Not liking this, but that's baseball

Subject: Not liking this, but that's baseball Wed Aug 13, 2008 1:50 am

Lynn Henning
Tigers will slash payroll in wake of bust

Mike Ilitch has been typically silent, typically reclusive during a season that was supposed to have been the Tigers owner's $138 million crown jewel.

It does not, however, mean Ilitch's voice has not been heard inside Comerica Park's offices. It has, apparently at high volume.

The front office has taken a couple direct hits from the boss, and shock waves have been felt all the way to manager Jim Leyland's office, which might have had something to do with Leyland's 20-minute verbal lashing of his team before a nightmare of a game Aug. 3 at Tampa Bay.

What matters is not Ilitch's anger. What counts is how he will approach his team from a business standpoint heading into 2009 and beyond.

And what this season's disaster almost certainly will mean is that the Tigers will cut their astounding payroll by a heavy sum -- perhaps by $40 million or more.

And season-ticket renewals are bound to take a heavy hit in 2009, barring a late-season rally that isn't probable.

Asked Tuesday if he could foresee Ilitch extending his team the same payroll latitude next year and beyond, Dave Dombrowski, president and general manager for the Tigers, said: "It is still too early to address this issue."

In fact, Ilitch rarely has been an early bird when it comes to giving his front office its budget for a coming season.

This year could be an exception.

Salaries don't match market
But what likely is clear to Dombrowski and his aides will no doubt be finalized by Ilitch at least by October: Salaries must be lopped.

It will surely necessitate a different roster in '09.

There will be no re-signings of Todd Jones or maybe Kenny Rogers, which is a quick $14 million.

Edgar Renteria will not return, which will mean an $8 million reduction on what it would have cost to pick up his option next season.

Pudge Rodriguez already is gone -- that's $13 million. The man who came to Detroit in exchange for Pudge, Kyle Farnsworth, likely will leave as a free agent.

Assuming the Tigers will not be investing in any free agents beyond those at minimum price, they still will be looking at a 2009 payroll of $100 million-plus by the time renewals and players eligible for arbitration have been signed

Their 2008 venture, which saw the salaries expand from $95 million to $138 million ($137,685,196 to be exact), is a payroll out of whack with this market's size and its ability to generate dollars.

Only the New Yorkers -- the Yankees ($209,081,577) and Mets ($137,793,376) -- paid more this season than the Tigers.

Team stuck with big deals
Now will come the corrections.

And what one wonders is whether the Tigers can sufficiently prune their paychecks in any way other than to trade Magglio Ordonez, a marketable player with a big but movable contract.

Everywhere else, the doors will be virtually shut.

• Gary Sheffield, $14 million for 2009. The Tigers are stuck, unless Sheffield gets healthy, hits, and quits squawking. Two home runs Tuesday might have helped the forecast there.

• Carlos Guillen, $36 million through 2011. There's no shot at moving Guillen.

• Jeremy Bonderman, $25 million through 2010. If Bonderman recovers from thoracic surgery, as expected, he could earn his keep.

• Dontrelle Willis, $22 million through 2010. Willis, who was trying to piece together his pitching mechanics at Class A Lakeland, was elevated to Toledo Tuesday.

• Nate Robertson, $17 million through 2010.

• Brandon Inge, $12.9 million through 2010.

• Placido Polanco, $4.6 million in 2009.

Other players not locked in for 2009 will have earned a bump, too: Marcus Thames; Justin Verlander is eligible for arbitration and will do nicely, even after an off-year; and Armando Galarraga, Zach Miner and Bobby Seay.

The big problem is Sheffield. If the Tigers could say goodbye to his $14 million in 2009, the books might well balance adequately to keep the roster reasonably intact.

Trading Ordonez is option
But with no realistic chance today of trading Sheffield and mailing his contract to another club, the prospect of dealing Ordonez could be a must-do to Ilitch.

Ordonez has the dual benefit Ilitch and Dombrowski could be seeking this autumn. A man now in the hunt for his second consecutive AL batting championship has a huge contract a top club in a big market could consider taking on.

If Ordonez has 135 starts or 540 plate appearances (at-bats, walks, hit-by-pitch, etc.) in 2009, his option years for 2010 ($15 million) and 2011 ($15 million) are guaranteed. If he has a combined 270 starts and 1,080 plate appearances during 2008-09, those last two option years kick in.

In other words, if Ordonez stays healthy in 2009, he ends up with the seven-year, $105 million contract the Tigers originally agreed upon in February 2005.

It's a lot of money. But Ordonez, at age 34, is a lot of hitter. And he could prove tempting to a team looking for a slugger who could help get them over the hump in '09.

The Tigers have drafted a crop of young pitchers and are, whether they agree with it or not, probably gearing for a fresh attack on the Central Division race that might not materialize for two or three seasons.

Trading Ordonez for any future help could prove more than tempting, even if that were the only consideration. But dealing Ordonez also might be a mandate. An owner who went for it all in 2008 has learned, painfully, that a hefty payroll and World Series appearances aren't always one and the same.

You can reach Lynn Henning at (313) 222-2472 or at lynn.henning@detnews.com.
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There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971

Subject: Re: Not liking this, but that's baseball Wed Aug 13, 2008 1:57 am

Subject: Re: Not liking this, but that's baseball Wed Aug 13, 2008 2:02 am

I just don't like the trade Magglio part.
_________________
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971

Subject: Re: Not liking this, but that's baseball Wed Aug 13, 2008 5:39 am

Subject: Re: Not liking this, but that's baseball Wed Aug 13, 2008 5:42 am

I wanna get paid that much for doing my job poorly!
_________________
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971

Subject: Re: Not liking this, but that's baseball Wed Aug 13, 2008 8:44 am

Subject: Re: Not liking this, but that's baseball Wed Aug 13, 2008 8:44 am

maggs doesn't get traded.
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Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona. ~ George F. Will

Subject: Re: Not liking this, but that's baseball Wed Aug 13, 2008 8:52 am

Subject: Re: Not liking this, but that's baseball Wed Aug 13, 2008 8:55 am

Subject: Re: Not liking this, but that's baseball Wed Aug 13, 2008 9:08 am

"It does not, however, mean Ilitch's voice has not been heard inside Comerica Park's offices. It has, apparently at high volume." LMAO

Subject: Re: Not liking this, but that's baseball Wed Aug 13, 2008 9:11 am

Subject: Re: Not liking this, but that's baseball Wed Aug 13, 2008 10:08 am

There will be no re-signings of Todd Jones

FUCKING BULLSHIT!!!
JONES IS A VERY GOOD CLOSER AND CAN STILL GET THE JOB DONE YOU FUCKTARDS!!!
Who the fuck else am I supposed to like?
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"We only work three hours a day, so the least we can do is give 100 percent."

Todd Jones

Subject: Re: Not liking this, but that's baseball Wed Aug 13, 2008 10:13 am

Subject: Re: Not liking this, but that's baseball Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:05 am

In the article. It said Jonesy and maybe Rogers might not be resigned. so Fuck dombrowski and Ilitch.
_________________
"We only work three hours a day, so the least we can do is give 100 percent."

Todd Jones

Subject: Re: Not liking this, but that's baseball Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:28 am

Subject: Re: Not liking this, but that's baseball Wed Aug 13, 2008 12:00 pm

Subject: Re: Not liking this, but that's baseball Thu Aug 14, 2008 2:36 pm

Subject: Re: Not liking this, but that's baseball Thu Aug 14, 2008 2:37 pm

Subject: Re: Not liking this, but that's baseball Thu Aug 14, 2008 2:38 pm

Subject: Re: Not liking this, but that's baseball Thu Aug 14, 2008 2:40 pm

Subject: Re: Not liking this, but that's baseball Thu Aug 14, 2008 3:06 pm

hence my title of this thread.....
_________________
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971

Subject: Re: Not liking this, but that's baseball Thu Aug 14, 2008 3:12 pm

Subject: Re: Not liking this, but that's baseball Sat Aug 16, 2008 4:35 am

Howdy, gang... I just signed up, even though I should have long ago. The 'other board' has gotten too crazy.

I work for a company about the size of Little Caesars. I can tell you from experience that Leyland is on the hot seat - as well as Dombrowski. Jones will be gone. Nate, too...but I'd like to see him in the bullpen. Many more will be shown the door. I think Mr. Illitch will make Dave do anything in his power to shed Sheffield, as well. Rogers may retire, and I would re-hire him as a pitching coach...but he will surely test the waters before any of that happens.

I think Illitch will operate from the standpoint that his MudHens call ups could get him 4 games under .500, so why pay out the big clams? He will anticipate the lower ticket sales for next year and cut as much fat as possible. Some of our favorites may be gone next year...but they brought it upon themselves. As a CEO, when you spend that kind of cash, you expect some level of return.

Subject: Re: Not liking this, but that's baseball Sat Aug 16, 2008 4:46 am

Welcome, ty! Glad to see you here. I watch the other board and make an occasional comment, but there's not much quality left there.
_________________
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971

Subject: Re: Not liking this, but that's baseball Sat Aug 16, 2008 4:47 am

Subject: Re: Not liking this, but that's baseball Sat Aug 16, 2008 5:10 am

Subject: Re: Not liking this, but that's baseball Sat Aug 16, 2008 5:19 am

Subject: Re: Not liking this, but that's baseball Sat Aug 16, 2008 5:24 am

Subject: Re: Not liking this, but that's baseball Sat Aug 16, 2008 5:29 am

And don't forget to come here in the off-season too. Many of us stick around...
_________________
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971

Subject: Re: Not liking this, but that's baseball Sat Aug 16, 2008 6:30 am