[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by satan's twin

This trade will spur lots of hot stove trade talks and will generate winter ticket sales and interest among the Tiger fans. But ultimately, what price have the Tigers paid for this trading season's splash? They have mortgaged the future for a one season run. The line-up is a mirror of the Yankees plan. You put a bomber in every slot with no apparent weakness and hit yourself to the World Series. There is only one problem with this plan. It's that this never works out quite like they thought it would. The nine starters will never be in a hitting groove at the same time. Sheffield and Ordonez have had recent serious injuries that are more likely to happen as they are reaching the ends of their careers. Renteria and Cabrerra will be seeing a new league and may need a time or two through to adjust to the pitching. And players coming off of career years will not be as likely to accomplish the same the next time around. Having said all this, I believe the Tigers will put up big offensive numbers next year. But offense doesn't win world championships. Pitching and defense do. Pitching will never be as glamorous or as exciting as a three-run homer. It doesn't pack the ballparks year after year like a 'murderer's row line-up will'. But it does separate the winners from the pretenders. It's no wonder that when the Tigers are garnering the headlines and winning the publicity battle, the world champion Red Sox are the only team concerned with acquiring THE only stone cold lock who will bring them a consecutive championship, Johan Santana. Whether Boston signs him or not, they are on the right track. Santana is the prize EVERY team should be after.
Pudge Rodriguez has managed to avoid a crippling injury throughout his career, but with ten plus seasons behind the plate he's a foul ball or a home plate collision away from being on the shelf for a prolonged period of time. If he is lost for any period of time, the Tigers will find out just how mediocre that staff really is. The bullpen will really be crippled by the loss of Joel Zumaya. He was one of the best middle relief pitchers out there who could bridge the game between the starters and Jones. The Tigers' young starters had tended to be flame-throwers who start out fast and crap out in mid-season. Add to the mix the ancient Kenny Rogers and a very erratic Dontrelle Willis and the Tigers win nothing. Jim Leland looks like the crypt-keeper whose long-term plan for managing appears to extend to about November 1st of next year. If he wants to see a series winner before death then he better start encouraging Dombrowski and company to get him some help on the mound.

I concur