No, this has nothing to do with law or elections or anything like that. This is being written because this blog receives an average of 1400 hits per week, and with any luck, someone somewhere will pick it up and send it to Mr. Ilitch.
Dear Mr. Ilitch,
I know being the owner of a professional sports team in Detroit in this economy can't be that easy. (Well actually, I don't know that for sure, but I'm just guessing.) And before I go any further, I have to commend you for your persistence in trying to field a World Series caliber team despite the economic downturn. I really do.
But I recently heard through the grapevine from those at the GM meeting in Chicago this week that you're looking to dump salaries. I can understand the temptation I suppose. But considering this year's team was one game away from the playoffs, and is only a few years removed from the World Series, I can only muster up one question.
WTF? (Pardon my Gaelic)
Seriously. Now I'm not talking in terms of a lifelong Detroit native who lost his job at the plans and has only the Tigers as an outlet for any hope of existence. I'm coming from the lifelong Tigers fan who still considers 1984 the greatest year ever. The kid who played Little League for the Tigers. The adult whose dream job is already your job; owner of the Detroit Tigers.
There have been any number of decisions of your's that I haven't agreed with over the years. First and foremost, the building of Comerica Park. Awful. Really, awful. You should have done what the Yankees did recently by simply building a new version of old Tigers Stadium. I know I'm not the only one that considers Tigers Stadium to have been one of the greatest cathedrals of baseball. I totally agree with my law school professor, a lifelong Tiger's fan from Michigan, in saying way to screw that up.
But an even bigger catastrophe would be to dismantle this Tigers team. Why would you want to move Curtis Granderson, Edwin Jackson, or the heart-and-soul of the team, Brandon Inge? These are guys that bleed for the Tigers. Not unlike their fans. And you want to screw them all.
I will give you that Granderson is undisciplined at the plate at times. He swings at the first pitch far too often, especially with runners in scoring position and less than two outs. But my god, man. Have you not seen his potential? The kid makes Griffey-like plays in center, and when he's good at the plate, he's wicked good. And you want to give that up?
And Edwin Jackson? A kid you traded for last year, who oh by the way, turns out to be one of the best off-season trades, who comes in and turns into a dominant All-Star? Did you see the way he shut down teams this year? I bought DirectTv's Extra Innings this year. I loved Rod Allen constantly heaping praise on Jackson for becoming just an absolute workhorse. He is.
Finally, there is Brandon Inge. Again, I have to simply ask WTF? Are you even listening to Dombrowski? Because I can't believe he's telling you to dump Inge. He is a ballplayer. He's not the most athletic. He's not the most skilled. But he gives everything he has out there. On two bad knees for most of the season, too. I suppose you would have dumped Kirk Gibson or Lance Parrish back in the day, too.
The point I'm making is this team is too close to blow up. If you really felt this way, why did you let Ordonez's option vest this year? The answer is you knew this team can win the Series. It's that simple. What happened at the end of this year shouldn't be taken as a sign of decline, but rather a learning experience. This is a good young team. They have the talent to win the Series.
If you don't keep this team together, then you will have sacrificed all the good will bestowed upon you by the fine people of Detroit and Tigers' fans around the globe. You'll just become another greedy sports owner looking to make a buck with a professional team. The good you've done will forever be forgotten. That you put millions back into not only a team, but a city that desperately needed it, will be written off. You'll be a cliche.
This is a good team. Listen to your baseball people. Listen to Leyland and Dombrowski. This team can win. And they can win now.
The only question is will you give them a chance?
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