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this is true. But to be fair, I think there is at least some synergy to hitting; as the number of dangerous hitters in a lineup falls, it gets easier for the opposing pitchers overall and I think that tends to make it tougher for the rest of the hitters as well. Or another way to put it is that unless you are Barry Bonds, it's tougher to be a good hitter on a bad hitting team.

Since you were complaining about the lineup Hinch was running out there last night, I thought you were talking about the actual team in the dugout now., so that’s what I was asking about. I don’t have a big quarrel with your proposed lineup, but we haven’t had the dream team you’re referring to here literally all season. If your complaint was about last night’s lineup and Hinch’s penchant for moving players around on this particular team, do you have a set nine guys in positions for them?

The move for Melton was probably predetermined. I’m ignorant on Brieske’s estimated return. Hurter was pulled last night. So what for and does it become a factor in the decisions? It’s hard to believe whatever he did would cause a trip to the 60 day IL, but who knows.

That’s great and I love it when he is quite good, but staying on the field is also a skill.

The team is currently composed of a bunch of individuals with ranges of performances scoping out from their skill set as a middle point. There’s a group of players performing below that middle point and there’s a group of players that have a middle point lower than where it was assumed to be and there’s a group of players in the both of those scenarios. Ain’t good right now. It kind of reminds me of the 2008 team that was going to score 1,000 runs. Now, this current team wasn’t going to score 1,000 runs. But it sure is t delivering on the preseason expectations. The problem is that while there have been a slew of injuries, that variance doesn’t bridge the entirety of the gap between what should be and what currently is.

yeah - the guys I would care least about losing are position players but that's a mismatch since it's pitchers that are coming back.

If you were the team of hitting coaches for this team... maybe you should be shot into the sun.

40 man moves to make room for Melton and Brieske could get interesting...

You and Hinch both. He has appeared in 47 games this season, has only 17 complete games - he either went in as or was lifted for a pinch hitter in 30 times in 47 games. That's quite the indictment of either the player or the team that spent to buy out his arb years. Or just a manager under so much pressure to win he's doesn't care about player development any more. But this relates to a previous discussion. Keith once had a lot of trade value, today he has about none. Either their evaluation of him when they extended him was just wrong, or they've messed up his development - either way, he was a high value asset as a prospect/rookie and as of today that value is largely squandered. He needed to either be traded or made into a good player. That's an example of an organizational fail. So no org will win 'em all, but the more you lose the tougher it is.

Or if enough get healthy he needs to go to the scrap heap, some team will grab him.

guys, i'm beginning to think this team isnt very good.

His salary worries me. With his contract, will Hinch be obligated to run him out there every 5 days? Send Montero packing? Ugh...the horror...

He is useless right now. I don't see how he's going to help in the bullpen with all the walks. Maybe, mop up duty to save the rest of the bullpen.

Speaking of starting pitchers, how safe is Flaherty? We have a few starting pitchers coming back soon, Melton, JV, Eventually, Jobe and Skubal. Jack may be headed to the BP? I sure hope Verlander is effective...

Its his only choice. He doesn't make trades. If the Tigers are way out of a playoff spot at the deadline, functional teams would trade pending free agents. Get some prospects a bit further along than high school players the draft picks would get you. This may be a good chance for Harris to prove he's a good GM.

Ok assuming full health as follows : DH - Carpenter - Choosing power over Colt Keith obp (shrinking) 1B- Tork -lacking any alternatives 2B - Torres 3B McGonigle - look he can play short but his arm and reactions say 3B for the next 10 years and we can move on to fixing other spots. Decision made. SS - Baez - again slim picking until Peck is ready or this is the position to obtain elsewhere ASAP. Job 1 like its been for so long. C - Dingler - easy one LF - Greene CF - Meadows until Clark is ready RF - Verling My bench is McStinky - Colt Keith ( DH and PH and PR only) Rogers Perez Batting order McGonigle- Greene- Dingler- Torrres (second lead off) - Carpenter - Tork -Baez - Verling - Meadows The above gives us our best defense and maximizes what little power we have. I don't trust Colt Keith in the field and would look to trade him and if not convert him to the outfield next off season and spring training. He plays really tight so maybe a position change will help. He is still young.

This will take some value off of 1st round picks when traded. This is going to be a cluster****.

The Bulls probably don't go after Duren right away for fear of missing on other free agents. But if they strike out on their original targets and its July 10th, all the good free agents are gone, and Chicago has a dump truck full of cap space left. That is when they scare me. They throw a big offer at Duren and get their guy or worst case scenario, make a rival match a really overpriced contract. That is what happened with Ayton a few years ago. Indiana missed on their original targets, and they didn't give Ayton the offer sheet until July 15th I think. Phoenix matched and it was a disaster.

He was a trade deadline move by OKC.

apropos to this - Just happened across recent research linking Picloram to early onset colo-rectal cancer. Picloram is another organochloride broad leaf killer. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/pesticides-may-help-explain-rising-early-onset-crc-rates-2026a1000fsc?ecd=a2a

Not a "fixture", but he's been quite good every year when healthy.

Colorado and their fans seem to have underestimated Vegas. What's wild is that the Red Wings actually won more games than Vegas this season.

Vegas up 2-0 in games with a come from behind win. 4-team race for the Cup now.