Pontiac or SCS

The Cubs announced officially this week that we will be moving to the St. Clair Shores league for next season. This is of course a huge decision for our ball club and presents a big change for the upcoming season. Both leagues have there positives and negatives but in the end we felt it was the right move for our team. Below I will run through some of the differnces and reasons for why we have choosen to move.

For me, probably the biggest reason for the move is the yearly uncertainty of the Pontiac league. While I was told that as of today the Pontiac league will be run as it was last year I was also told that come Jan or Feb that could change. With the dire straights the City of Pontiac is in they might decide that while the league does cover most of its costs it is not all inclusive and therefore does cost the city some money. And with this decision possibly not being make until after the SCS deadline we did not want to chance it, like we did last year, and get shut out of playing somewhere. Now do I think this will happen, no, but it could and just helped out our decision.

The other main factor that drove us away from Pontiac was the field conditions. After playing in some tournaments this summer we realized that even what other called "not that great of fields" were better than what we play on. Pontiac has redone the skin of the infields in recent years (3-4 years ago) but since then they have not been kept up and the grass of the infield and the bumpy out field are truely an injury hazard. SCS plays most of their games at Kyte Monroe and by all accounts these are very nice fields. We will also play some games at Mt Clemens and Bishop Gallahger which both are better then Pontiac.

Another difference that intrigued the Cubs was that SCS is a wood bat league. As a pitcher this of course appeals to me but as a team we have played in some wood bat tournaments and have really liked the way the game is played and I think I speak for the whole team when I say we have always wondered what it would be like to use wood for a whole season. This I don't think was a major or the most important factor but was a plus in the direction of SCS.

Pontiac of course had its pluses. Pontiac plays straight American League rules (except for metal bats and 7 innings). This made the games very interesting from a managerial standpoint. It sometimes made it difficult to get players in games but it also made it more about just playing, there was some strategy involved in who you played and where and when. SCS has some modified rules that while make things easier on the manager they seem like they will take something away from the game. At the same time though they allow flexibility as the Cubs players get older. (SCS allows for more than 9 batters and fielding is independent from the hitting lineup).

Pontiac is also associated with the NABF which is always a fun exprience and makes for a nice "prize" for reaching the League Championshio Series. The SCS league is an MABL league with no post-season bid associated with winning their league.

SCS of course also has its negatives. While some of the rules allow for flexibilty they also, as stated above, can take something away from the true game of baseball. However, the main negative from my view is the age limit. You must be 23 or turning 23 in the calendar year to play in the league. This of course hurts as it takes a few players away from us that we added last year. It also, in my opinion, makes it tougher to recruite backup players. A lot of Cubs players who were not starters were younger players looking to prove themselves and while they wanted to play they were willing to wait there turn and start as backup players.

The other negative with SCS is the costs. They will go up at least $1000 for the team. All this means though is that we will have to secure a sponsor or do more fundraising. It will be nice though not having to pay the umpires at the game.

Speaking of umpires this did not really play into our decision too much. Pontiac umpires have gotten worse over the years but our team had a pretty good relationship with some of them. I have heard that the SCS umpires are ok but nothing special either. From those who have played in both leagues they say the SCS umps are slightly better. These people have all said that SCS is a better overall league.

So those are some of the issues and reason why we have decided to move to the SCS league.

Rogers or Livan?

The Tigers have shown an interest in Livan Hernandez with the games that Boras and Rogers are playing right now. However, if the Tigers signed Hernandez instead of Rogers it would be a downgrade for their pitching staff. About the only thing Hernandez gives the Tigers that Rogers doesn't is a younger pitcher and someone who is a virtual lock to throw 200 innings. Now, that second point is imporant but outside of last season that last time Rogers didn't throw at least 195 innings was 1997, so he has been pretty durable too!

Rogers is simply a better pitcher than Hernandez. Rogers stikes out more guys per 9 innings, as Hernandez went from 5.3 in 2006 to 4.0 in 2007. A drop that might be a one year thing or might be a sign of the beginning of a drop in production. Hernandez allowed a .308 avg last year while Rogers was .264 in his few starts. 2006 Hernandez's BA against was better at .288 but Rogers was .253.

You will also have to sign Hernandez to a multi-year contract. He made $7 million last year and will likely get a raise based on the FA landscape for pitchers this year. Rogers would get a one year deal, maybe two (team/player option?) for no more than $10 million. You might have to commit $10 million to Hernandez for the next 3 or 4 years. Something I am not sure the Tigers want to or should do. With the depth of their pitching in the minors (albeit less than at the end of the season) the Tigers don't need to sign someone long term who will only get worse each year. Yes, Rogers has shown increadable stamina and retained his level of skill but with Hernandez already not as good it is hard to see him get better as he grows older.

Pudge Had to Stay

The Tigers have announced that Pudge will be back for another season with Detroit. This is a move that seems to be split almost 50/50 among Tiger fans. Personally though I don't think the Tigers had a choice. With the $3 million buyout they would have had to pay him it would have cost that much or more to get a catcher that was near or better than Pudge. Posada will command more than Pudge on the open market and LaDuca, probably the only other FA catcher that could be in this conversation, was injury prone this year and would command a decent amount plus then you add in the $3 million and you might as well resign Pudge. I am no fan of the 9 walks but I think Pudge might reassert himself like he did in '06 after a dismal '05 season. At least now the Tigers can focus on bringing Jones and Rogers back and getting a SS and a left handed bat for left. Nothing big, right?

What the Heck was Pinella Thinking!

One thing I have learned in running a baseball team for 8 years is to never look ahead. In the past I have tried to set up pitching matchups in the playoffs by looking ahead and then end up losing a game because we didn't throw our best to start. That is what Sweet Lou was doing last night by taking Zambrano out having thrown only 85 pitches. He thought he could get two games from Carlos but now they might not even get to that second game he could pitch!

What About Miller

I don't seem to understand the thinking of the Tigers with their pitching rotation that Leyland announced yesterday. Earlier in the season Andrew Miller was in the rotation and was pitching decent. Some games he looked real good and other just so-so. He goes on the DL with nothing related to his arm and when he comes back they are unsure if he is ready to pitch in the Big Leagues. What changed? I know he had that one horrible start and a few others that weren't that good. But when did Bazardo become a better option. And whey are they saying that next year Miller is likely to be the fifth starter and Jurrjens is not ready yet when he has looked better than Miller? Doesn't seem like the Tigers management is sure how to handle all these young pitchers.