Still want to make jokes about the Detroit Tigers?

[Paragon]

Urbina to sign one-year, $3.5M deal
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1768000

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Reliever Ugueth Urbina was ready to sign as a free agent with the Detroit Tigers on Thursday after helping the Florida Marlins win last year's World Series.

"We have a great deal of interest in him," Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said after Detroit's 4-2 Grapefruit League win over the Atlanta Braves. "There still are one or two steps to be taken."

Urbina worked out with Detroit pitching coach Bob Cluck while manager Alan Trammell looked on. After the workout, Urbina said he had to take a physical and then intended to sign.

"I'm already home," said Urbina, who is good friends with Detroit catcher Ivan Rodriguez, the team's prize free-agent acquisition. He also knows several others on the team. Urbina passed a physical with the Cleveland Indians recently, so he expected the physical for the Tigers to be a formality...

[fameless]

1. Um....

yea?

Urbina will get about 25 save opportunities.

[Paragon]

2. Um...

Maybe you should take a look at the rest of the Tigers' new roster.

[Sandpiper]

3. So now the Tigers have become

Paper Tigers? lol

[PVnRT]

4. Yes

Who sucks the most?

The Tigers!

[NWHarkness]

5. I think there is one more trade in the works before opening day

A lot of rumors floating around about a trade for a starting pitcher. One has them sending Brandon Inge to Anaheim for Ramon Ortiz.

With Urbina on board, as well as Pudge, Rondell White, Vina, Jason Johnson, etc., I think the Tigers have a good shot at reaching .500, in a division where going .510 could take first place.

[Paragon]

7. Cool rumors

I need you to be my Michigan connection on the Tigers -- I miss 'em.

[5thGenDemocrat]

9. Detroit's starting line-up looks like this:

C-Ivan Rodriguez*
1b-Carlos Pena
2b-Fernando Vina*
ss-Carlos Guillen*
3b-Eric Munson
lf-Rondell White*
cf-Alex Sanchez*
rf-Bobby Higginson
starters: Jason Johnson*, Mike Maroth, Jeremy Bonderman, Nate Cornejo and Nate Robertson*/Gary Knotts/Estaban Yan*
middle relief: Whoever doesn't get the five spot, plus Franklin German and Al Levine*.
closer: Ugueth Urbina*.
bench: Brandon Inge, Mike DiFelice*, Craig Monroe*, probably Omar Infante and Greg Norton* (who can say with final cuts still coming -- both Detroit's and other teams)?
Good enough to make the post-season? Probably not -- even in the weak AL Central. Good enough to expect a 25-game improvement over the 43-119 record last year? Sure -- and maybe even more with some luck.
Only 13 days to the opener at Comerica.
John
And that rumored trade with the Angels DOES keep coming up, doesn't it? I'd still say there's one more move (probably but not necessarily for a starting pitcher) before Opening Day.
ON EDIT: * = players not on the roster on Opening Day 2003, just to show the effort the Tigers are putting into this (latest) rebuilding project.

[Az]

6. Baseball right?

I guess being a Detroiter I get the perogitive of whether to make jokes about them or not. Pity I am not a fan.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Meow

!!