Will the Detroit Tigers trade for another bat?
YES: It has only been one series. There is not enough time to evaluate Young's worth. They need another bat in case Young doesn't contribute.
NO: Young is 3 for 11 with three RBI's and a run scored. He's not even in shape yet, he'll be fine.
YES: He could get hurt again. Then where would we be? Though Shelton's struggling, Young isn't a replacement. He's too big to be an everyday outfielder anymore. You can't say he's better than Thames or Monroe at the plate.
NO: He's a proven hitter with a decade of experience. He can hit .300. He's got power. He hits from both sides of the plate.
YES: Would you rather have Tejada, Abreu, Soriano, or Young?
*cough*
Fact is, Young or no Young, the Tigers
should and
will make a trade. They are the best team in baseball at this point (by 6 games in the loss column), but the fans still need that feeling of optimism that the Tigers are going to win the world series. Right now, it is not there.
Go back to 1984. The Tigers were 35-5, 30 games over .500 early in the season. Everyone knew that they were going to the World Series, and they were going to win. Truth be told, that same team that took 40 games to get 30 over .500 took another 112 games to get another 10 games over (96-56). That team took the lead, and cruised to a division title. Everyone knew they were the best team in baseball, even if they didn't play like it day in and day out. When they got tough opponents, they played their competition. Otherwise, between May 15th and October 1, they simply waited for the playoffs where they woke up and won seven of eight and the World Series.
This year's Tigers keep winning at a steady pace. They don't blow anyone out regularly. They don't get blown out. Not to say that they are lucky, but they play a lot of close games. They usually outhit their opponents and they are second in the league in quality starts, but save a Monroe grand slam and a Thames takeout at 2nd followed by Shelton snapping a prolonged "O-fer" with a double, and the Tigers are reeling. With the Twins doing what they are doing and the White Sox still lurking in the shadows, this race is far from over. It would not be too surprising if the Twins make the wild card, but it would also not be too surprising if the Tigers still finished third.
Here are the facts: If the Tigers finish the season 32-32 (.500), the White Sox, Yankees, Red Sox and Twins will all have to play at least .600 to catch them. However, 25 of the last 64 games are against these four teams. If they can't beat these teams down the stretch, they will have to play much better than .500 to assure themselves a playoff spot.
When you get right down to it, however, the Tigers will most likely make the playoffs. It would just be too hard for four teams to pass them with the season almost 2/3 gone. However, they still need something to bring the team together. Right now, they get behind, and the entire clubhouse thinks they can come back. Well, maybe they shouldn't get behind. Maybe the entire clubhouse should know they are going to come back. Maybe they should get Soriano or Abreu or Tejada or Shawn Green, or someone that gives the fans a brimming amount of confidence instead of just faith and belief.
Face it. The Tigers are good--better than expected. But the fact remains that their lineup is not as good as any of the aforementioned teams (save maybe Minnesota), and there are teams (like Cleveland) with losing records that have better hitting than them. Yes they beat Santana, but Verlander had to pitch the game of his life up to that point. Yes, they stayed tough with other high-quality pitchers, even beating more than a handful of them (including Clemens), but it had to take a perfect pitching performance on the other side of the ball. If things go like they have been for the rest of the season, then this lineup will be shut out twice by Pedro Martinez in the world series, and no one will like their chances of winning four of the other five.
Put all this together, and there is only one answer: Trade for someone. And not just someone, but a high-tier player. Don't give up Sanchez and Tata, but give up one of them. Don't give up Maybin, but give up something else. The only reason to not make a trade would be is everyone's asking price was two of the three players above or more. Do not, under any circumstances get "2nd tier talent." You have 7-8 hitters like that already. Get someone who makes the fans know when they go to the park that the Tigers are going to win the game--that they will score runs early and often.
Or don't...and hope the pitching staff has three more months left in the tank...
