Tigers in trade talk with Marlins

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by IrishofNDMan

Starting pitching is not the issue, the bullpen however is a serious issue that they need to correct. I want to know why the hell they signed Todd Jones??? The guy is terrible!!!!!

Let me show you something in simple terms so you will understand.
Tigers starters and ranking by 2006 ERA (starters with more than 12 starts)
Verlander ERA 3.60 11th in AL ( solid ace of staff)
Rogers ERA 4.43 41st in AL ( was hurt but is going to be 43 years old)
Durbin ERA 4.72 48th in AL
Robertson ERA 4.76 49th in AL
Bonderman ERA 5.01 52nd in AL
Maroth ERA 5.06 53rd in AL
Willis ERA 5.17 65th in NL

I understand ERA is influenced by outside factors but considering they play in a pitching friendly park those numbers are pretty scary. Verlander is a topline number 1 starter but outside of him there are giant question marks. Rogers has had some pretty good years but is very hittable, coming off an injury and is old. Durbin is less than average, same with Robertson. Bonderman was awful late in the year after a good start and was shutdown with a bad elbow for the 2nd time in three years. Maroth is not good and Willis has regressed as stated before. This is a staff with a lot of question marks and injury risks. Matched up to Boston, LAA, Cleveland or the Yankees and they are easily the worst of the bunch.

Jones is not overpowering, is far from the prototypical closer and occasionally gets hammered but had the same amount of blown saves as KRod and Jenks and less than Borowski. He aint great but they could win with him.