They're going to be an old, lousy team next year, aren't they?

Yup. Old and lousy.

I read on USS Mariner that Detroit claimed Sexson on waivers, and Seattle pulled him back. Mind boggling if true. If you don't realize that ridding yourself of a $15 mil. sub-replacement level player is a GOOD thing, you have no hope.

They will definitely be inferior next year. And, given that the team is unlikely to outperform its Pythag record in 2008 to the same extent it has done in 2007, the drop from a "too-good" 2007 to 2008 will look even worse than it really is. As a result, McLaren may find himself on the hot seat in the second half of next season.

They're going to be an old, lousy team next year, aren't they?

Depends if Mac and Bavasi keep their jobs. They believe in 'veteran loyalty' which is why Ibanez and Sexson continue to be (and were until Sexson's "injury") trotted out there ahead of Adam Jones. Brewer hits on some pretty good points this morning. And his plastic and windows analogy is perfect. The M's are afraid to go, 'we stink and need to make some major adjustments. please hang tight and stick with us'. Instead, they pass off the team every year as thisclose to contending. There are some awesome pieces to the puzzle here, but Weaver/HoRam/ect. aren't it.

They've overachieved this year, despite Sexson's disastrous season. They're one of those teams that when you look at their roster, you think "What the hell? How do these guys not have the same record as Baltimore??" The starting pitching beyond King Felix is kind of a mess, the line-up has some decent hitters but the heart of the order isn't exactly Ortiz/Manny and when you get right down to it, they're still just a medicore team (but with one of the greatest hitters ever leading off for them.) They need a couple of Ted Lilly-type signings: solid starters who won't cost too much and a legitimate power threat to replace Sexson. Don't know who they could realistically get to fill the holes that need filling, though.

I read on USS Mariner that Detroit claimed Sexson on waivers, and Seattle pulled him back. Mind boggling if true. If you don't realize that ridding yourself of a $15 mil. sub-replacement level player is a GOOD thing, you have no hope.

At the time this would have happened, Seattle was still right behind the Angels. It would have been a great move in that you rid 15 million of contract and at the very least get no worse on the field, and likely better. I assume Broussard would play 1B or Ibanez moves there so Jones can play left.

But imagine the perception of this move: You've already had some veterans complain about giving rookies playing time, and there would be this great outcry about the Mariners subtracting when conventional wisdom tells you to add a big player. If Seattle went ahead and collapsed anyway then everyone (players, Seattle media, national media to the extent that they notice baseball is played in Seattle) would be searching for a reason why they collapsed, give no heed to the tough schedule in early september or run differential all season, and put the blame on the "white flag" of trading their big homerun threat.

Bavasi may or may not have realized Sexson has negative value, but from his perspective, what's the point of having 15 million extra to spend if the team fires you?

Also, what the hell were the Tigers thinking?

Bavasi may or may not have realized Sexson has negative value, but from his perspective, what's the point of having 15 million extra to spend if the team fires you?

I guess that's why you should never have a lame duck or equivalent. If a GM doesn't have management's confidence, get rid of him now.

Also, what the hell were the Tigers thinking

?

Good question. I think Sexson is close to the worst contact in baseball. Mitigated only by the fact that there's only 1 year left.

The Tigers have lots of money and were desperate. Kind of like the Yankees!

I just like saying "I get my sex on with Richie Sexson."

Also, what the hell were the Tigers thinking?

They were thinking, "Sean Casey is hitting .287/.347/.381, and there isn't any prospect of him getting better. At least Sexson has some bounceback possibility."

Unless, of course, your question was "Also, what the hell were the Tigers thinking when they resigned Sean Casey?" That's a very difficult question to answer.

LSD?