It ain't so easy

After Sunday's effort by Fernando Rodney, we can see that playing closer in the major leagues isn't as easy as one might assume. Now, I am as guilty as everyone else in calling for Leyland to make some moves, including replacing Todd Jones as the closer. But just shuffling one person in doesn't make it work. Rodney was 3-and-2 on everyone yesterday, and it's good fortune he closed the game. He made 40 pitches, and, of course, that mean's he's shot for two days.
Closer means working back-to-back games and getting out of jams in as few pitches as possible. In that respect, Rodney won't be able to cut it. He throws far too many balls; so does Joel Zumaya, the other candidate. But Zumaya is a more ready candidate, because he has that big heater, a 100 mph fastball, plus, he seems to have more of a closer's mentality.
But it appears Leyland will have to close by committee, and that is NEVER a good thing for a team chasing a pennant.
Really, though, does anyone think the Tigers are in the hunt? After yesterday's triumph over the ChiSox, the Tigers are 6.5 games out of first and have lost 4 of 6 vs. Minnesota and Chicago after the break. The losing in the division continues -- Detroit is 18-26 vs. Central teams -- so the Tigers, in reality, are out of it. If you can't beat the teams in your division, you have NO chance.
Here's what I'd like to see the team accomplish before Thursday's trade deadline:
1) Ship out Shit-field for anything or anyone. Let Joyce, Raburn and Thames rotate between the left-field spot and the DH role. Thames and Joyce have shown to be more productive than Shit-field in far fewer at-bats, and they each seem to relish clutch roles.
2) Get rid of Renteria. He's god-awful, at the plate and in the field. Who wants him, though? Who needs an over-the-hill, washed-up shortstop with a big contract?
3) Even if they don't lose Renteria, get Jack Wilson from the Pirates to play short. At 31, Wilson doesn't fit the Pirates' game plan for the next few years. Plus, he's in a huge slump (4 for 31), but he can pick it in the field, and he's a career .272 hitter. He gives the team defense and good situation hitting, something it desperately needs.
4) Other than the Fantastic Five (Cabrera, Guillen, Polanco, Granderson and Ordonez), every player should be on the block. This is time to sell, to reshape this team for the next two seasons. The pitching staff also can be reshaped; only Verlander, Zumaya, Galarraga and Rodney should be considered "keepers." Bonderman, of course, is hurt and will be back, but everyone else can be replaced. The time to reshape is now, and, who knows, it might work to the team's advantage.
Getting better defensively, ridding themselves of Shit-field and perhaps finding a closer in the minors, etc. might put them in the hunt for at least the wild card. (But the East is where that spot is going to be filled, either by the Yankees, Rays or Red Sox.)
If the Tigers were smart, they'd make some deals NOW. But, I don't think it will happen. They fancy themselves as a team in the hunt, and that's bad news. At 53-51, the Tigers are in no position to make a run.