Detroit Tigers Free Agent Interests #2

                Along with the interest in Octavio Dotel and Aramis Ramirez, the Detroit Tigers have expressed interest in left handed veteran starting pitcher Mark Buehrle. Mark has played for the Chicago Whitesox for his career before hitting the free agent market this offseason in hopes of looking for a new team. 

                He is currently 32 years old and one of the highly demanded free agents this off season.  The Tigers are not the only team interested in him, the Washington Nationals and Miami Marlins, have reportedly met with Buehrle face-to-face. The Chicago Cubs, Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers, St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees are reportedly courting him, too. 

                I feel like Mark would be a huge pick up for the Tigers and not only boost the already best starting pitching rotation in baseball but make it almost the best in the history of baseball. It will definitely compete with the Philadelphia Phillies this season for that invisible accolade. 

                If the Detroit Tigers do pick up Mark Buehrle he will be the left handed arm they need in that staff. It will also bump Scherzer down to the #4 spot and allow them to put Porcello in the bullpen for when they do make the playoffs the following season. I feel if the Tigers make this move along with signing a reliever, then a leadoff second basemen, they are set for next season and have the team they need to win a championship.

Detroit Tigers Free Agent Interests

The Detroit Tigers and the MLB free agent season is about to get underway. There have been some news articles about various players the Tigers have seemed to express interest in and I will talk about them.

First, reliver Octavio Dotel who played for the St. Louis Cardinals. I feel this would solidify the Detroit Tigers bullpen and be the man we have hoped Ryan Perry could be for the past few years. Right now I feel the Tigers bullpen after Valverde and Benoit is very shaky. In my opinion though you cannot spend too much money on a reliever especially when we have other needs in the infield. If the Tigers can get him or around 4 million dollars a year that would be perfect.  The Tigers also have Al Alberquerque coming back next season healthy so if he can play like he did last year along with Valverde, Benoit, and an addition like Dotel they will have one of the best bullpens in the league.

                The Tigers have also expressed interest in third basemen Aramis Ramirez. This is a huge pick up and a bat that is needed for the Tigers but I am much more interested in a leadoff second basemen. If the Tigers can get a solid backup for Inge such as Betemit, or just set up a platoon of Inge and Betemit I feel the third base problems are solved, your only need is leadoff second basemen. I feel they should look into Kelly Johnson or Martin Prado of the Atlanta Braves to fill this roll. The Aramiz Ramirez interest in interesting though because if they can pick up that big of an upgrade at third it makes their lineup solid all the way through, then you could play someone such as Raburn at second base.

Suh Suspended for 2 Games

                Ndamukong Suh who plays for the Detroit Lions was suspended for two games without pay by the NFL for his actions against the Packers on Thanksgiving. Usually when players get suspended for something along these lines the league requires them to take anger management classes but in Suh’s case he is not required to do so.

                This is a quote by the NFL: "NFL Vice President of Football Operations Merton Hanks notified Ndamukong Suh today that he has been suspended without pay for the Lions' next two games for his unsportsmanlike conduct in the Lions-Packers game on Thanksgiving Day. It was Suh's fifth violation of on-field rules in the past two seasons that has resulted in league discipline. Suh may not practice or be at the team practice facility for any other activities during the two-game suspension. He will be reinstated on December 12. Under the CBA, the suspension may be appealed within three business days. If appealed, an expedited hearing and decision would take place this week in advance of this weekend's games."

                In my opinion, I liked the actions of Suh. It shows a new era of Detroit Lions being a fearless team. I like the fact they are almost feared as a dirty team by the other teams in the league. I also liked the fact that his Lions teammates talked to him after the incident about controlling their emotions for the sake of the team. Not only does this prove how fearless the Lions are becoming but that there is leadership in that locker room. The Detroit Lions are going to be a top team for many years to come if they can keep their current core of players healthy and on the field.

Lions Upcoming Thanksgiving Day Game

The Detroit Lions upcoming annual Thanksgiving day game’s half time show will be performed by Nickleback. They are promoting their new album.

                Nickleback already has two songs on the top 100 charts, named Bottoms Up and We All Stand Together. They are the most popular foreign band in the US right now. They have sold 50 million albums since they formed in 1996. 

                Many Lions fans are very disappointed in this decision to pick Nickleback to perform at the half time show. There is a petition created on change.org to urge Ford Field to pick another band to perform at the Thanksgiving show. 

                In my opinion, Nickleback is an OK decision if they cannot get Kid Rock, Eminem, or another Michigan Native to perform.

                I personally feel the Lions will win this game versus the Green Bay Packers. I feel the Lions have a better team and it will definitely help that this game is at home. This is going to be a redemption game for Matt Stafford because the last time he faced the Packers he threw four interceptions. The Detroit Lions also need to make sure they are protecting Matt Stafford so he is healthy for this game. It is going to be the most important game of the season up to the date.

                The disappointing part of this game is Jahvid Best will not be healthy for this game. The Detroit Lions are really going to need Maurice Morris to step it up and newly acquired Kevin Smith to get comfortable with the Lions after being resigned this past week. If the Lions can keep Matthew Stafford healthy for this game and keep the Stafford to Calvin Johnson connection alive they will be fine. I also think Brandon Pettigrew will be a huge threat to the Packers in this game because of his short pass success in the first games of the season.

Justin Verlander is the Player of the Year

                Justin Verlander still hasn’t been named the Most Valuable Player of the American League. But instead, he has been given an award that means much more than an award chosen by the writers of Major League Baseball, he was voted the best player in the league by the players. He was given his award last week during the Players Choice Awards on the MLB Network. Along with being voted the best player in the league he was voted the AL Outstanding Pitcher. 

                Justin Verlander’s stat line this year was a record of 24-5, an ERA of 2.40, 250 strike outs in 251 innings pitched. He also threw the second no hitter of his career May 7^th versus Toronto. It says a lot knowing he went 22-2 after his shaky 2-3 start this season. I feel it shows he is a hard worker and will do anything to get better. I hope Justin Verlander works out hard this off season to become an even more dominant pitcher. 

                Along with the award he was given a large sum of money to be given out to a charity of his choice. He picked a veterans hospital and also added some money of his own to the deal. The awards alone totaled $70,000. $50,000 was for the Player of the Year award and the rest was from being voted outstanding pitcher. The amount Justin Verlander added was $30,000. Making the total contributions being donated at $100,000.

                The off season is about to begin for the Detroit Tigers and they are in needs of adding a second basemen, a third basemen, and a true leadoff hitter. I feel they need to add a 2B or 3B with speed and can hit at the top of the lineup because Austin Jackson did not get the job done as a leadoff hitter last season. I still feel Austin Jackson will be a huge part of this upcoming Detroit Tigers team.