Prince Fielder signing - Ilitch wants a WS victory

**detlump** · January-26-12, 04:45 PM

I was watching the teleconference with Fielder and Ilitch today, and having not seen Mr. Ilitch for a while, I thought he did not look well.

It made the signing of Fielder very clear, he is about 83, and wants to win a WS more than anything before he passes. I wish him well, but with some people questioning the move in the press, to me it seems very clear he wants a WS win badly and is not concerned about years 7, 8 and 9 of Fielder's contract, when he will be nearly 90.

I hope Mr. Ilitch is healthy, no doubt he is getting the best care available. It would be a crowning achievement for him to get a WS ring, all those years after his baseball career ended.

**401don** · January-26-12, 04:51 PM

He is selfish. If he dies in a couple of years his children might have to get by on less than 2 billion.

**Trumpeteer** · January-26-12, 10:22 PM

Originally Posted by 401don

He is selfish. If he dies in a couple of years his children might have to get by on less than 2 billion.

He can be selfish...it's HIS team.

**iheartthed** · January-26-12, 04:54 PM

This reminded me of when Shaq signed with the Lakers. I hope the results are similar.

**Cincinnati_Kid** · January-26-12, 05:25 PM

Originally Posted by detlump

I was watching the teleconference with Fielder and Ilitch today, and having not seen Mr. Ilitch for a while, I thought he did not look well.

It made the signing of Fielder very clear, he is about 83, and wants to win a WS more than anything before he passes. I wish him well, but with some people questioning the move in the press, to me it seems very clear he wants a WS win badly and is not concerned about years 7, 8 and 9 of Fielder's contract, when he will be nearly 90.

I hope Mr. Ilitch is healthy, no doubt he is getting the best care available. It would be a crowning achievement for him to get a WS ring, all those years after his baseball career ended.

I thought I heard on 97.1 the Ticket that he was 85, nevertheless he's going for it all it appears. That's a lot of cheddar he's paying though. He better sell a lot of "Hot and Readys" now. It will cost $12.00 for a cup of beer instead of $8.00 at Comerica.

**coracle** · January-26-12, 05:26 PM

Off message; but I can't help noting that Michigan State owes the City $286M which if paid might negate the need for a city of 700,000 citizens going into EM/bankruptsy [[and of course it won't be paid). At the same time Tigers can throw away $214M over 9 years on one player for a boring game that is really no benefit to anybody but the players and service providers. During the 9 years the city will continue to go down the tubes but the RBI's will continue unphased. Life is out of kilter.

**Roq** · January-26-12, 06:04 PM

Originally Posted by coracle

Off message; but I can't help noting that Michigan State owes the City $286M which if paid might negate the need for a city of 700,000 citizens going into EM/bankruptsy [[and of course it won't be paid). .

What does the SoM owing money to the CoD have to do with Mike Illitch spending his own money on signing Fielder? That's right. Nothing.

Originally Posted by coracle

r for a boring game that is really no benefit to anybody ...

Says you. I'm thrilled beyond belief.

**rex** · January-27-12, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by coracle

Off message; but I can't help noting that Michigan State owes the City $286M which if paid might negate the need for a city of 700,000 citizens going into EM/bankruptsy [[and of course it won't be paid). At the same time Tigers can throw away $214M over 9 years on one player for a boring game that is really no benefit to anybody but the players and service providers. During the 9 years the city will continue to go down the tubes but the RBI's will continue unphased. Life is out of kilter.

Beg to differ. There are a lot of people going down for games. Spending money at the
bar and restaurants downtown. paying for parking. There are 81 homegames that draw 20-30K people into the city.

**justanotherboy** · January-26-12, 05:31 PM

401don. Are you bitter you are not smart enough to leave your kids 2 billion :P

**Detroitej72** · January-26-12, 05:34 PM

Originally Posted by detlump

but with some people questioning the move in the press, to me it seems very clear he wants a WS win badly and is not concerned about years 7, 8 and 9 of Fielder's contract, when he will be nearly 90.

The only clowns questioning the move are certain slappies on 97.1 The Ticket who like to stoke the fire by taking unpopular stances.

**401don** · January-26-12, 06:07 PM

Originally Posted by Detroitej72

The only clowns questioning the move are certain slappies on 97.1 The Ticket who like to stoke the fire by taking unpopular stances.

Actually if you go over to the sports thread you'll find I questioned the move. So do most outlets including FoxSports, Espn and several general managers.

**firstandten** · January-26-12, 06:19 PM

Originally Posted by 401don

Actually if you go over to the sports thread you'll find I questioned the move. So do most outlets including FoxSports, Espn and several general managers.

You know, it might not be a smart move financially, but the owner knows his own personal window is closing and he's going for the gusto and either he or his heirs will worry about the later years when they come. Besides Prince's contract is front loaded and the basic damage will have been done when years 7,8 and 9 hit. Its his money and I can't hate on him for what he is doing.

**401don** · January-26-12, 06:33 PM

My problem is not with Ilitch spending the money. Does anybody think that if he told Dombrowski, "Here's another 25 million a year for the next several years. Now win me a World Series in 2-3 years." that Dombrowski would go get another 1st baseman? No. He would get a 2nd baseman, a 3rd baseman, a left fielder and another pitcher. Ilitch waits all winter and then panics when spring training nears. He has always left the hockey decisions to management but for some reason he doesn't do the same with the Tigers.

**Trumpeteer** · January-26-12, 10:25 PM

Originally Posted by 401don

My problem is not with Ilitch spending the money. Does anybody think that if he told Dombrowski, "Here's another 25 million a year for the next several years. Now win me a World Series in 2-3 years." that Dombrowski would go get another 1st baseman? No. He would get a 2nd baseman, a 3rd baseman, a left fielder and another pitcher. Ilitch waits all winter and then panics when spring training nears. He has always left the hockey decisions to management but for some reason he doesn't do the same with the Tigers.

He didn't panic. The Tigs lost there 2nd best hitter when his knee blew out just before the start of Spring Training. Ya think Inge, Kelly, Jackson, etc can protect Cabrera???

**showstoppa** · January-26-12, 07:32 PM

the question I have is... how many games I can attend this year GO TIGERS !!

**douglasm** · January-27-12, 12:41 AM

I seriously doubt that Prince's money will do to Detroit what A-Rod's contract did to Texas, but Larry Stone in the Seattle Times made a good point when he questioned how long a 275 lb. slugger will last before he begins to break down.

**Baselinepunk** · January-27-12, 11:00 AM

This deal makes a ton of sense.

We've got a 1st baseman for the long haul who is just entering his prime. For this year, Miguel and Prince will share DH/1st base. Miguel will probably play a little 3rd as well. Inge is a goner and with good riddance; his mouth, bat, selfish 'tude and knack for making a route play "over the top for posterity" [[not to mention how many times Miguel bailed his ass out by digging poorly thrown balls to 1st out of the dirt) have worn on many folks, and he has become nothing short of a pissy ballplayer. A negative in this deal is that Inge has no/very little trade value [[and perhaps that is one reason why he acts the way he does -- to make sure he stays here because no one else will want that fucking cancer in there clubhouse).

When V Mart comes back, Young will be gone. I don't see V Mart playing Left, but you worry about that kind of stuff next year. As we've seen this year; you never know what can happen. Perhaps if V Mart comes back 100% we trade him; but I would hate to lose that great switch hitting bat and I don't really see this happening. This gives Miguel one year to get his legs in the hot corner if we need him to play there most of the time. Miguel is also on the down side of his contract [[I believe) and this move some-what insures that we have a power hitter for the long term if Miguel should ever leave for someplace else [[which I hope never, ever, happens).

If you take a look at the teams we played last year on our run, Texas and New York [[and us as well to a point) all have stadiums that have very reachable right fields; and with Bosch out, we were getting killed with home runs to right. We will most likely play those teams again on this years run.

We're hurting @ 2nd. I like Ramon a lot and I think if he was given the chance I think he could turn out to be an everyday player. Again, another switch-hitter and he seems to be coming up with the knack to be clutch at times. Rayburn; like the kid a lot but his glove --- omg.

You see, with this deal we've got options. We even have some pretty good players coming up from Toledo as well. This move could free up some of those players [[minus Turner) to get another arm in the rotation.

Also, now everyone is talking about us. Of course other GMs are going to poo poo this; Dave and Mike just pulled one of the ballziest moves in a long time and if it works out and we dominate; they all look like timid punks. Also, it means that we just made them have to pay more money for players as well.

**Bham1982** · January-27-12, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by Baselinepunk

This deal makes a ton of sense.

If it makes so much sense, then why did no other team in baseball offer more than 6 years, and why was the second highest offer $60 million less?

Bulky power hitters usually don't last too long [[see Mo Vaughn/Cecil Fielder/Jason Giambi, etc.). Has there been any fat DH-style slugger in recent MLB history who had more than a decade of production?

I mean, you may be correct, and maybe this is the key piece to a WS, but every other baseball team thought otherwise.

I think Dombrowski would only consider such sums for Verlander or a pitcher of his calliber. No doubt this was 100% Illitch.

**Baselinepunk** · January-27-12, 11:36 AM

I think a part of this is that other teams didn't want to pony up the cash because it will set market price now and in the future. Tiger merchandise could be flying off the shelves around the country. Besides the money; just how cool would that be for us who live here? I mean, some of the only Tiger props we've gotten is from the old Magnum P.I. days.

lol.

I think it will be a fun time in the ole Mo' Town this year. I'm pumped; and I know many other who are as well.

**401don** · January-29-12, 11:42 AM

It should be interesting when Ilitch looks for public dollars to fund a new arena.

**Detroitrobert** · January-29-12, 02:14 PM

Originally Posted by 401don

It should be interesting when Ilitch looks for public dollars to fund a new arena.

Yeah, that will be interesting. I can just picture it...in another 30 years when Comerica is getting old and they are thinking about replacing it. Ilitch will be going strong at 112 years of age, still looking for hand outs from the public.

**partystore** · January-29-12, 02:41 PM

Impulse signing, but I'll take it -- gladly. I'd rather to have signed two $10M players than one $20+M, but this is a good problem to have. There's barely any room now for Brandon Inge, and because I'm not a middle-aged white female, that's OK w/ me.

**BShea** · January-30-12, 11:26 AM

The Tigers can absolutely afford Price Fielder. In 2012, his salary simply replaces Ordonez [[$10 million) and Carlos Guillen [[$13 million). There's no real net gain in the bottom line with Fielder. What ballooned the payroll from $107 million in 2011 to $127 million in 2012 [[so far) is Verlander's deal jumping up to $20.1 million, and a handful of smaller dealers and acquisitions.

V-Mart's $13 million salary this season is covered, at least in part, by insurance.

The Ilitches have a $4 billion empire. They can afford to spend like the Yankees, but don't need to. They will outspend everyone in the Central, if they want to.

Why? The owner can afford it comfortably, especially thanks to MLB's revenue sharing from Central Fund and from the 10-year FSD cable contract. Those two account for about $90 million for the team, before you even get to ticket sales, concessions, merchandise, parking, etc.

Here is my breakdown in Crain's of the Ilitch business holdings and how the Tigers are financed: Link.

**Bham1982** · January-30-12, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by BShea

The Tigers can absolutely afford Price Fielder. In 2012, his salary simply replaces Ordonez [[$10 million) and Carlos Guillen [[$13 million).

The Tigers lost considerable money last year.

So saying that they can "afford" Fielder by continuing to operate deep in the red is quite a stretch.

And, much more important, the Fielder deal is for nine years, and therefore prevents salary flexibility over the next decade.

Heck, this will screw the Tigers even next year. The luxury tax jumps in 2013, and they'll be back on the hook for V-Mart's salary.

**BShea** · January-30-12, 05:02 PM

Originally Posted by Bham1982

The Tigers lost considerable money last year.

So saying that they can "afford" Fielder by continuing to operate deep in the red is quite a stretch.

And, much more important, the Fielder deal is for nine years, and therefore prevents salary flexibility over the next decade.

Heck, this will screw the Tigers even next year. The luxury tax jumps in 2013, and they'll be back on the hook for V-Mart's salary.

They're "screwed" only if ownership has a predetermined salary threshold. There is no cap, and the Ilitches have the ability to easily subsidize their sports spending for as long as they choose to do so. There is no reason to think they will not continue to spend [[and I suspect they still may make a bid for the Cuban outfielder for $8 million a year, or more).

When you're collecting $4 billion-plus a year, you have flexibility. They have a large market ownership behind them. Unlike, say, Cleveland, which has a true finite ability when it comes to payroll. Whatever the Ilitches choose to spend or not spend is purely because of a comfort level than by limits on how much money is coming in.

The Tigers will collect more this season from a boost in season ticket sales, suite sales and corporate sponsorships. Spending on players like Fielder has excited the fan base. Look at the attendance graph with my story -- the more they spend, the more fans come to games, at least since 1993. And as an added benefit, the economy is improving locally.