Lynn Henning reports today that the Tigers still see Chris Shelton in the big picture (i.e., 25th man or Toledo’s starting first baseman):

The Tigers, however, are in no mood to trade Shelton. Not yet. And certainly not until they receive better offers.Dave Dombrowski, the Tigers president and general manager, said Monday that three teams had called with inquiries about the first baseman.

“They think they’re gonna get him for nothing,” Dombrowski said on Day 1 of the winter meetings. “But we like him.”

My how things have changed. I don’t know about you, but I’d much rather send Alexis Gomez to the plate as a pinch-hitter than Shelton.

Did anyone’s stock rise more than Gomez’s in the post-season? I was at the game in Oakland when he smacked that bomb of a homer.

Speaking of lefty hitters, has anyone seen anything anywhere online about Dmitri Young getting a sniff from any team — even as a non-roster invitee?

Surely the Devil Rays would want both Young brothers in camp wouldn’t they?

Technorati Tags: Alexis Gomez, Chris Shelton, Daily Fungo, Dave Dombrowski, Detroit Tigers

If you haven’t noticed, sometimes I let my heart rule when my head should take the lead. At least I’m honest about it.

Today’s wish list is another one-item-only ditty: Don’t trade Mike Maroth.

Both Detroit papers today feature stories in which Dave Dombrowski talks about how much the Tigers like Maroth and, if healthy, he’s the fifth starter.

True, Double-D admits that his ears are always open but I’ve got a sense that it will take (in the words of George Kell) a whale of a deal to move the face of that 2003 team. Read: “Take Monroe and Maroth and then we’ll start talking.”

This is where the heart/head debate begins.

My heart says: Maroth has endured the lowest of the low in Detroit baseball history. Now that the team is a bona fide contender, let him enjoy the spoils! (Yes, I may have been the only one in Detroit who felt bad that John Wockenfuss couldn’t revel in the 1984 season.)

My head responds: He’s a major-league arm. If he gets us a left-handed bat with some punch, so be it. Make the deal.

I’m still holding out hope for a miracle blockbuster that brings Todd Helton to Detroit.

What do you think?

Technorati Tags: Craig Monroe, Daily Fungo, Detroit Tigers, Mike Maroth

I think Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year. After my birthday, that is.

Other than a trip to Costco or the grocery store, there’s little shopping to be done and it’s an automatic four-day weekend.

What’s not to love? (Insert Lions-related punchline here.)

We Tigers fans have much — much! — to be thankful for this year: the fast start, a short-lived-but-still-astounding double-digit division lead, All-Stars up the wazoo, lots of walk-off homers, and an indescribable post-season run, pennant and World Series appearance.

Yep. Lots to be thankful for. I’m also thankful for loyal readers of the Daily Fungo and listeners to The DFP. You’ve been a huge part of this conversation all year.

I’m thankful, too, for all the great Tigers blogs that are out there. The passion about the Tigers brings out some great writing, ranting and raving. It also helps this blogger realize that no, it’s not crazy to fire off a late-night post about first-pitch swinging or leaving too many men on base.

Yep. Lots to be thankful for.

I hope your Thanksgiving was a happy and relaxing one. Enjoy your long weekend!

It should come as no surprise that today the Tigers’ Justin Verlander was named the American League Rookie of the Year.

Too bad our last memory of Verlander in his rookie year will be that ill-advised, ill-placed throw to the left-field line in Game 5 of the World Series.

Still, this guy is the goods and probably hasn’t seen the last of postseason awards in his career.

Technorati Tags: Detroit Tigers, Justin Verlander

The Tigers offseason improvement program began in earnest today. They acquired Gary Sheffield from the Yankees for Humberto Sanchez and minor-league pitchers Kevin Whelan and Anthony Claggett. (Hat tip to Josh Wallen.)

Now, where do they plan on playing him? Left field? Third? Let’s hope it’s not first base.

This is a huge first step. What’s next?

Last night the local baseball team, the Arizona Diamondbacks, introduced new colors, new uniforms and, soon, a reinvigorated revenue stream.

Yippee.

The team jettisoned — thank God — the purple and went with more desert-like colors. I like them and feel the update was overdue…which is strange for a team that’s only nine years old.

Since the the mid 1990s, when the new-stadium rage began, new team unis have been occurring across the majors every year.

Thankfully, though, not in the case of the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers’ home uniforms are, in this fan’s opinion, the best in baseball, period. The roadies are nothing special but those home whites put other teams’ unis to shame.

It’s funny, though, isn’t it? The Tigers home uniforms may have changed once in the early 1900s but never since. The D’backs? Twice in nine years. Go figure.

Technorati Tags: Detroit Tigers

Just saw on MLB.com that Kirk Gibson will likely join Bob Melvin‘s staff as bench coach for the Diamondbacks.

That would certainly be a good move for the morose franchise. The team took on Melvin’s sleepy demeanor and plays with little-to-no fire (Eric Byrnes not included) game in and game out.

Gibby would light a fire, I’d presume, under this team and would be the logical choice to replace Melvin, methinks, should the 2007 season go south for Arizona.

And as for the bench coach role, when did this become de rigeur? Remember when Billy Consolo was on Sparky‘s staff for years in the ’80s and we all wondered what the hell he did all day?

He didn’t coach a base, a bullpen, pitchers or hitters. Chances are, he was the prototype for today’s bench coach.

Gibby in the desert. Nice.

The MLB award season has begun and today Gold Glove winners were announced. Among them were the Tigers’ Kenny Rogers and Pudge Rodriguez.

Nice.

Watch for Manager of the Year and Rookie of the Year in the next week or so.

Technorati Tags: Detroit Tigers, Kenny Rogers, Pudge Rodriquez

It’s been almost a week since my last post and I’m just now emerging from my post-World Series malaise. How is it possible that the Tigers were in the World Series but a week ago and now it seems like they haven’t played in weeks?

Probably because they lost.

Good news, though, this week (today in fact) that Tigers President, CEO and GM Dave Dombrowski has signed an extension through the 2011 season. This is huge. I’ve always been a big fan of Dombrowski (partially because of his roots at Western Michigan) but because the guy always has a plan and has won everywhere. How can you argue.

With this move, and the extensions of key front-office honchos John Westhoff, David Chadd, Al Avila, Scott Reid, means the Tigers will have the continuity they’ve lacked since the Jim Campbell/Bill Lajoie (another WMU alum) days.

Huge.

Technorati Tags: Dave Dombrowski, Detroit Tigers

Well, it’s moving time at The Daily Fungo.

Over the next few weeks I’ll be doing a major refurb on the site and transition from the MLBlogs site. I decided I really didn’t want to pay them $5 a month and have them place ads on my site.

Forgive our dust. We’ll continue regular updates later this week.

— Mike