Grilli is garbage. we brought in our worst reliever to face their best hitter. he gave up a three-run shot putting the game out of reach. all the strikeouts that came after are meaningless. He failed in the job he was brought in to do. he became mop-up after that.

Also, the rumor is that the Phillies want Thames and Miner for Abreu. I say no way. you don’t trade thames. We need to add a big bat. not replace a big bat with another big bat. Offer them Monrore/miner/ and a 3rd player. we need abreau and thames to both be in the lienup to counter thome Kornerko. The Idea of Dmitri Young coming back gives me an upset stomach. I fear the worst.

I do too, Michael. I think they’re going to wait and see if Young can step in and hit. You and I both know that he can’t. He’s awful.

They may not want to mortgage any of the future to get an a couple dozen extra runs, but I think they should go ahead and trade someone like Sanchez. We have pitching depth, and Sanchez is no guarantee to pan out anyway. I know they’re trying to make the team stronger for the future, but I honestly do not believe we’re going to have an opportunity like this again soon. Things are not always going to work out the way they have this year, with few major injuries and huge contributions from guys like Miner in place of a pitcher who came out of nowhere to turn into the peak version of Andy Pettitte. Guys like Ordonez and Guillen are fragile, Pudge only has so much left in the tank, and guys like Robertson are likely doing the best pitching of their lives.

Rogers has already started to fade. Robertson is falling off his annual cliff. How will Maroth pitch when he gets back? Can Miner keep it up? Does Verlander have the kind of stamina it takes to throw 220 or 230 innings? We can mitigate some of these concerns by picking up Abreu, who will be worth at least a couple of wins more than Monroe over the next 2 and a half months. I say pull the trigger. As they say, “The flag flies forever.”

Bingo, Dan. There is no such thing as a pitching prospect. When you can get a proven bat like Abreu in the lineup, you’ve got to pull the trigger. Not only would they be adding that elusive left-handed bat, but a trade for a bona fide star would energize the city and get people talking.

Better make some noise tonight, they’re on ESPN so I actually get to watch them here in Columbus for a change.

I agree. we have a great chance to make a run. a chance like this probably wont be there next year. Make the move now. I would not move Thames as Parker suggested in the news today. but then again… Parker is a moron so there is probably no validity to his yammerings. IF they want sanchez then give them sanchez. Go get abreu! stop using Grili and close game situations! this year is our best chance. if we win it then we will forgive Dombrowski if Sanchez becomes a hall of famer. Like you said, as of now he is unproven. he is a massive prospect but we have no idea if he will pan out. Mark Prior was a prospect of legendary proportions and everyone put down the twins for not signing hm…well?

.291/.348/.479 Those are DY’s career numbers, so while he is not an impact player like Abreu he is not awful. If he comes back with his head on straight he can DH a little and give breaks to Shelton and Inge…I know his defense isn’t great but he could become a useful member of the bench.

I say go for Abreu as long as the commitment isn’t crazy. What about someone cheaper, maybe Ryan Kelsko? He has been hurt all year but he is close to playing and has already made statement about retiring after the year so he could be had for cheap and with no long term commitment.

Dmitri Young as of 2006 is completely awful. He had declined rapidly over the last 3 years and is now well below replacement level. he is terrible. i would rather see Alexis Gomez hitting instead of Young and I think that Alexis Gomez shouldn’t be on the roster.

I don’t want Young getting too many at bats. He has been declining steadily. He simply isn’t very good.

Klesko is similar, and coming back from the injury there’s a risk of him not having any pop. Abreu is a terrific ballplayer who always performs. Even when he slumps the walks are always there, and he’s going to hit doubles and homers. He is on the back end of his prime but still performing at a high level. He is a player who will unquestionably provide at least a few wins more than some combination of Monroe and Infante would. We need to put the White Sox away, and it will probably take a couple of extra wins. Abreu is by far the best option.

Of course it MIGHT be nice to have Young around, Ryan, but it’s not something you can bank on to help the Tigers.

Young is terrible and finished as a ballplayer. We need to look elsewhere. this is our best chance is over 20 years to grab the brass ring. We need to get rid of those who choke girlfreinds and those who steal 30 dollar belts…

DY might or might not be finished as a player, but since we are paying him 8 million mine as well see what he has in the tank. For all you know his decline could have been due to his partying ways. If he has himself straight then who is to say he can’t help this team. Don’t be so quick to bury a guy.

I know Craig Monroe has been a whipping boy around here, but man did he come through. Grand slam!!

I don’t have a problem with Grilli yet. I want to like him, but his performances so far, especially in key situations, have been largely dissapointing.

I only saw the last couple innings of Tuesday’s game but WOW did he have his curve working. I’m not the least bit supprised he struck out as many as he did with that thing moving like it was.

Man, the amount of Tigers love coming from the ESPN booth tonight was hilarious. Apparently both Hershiser and Phillips are Detroit-area guys. Complimenting the uniform (“the finest in baseball”), talking about ’68 and ’84, talking about how great of a baseball town Detroit is. . .magnificent.

Hey, I’ll definitely take that slam! I hope this doesn’t fool the Tigers into thinking he’s any good. It’s important to recognize just how awful Vazquez’s pitch was. With 2 strikes all he had to do was drop a hard slider low and away, and Monroe likely would have hacked at it. Instead, he got the fattest pitch ever, a slow, hanging slider, thigh high, right over the middle of the plate. Credit Monroe for doing with that pitch what is supposed to be done, but don’t forget that this is the only type of pitch Monroe clobbers at this point.

Dan, you are absolutely right. Monroe had already missed a couple of those sliders earlier in the at bat. That hanger was the exact same pitch Pudge tattooed for a double earlier in the game.

Yeah, bad pitch. I’m watching the 3rd game right now. What is with the hit-and-run nonsense? Again, it get us intoa double play with good hitters coming up. Stupid!

Hey, when the hit-and-run works out let me know. So far it has not worked out for us AT ALL.