On My Interview With Jason Grilli, By A Tigers Fan

Jason Grilli, Rockies pitcher who I interviewed earlier this month, played for the Tigers during their AL pennant-winning run in 2006.  He was there in 2007 when the team was still competitive but couldn't repeat.  And he was there in the first part of 2008 when the team stunk.  What happens to players when their team goes from champions to stinkers?  They get killed.  Not literally, although some fans probably put actual plans into motion if one more 7th inning lead gets lost.  But when a team does not meet expectations, nobody looks good.

In 2007 and 2008, Jason Grilli did not look good to Tigers fans.

It's interesting, because if you look at the back of his baseball card, or HERE, you'll see his stats are pretty good.  In fact, 2008 was his best year statistically.  And if you listen to our interview, he'll bring up a couple of stats that you don't think about, consistent stats that are going to make him a lot of money during the arbitration process in the coming weeks.

Yet, if you brought these stats up to Tigers fans, they'd poo poo them.  It appears that there are lots of Detroit fans that pretty much, uh, hate Jason Grilli.  Two reasons:  1) The team stunk and he was one of the scapegoats.  2)  After his trade to Colorado, a reporter asked him about his time with Jim Leyland & Detroit.  Jason didn't say anything bad, but the reporter made it sound that way.  BOOM!  Instant mini-scandal and more Jason Grilli Hate clubs.

Here's the thing: Jason isn't a bad guy.  He's actually a very good guy.  To sound mature, I should say this, "Jason is a good man."  You add the word "man" in there and it appears more respectable, more meaningful.  So I put it in there because it's true.  Jason Grilli is a good man.

I know because he and I have spoken quite a bit this off season.  We've talked about the Detroit mess after he left.  We've gone through what happened and it's unfortunate that his reputation in Detroit is terrible, because he never meant for the team, the manager, the fans to misinterpret his remarks.  And he probably didn't think the reporter would twist meanings and work more on making a name for himself than reporting the quotes as they were spoken.

With that in mind - you obviously know I'm on his side here - I've had some contact with Ian Casselberry recently.  Ian writes a Tigers blog called Bless You Boys.  We were in touch after I initially posted my Grilli interview.  Ian told me he was on the anti-Grilli side.  I told him to listen and judge for himself afterward.  Today, you can see his more positive Jason Grilli quotes in Ian's Gas Can Grilli's Gabfest entry.  Read it.  Do you get the sense Ian has softened a wee bit?

Me too.

Ian, thanks for giving Jason a second chance.  He never meant to throw gasoline on any fires.  Sometimes, the ball just doesn't squiggle as much as it should.  And those times usually happen more during a terrible season. 

To me, that is one of the many reasons why this is such an incredible game.