Earn your paycheck!!!

I know we all have the idea in our heads that professional athletes are overpaid, but I have never seen a team underachieve the way the 2008 Detroit Tigers did. To have a payroll of $139 million dollars, and to finish with a record of 74-88 is inexcusable. Jim Leyland has come out in recent days accepting some of the blame, but also pointing out that he's not the only one at fault. The Tigers have already gotten rid of one major problem in my opinion, and that was Chuck Hernandez. As a pitching coach he has not improved the staff at all. Actually the staff has regressed under his watch. However the players are the real culprits for this bad baseball. These guys for the most part all underperformed this year. It's not one or two guys, it was the whole team. Yes, Miguel Cabrera, Armando Galaragga, Curtis Granderson, Magglio Ordonez, and Placido Polanco all had good years statistically, but as a team they failed.

Looking forward to 2009 Dave Dombrowski has already stated that they won't be major players in the free agent market, but he also has to understand that he can't go into next year with this same group of players. The real changes have to be made to the pitching staff. Verlander, Galaragga, and Bonderman are locks for the rotation, but between Nate Robertson, Dontrelle Willis, Zach Miner, and hopefully a mid level free agent such as Randy Wolf, Derek Lowe, or even Freddy Garcia, two of these guys have to step up and fill the back end of the rotation. Rick Porcello is also a pitcher to remember if the Tigers want to push him to the majors.

The bullpen was a disaster from the beginning of the season to the end. Joel Zumaya is unreliable for next year. Hopefully he will be a bonus to the bullpen, and stay healthy. Fernando Rodney is not a closer, please don't give him the job. Let him work the 8th, which is also important. Some of the guys this year like Lopez, Seay, Rapada, Glover, and Dolsi, let them fight for a spot next year with some new blood. I believe Dombrowski has to look outside the organization for a closer. K-Rod will be too expensive, but how about guys like Kerry Wood, Brian Fuentes, or Brandon Lyon. Spend any money you have on one of these three relievers. Ryan Perry the Tigers 1st round pick is at least a year away, but keep an eye on him also.

As far as the position players go the Tigers have said they are looking for a catcher and a shortstop. Good luck. The only catcher worth mentioning is Gregg Zaun, and he's 38 years old. Looks like Dusty Ryan will really have to step up and learn on the job. I know Dombrowksi is high on minor leaguer Cale Iorg, but he won't be playing shortstop for the Tigers next year. He needs a couple of more seasons in the minors. They could bring back Renteria with a reduced salary, or go after Rafael Furcal, Orlando Cabrera, or David Eckstein. My hopes are that they overpay to get Cabrera.

I'm going to sit back and watch closely this off season. Dombrowski is going to have to work some serious magic, to please the fans, and his owner. The Tigers cannot have another season like this, or all the momentum from the 2006 season will be lost.