If you care to share, Russell, did you leave the consultant job because you felt it was time to go? Or did the team not retain the relationship? Either way, it's good you're returning to Baseball Prospectus.

Curt Casali went 4-5 with 3 2Bs at West Michigan. His slash line is great....is he legit or just a college guy raking against lower level competition?

Hello KG....can Rob Brantly be a starting catcher on a contending team? He was promoted to Toledo today. Is he mostly a good deadline trade chip given Alex Avila's presence/youth?

Heaney > Drew Smyly? If so, to what degree? Thank you, KG!

When you say "poor approach" about Steven Moya, I don't doubt you......however he has cut his K-rate significantly (that might be an understatement).....how does that trend play into "approach"?

Really good stuff, Jay. "BuntF***ed" made me laugh....and it's so darn true. I have this debate all the time on a Tigers' discussion thread with diehard "Buntf***ers", previously known as "buntaholics" by me but I like your term much better.....

Good article......Darvish works a little slow for my taste, but other than that I have enjoyed watching all four of his starts quite a bit. I completely agree that to the naked eye via television some of those pitches had amazing run to them. He had the Yankees tied up all night.

Kevin, Steven Moya at West Michigan has, in the early stages, cut his K-rate dramatically (and "dramatically" is an understatement compared to his whiff-erific ways).....how far along into the season does he need to show this new trait for it to be considered a true advancement?

If Pudge Rodriguez isn't a Hall of Famer, then you might as well shut the joint down.

I'm not sure what to say about getting hit over the head with this New Era advertisement overwhelming my screen around this article......it's different I suppose. I'm not offended....just not sure I like it. Will this be the "new normal" here? Or just an occasional deal?

Turner has been shut down for at least a week by the Tigers with shoulder tendinitis....probably explains a lot about how he has looked. Now the question is about how long this issue lasts and if its as "minor" as the Tigers are putting out there.

Goodbye. Farewell.

Anyone know roughly what the Italian League pays the pros brought in from abroad?

I'm not a fan of people "stirring the pot" for the sake of stirring the pot.

Scott Sizemore showed some game when he was traded to Oakland last year. Not great...but very playable if he stays at that level or even improves a bit. Dave Dombrowski had a good year in making in-season moves to help his club....but he cut bait on Sizemore way too early and also had a horrific return in the deal when he did move him. Beane scalped him on that one.

I'm still hopeful that Ryan Raburn could have a break out year at 2B for the Tigers if they give him the chance. He has not seized the opportunity in the past....he probably doesn't have many more chances left. He has hit well in the second half a couple of times but just as often he has stumbled through April/May very badly.

Love the column. Today's was very interesting. But on the HoF......ALAN TRAMMELL.

Was Capps going to bring the Twins a Sandwich Round pick? If so, its hard to believe the Twins valued "retaining Capps" more than "getting a Sandwich pick + a comparable pitcher off the FA market". Seems like a small error by Terry Ryan.

Congratulations. I hope you're highly successful and take a good product to greater heights. I'm not always big on revisiting the past....you gotta move ahead....but with that said, you could lure Joe Sheehan back.

Hey....it happens. Life goes on!

Does Colin get sent down to AAA for this error? He has to write about college baseball for a month....only about 9 people will read it.

Well...nobody ever said Scott Sizemore was going to be Ryne Sandburg. But the trade to Oakland was the most ill-conceived move by Dombrowsk in a season where his in-season dealings worked out great on the whole. Sizemore showed in Oakland he contribute if given the chance....certainly he'd be a better option than anything in Detroit. I just don't think Leyland liked him much (just my impression from afar). Trading Sizemore for a journeyman lefty who had been DFA'd merely a month prior to the move was simply madness. A give-up trade for no apparent reason.

Sparky Anderson? Your list of managers winning a pennant in both leagues....one guy shy?

Very enjoyable article.....makes me glad to be a regular "ranyontheroyals.com" reader even though I'm a Tigers' fan!

Great read.....thanks for your work.

Kevin, I know you can't write up everyone, every day.....but Alex Burgos at West Michigan had another solid outing last night in the Tigers' chain. What's the outlook for him from what you may have heard/seen? Thanks.

Kevin, Where would Jacob Turner rate compared to the Shelby Miller/Matt Moore Category? Just missed? A full peg below? Just curious...thank you and enjoy the Independence Day Weekend!!

And I have a typo! LOL... "weren't" in the comment above!

I hate being a "typo cop" and wouldn't comment if there were a whole bunch...you might want to clean up the blurb on Holmberg.

Since he at least catches part time, I might take Victor Martinaez over one of the backup catchers in the AL........otherwise I like the AL picks.

What guy (if any) made you take extra notice at the Midwest League All-Star Game yesterday?

Kevin.....could you see a scenario where the Tigers use Jacob Turner out of the bullpen down the stretch if they are in a fight for their division? Or is that too much/too soon for him? Thank you.

Thanks for the reply. After drafting three catchers in the first 8 rounds in '10, was there any surprise to the Tigers drafting James McCann with their top pick this year? Or was he simply "best available" and the Tigers were following their board.....

The Tigers seem to like Rob Brantly's future....have you spoken to any scouts regarding him for this article? 3rd round pick last year, currently at .309/.379/.447 for Low-A West Michigan.

I mostly get what you mean (I think!)....but could you define "pitchability" in a couple of sentences as it relates to Drew Smyly? Thanks!

KG....what is your assessment of the job Dave Dombrowski has done? The Sizemore/Purcey Trade was irksome to me. But certainly Dombrowski has a good plus-side to his ledger in Detroit as well to counter some of the mistakes. I'm torn on him overall at this point. Do you think he gets a new contract after this year? Would you give him one if you were the new Mike Ilitch?

You're missing the "a" in your name.

Love the pack mentality of the rating system by the fanboys here. Amusing.

It's also sad that you need to suck up to the writers here all the time. Amusing actually.

Did "Baghdad Bob" write your view of the talent drain going on?

Mr. Tango....what are your thoughts on modern bullpen alignment and usage? Should "closers" be used more liberally in key spots in the middle innings if indeed they're the best guy in the bullpen?

Try watching Brennan Boesch bat behind Miguel Cabrera last year during Boesch's deep slump. Cabrera didn't get a pitch to hit in a key spot for over a month...while the Tigers tumbled out of first place.

Its interesting that the scout notes that Joaquin Benoit's slider is "Untouchable right now"......according to Fangraphs.com, he's not throwing it very much....a lot less than last year. Is Fangraphs wrong? If they're right then the scout is still right as well....a pitch that doesn't get thrown can't be touched!!

Furbush's K-rate was lower at Toledo last year and its good to see he's raised it again this season. But even last year he was on a strikeout bender in High-A and AA. By the time he was brought to AAA he was on his third team/league/city of the summer and well beyond his previous innings pitched high. I wonder if his lower K-rate at Toledo was partially from him just being on fumes later in the season?

Very cool. I was actually going to attend that game anyhow.

Sizemore was recalled last night. He'll be in the lineup this afternoon....batting in the 2-hole against CC Sabathia. Welcome back! LOL

This was a fun interview. Look forward to more like it....oh wait. Anyhow....good luck to Scott Sizemore. His ankle wasn't 100% last year. Hopefully this season he's ready to seize the job for the long haul.

You use the word "adore" too much. You need to change it up a little. lol

He posted it on his Facebook status.

Laurila no longer works for BPro.

Getting rid of David Laurila sucks.

You didn't bring him up today....but Scott Sizemore had a nice doubleheader at the plate yesterday, 3-6 w/1BB. His OBP is over .500 right now. He's in AAA while Will Rhymes is in Detroit....why?

I live in Iowa. I have MLB.tv. I'm a Tigers fan. So the Tigers v. Twins games? Blacked out. Tigers v. Royals? Blacked out. Tigers versus White Sox? Mostly blacked out. For good measure, just to twist the knife to their Iowa customers, all Brewers, Cardinals, and Cubs games are blacked out too just in case the Tigers have them during Interleague play. Its outrageous. Yes....I continue to buy the product, so maybe I'm part of the problem. But this shouldn't as hard to fix for their customers in Iowa and Nevada as they make it out to be.

Christina....I'm the guy who brought up The Pink Pony the other night on Facebook a few nights ago when you replied a bit later. I just checked....the Pony did re-open last month after closing for a over a year. Enjoy! (or did you get there already?) The new owner said its still going to be a place to talk and argue over baseball. Gotta like that. My family and I are visiting AZ in May....I think a steak at The Pink Pony will be on the agenda!

McNulty isn't far behind...

Jeremy, it would be interesting (to me anyhow!) to know how a player's "cup of coffee" performance typically relates to their career path. I'm thinking in particular about Will Rhymes and Scott Sizemore in Detroit. Rhymes outperformed Sizemore in DET last year....but both were under 200 PA's. Sizemore's minor league track record is more impressive than Rhymes over a longer time. The argument among some segments of Tigers' fans right now is whether to lean on the longer minor league track record to figure out who will do better moving forward, or to rely on the MLB performance as a guide. Personally, I lean toward Sizemore and I think others do as well...but it would be fun to argue this point with more statistical information on how their samples from last season aren't indicative about what we're most likely to see moving ahead.

Good article.....I'm also a big fan of "The Wire". They should make a movie to keep developing the story....I bet they could get enough of the cast back.

The David Chadd/Dave Dombrowski have been all about drafting "power arms".....many fans I know often decry the Tigers strategy there. "The Great Bullpen Draft of '08" was interesting....they went hog wild on college relievers that season, drafting at least a dozen or more I think. Perry is w/the big club and Weinhardt surfaced this year. One was traded in the ill-fated Aubrey Huff Deal. I still believe the Tigers never should have given up a 1st round pick for signing Valverde....other options were there to fill the "closer" role. Now they've opted out of Round 1 of this year's supposed "mega-draft" by signing Victor Martinez. That might not look great a few years from now either. We'll see.

Kevin, do you feel Casey Crosby is headed toward the knife again? This sounds similar to Francisco Liriano prior to his last Tommy John Surgery....all tests were fairly normal but discomfort persisted. Is Crosby a reliever when its all said and done?

Unless the Tigers feel compelled to play Carlos Guillen (if he's ambulatory) because of the money he's owed, I think Sizemore will settle into the 2B-gig this year. Nothing has has really changed from the guy they were hoping would take over last year.....except, of course, he has had more time to put the ankle issue in his past.

You act like it was a comment that really cuts to the bone. John's a big boy...that was a softball. Get over yourself.

General voting incompetance leads voters to exclude Alan Trammell. John P isn't alone unfortunately.

Kevin.... How would Odorizzi compare to Jacob Turner as they currently stand? Even, small advantage either way, or big edge to one? Thank you!

Keep the bigger font. Easy to read. When the Tigers made the Jarrod Washburn Trade and offered up Luke French and Mauricio Robles, many Tigers fans wondered why they were moving French. He had looked "okay" in a few MLB starts to that point. In my mind French was a dime a dozen guy. But it was Robles that was the "gamble" to let go because he had some very solid velo for a southpaw. He might develop into something useful whether a starter or reliever. Meanwhile Washburn was damaged goods even though he had been having a great year until the trade. His knee issues and ineffectiveness helped sink the Tigers division title hopes in '09. (though I was in favor of the deal at the time when nobody knew of the knee issue) I guess those are the risks you take at the trade deadline when you have a shot at the posties.

All that "Curse of the Bambino" stuff was actually over in '86?! Who knew besides Perrotto?

Kevin.....can Furbush be of any value in the bullpen for the Tigers? It seems hard to fake it to 189 K's, though I certainly get your point on not being deceived by minor league statistics.

I wonder if Brandon Inge would be a suitable glove-man for the Bucs to pursue on the free agent market if he and the Tigers part ways....Inge has some modest power and should stabilize the hot corner defensively. He shouldn't command a ton of cash. I also wonder if the Tigers might be interested in Ryan Doumit. They could use a little power and Doumit does have some of that. Doumit for Armando Galarraga? Would that work as the starting point on a deal if the Bucs are looking for a veteran arm....maybe some other pieces thrown in by either side to even things up if Doumit for Galarraga is weighted too heavily to one side or the other....

Good article. Thank you. Look forward to more. How many Adam Sandler/"Don't Mess With The Zohan" jokes have you been hit with? Or wasn't that movie a big enough hit for you to hear much about it?

The Metrodome had mini-donuts.....don't know about Target Field.

Without giving away too much on your Shelby Miller report for tomorrow, can you compare his progress this year to Jacob Turner's?

Oooh, name calling. Send me a bill for the therapy.

I wonder if Goldman thought that the 5 Tampa Rays who showed up at the Obama Rally prior to the World Series (that they lost!) were out of bounds. Or were they on Golda's side of the political spectrum, unlike Pujols' appearance, so it was okay? Maybe they should have been watching video of Brad Lidge instead of pimping for the Prez-to-be..... Personally I'm okay with anyone expressing their views in public at a rally. My original point was that Goldbrick's political commentary isn't what I'm paying for here. Didn't like it, didn't need it. But it was an article that was ostensibly focused on the events of the day...the Rasmus Situation....dropping a none-too-subtle Beck-bash was inappropriate.

Republicans subscribe to BPro too, Mr. Buetow. Perhaps Goldbrick should take that under consideration.

I'd say it to your face in a heartbeat. Zero hesitation. None.

Sorry Goldman. Your liberal douchebaggery has no place in that article. Its fine to infer what you want about Albert attending a Beck rally in other forums such as your chats. (not that you'd have the guts to say it to his face) But the "Rasmus Situation" is a major part of the news of the day. If BPro is going to give Premium Subscribers information and opinion on the situation it can be done w/o political preaching no matter how short or from either side of the political spectrum. I don't see the libs that write here deriding any loony left actions like burning down housing developments to stop urban sprawl or ruining medical experiments in a research lab because a fuzzy creature is being used....but, boy oh boy, if over 100,000 folks want to peacefully congregate to talk about religion and the direction of their country all the while having no arrests AND picking up after themselves, then that needs to be torn apart and mocked/ridiculed. I'm sure the ranking system will be all over this to get it banished. Fine.

Kevin....have the impressions of any observers you've spoken with matched Jacob Turner's recent numbers? Certainly he turned it on down the stretch at Lakeland. I'm assuming there is no "Porcello Timetable" on his horizon. Do you see him starting at Lakeland next year or going right up to Erie in AA? Thank you.

Kevin....have you heard any scout-scoop on two Tigers' teens, Dan Fields and Avisail Garcia? Are they on course? Thank you.

No question...it was a relatively ho-hum crew that had the big night. I was mostly kidding....I just thought maybe 13.1 hitless IP would get a mention from you. No big deal. Maybe Cole Nelson will evolve into something down the road for the Tigers.

Come on Kevin....no mention of the 13.1 hitless IP thrown by four guys in Lakeland?! Cole Nelson (7 IP), Bruce Rondon (2 IP), Matt Little (2 IP), and Wil Ramirez (2.1 IP before yielding a single) took a no-hitter into the 14th inning. Their club finally pulled out a 2-1 in the 17th w/a 2-run rally.

Cole Nelson is a 6'7" lefty from Auburn....he's done well since being drafted this June.

Nice article Kevin G. How can you send this to Bud Selig to make sure he reads it? Listening to Bud speak, he's "all in" on some of the proposed "fixes". Is there any doubt he'll push it through? The union will give in on the draft to get other goodies. Won't they? Is there any word from the Union on fighting to keep the draft closer to what it is now and not make the changes in order to just "curb bonuses"?

The Intentional Mocking of Ruben Amaro.

"Palin's Guide To High Brow Baseball"

Tuesday's with Torre.

Saves and RBI....Oh, How I Love Thee.

Kevin.....are scouts unimpressed thus far with Jacob Turner? (what were the impressions of his time at West Michigan?) Or will it just take some starts to settle in at High-A? Thanks.

Oliver's homerun rate isn't bad...but it would probably be even better if he pitched somewhere besides Erie. Erie is known to enhance some power numbers among hitters.

BTW, I think the word is pretty much in that he'll indeed be getting the call on Friday. Should be interesting.

I know he's an older guy....but Jeff Frazier in Toledo had back-to-back 2-homer games! Doesn't that get a mention from KG?!? :-)

Thanks for the NCAA update. A good read and its great to able to get a preview here.

I realize the info is vastly more important than form of these posts....but, my gosh, get a proof-reader KG! LOL

On Ackley....9 games, 36 ABs....big deal. If he had a nine-game stretch in mid-June where he posted a .111 average but it was buried in three months of playing time, would anyone care?

"Fantasy Manager"? Ricardo Montalban is your new hero.....DA PLANE boss, DA PLANE!!!

Completely agree. Love BP....but the glossary is a big bag of poorly written crapola.

As a Tigers' fan I was very pleased when Dombrowski acquired Edwin Jackson last year. I had followed him in Tampa and thought he'd be a good fit for the Tigers. He was pretty dominant for 3-months before his slider deserted him and he faded down the stretch. With that said, I loved the trade to get Scherzer and Schlereth from the D-Backs. It saves the Tigers a lot of money moving forward and might just yield a better pitcher in Scherzer. I think Jackson will do well in Arizona and I wish him the best!

I'll even pay for it! LOL

Can't wait to stroll into Borders next week and walk out w/a copy!

Change can be good...I'm not opposed. But, in order for my cash to continue to flow to BP, whatever replaces Sheehan better be darn good.

I would say this will make the DET, AZ, NYY 3-way deal look rather puny! Two Cy Young winners on the move plus top prospects changing hands.

Will....what are your thoughts on Max Scherzer's future physically? It seems the only common justification to the deal from the D-Backs perspective is that Scherzer's "violent head-jerk delivery" (how many media went w/that description?". Should Tigers' fans worry over and above the worry usually attached to a young pitcher? Thanks.

Actually MariA Bello is hot. I'm sure Mario Bello is a perfectly nice guy...ooops.

Mario Bello is hot.

Kevin, Audy Ciriaco was recently added to the 40-man roster. Did he just miss your list? Do you have any feel for him as a prospect? Thanks.

It would be interesting to know Joe's opinion, or even Dombrowski's of course, about whether the Tigers just didn't view Dunn as a great player to add or if they just didn't feel they could risk adding payroll. Or did Dunn want no part of Detroit....

Great look at things, Joe. I argued long and loud about the Tigers signing Adam Dunn in the off-season when it was becoming apparent that he was going to come at a rather inexpensive pricetag. I don't know how the league-change would have changed his level of production but there was/is no question in my mind he'd have helped Detroit this year. The Tigers are in first place and its been fun...but the popgun attack they've featured for most of the season is the primary reason the Twins still have a pulse left in this race. Dunn's bat would have sealed this thing up already I think. But I feel Dombrowski was paralyzed a bit by the economy and was not going to take on Dunn even at a cut rate (assuming Dunn would have signed in DET) given the malaise in Southeastern Michigan's economy.

Sweet....another Greinke brewing in Tampa!! Yes!!

Kevin....I'd like to know what the guy who Bell replaced is thinking. Here's a young prospect trying to work his way up and playing 3B in the O's system. Now the organization brings in a young stud from another system. That has to be a real blow. Have you ever spoken to players who have had that happen? Thanks.

tradeatape....I agree that Christina's post on the Tigers was a bit off the mark in tone. Which is unusual. Clete Thomas was sent down to work on "shortening his swing"...whether he has or hasn't he did chip in nicely upon his recall. Whether anyone believes in "being clutch" as a skill, Thomas has had a few key hits. He's also twice or three times the defender that Magglio is. The Tigers have gotten where they have so far on a formula of pitching and defense...Thomas bolsters that a bit in RF. I'd say that whether he was white, black, Asian, or Hispanic. Thomas is no star....and if they could get a better option that would be great. But the end is near for Magglio....he's been truly putrid. Thomas is the best option on hand for now. The Tigers need a starting pitcher if they are going to go the distance. Porcello will be on a short leash...Galarraga is up and down...the 5th spot is a mystery....Jackson is doing things he's never done consistency-wise, can he go the distance? This club could use one more reliable guy to take a turn every 5th day. Easier said than done though....an Erik Bedard Rental would be a good possibility. I think that would trump getting a bat.

Bryan, thanks for the look at the draft prospects. Do you think the Detroit Tigers are likely to have either Aaron Crow or Kyle Gibson still on the board when they pick at #9? I'd also be interested to know what you've heard about High School pitchers like Matt Purke and Tyler Matzek. Thanks!

There are whispers in DET that Bonderman's surgeon nicked a nerve in his shoulder and that is causing pain. Enough where they may have to go back in putting the season in jeopardy. Of course, this could all be garbage.....we'll have to see.

Are the Tigers being quiet about the Bonderman rumors or are they still just trying to determine where things stand?

Thanks Bryan....I was thinking "more college" for Raley if he wasn't in Round 1 so your thoughts keep me on that path. Is 2010's Draft looking that weak? Is it simply because its the "First One Post-Strasburg Draft" or is there really a lack of depth to it?

Bryan, How high do you think Brooks Raley has propelled himself on draft charts?

Certainly the ownership of the Marlins has been vilified enough (and perhaps rightfully so) in blogs and in the press that its hard to be happy for them. But I'm happy for the club and a guy like Beinfest. He puts together a nice organization with limited resources and hopefully this stadium allows him to be even more competitive in the future. I think the Marlins can win another Pennant in the next couple of years.

Bryan....do you see anyway that Ackley is still around when the Tigers pick at #9? Do you think Gibson is worthy a top 10 selection? Also I was wondering if you think that if the Nationals go crazy on a bonus to Strasburg will they then "under-draft" a guy at #10 (i.e. pick a guy not quite #10 caliber but who will agree to sign quick and relatively inexpensively)? Or will they just draft a guy and not sign him so that they'll get pick #11 next year? (that would seem mighty unfair to the guy the pick, not that they'd admit to it)

Maybe the draft in the US should be dismissed. They didn't have one for a long time. (cue for "Yankees will buy all the talent" wails here)

Thanks for this article. Really great information and very timely....I've been blogging about the idea of the international draft. This puts much in perspective and its interesting to see Manny Acta's opinion.

Will....is Bonderman really on track? Do we need to wait until he dons a uni and just see what he does?

Thank you Bryan. Just Tigers\' fans luck that they resurface in the Top 10 of the draft in a \"thin draft year\"!! LOL I\'m sure they\'ll still get somebody interesting. Any chance Strasburg prices himself into such a high stratosphere that 8 clubs pass on him??? (a guy can dream...)

I was all set to ask you about Ryan Berry\'s draft possibilities and you already had it tucked in there! Thanks. As a Detroit Tigers\' fan I was wondering if you view, at this rather early date, Alex Wilson as someone who might be grouped in w/guys getting picked around #9 when DET selects? Also do you see Aaron Crow as being there at #9 again this year which of course is exactly where he went last year w/o signing? Thanks.

Also Bryan, living here in Iowa I heard the news obviously that the University of Northern Iowa is cutting baseball among other things to make up for state appropriation shortfalls. Supposedly the program can be saved if they raise enough money to float the program for 3 years....by the middle of March!! Good luck w/that unless they have a real deep pocketed booster who happens to be a seam-head. Perhaps this is in the works but I\'d be interested in reading your take on this program folding plus the couple, like Vermont I believe, that were scrapped last week. Thanks.

Bryan, is Yasmani Grandal a sophomore-eligible guy for this year\'s draft?

Will Las Vegas or Portland ever enter into the discussion even though Northern CA is a supposed priority? (I think Portland would at least have a chance at supporting a club)

Bring back the glowing puck!

Strasburg: 5.2 IPs, 103 pitches, 11 K, 2 BB, 3 H, 0 ER SDSU 6 BC 3

That\'s too bad.....no question SDSU didn\'t think that one through. On a related note, the geniuses at MLBN had Tony Gwynn on to be interviewed the other night about this weekend\'s game among other topics. Harold Reynolds has never heard of Strasburg evidently because they never bothered to ask Gwynn about him. I enjoy the college coverage very much, should be a fun season.

Didn\'t Larry Lage of the AP ask Pudge that question? He used to be a beat writer in DET, so he might have had a bit of a relationship w/Pudge.

Bryan, thanks for this. I\'ll be monitoring it. Is Strasburg pitching on MLBN tomorrow for SDSU?

What about the Baseball Prospectus-hotbed of Des Moines?? Chicago is a mere 5 hours drive away through scenic Northern Illinois and Eastern Iowa.....maybe you\'d catch sight of Blago and Burris on a chain-gang by the side of the road on the way over.

I have watched a few innings of several games. I think the plate umpiring is a little generous toward the pitchers. I think this might be what is keeping scoring down....just an impression.

The player\'s team isn\'t updated this early when these come out. I\'m almost positive it was that way last year. I seem to recall Renteria being under ATL and not DET then...

I didn\'t know the NHL still existed. Didn\'t they halt play a few years ago?

I\'m proud of W. I really don\'t care if you hate him.

Why can\'t this little rant be subject to \"rating\"? Good or bad....

Its not \"nit-picky\"...the amount of typos each year should be viewed as an embarrassment to the crew at BP. Evidently it isn\'t....

Hugo Chavez!! Brilliant! I\'m sure the crew on staff will be contacting the State Department immediately to make inroads....actually Magglio Ordonez is said to be friendly w/Hugo, maybe they can just ask Maggs to make a call....

Big thumbs down to Olbermann....not just over politics....just his entire \"Everbody should be as cool as I think I am\" personna. I doubt anyone buys a book over the prospect of a scintillating foreword anyhow however. This is fun...

Big thumbs down to Olbermann....not just over politics....just his entire \"Everbody should be as cool as I think I am\" personna. I doubt anyone buys a book over the prospect of a scintillating foreword anyhow however. Also a thumbs down to this \"reader rating\" stuff. What a joke.

Big thumbs down to Olbermann....not just over politics....just his entire \"Everbody should be as cool as I think I am\" personna. His foreword won\'t sell a single book, seriously who buys a book because someone wrote a foreword? (other then Oprah\'s Book Club)....but it might cost BP a small handful of sales.

They\'ve posted stuff on Saturday before. Its inconsistent...consistently. We\'ll see Perrotto\'s column today....at least he\'s reliably posted on Sun/Wed. If writing their book takes away from the content of the non-free site then they should add writing talent or include the book for premium subcribers.(not holding my breath for the latter....lol)

Also Rany J on his blog said the book on \"The 80\'s\" from a BPro perspective is on indefinite hiatus. What\'s the story with that?

They miss Dan Fox...none of these other guys/gals do his kind of thing as well. Bryan Smith was great too. Perhaps their volume isn\'t down....but it sure seems down from previous years. Its mildly disappointing....

Agreed....subscribers have been getting the short end of the stick here of late. Its sucked....

Koeze\'s Cream-Nut Peanut Butter from Grand Rapids, MI. Outstanding....also Bell\'s Beer from Michigan.

Why is the BP book on \"The 80\'s\" on indefinite hiatus according to Rany J on his blog?

Pohlad dead at 93. His sons probably take over....I believe his son Jim is the team president or something like that...

I\'d be interested in knowing what the BP crew is reading on the game. I\'m sure its many of the things we do...but new books or blogs that have piqued your interest would be good to know about.

Bring back the \"Hope & Faith\" series! I\'m sure you would rather progress to new and exciting stuff....but the \"H&F\" articles were always a fun read......a one-year hiatus is enough!

I miss Dan Fox\' work here as well. I didn\'t always get it...but that\'s okay....it was fun to decipher.

I would hope there will be more college baseball coverage this winter. I\'d also like to see some kind of weekly feature in the months leading up to the draft in June updating some draft-prospects\' progress/scouting reports. Thanks for the great site though and Happy New Year!

Simple Fielding Runs....it would be nice to see that for \'08. Someone to replace Dan Fox\' work in general would be good.

They have done a \"Rumor Mill\" update here over the years during the meetings and at the trade deadline....but see Will C\'s post from last week...it seems they are drifting away from the Rumor-ish aspects that drive so much of things. There is no shortage of rumor-mongering out there.

Joe, do you believe the Tigers made a mistake in not offering arb to Renteria? I have thought so....it seems enough clubs have interest that they could have at least traded him if they had been stuck w/him upon him possibly accepting the arbitration. Detroit\'s system really could have used a shot at getting those compensatory picks. Plus if they end up with Jack Wilson at his money is that any different then having Renteria at his arb-figure next year?

Breaking news.....Repeating is hard.

Tigers 7/154, 11/22

I\'m sure you were being a bit rhetorical in your comment on Jason Castro...but just for the sake of knowing, I believe he\'s playing in Hawaii in HWB \'08 and doing pretty well.

Tigers: Improve woeful defense, make old lineup younger, look to add a rotation pillar, add useful bullpen parts. Judge trade value of Magglio, Guillen, or Polanco and deal one if it looks good.

Minor thing....in the first paragraph you mention the Rays went thru \"two division winners\" to win the pennant. The BoSox were the WC.

Will, two parts if that\'s okay. Have their been any whispers about Verlander having physical issues causing his seeming dip in velocity this year? Also, do you ever foresee the Zumaya of \'06 re-appearing, or has that ship sailed? Thank you.