Fielder is a small boost for Detroit in terms of wins over VMart,but I would hesitate to pick any team that has to out slug that defense as a sure fire division winner.Let’s face it, everything went right for them last season till they ran into the Rangers.

As for Carmona,I seriously don’t care if I ever see him pitch again.Talk about frustrating!….I think giving any of the guys at AAA.(McAllister Gomez,Huff,Barnes) his starts would yield better results.

I don’t want Lee or Kotchman, I’d give Laporta another go before signing them for anything more than peanuts.

I think they’ve done a nice job fleshing out the AAA club with former major leaguers so if we see another attack of injuries it shouldn’t be catastrophic.

We’ve ponied up for our season ducats again and at least we’re excited about the season if not the off season.GO TRIBE!

Comments on comments:

@Drew and Stephanie: funny, I’ve had that same discussion with people. Clevelanders shall NEVER take off their rosy specs.

@Will – agreed. If we’re going to make a move for Ubie, we need to do SOMETHING else. We do have a chance…if we do something. Matt LaPorta’s VORP (http://www.baseballprospectus.com/sortable/index.php?cid=1012598) was .1. Not anything point one, point one. Number 572 amongst ALL batters, including pitchers! Heck, we could play Lowe at 1B – he had a 6.2 BVORP. His is the lowest VORP of any player with as many plate appearances. His season was an offensive disaster, period, much less for a 1B.

I like the Ray signing and Slowey (if healthy) might actually be an an upgrade. Cuddyer and Willingham were dreams although Cuddyer may have been the one worth making happen (versatility at 1B and great clubhouse leadership). Watching Cody Ross sign for 3 million without an apparent sniff from the Tribe (good splits v LHs) makes one wonder if the suits don’t outthink or limit themselves with preconceptions.

Tepid, at best. If this is what we can expect, why trade Pomeranz at all?

Trying to stay positive, I remind myself that the fans that are excited in the offseason (of any sport but bball) are rarely the ones happy come playoff time. Det still has some big pitching issues IMHO, both in the starting rotation and in the bullpen. Obviously, they think the offense can overcome that and it very well may…..but the games aren’t played on paper!

Matt LaPorta drives me absolutely insane, but when I try to take a look at his numbers in an unbiased manner, they’re not that awful. I’d be okay with him at first, but I really hoped for a free agent signing to maybe light a fire under him.

I’ve thought that myself about Heredia…that has to be a lot of additional pressure maintaining that lie all of those years. Especially if you’re being pressured by the real Fausto Carmona back in the Dominican Republic to cough up more money, or risk having your secret exposed.