T1B

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Glad this mini-soap opera is over. I was convinced he'd end up with the Mets but a nice add by the Marlins. I still like the Braves in NL East but the Marlins make a jump up the ladder...I'd put them just ahead of the Mets with the Phillies in fourth.


And now for my obligitory Tiger nugget...Tigers in talks with Magglio Ordonez. I'd be down with this for sure if he is going to be back at 100% when he returns. The Tigers need a power bat in the outfield...I can't handle another season of Bobby Higginson.

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marlins, mets, phils and braves in one division. pretty tough.

Yeah, as Jays fan I totally agree with Shoalzie. The yapping about his imminent departure has been going on forever and I'm glad that everyone will shut up about it now.

Nice pick up for the fish, not all he has to do is learn to hit National League pitching.


Sin,

Griffey

Imagine if pudge had stuck around. Man this is gonna be awesome season for the Marlins and could spark them into being a serious contender throughout the decade. It would be awesome if within 3 years they beat both the yankees and red sox in the world series. I'm looking forward to another Cubs-Marlins NLCS which could become like 49ers/Cowboys matchups in the early 90s.

[sarcasm]bace phils really made impactuful offseason moves signing the greats Jose Offerman and Terry Adams... [/sarcasm]

fatboy, don't ever question the 314 when it comes to baseball.

The Phillies made a great addition in "that guy who's qualification includes not being Larry Bowa."

So that means for the 2005 NL East:

Atlanta
Florida
Philadelphia
New York
Washington

In the order from 1 to 5 in finishes. With Delgado the Marlins are going to challenge for the East title... B)

Shoalzie wrote:Tigers in talks with Magglio Ordonez. I'd be down with this for sure if he is going to be back at 100% when he returns. The Tigers need a power bat in the outfield...I can't handle another season of Bobby Higginson.

Seems he's been there close to forever. Higginson's the type of player
who's always going to be replaced, but somehow it never happens.
Perhaps he has a voodoo doll of Mike Ilitch in his locker. :twisted:

Funkywhiteboy wrote:

Shoalzie wrote:Tigers in talks with Magglio Ordonez. I'd be down with this for sure if he is going to be back at 100% when he returns. The Tigers need a power bat in the outfield...I can't handle another season of Bobby Higginson.

Seems he's been there close to forever. Higginson's the type of player
who's always going to be replaced, but somehow it never happens.
Perhaps he has a voodoo doll of Mike Ilitch in his locker. :twisted:

Here's hoping...

Ordonez is supposedly back and working out now for teams that are interested picking him up. I read a while back that he was going to be out until May but I guess his surgery must've went well. He'd be a helluva signing for anyone who missed out on the big names earlier in the winter. I'm sure the Tigers will have to compete with the Orioles and Mets, who always seem to have money burning a hole in their pockets and since they both missed out on Delgado. The Rangers are looking for a DH...I don't know if Ordonez would be interested in playing that role exclusively.

Ordonez update...sounds like he is interested in Detroit. The Tigers supposedly made him an offer and his agent sent a counter-offer. Dombrowski is downplaying the situation but then again, he was tight-lipped about Pudge last year...ironically another Boras client. The Tigers have a decent relation with him.

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Just daydreaming (my projected 25-man roster)...

C-Ivan Rodriguez
1B-Carlos Pena
2B-Omar Infante
3B-Brandon Inge
SS-Carlos Guillen
LF-Rondell White
CF-Alex Sanchez
RF-Magglio Ordonez
DH-Dmitri Young

Bench--Bobby Higginson (OF), Ramon Martinez (IF), Craig Monroe (OF), Jason Smith (IF), Vance Wilson (C)

Rotation
1. Jeremy Bonderman
2. Nate Robertson
3. Mike Maroth
4. Jason Johnson
5. Wil Ledezma

Bullpen--Franklyn German, Gary Knotts, Fernando Rodney, Jamie Walker, Ugueth Urbina

Closer-Troy Percival


Call me crazy but I think that's a AL Central contender...an 85-win team atleast. It would be the best lineup the Tigers have had in a long time. Percival and Urbina will hopefully secure the 8th and 9th...just gotta get some good pitching in the middle. The rotation should continue to progress but still lack the #1 that I've wanted. Hopefully the bats will pull through again this season to steal a few wins.