The Spot Starters

Covering the ups and downs of the Detroit Tigers.

Archive for January, 2010

Fans of Mediocrity

By Blake VandeBunte • Jan 31st, 2010 • Category: Uncategorized

I’ll be honest.  It’s hard to keep this site up and running.  I work too much and frankly, it’s much harded to follow the Tigers in Connecticut than it is in Michigan.  I don’t know what the future of this site is, but I’ll hang in there as long as I can.
That being said, I’ve [...]



You Gotta Lock That Down

By Blake VandeBunte • Jan 30th, 2010 • Category: Justin Verlander

I’m a huge fan of the television show, Arrested Development.  There is an episode of the show where this kind of nerdy looking pastor is married to a fairly attractive woman.  When told that the coule married very young, the shows main character Michael says, “Who can blame you, you gotta lock that down.”  This [...]



Expect Big Things From Robbie Weinhardt

By JAYRC • Jan 27th, 2010 • Category: Prospects

2010 will be a big year for Robbie Weinhardt. The young reliever has quietly dominated his way through the Detroit Tigers farm system. The soon-to-be 25-year-old, right handed, 6-foot-2 reliever, is ready to become a house hold name.

THE REPERTOIRE
What’s not to love about a reliever that is able to miss bats and generate a solid amount of ground outs? [...]



Dontrelle Willis: Super Utility Man

By Blake VandeBunte • Jan 26th, 2010 • Category: Dontrelle Willis

I think the Tigers should make Dontrelle Willis a super utility player.  Tigers fans will remember that the immortal Shane Halter played this role a while back to rave reviews (not really).  Willis is clearly not a starting big league pitcher.  I would like to suggest that Willis make the team as a reliever/outfielder.
The Tigers [...]



Any Hope For Willis?

By Blake VandeBunte • Jan 25th, 2010 • Category: Dontrelle Willis

Dontrelle Willis is at it again.  According to Dontrelle:
“I guess you can only beat yourself down so much,” Willis said. “My mind-set was in the wrong place (last year). This is a backyard game. If you’re not having fun, then what’s the point? I think you’re going to see a different person this year.”
That’s all [...]



Cabrera Seeks Treatment for Alcoholism

By Blake VandeBunte • Jan 21st, 2010 • Category: Dan Haren, Miguel Cabrera

Miguel Cabrera has reportedly spent the last three months in treatment for alcoholism.  Cabrera was reportedly drunk before the Tigers biggest game of the season and was involved in a physical altercation with his wife.
This is tricky.  On one hand, you feel for the guy.  He’s a young man going through some really tough stuff [...]



Team 69: The 1933 Tigers

By Blake VandeBunte • Jan 20th, 2010 • Category: Charlie Gehringer, Hank Greenberg, Marv Owen, Ray Hayworth, Schoolboy Rowe, Tommy Bridges, Top 109 Teams

Year: 1933
Record: 75-79
Win %: .487
Win % Change: -16
Run Differential: -11
Pythagorean Record: 76-78
AL Finish: 5th of 8
Manager: Bucky Harris and Del Baker
Best Transaction: Signed Birdie Tebbetts as a free agent.  Tebbetts didn’t play his first game with the Tigers until 1936, but he was very good once he made it up for good.  Tebbetts was a [...]



Team 70: The 2008 Tigers

By Blake VandeBunte • Jan 16th, 2010 • Category: Curtis Granderson, Dontrelle Willis, Kenny Rogers, Kyle Farnsworth, Miguel Cabrera, Nate Robertson, Top 109 Teams

Year: 2008
Record: 74-88
Win %: .457
Win % Change: -88
Run Differential: -36
Pythagorean Record: 78-84
AL Finish: 12th of 14
Manager: Jim Leyland
Best Transaction: Traded a pile of prospects for Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis.  Sure, the Willis era in Detroit has been a complete and total disaster, but it’s not like the Cameron Maybin-Andrew Miller era is off to [...]



Does Damon Make Any Sense?

By Blake VandeBunte • Jan 15th, 2010 • Category: Johnny Damon

The Tigers have landed their closer in Jose Valverde and now the club is rumored to be after an even older player in Johnny Damon, 36.  Damon has spent the last eight years on Boston and in New York with the Yankees and has excelled in each city.
Signing Damon, unlike Valverde, would not require the [...]



Rodney or Valverde?

By Blake VandeBunte • Jan 14th, 2010 • Category: Fernando Rodney, Jose Valverde

Don’t let the title of this post fool you, as the Tigers brass has picked Jose Valverde over Fernando Rodney.  When Rodney left, we assumed it was solely an issue of cost.  This apparently was not the answer.  The Tigers must not have been convinced that Rodney was built to be their closer.  I don’t [...]