Shock!

Tonight, I found out that the Detroit Tigers had unconditionally released Dmitri Young. Dave Dombrowski says it's purely based on performance, but I have to beleive -- as has been discussed on this blog and at Jimmy Leyland's Boys -- there is more to the DY story. Following an 0-3 (with two strike outs) night, the team informed DY that he was cut.

DY is one of the original players who said he wanted to stay in Detroit when he was acquired. Of course, the cash the team offered probably helped him want to stay. He was picked up in exchange for "future star" Juan Encanarcion. DY played well in the D at times, but after his three-homer Opening Day in '05, he floundered. He was oft-injured as a Tiger.

Earlier in the year, though, we began to speculate that maybe Young is somewhat of a clubhouse problem, similar to Bobby Higginson in his last season(s) for the team. Young left for a while to deal with personal issues and the like and we thought that he might never return. However, he did return and the only thing Manager Jim Leyland would say is, "If he contributes, he will play" or something to that effect. I wondered if Leyland was much of a DY fan ... now, I think we have the answer.

Perhaps this is analogous to the Lions cutting Charles Rogers: a move meant to inspire the team, light a fire, etc. Here's hoping that it has the effect the manager desires. On another note ... that's one designated hitting first baseman down, a few to go. No matter what happens here on out (and I still think the Tigers will make the playoffs) the Tigers will have an entirely different hitting corps next year.

I don't think we'll necessarily adopt the "moneyball" approach to hitting (i.e. high onbase percentage), but I do think we'll have a team that is more patient and professional, working counts. I actually can envision something like an early- to mid- 80s St. Louis Cardinals approach: a team built around speed, defense, and pitching. It no longer makes sense for the Tigers hitters to be built for playing on the road -- they play 81 games in Comerica National Park, after all.

Wow! I am amazed at today's developments and cannot wait to read/hear more about it tomorrow. Thanks for tuning in. Go Tigers! Beat the Twinkies!