MLB: The Randy Smith Question

Trader Randy made another great deal for the Detroit Tigers.

He got a hot headed catcher to replace a catcher that is a veteran who liked Detroit and handled the pitching staff well. Of course, he also got a center fielder who played about half the year because of injuries and does not hit real well.

Not only that, he got a pitcher that I'm sure no one has heard of outside of Houston. He also gave up a very good set up man and another middle reliever that is coming into his own. Randy Smith, what are you doing?

Brad Ausmus was maybe the most valuable player on the Detroit Tigers last year. Their pitching staff was not very good, but he handled them very well and got the most out of them. The Tigers had him several years ago, traded him to Houston, got him back, and now trades him again. Do you have a clue as to what you want, Mr. Smith? He liked it here and was pretty durable.

The new catcher you just got is young, has a hot temper, and was not very well liked by his teammates. Good move, trader Randy. We already have a center fielder like Roger Cedeno. Juan Encarnacion is a fast man who hits OK and fields OK. Giving up on Doug Brocail and Nelson Cruz is a mistake. The Tigers need pitching above everything. I just don't understand it.

However, I should be used to it.

Randy Smith got Juan Gonzalez last year. This is a man who always had great numbers, but was no team player or leader. He had the reputation of sitting out games for hang nails or lesser injuries. The Detroit Tigers gave up alot of young talent for him. Gonzalez does not want to be the man for any team, nor did he want to play in Detroit. But Smith got him anyway. So now Juan does not want arbitration and will likely leave Detroit, and we lost all those young guys for nothing.

Also, why does Smith only trade with Houston, San Diego or Texas? There are other teams in the major leagues. Is he helping out his friends? Does he get a kick back for giving those teams what they want? Is he just stupid? Or is it all of the above?

Whatever you think, I cannot believe he still has a job with the Tigers. They have done nothing to improve their record in many years. If Ilitch handled his hockey team in the same manner, their would be an uproar in Detroit. I guess it just goes to show that baseball in Detroit is not as healthy as it once was. They need a ballpark that caters to kids, not watching the game, but riding a ferris wheel or playing games away from the real game going on.

Teams usually don't put up with a manager who doesn't win or show any improvement, why does Ilitch put up with a general manager who has done nothing in his regime? I really don't understand it. I realize that Randy Smith is under strict orders not to spend too much money. But why did he get Gonzalez in the first place? Pat Hengten wanted to sign with the Tigers, and they did not even make an offer. Why? His agent even said he probably would have taken less money to play for Detroit but was not given an offer. He won the Cy Young award in 1996. The Tigers need pitching. Tell the fans why you are doing what you are doing, Randy!

Finally, why did the Tigers and Mike Ilitch lobby for a new stadium if they did not want to try to put a quality team on the field. Even the players are concerned as to what the management is doing. I understand business, but the Tigers should have stayed in Tiger Stadium if they were only trying to be mediocre.

The bottom line is these trades that Randy Smith makes do not make sense. Juan Gonzalez is likely gone. He played only when he felt like it and did not like Detroit at all. Now he gets rid of a solid catcher, proven set up man, and an up and coming reliever for a often hurt center fielder, a hot-headed catcher, and a mediocre pitcher. Tell the fans why you are doing what you are doing. You should be fired Randy Smith. Get someone in there who really cares about the players and the team. I don't need an Alex Rodriguez to be happy. Just make an effort for the Pat Hengtens that want to play here. Mike Ilitch, if you don't want to deal with the Tigers, sell them. Otherwise, treat them like you do the Detroit Red Wings. Get a great general manager and a great manager, fill the holes in the lineup, and win the championship.