Tracking the Tigersphere

All is quiet on the Tiger front over the past few days.  The League Championship Series finally kicked off last night in the NL while the AL gets started tonight.  In the meantime, let me bring you up to speed on what’s going on around the web.

In case you missed it, or just haven’t found the heart to head that way, the Detroit Tigers Den is now up and running on the FanHuddle Network.  The Den consists of work by Austin Drake and yours truly.  Austin and I have been piecing together a full review of the 2009 season which should wrap up tomorrow.  My contract stipulates that I cannot repost any of my work for the Den on another site, so you’ll have to click over there to read what I had to say about the Tigers’ starting pitchers, infielders, and minor leagues.  Austin is breaking down the bullpen, outfielders, and catchers.  Suffice to say, Austin and I have some very different views about some of the grades handed out.

Kurt Menshing has been busy with a host of new stuff at Mack Avenue Tigers.  He’s got a lengthy four part offseason preview up.  It’s a great read as always.

It looks like free agent hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo might be heading for the Cubs, according to SI’s Jon Heyman (via twitter).  The hitting guru opted to leave Texas after the Rangers voiced some concerns over the team’s patience and pitch recognition.  Those are much the same problems the Tigers are having, so there probably wasn’t a match there anyway.  James Schmehl seems to think otherwise.

The Baseball Bloggers Alliance has announced their winners for the AL and NL Manager of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards.  Though I am now a proud member, Tigers Tracks was too late to the party to get a ballot, but my votes would have gone to Ron Gardenhire and Rick Porcello.  Sadly, the BBA did not agree as both men finished second.

Greg Eno penned another fabulous column as is his custom.  His latest piece at Where Have You Gone, Johnny Grubb? is a great read, especially if you have grown wary of  the Tigers current general manager.  For now, I’m still inclined to put my trust in Dave Dombrowski, but he has worn my confidence thin.