If he signs, can we stop perpetuating the myth?
Posted in 2010 Season, Austin Jackson, Daniel Schlereth, Free Agency, Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Phil Coke on February 11th, 2010 by Dennis DuBay
“The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated”
- Mark Twain
It began last season when Magglio Ordonez reached the vaunted at bat that vested his contract for 2010. Detroit Tiger fans scratched their heads in mystery, some jumping the very bandwagon they called home after Magglio hit the famous HR to send Detroit to their first world series since 1984.
We’re going to have to cut a lot of dead weight now, they’d type angrily at various message boards found on the world wide web.
And then the fateful day of December 8th, 2009. Curtis Granderson and Edwin Jackson, two very important pieces to a second place team during the regular season were traded. Detroit got lefty reliever Phil Coke and outfield prospect Austin Jackson from the Yankees, plus touted young pitchers Max Scherzer and Daniel Schlereth from Arizona.
The fall out was fierce.
Granderson, 28, has a very loyal fan base with the Tigers. The fans, to say the least, were not happy with the deal.
But than it began; “They are cost cutting”, “Giving up on 2010 for a run in 2011″. And sure, in the epicenter of this hurricane was a lot of things that proved this theory correct. Why would Detroit send a beloved Tiger (this generations Willie Horton?) away WHILE also trading a guy that had just won 13 games for the organization.
But few looked at the arms Detroit stocked with this move – nor did they think about the possible future of highly touted Yankee prospect Jackson. And I understand why – broken hearted fans don’t see clearly right away.
But then something happened.
Something big.
The Tigers committed 80 million dollars to superstar-ace Justin Verlander over the next five years. How’s that for cost cutting? Verlander was coming off easily his best year, statistically. The move made a lot of people happy – but now their was the seed of doubt planted … why sign Verlander to this deal now?
Aren’t we supposed to be cutting cost?
And now reports are coming out that Detroit has officially made an offer to Johnny Damon. No one is sure if its 1 year, $7 million or 2 years $14 million. But the offer was authorized by Mike Illitch.
You know, the owner of the club.
So ask him, if this team is cutting costs.