Flanagan: Glass likes way Royals are playing the game

[keg in kc]

You mention the Tigers, and I think what they're doing is following a pattern similar to what Detroit did, where they slowly built up the payroll while bringing a bunch of minor leaguers along. Then when everything's in place, they spend money on guys like Ivan Rodriguez and Kenny Rogers, the last pieces of the puzzle.

They need to find their Pudge in 2009 or 2010; 2008's a little premature, I think. They need more development from Gordon and Butler and the young pitchers before they take that next step. And my guess is that's what they think, too, and all of this will be timed to coincide with the end of the renovations.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

You mention the Tigers, and I think what they're doing is following a pattern similar to what Detroit did, where they slowly built up the payroll while bringing a bunch of minor leaguers along. Then when everything's in place, they spend money on guys like Ivan Rodriguez and Kenny Rogers, the last pieces of the puzzle.

They need to find their Pudge in 2009 or 2010; 2008's a little premature, I think. They need more development from Gordon and Butler and the young pitchers before they take that next step. And my guess is that's what they think, too, and all of this will be timed to coincide with the end of the renovations.

I agree that this would be an ok plan, but I don't believe that this is what Pudge did for the Tigers. His first season with them was 2004, the year after the team went for a near record 43-119 in 2003. I don't know enough about other mitigating factors, but he wasn't coming as the final piece of anything, since the organization was a turd at the time. Once Pudge arrived, this signaled that big changes were occuring in Detroit.

We certainly need the players we've drafted highly to develop. Gordon must be a high-quality everyday player. Butler must continue to develop (though he's pretty bad ass right now). All I'm saying is that I don't think we can understate the impact of a stud FA, even if a team must overpay to get him. Hypothetically, if a Santana type shakes free in the off-season, there are worse things a team could do than to overpay by 3 mil or so to get him.