For a man in the hot seat, Randy Smith certainly acts cool. Maybe behind that calm and confident demeanor he actually knows a secret - that this will finally be a breakthrough season for the Detroit Tigers. Smith, heading into his fifth year as the team's general manager and vice president of baseball operations, took over a team in November 1995 that was low on talent and had little hope in its farm system. The Tigers are now much improved in both areas - on paper, at least.
Problem is, the team continued to lose at an alarming rate last season.
So Smith has come under fire by some - particularly after trading pitchers Justin Thompson, Francisco Cordero and Alan Webb, outfielder Gabe Kapler, utility infielder Frank Catalanotto and catcher Bill Haselman to the Texas Rangers for three players including superstar slugger Juan Gonzalez, who is in the final year of his contract and could become a free agent after the season. On Wednesday, Smith answered his critics and spoke optimistically about the Tigers' chances during the team's annual media tour in northern Michigan. Everyone wants to talk about the Gonzalez trade, so we might as well start there. You obviously took a chance in making the deal, knowing that you could lose him after at the end of the season. I think he's the type of player this organization needs.