The Spot Starters

Covering the ups and downs of the Detroit Tigers.

Archives for the ‘Dean Palmer’ Category

Team 92: The 1999 Tigers

By Blake VandeBunte • Nov 13th, 2009 • Category: Bobby Higginson, Dave Mlicki, Dean Palmer, Jeff Weaver, Karim Garcia, Luis Gonzalez, Rob Fick, Todd Jones, Top 109 Tigers

Year: 1999
Record: 69-92
Win %: .429
Win % Change: +28
Run Differential: -135
Pythagorean Record: 68-93
AL Finish: 11th of 14
Manager: Larry Parrish
Best Transaction: Traded Bryce Florie to the Boston Red Sox for Mike Maroth.  Florie was a fringe big-leaguer at best and was a mop-up guy in the bullpen.  Maroth is best known for losing 21 games in 2003, [...]


Cabrera Could Join Elite Group

By Blake VandeBunte • Aug 28th, 2009 • Category: 2009 Season, Dean Palmer, Miguel Cabrera

It’s no secret that Miguel Cabrera has been an absolute monster since the All-Star break.  He’s doing this season and he did it last season.  Cabrera turned it on late last season to win the AL home run title in his first season in Detroit.  While he probably won’t win the HR title this season, [...]


Randy Smith: 1999 Tigers

By Blake VandeBunte • Jan 10th, 2008 • Category: Bobby Higginson, Brad Ausmus, Brian Moehler, Dean Palmer, Jeff Weaver, Justin Thompson

1998 was a disappointment for the Tigers and they certainly were looking to bounce back in 1999. I’m guessing that GM Smith thought that getting Brad Aumus would cure whatever was wrong with the Tigers, Ausmus was again acquired in the offseason. Along with Ausmus this was the winter where Smith traded Luis Gonzalez for [...]


Randy Smith: Free Agent Signings

By Blake VandeBunte • Dec 18th, 2007 • Category: Craig Monroe, Dean Palmer, Randall Simon, Randy Smith, Shane Halter, Steve Sparks

It makes sense to mention right off the bat that Randy Smith was hired on October 30, 1995 so all these posts will cover the period of October 30, 1995 and April 8, 2002 when Smith was fired along with manager Phil Garner.  Trust me, there are all kind of awful free agent signings from [...]