estrepe1
02-19-2007, 08:10 PM
Leyland: We want to win
LAKELAND, Fla. -- The question wasn't important. It was Jim Leyland's answer that said everything you need to know about all that has changed with the Tigers.
``I'll make this real simple,'' Leyland said this morning. ``We want to win. We're here to win. Period. Whatever it takes.''
It does sound simple. Not only that, it sounds natural. Doesn't every major-league team want to win?
Yes, but that's not what Leyland was getting at.
The point is that by virtue of what they did last year, the Tigers are now a team that has to think about the present even more than the future. That doesn't mean being stupid and giving away prospects for nothing, but it does mean that this year always matters. It's why you sign 40-year-old Jose Mesa, even though you already have Todd Jones, Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney. It's why you come to spring training with all your starting positions and almost the entire pitching staff already in place, why the only spring experiments are figuring out whether Marcus Thames can back up at first base and whether Omar Infante can back up in center field.
That's how the good teams do it. We don't always remember that around here, because it's been so long since the Tigers were a good team. Now they are one.
It's why you figure that they'll certainly pick up Pudge Rodriguez's 2008 contract option, why you expect that they'll eventually sign Carlos Guillen to a contract extension and why even if a disagreement over length of contract causes Guillen to leave, they'll go find another top shortstop to replace him.
The Tigers are thrilled with the fine young arms they have in camp. They're really looking forward to watching young outfielder Cameron Maybin play this spring. But the real key this spring is getting the major-league team ready, and getting them ready to win.
They want to win. Period.
A few other Day 4 notes and observations:
1. No big news out of Rodriguez's first extended interview of the spring. The catcher once again said he wants to finish his career as a Tiger, and that he sees no reason he can't play for at least another five years -- which would take him to age 40.
2. The weather is warming up a little in Lakeland, and even though there wasn't really much to see, a large group of fans gathered to watch the Tigers. If you're coming down here, you might want to get your tickets soon. The March 10 game against Boston is already sold out and ticket sales are 70 percent ahead of last spring.
3. As promised, Jeremy Bonderman is working hard on his changeup. Leyland said that in Bonderman's bullpen session Sunday, eight of the 10 changeups he threw were ``outstanding.''
4. I get asked every spring who's looking good, and every spring I try to explain that it's really hard to tell anything from the early workouts. If you don't believe me, listen to Leyland, who said today: ``They all look to me like they're throwing 100 mph.''
5. Leyland doesn't like the Tigers' regular-season schedule, and he's planning to say that to his team. He figures if they hear the manager complain about it, then they won't have to.
6. Ben e-mailed and asked if I'm ready to answer questions, and the answer is yes. He asked whether one of the young pitchers, maybe Jordan Tata, could beat out Maroth and begin the season in the Tiger rotation, and the answer is it's very unlikely. If Maroth is healthy, and so far, so good, it's virtually certain that he'll be in the rotation on opening day. Not only that, but he should be. Before surgery last year, he may well have been the Tigers' most effective starter.
7. Brandon Inge and his wife Shani have given $100,000 to the University of Michigan to establish an activity area in the pediatric cancer clinic at the new C.S. Mott Children's Hospital and Women's Hospital. Yes, many of these players do care.
8. The phone number for ordering Tiger tickets has changed. The new number is 866-66-TIGER. Single-game tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on March 3, and will also be available at the Comerica Park ticket office, and at www.tigers.com.
9. If you need something to read while you're waiting on hold trying to buy tickets (or any other time), I strongly recommend The Soul of Baseball, the new book by the great Kansas City columnist Joe Posnanski. He spent a year traveling with Buck O'Neil, and even though I had the privilege of meeting O'Neil many times, I never felt I knew him until I read this book. It's due out in bookstores next week.
http://www.mlive.com/tigers/weblog/index.ssf?/mtlogs/mlive_tigers/archives/2007_02.html#239078
5 more years as a catcher is a hefty goal for Rodriguez... I am not going to get excited about Bonderman's change up until he shows it in games.
The Guillen story is going to dominate the spring. Its a huge decision for the organization one way or the other.
It is going to be a thrill to watch Maybin in Spring Training. I hope he plays in one of the nationally televised games against the Yankees.
LAKELAND, Fla. -- The question wasn't important. It was Jim Leyland's answer that said everything you need to know about all that has changed with the Tigers.
``I'll make this real simple,'' Leyland said this morning. ``We want to win. We're here to win. Period. Whatever it takes.''
It does sound simple. Not only that, it sounds natural. Doesn't every major-league team want to win?
Yes, but that's not what Leyland was getting at.
The point is that by virtue of what they did last year, the Tigers are now a team that has to think about the present even more than the future. That doesn't mean being stupid and giving away prospects for nothing, but it does mean that this year always matters. It's why you sign 40-year-old Jose Mesa, even though you already have Todd Jones, Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney. It's why you come to spring training with all your starting positions and almost the entire pitching staff already in place, why the only spring experiments are figuring out whether Marcus Thames can back up at first base and whether Omar Infante can back up in center field.
That's how the good teams do it. We don't always remember that around here, because it's been so long since the Tigers were a good team. Now they are one.
It's why you figure that they'll certainly pick up Pudge Rodriguez's 2008 contract option, why you expect that they'll eventually sign Carlos Guillen to a contract extension and why even if a disagreement over length of contract causes Guillen to leave, they'll go find another top shortstop to replace him.
The Tigers are thrilled with the fine young arms they have in camp. They're really looking forward to watching young outfielder Cameron Maybin play this spring. But the real key this spring is getting the major-league team ready, and getting them ready to win.
They want to win. Period.
A few other Day 4 notes and observations:
1. No big news out of Rodriguez's first extended interview of the spring. The catcher once again said he wants to finish his career as a Tiger, and that he sees no reason he can't play for at least another five years -- which would take him to age 40.
2. The weather is warming up a little in Lakeland, and even though there wasn't really much to see, a large group of fans gathered to watch the Tigers. If you're coming down here, you might want to get your tickets soon. The March 10 game against Boston is already sold out and ticket sales are 70 percent ahead of last spring.
3. As promised, Jeremy Bonderman is working hard on his changeup. Leyland said that in Bonderman's bullpen session Sunday, eight of the 10 changeups he threw were ``outstanding.''
4. I get asked every spring who's looking good, and every spring I try to explain that it's really hard to tell anything from the early workouts. If you don't believe me, listen to Leyland, who said today: ``They all look to me like they're throwing 100 mph.''
5. Leyland doesn't like the Tigers' regular-season schedule, and he's planning to say that to his team. He figures if they hear the manager complain about it, then they won't have to.
6. Ben e-mailed and asked if I'm ready to answer questions, and the answer is yes. He asked whether one of the young pitchers, maybe Jordan Tata, could beat out Maroth and begin the season in the Tiger rotation, and the answer is it's very unlikely. If Maroth is healthy, and so far, so good, it's virtually certain that he'll be in the rotation on opening day. Not only that, but he should be. Before surgery last year, he may well have been the Tigers' most effective starter.
7. Brandon Inge and his wife Shani have given $100,000 to the University of Michigan to establish an activity area in the pediatric cancer clinic at the new C.S. Mott Children's Hospital and Women's Hospital. Yes, many of these players do care.
8. The phone number for ordering Tiger tickets has changed. The new number is 866-66-TIGER. Single-game tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on March 3, and will also be available at the Comerica Park ticket office, and at www.tigers.com.
9. If you need something to read while you're waiting on hold trying to buy tickets (or any other time), I strongly recommend The Soul of Baseball, the new book by the great Kansas City columnist Joe Posnanski. He spent a year traveling with Buck O'Neil, and even though I had the privilege of meeting O'Neil many times, I never felt I knew him until I read this book. It's due out in bookstores next week.
http://www.mlive.com/tigers/weblog/index.ssf?/mtlogs/mlive_tigers/archives/2007_02.html#239078
5 more years as a catcher is a hefty goal for Rodriguez... I am not going to get excited about Bonderman's change up until he shows it in games.
The Guillen story is going to dominate the spring. Its a huge decision for the organization one way or the other.
It is going to be a thrill to watch Maybin in Spring Training. I hope he plays in one of the nationally televised games against the Yankees.