By: Holly Horning & Kurt Snyder
As we get closer to kicking off the annual Winter Meetings, the Tigers have continued to make moves. It’s been a revolving door over the past week as new Tigers have arrived while others have left.
Our writers have a lot on their minds; with opinions on an array of topics. It’s been an interesting week for sure.
HOLLY
QUESTION
During last week’s media event, Mr. I articulated that Dave Dombrowski knew his contract was up and that it would not be renewed. When he was released, Dave claimed he was shocked that it happened. For someone so intelligent, how could he not know his tenure as GM was coming to a close given that he hadn’t accomplished Mr. I’s goal and hadn’t had any contract extension talks?
CONCERN
Lynn Henning’s recent column about why he wasn’t voting for the Hall of Fame generated a hailstorm of criticism on the Detroit News social media thread, including one from a well-known author and member of the BBWAA. A day later, the newspaper removed readers’ ability to read comments or post to the column. So much for freedom of speech.
COMMENT
Toronto’s remake of their Front Office could benefit the Detroit Tigers with their acquisition of Cleveland’s top 2 executives. The Indians now have a new President and GM which almost always means the manager will be replaced with one of their own choosing. It is rumored that Terry Francona has an opt-out clause if his GM and President leave the organization, which they did at the end of the season.
KURT
COMMENT
Those who are underwhelmed by the signing of Mike Pelfrey to seemingly fill the final spot in the starting rotation, I wouldn’t be so sure about the Tigers’ plans. One failed year for a still young Shane Greene shouldn’t spell the end of his opportunity as injuries may have stifled any success last season. It would not surprise me if he exited the spring back in that rotation.
QUESTION
Do you believe in addition by subtraction? The Tigers are clearly ridding themselves of the dead wood in that bullpen in order to make room for new blood. And I can’t say that I disagree with any of the moves to remove Al Al, Feliz and Ian Krol.
CONCERN
Unless the Tigers pull a blockbuster trade out of their hat; all that is left to do is reinforce that infamous bullpen of theirs. So we will all collectively hold our breath hoping that the decisions we make will finally shore up a weakness that has plagued this franchise and potentially cost them titles. I still smell a big trade coming that may bring us pieces we didn’t expect.
Totally Tigers 
Kurt, I agree. I have a sneaky suspicion that we’re going to get a solid left fielder. Maybe Cespedes isn’t out of the picture because of the team’s abundance of Latin players. Maybe a run at Heyward. I think Avila is not done yet and yes, he’ll add more cheap, bullpen pieces.
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Holly wrote a concern that the News committed a foul by limiting reader comments. Didn’t you do the same with my Lloyd McClendon comment Holly? It was not critical of anyone. I commented on the bigger Tiger signing news of that post day. My submission was limited…never posted. No response as to why either. And we shall see here again with this one.
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Hi, Matt – I’m glad we can address your question here. First, there are a number of us who are responsible for posting the comments. Everything is based upon the rules listed under the COMMENTS/RULES link at the top of the page. From what I gather, you posted about a topic other than that of the day’s blog topic. Under the subject “Formatting”, you will see that posts of different subjects will be excluded. If you’d like to submit your comment for the Legendary Lloyd Lives! blog, we’ll be happy to post it there. Thanks for writing to let us know about your concern. – Holly
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Good point and reference on the rules.
I’ll admit I was way juiced about the signing of JZ that day more than the suddenly old news of Lloyd. My impatience is the fault and the wonderful and surprising pace of moves by Avila. Our Totally Tigers blog here is more fine wine. (Carefully crafted and savored) than instant cup a soup. (Zapped quickly – burn tongue)
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Great series of comments. I was surprised about all the angst related to the Palfrey signing. Verlander and Sanchez delivering quality full seasons would be the bigger key. I am encouraged that Avila has been confidently aggressive with minors staff and mlb roster. He seems to have a plan.
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Henning’s column can still be read. Comments can’t be posted. That is the News prerogative. It is not limiting freedom of speech. Censoring Henning would have been an issue but they didn’t do that. I read a lot of online news and it is common to censor or prohibit reader comments. I’m more bothered by the NYT’s policy of letting “this” reader post but not “that” reader.
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Hi, BBB – I did indicate that the column, but not the comments, can still be read. While every site has its own rules, the News’ action is more about protecting a reputation and click traffic, while minimizing the social media impact. Yet to publish comments when it suits, and remove them all after the fact when it doesn’t, is a breech of freedom of speech when you disallow comments that don’t support the organization. Freedom of speech is the right to express opinions without any restraint or censorship.
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Fair enough. Still not a big deal in my book. All readers were treated equally and the News doesn’t owe anyone but it’s staff the right to publish. I will say that I disagree with Henning on this one and probably would have said so had I had the opportunity to post a comment.
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I too smell a trade coming, possibly to address the leftfield situation. That might explain both the fact and the timing of the Pelfrey signing. Maybe Avila does not want to rely on Boyd, Fulmer, Lobstein, or Greene, each of whom has a better upside than Pelfrey, winning the #5 starter job because he plans on using one or more of them as trade pieces.
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I read a good article comparing Doug Fister and Mike Pelfrey. Pelfrey will benefit from better defense. Pelfrey is a cheaper option of what Fister was and that Fister is now not what he was.
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