Tigers Sign Fielder

[RipCity32]

Like I said before, I got to the point with Cabrera where I wasn't worried about his fielding at first. I was comfortable with him there. I thought he was solid. I don't really care what stats say otherwise.

 

[WHO-DEY-BENGALS_18]

Now, it's all on manager Jim Leyland — as well as Dombrowski — to make various square pegs fit into a roster's assorted round holes.

The bats, no question, are World Series-caliber. But baseball is finicky and treacherous. Pitching still counts most. And pitching is reliant on defense.

And Tuesday's reports that Fielder is Detroit-bound made it incumbent that the Tigers win games with starting pitching and with an offense capable of out-pummeling other teams that will show the Tigers' pitchers and defenders no mercy.

Those who consider this dark-side stuff out of place amid the Fielder merriment are kidding themselves.

Baseball is unforgiving. It takes talent and superstars and reduces them to rubble if a team doesn't play with three-part harmony consisting of pitching, hitting, and, yes, defense.

And there must be equilibrium among those dynamic three elements if a team hopes to win a World Series, or even qualify for October's drama.

Leyland and the Tigers can do it. And this story can be as festive in October as it is on a snowy day in January a week after the Tigers were crushed by news of Victor Martinez's loss.

Third base and Cabrera are the linchpins. If a man who plays a very good first base can transfer to the most difficult position on the infield, and play acceptably there, the Tigers are in clover.




Hmmm

 

[RipCity32]

Locking this up. Thread is going no where.