Lions have started a season 5-0.  What a way to do it too.  Monday Night Football against da Bearsssss.  Whatever they’ve got going, I like what I’m seeing and am excited to follow the rest of the season to see what they can do.  Interesting how just a few years ago they were the laughing stock of the league, but going 0-16 will do that to you.  

Nice to see yet another Detroit franchise rising from the dead and making some noise in the national media.  Remember, it wasn’t that long ago that the Tigers were on pace to set the record for most losses in a season.  Since 2003, they’ve turned it around, made itto a world series and another ALCS this year.  Granted there have been some disappointing years since ’06, but nobody can argue that they’ve become a force in baseball and have some great years to come.  

Going back a little farther, the Wings of the 80’s were known around the hockey world as the “Dead Wings”.  Until they drafted a kid by the name of Steve Yzerman.  After his debut and eventual reign as captain of the Wings, the team was rejuvenated and has since become the gold standard of a “dynasty” in hockey and arguably, all sports.  Not just because they have made it to the post-season in 20 consecutive seasons (the longest active streak of any of the four major sports).  The Wings have had to deal with a lockout and a resulting salary cap, however, they hit the ice without skipping a beat.  Not even the Yankees can say they’ve done that.

Now the Lions, with their new found core of players, are set to put themselves in the same conversation as the Tigers and Red Wings when both Detroit fans and national media mentions teams from Motown.  

Finally, let’s cheer on the Tigers tonight, the next 3 days are huge, and they have a legitimate chance of taking all 3 games against the Rangers.  Fister pitching tonight, Porcello tomorrow, and Verlander Thursday night.  The biggest thing is, once again, the bats have gotta wake up.  In the first two games combined, the offense left 22 runners on base, 13 in game 2 alone.  Coupled with Cabby and V-Mart going a combined 2/15 in those games makes it real hard to win against any team, not to mention the Rangers with the lineup they put out there everyday.  

Open to any comments or thoughts about anything sports related, Detroit or otherwise!

NHL Preview and Predictions

The 2011-2012 NHL season kicks off tonight with a trio of games.  In honor of the fastest game on earth’s return, today will highlight my forecast and predictions for the year to come.

Division winners:

Eastern Conference

Atlantic: Philadelphia Flyers - Despite the departures of two perennial all-stars in Jeff Carter and Mike Richards, the Flyers got solid returns with some young, enthusiastic talent.  I don’t foresee a big year out of Jagr, but don’t be surprised if Jakub Voracek and Wayne Simmonds have career years.  Max Talbot is also nice addition that can help grind down opponents top lines.

Northeast: Boston Bruins - Although Buffalo made some big moves this offseason, it’s tough to argue with the returning cup winners.  The B’s only lost 3 players from last year’s rosters, and one could argue they didn’t play that big of a role, especially in the playoffs, minus Mark Recchi.  Other than Recchi, the team comes back with a solid top 6 including Seguin, who I see having a big season ahead of him with some increased ice time.

Southeast: Washington Capitals - This team has dominated the conference the past few years, and there’s not reason to suspect anything will change int he year to come.   Although there are a few new faces in the locker room, the Caps’ core group is in tact, and need to produce if the team is going to do anything in the playoffs.  We know what to expect from Ovechkin, but Semin and Backstrom are the question marks .  Look for the success of the team to follow their performance on the ice.

Western Conference

Central: Detroit Red Wings - Who else? No, this is not a biased decision.  Chicago will put up a bit of a fight, but in the end, the Wings just have what it takes to win this division again.  The wings have a big hole to fill on the defensive side of the puck with the recent retirement of Brian Rafalski.  Whether the signings of Ian White or Mike Commodore will fill that gap, or a youngster like Brendan Smith, someone needs to step up for the team to have success.  The front office is attempting to do something that seems almost impossible, rebuild and stay on top at the same time.  With a core group that includes Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Filpulla, Clearly, and Kronwall, if anyone can do it, the Wings can.  Not mention the return of Mr. Norris, Nick Lidstrom, who even in his 40’s, is still arguably the best defenseman in the game.

Northwest: Vancouver Canucks - Watch for the Canucks to steamroll through their division this year, and challenge once again for the Presidents’ trophy.  No doubt this team has had difficulty in the past on defense, and in finishing off their chances in the playoffs.  One of those problems remains, the other we’ll have to wait and see come next spring.  The gap on the blue line is undeniable, but with forwards like Kesler and the Sedin twins, I don’t see it causing them much of a problem in the regular season.

Pacific: Los Angeles Kings - Finally, a team that can truly contend with the Sharks out west.  True the Ducks have had their moments, but watch out for the Kings this year.  Some big acquisitions have put them in a spot they haven’t been in for quite some time.  Adding Jeff Carte to the front line with Kopitar and Stoll should raise the productivity of all three from a year ago.  A couple veterans added to the roster are Simon Gagner and Ethan Moreau, look for both to help out a lot in minutes.  If these additions and the returners can get the job done up front and the blue line potential they have in Doughty and Johnson., this team is gonna be scary both now and in the years to come.

Awards and things to watch:

MVP: Ovechkin

Vezina: Quick

Norris: Weber

Selke: Datsyuk

Watch for the Wings to make a big move if needed at the deadline.  For the first time since the lockout, they’re not pushed right up against the cap ceiling, so a move to bring in a big name defensemen either this season or in the FA market this summer. Can’t say I’d mind seeing a Shea Weber on the blue line with a Winged Wheel on the front of his jersey.

Don’t be surprised in Crosby still spends quite a bit of time off the ice this season.  Hockey is a nasty game, and concussions are a hot topic in the world of sports right now.  The fact that his initial concussion was mismanaged continues to amaze me, but hey, everybody’s human.  Crosby is an amazing talent and he definitely brings the spotlight to the game of hockey, so getting him back is a good thing for the game.  

Finally, there’s been a lot of speculation about what will happen next year with the realignment of the leagues and divisions.  Within the next week there will be a post of what I consider to be the best solution to the whole situation, so stay tuned.

Feel free to post any comments or disagreements with any of what is written!

Thanks, but no thanks.

For those of you who will read this and laugh in agreement, thank God people like you are still out there.  For those who read and think "this is a little harsh" or "he's not talking about me" should probably take a second look at what time of year you decided to adorn your selected team's memorabilia.  

Being a native Michigander, last night was terrible.  Not because the Tigers ended up being trounced 10-1 by the hated Yankees, but because of the constant bitching and whining from the team's most recent  bandwagoners.  After reading about 10 consecutive negative posts from the same people worshipping the Tigs the day before, I marked all “tiger’s posts” as spam on my facebook last night.

For the people who made those posts and opened their mouths last night during the game, at what point during the season did you decide to go out in public representing the old english D?  If the answer is anything after some point in May, do us all a favor, stop talking.  

Those questioning in game decisions have probably failed to notice that there is a day off today and game 5 is tomorrow.  There is also the situation where the Tigers are sending Doug Fister to the mound.  You know, the guy who had better numbers since he joined the club than this year’s AL Cy Young winner and MVP.  

I’m not saying I agree with every decision that’s made in every game by every coach/manager, but don’t get down on the team because they lost game 4.  So they lost 10-1 at home.  They lost 9-1 on the road and the exact same response came down from all the fairweather fans from the mitten.  What’d the team do the next day, came out, played the game, and split on the road.  It turned the series into a best out of 3.  Now it’s down to one.  The Tigers need their line-up to get going and Fister to be the guy he was the entire second half, and arguably, all season.

If they can make that happen, we’ll see the Tigers down in Texas this weekend.  If not, then the people of Michigan will turn to the Lions’ resurgence and the beginning of the Wings’ season which starts Friday.

But for all of you who recently realized that the city of Detroit has something brewing as far as sports go recently, we truly appreciate the support.  But unless you’re in in for the long haul, and you’re gonna be there from start to finish, of every season, for all the teams, and support them along the way, take a seat... go watch The View.

Welcome

Hello and welcome to all my viewers and hopefully eventual followers.

After numerous requests from friends and family, I have decided to start this blog to share my views and opinions about the sports I follow passionately... and some that just catch my attention.

If you like what I have to say, and even if you don't, feel free to comment and let me know what you think.  As a rookie in the blogging world, I'm open to feedback.

Thanks again, and enjoy.