Talking Tigers as trade deadline creeps up

Oh my goodness, welcome to another huge edition of the sports office. Woody Woodruff in the captain's chair tonight and have we got a show for you. Of course we're talking baseball. It's kind of baseball centric and we brought in a couple of special guests tonight to talk about it. First off we got my man John Macaron from SI.com. How you doing John? Been a long time on the Tigers beat. I've seen you in the clubhouse. Don't forget we've got all our cast of characters here tonight as far as getting you fans involved. Don't forget you can text the show because our big guest tonight is former Tiger Curtis Granderson. Let's try to bring Curtis in right now. If he is here, he is not here. He'll be here in a second. We'll keep it going but let's continue the Tigers talk John because right now this Tigers team is in must win mode and has been for a while. Absolutely. Since a really slow start in May and having an injury to Drake Schuble, they've won four straight series on the road. They're now at home against the Kansas City Royals in a series that you expect to win. Now the big question mark is going to be what happens at the deadline but when you look at this Tigers team, a sense of desperation has hit this team and now you see a winning product out there on a nightly basis. All right let's bring in our special guest Curtis Granderson. Like I said Curtis Granderson joining us now. Granny how are you? Good to see you. Can you hear me Curtis? Can you hear me Curtis? Can Curtis hear me? Well we'll work on that and see if Curtis can hear us. Maybe he has to unmute his computer there but we'll work on that. Let's continue the conversation John with this team. I mean obviously the Tarik Schuble situation is the big deal. Yeah obviously. I think the question mark everybody wants to know is is Drake Schuble going to be on this roster at the trade deadline? I think it's incumbent upon Scott Harris to make a key decision regarding Schuble and it's one that's going to set the tone for the future. Curtis can you hear me yet? You have me? I can't hear you. How are you? Good to see you. Welcome to the sports office. How are you all doing? We're doing great and thanks for coming in and doing this. Let's get the conversation started. Obviously we're talking about the Detroit Tigers to start and this the team right now is in kind of a must win mode. Crazy business at the trade deadline. Tarik Schuble whether he's going to let go or not. How is the situation as far as trade deadlines go? You've been involved in this kind of situation as far as seasons go? You know what the first time you go through it you really have no idea what's happening. I remember in 2006 or 7 I think it was it's my first or second full year and the big leagues were in Detroit. I could be a Tiger for the rest of my life and Joel Zumaya and I are rumored to be traded to the Braves and it kind of messed with me a little bit. You're seeing things in the paper people are putting it on social and then nothing happens and from that moment I learned okay let me control what I can control. If they're gonna trade me they're gonna trade me if they're not gonna trade me they're not gonna trade me but let me not let it affect all this other stuff especially if it doesn't happen and then if it actually does happen all right we adapt and adjust just like if it's a rain delay just like if they change the game time just like if they scratch a pitcher and that's the big way that I found to be able to adapt and handle it because you don't know unless you're that like true veteran or you had that certain contract where they have to come talk to you you could be moved in the middle of the night while you're out eating out of flight on the field it can happen it may not happen all those things are all possible right now. You know looking at the schedule the next 10 games or so might make the difference for Detroit as far as being buyers or sellers at the trade deadline. How do players handle that kind of pressure? You try to put the pressure on the organization. Let's force them to go ahead and be buyers versus sellers because it's up to us as the players. The organization has put all the pieces together in the off season and then a couple little moves and acquisitions depending on if people have been hurt or injured or things like that throughout the months of February, March, April, May, June and now here we are in July but it's up to the players. They gotta go ahead and do it. They're playing very well right now. They just had a good series against the Cubs which is a hot team. If they finish this month off strong you could be looking at a very good situation but if it turns around next thing you know you had a month like you did in May the next thing you know we're gonna have some new teammates up in here and not in a good way. That is true. Before John gets in let me open it up to you fans don't forget the number down here you can text the show get your questions in for John, me, Curtis, whoever you want. We're talking about the Tigers. Okay John go ahead. Yeah Curtis great to talk to you. You know what they say don't let these Tigers get hot. You've seen how they played recently. Do you think it's incumbent upon Scott Harris to be a buyer at the deadline or with an asset like Tariq Schuble, Casey Mize do you see them potentially selling? I think you can do both if that makes sense. You could be a addition by subtraction if you need to. Everyone's like hey you know you want Schuble to be a Tiger forever you want to sign there he wants to stay there. That is all still in play in the offseason if you do move him or decide to keep him. He's going to be a free agent. Coming back to Detroit is still going to be one of the options along with the other 29 teams. However you have to also remember what happened last year to you. Cleveland walked you down. They came back from the depths of the dead. No one thought they had a chance and they surprised everybody. You could be on that same side of things as well. We're starting to see it with the Phillies and the Braves and the NLEs. That's why we play 162 games. It's only July. We have a full month in August, a full month in September. So much can happen especially in that American League Central where no one seems to want to take the crown and run with it. So I think if the players do it the front office say okay we can move a couple pieces that not only can position us if we decide to get hot and stay hot. If we don't get hot we've lined ourselves up greatly in the offseason. But again if you're going to move someone like a school you better get a lot in return for him because he's going to be the most demanded pitcher not only now but in this offseason as well. Oh no doubt I totally agree with that. You know Curtis every contender has a signature. What is Detroit when it's playing its best? I would say they do the basics really well. They're going to be aggressive on the bases. They're going to fight you with two strikes. They're going to be solid on defense not flashy. Solid. Make the routine play. They're going to pitch. I mean they're one of the top 10 teams in pitching if they keep scuba right. If you get rid of scuba that changes some things up there a little bit. But I think if you do those things and a couple years ago we talked about this is not a team that's going to hit you out of the ballpark. They got some boppers over there. Not only can they keep the game close but it may be as we saw last night against the Cubs. Boom they'll hit that three run homer to go ahead and come from behind or take a lead in a big moment. That quiets the crowd on the road. That amps up the fans at Comerica when you get a big shot like that. So this team that's their MO. That's what the Tigers can do and they just have to ride that. They can't try to be like anyone else. You know what guys we put out the number for the fans and they are chiming in. I got a text right here it says just want to say thank you to Curtis. One great memory I have is taking my son to Comerica Park to explain to him that if Grandy stole second he'd have 20 stolen bases. That's one. You get a lot of these Curtis. I got another one from Yolanda from Pontiac. She just wanted to say what up though to Curtis Granderson. He was my favorite when he was here in Oh the fans were great there. I loved it there. Like I told people many times people have asked if I were to retire me blessed enough with the opportunity to go in the Hall of Fame. Which hat where? It would be a Tiger's hat with no problem and I'm glad you're showing this highlight. This is one of my biggest moments of my whole career. The only part I don't love about it we happen to be on a broadcast where like you know for some reason they didn't capture this moment in the big thing but that moment right there was huge because Berlander ends up getting a complete game that would have walked us off. Brady Sizemore would have beat us with that ball. The announcement was great. They thought he got it. I took it away from like one of the idols I saw Kenny Lawson up there. So a great moment. I love Detroit. Detroit was my second home. I was fly out there. I was in town ready to have our foundation charity basketball game where Desmond Howard was there, Bill Ambeer, Rick Mahorn, Desmond Howard, Kid Rock was there and I'm set to buy my second home and I got traded soon after that. So I'm grateful for that. So it ended up not being in the cards but I was ready to be a Tiger for life. You know what let me stay on that for a minute because what makes Detroit such a special baseball town for a young player trying to develop himself? That state. I think it's more than just Detroit. It's the entire state. I mean I need people from Grand Rapids, from Saginaw, from Mackinac, from Lansing that are just so pride and proudful of that team and that organization and the one thing they do more than anybody I've seen they'll roll that sleeve up and show me that old English D tattoo like it's going out of style. I mean they are proud to put that ink on them because they are from that state. They claim it. They want to let you know they're about it. Even in my hometown of Chicago the number of Tiger fans that come up to me here is truly amazing. They're actually surprised like what are you doing here? I'm like that's Chicago's home for me. They're like oh okay well I just relocated here so happy to see you and for example in 2006 when we were playing great we came to Wrigley which just happened to be what the Tigers did last night. It was more Tiger fans there than Cubs fans. The Tiger fans showed up and showed out and they will do that and continue to keep doing it so if you are a young prospect coming up or you are a free agent that's offseason Detroit's a great place to play. It's a true sports town. You've seen that trivia question go out there go what are the top four sports cities in all of America and some people will go New York right away. They'll throw LA in there and then after that it kind of gets a little dicey. Chicago gets in the mix and you can easily argue Detroit has it especially with the sports complex all being right there in downtown Detroit on the river the fans coming in. You do a fan fest throughout that state you better add some hours because the fans are showing up. Curtis you know who was the veteran who maybe quietly taught you the most about being a major leaguer? That was Demetri Young hands down you know he was the guy to me hug he took me underneath his wing he showed me just the ropes and how to go plus he was from the south my parents were from the south he knew I liked to eat he would invite me into his room goes I got the oxtail the mac and cheese the smothered pork chops the cornbread come on over. So that was Demetri and I still stay in touch with him to this day. He loved my parents partly because my parents just knew the importance of being committed to what you had already scheduled and planned and then you can adjust accordingly. For example I get called up to the big leagues Demetri's like hey your parents coming to the game I said no they got a softball thing to go to he said wait wait you're going to the big leagues and your parents are going to the softball thing instead I said yep because I love them that's what I'm talking about they're not gonna change anything they're gonna do anything and they're gonna come catch up with you afterwards and that's how they've always been and that's why like the loyalty is there like I loved it there in Detroit I love having veterans like Demetri over there Pudge Rodriguez Kenny Rogers I remember him coming up to me. Curtis it's amazing how the list of names continues to go on hey listen I gotta squeeze in a quick break so stay right there we'll come right back and get right back to the conversation you're in touch with the sports office right here on Fox 2. I approve this message. Welcome back to the sports office chat with Curtis Grandison former Tiger and John Macaron from SI.com. Go ahead John. Curtis you shared a clubhouse with Miguel Cabrera arguably one of the greatest hitters this town has ever seen now a new young cat in town Kevin McGonigal from your perspective what do you see from him and what's it going to take from him to continue to see his ascent and growth as a professional hitter? I think first and foremost again just speaking to the fans I know we're obviously on Tiger fans and watching this but this is true I mean McGonigal's coming up he's a friend and a colleague someone I've looked up to but it's also a diehard Tigers fan Pam Tyson she messaged me she's a diehard Tiger fan she always holds up a sign that says I heart Detroit in there so you've probably seen it but she's like hey this McGonigal guy you know he kind of reminds me of you a little bit he's out there hitting and doing it but it's those things where the fans respect it and honor it and see you know what they've seen in players that have come out before and go okay we love what we see the hard work is there the confidence is building and now you just need the longevity you just need some time and more at bats the big thing is fatigue is going to set in at some point in time whether it's this season next season hopefully 10 seasons from now how do you adapt and adjust from that how do you surround with the pieces around you so you can learn from them those veteran pieces that have been there and done that guys like you know a birdlander although he's on the pitching side he has pitched against the best he has been around the best you can pick his brain and learn things from it with Miguel still being involved with the club when he comes around you ask him some questions don't be shy about those things so all that leads to the potential of everything he can and his back-to-ball skills are amazing you know Curtis we're getting more texts in from the fans you must be drawing them out because Kurt in Tennessee says hey Curtis you're my mom's favorite player thanks buddy for the hard work we're also getting another one in with uh hi Curtis my six-year-old son loves you we always want to see you play back in 06 and 07 thank you that's great you know there's another question uh that I'll throw out right now what do the Tigers really need to do to get into the playoff besides win we know that that's the easy answer but what do they need to do you know it's so crazy I think you need a little bit of luck right you have the White Sox up top playing well Cleveland obviously it had a little bad stretch right now so and then you said you know Kansas City Minnesota whatever they're going to do ahead of that you got to win the games you're supposed to win sometimes you'll look at his schedule and say hey this team is hot right now but they're not playing against anybody well you're supposed to win those games because if we lose those games you guys are going to be buried and I'm saying well look they can't even beat them you got to win those games because that's going to keep you in contention so when you do face the division leaders whether it's the White Sox near division the Yankees or the Rays over there in the east or the west is all messed up as well but those now give you the confidence okay we can split this series we can win this series we can gain a lot of ground on those in front of us I think it's going to be those types of things don't give up extra outs you got we got 27 to play with anytime you give a team 28 29 outs with walks with errors with mistakes these big league teams win those games and get the fans behind it too they will continue to show up they will show out I'm seeing it right now with the White Sox this is a team that was really bad a couple years ago and everyone keeps saying when they play is a tough place to play they're winning it's now a tough place to play Comerica and Detroit is the same thing give those fans the reason to keep coming out you know you also mentioned uh how to deal with uh you know this uh surge as they keep going but obviously that uh rest in the manager I mean Jim Leland was one of your managers what was his greatest talent oh he was the best man Jim Leland had the ability to smoke a cigarette make that smoke disappear better than anybody I have ever seen I don't know how he did he would cup that arm that smoke would go up in here and just I don't know if it went to his pores I don't know if it went to his clothes but I never saw the smoke come out and one crazy story with Leland one of my first flights I can fall asleep on a plane with the best of them I'm sleeping and I is that smoke hey granny what's going on and I'm like I'm a rookie I'm like I don't think you can smoke on the plane I'm not gonna tell him that he's the manager but man I mean he was also the best at communicating he demanded respect he earned respect he told everyone I'm the leader and you all are gonna fall in line I don't care if you got one day in the big leagues you got a and everybody respected that granny another guy who gained respect was Justin Verlander he's announced his retirement at the end of the year I mean is there a moment when you watched him and thought hey that's what greatness looks like we're in Oakland today and he is making his 100th pitch of the game for a complete game and on that pitch it's the hardest pitch of the game at 100th and I just was like wow like he was at 92 to 94 he brought up to 98 a couple times 96 but he finished at his most fatigued against the tough situation throwing his best bullet and was still able to win and he's had longevity but a full circle moment to bring it back and finish in Detroit so one congratulations to him I think people don't realize how hard he worked his legs are strong he would be out there running sprinting getting after it and that's why he's had the longevity and the success he is he's gonna be a hall of famer and I'm so happy I got a chance to play with him as a teammate what is something that maybe Justin did behind the scenes that never showed up in a box store I would say just the confidence I mean this guy from right away I mean his I think he signs that contract you show him holding that jersey up and he comes in the spring training with the license plate I think it said bringing it hey big big step to be able to do right away when you haven't done it yet and sure enough he brought it and I remember Jim Leland saying wait a minute you're telling me that this Justin Verlander kid who's throwing 100 those two are coming to the big leagues with me they're gonna make their debut in 2006 we're not putting 100 in the minor leagues and you look at now everyone talks about all these pitches over 103 and 104 miles an hour Joel Zumaia and Verlander were doing that 20 years ago so that's just how far ahead of the curve these players were and it was amazing to be their teammates first let's make the case you know Justin if he ends up in Cooperstown will he down the old English G hat when he gets into the Hall of Fame I think so I mean I think the start of it does it that's his personal hitter that's where he comes on to the scene you know he gets his all-star there he obviously gets a chance to get to the World Series doesn't win it some of that's gonna weigh in a little bit later you know the Houston side of things but I think the the early on the the dominance getting our team in 06 to the World Series dominating against that in the wild card when they couldn't see with the shadows and A-Rod and Jeter and Giambi just gassing them up I mean that I think is gonna play and I think the fact that he's finishing over here now I think is gonna give him that old English D hat over there in Cooperstown yeah Curtis you know what I got about 20 seconds left in this segment right here uh could the clubhouse feel it when Verlander took him out what was that feeling like in the dugout when you see it we got a shot just give him two that's all he needs him Pedro some of those guys that you know you love facing and having as your team he is one of them just give him two and we got a chance to win oh that is fantastic hey fans don't forget you can still get in just send your text to the number right down here we got to take a quick break and we'll have more from Curtis Granderson John Macaron and you fans here on the sports office when we come right back you're stuck right here on Fox 2 that's a good thing scent of the sad thanks for hanging in there with us and Curtis Granderson here tonight we thank Curtis for coming hey Curtis your foundation does a lot of good work tell me what's going on next month in Chicago with your grand slam event oh it's amazing Saturday September 19th the Tigers are going to be in Chicago playing the White Sox not strategically planned it that way because the Tiger fans are going to be in here but we're celebrating 10 years of the Chicago Baseball Educational Academy which the idea actually started in Detroit Wayne State University reached out to me said hey we got this idea we want to do some midnight baseball get kids on a college campus show them what's possible show them those opportunities and like I said I got traded I come home to Chicago talk to my head coach Mike D he said let's do it here I said absolutely Chicago my home is not going to get traded so we start CBEA in 2016 we build a beautiful stadium over there and then my Curtis foundation the grandkids foundation starts in Detroit in 2007 so we're coming up on 20 years there the grand slam brunch from 12 from 11 30 to 2 you can come on out eat drink be merry celebrate have a good time and still get in there and time to see your Tigers play the White Sox at six o'clock later that evening if you're looking for tickets go to thegrannyman.com you can find information about the website about the non-profit and of course the grand slam brunch so the Curtis how cool is it to still be involved with young kids and help mold and shape them as they move forward maybe even be you know baseball players down the line or even not just to give them that kind of structure positive structure I consider myself a big kid I love being out there with them you know I try to make the game as fun as possible when I retired I still wrote underneath my hat don't think have fun the game is supposed to be fun I started playing when I was six I got to play for a very long time but I always enjoyed having a good time out there so when you get a chance to come to any of the events we're throwing we're gonna have a good time I want you looking forward to wanting to come back that's how you're gonna improve I'm not gonna be able to turn you to a big leader in an hour and a half but I can make you hopefully look forward to wanting to do it again when you go home and talk to your parents or your siblings or your teammates and say let's do that again that's all I want to get the opportunity to do it and I'm blessed to be able to do it on a college campus to let these kids realize what could be possible you know that is fantastic and you know what good luck to you on that with your foundation and all that this is just a great deal you know what in the final minute of the show let's ask the burning question when you were here with the tigers who was the team's comedian wow I say Brandon Inge was definitely up there he was the prankster had to be careful with the shampoo in there in the shower afterwards he put some stuff in there so he always had to shake it up make sure it wasn't a little too watery because he was definitely one of them uh Kyle Farnsworth you know wasn't there with the tigers for the longest the strongest most physical dude I've ever seen picked me up one time just like I was a teddy bear but the dude was was insanely strong so those two are one of them and then and Miguel you know people forget how young Miguel was Miguel was basically you know a young player but with veteran skills and he always was laughing and he was always having a good time and Curtis Curtis I gotta put the wraps on that right now because I message