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that trade proposal written by a Mets person or someone writing from that perspective? You don't trade Flaherty unless it makes the major league team better in 2024 and 2025. I'm done with prospects. That goes for Skubal too.

The Pipeline rating of Parada at #9 is garbage. He's a low-average hitting catcher with a touch of pop, which the Tigers already have a few of in their system, so no way we make this trade. Fangraphs doesn't have Parada even among their top 42 prospects, in part because he "has regressed as a hitter and stagnated as a defender in pro ball." He is a sunk cost, so if I'm a Mets fan, I want this trade all day long. But I'm a Tigers' fan, so the Mets and Bowden can stick this trade right up their butt sideways.

Agree with that. And the fact he hit 30 last year shows he's capable. I wonder how often teams talk with each other in regards to how they work with players. Like talking shop.

All interesting and no doubt speculative - and yet... KPrada was thought of quite highly during 2023. On pipeline he was #3 NYM listed and #36 in the Top 100. Looks like he has some power and hit ability. However not much speed (he is a Catcher) and 'so-so' defense. Not good for Comerica Park. I think if the Tigs trade Flaherty (I think they will seriously look at this) IMHO, much depends on: 1) he continues to P well and 2) just important - remains healthy, I feel they should create a package, add 1-2 prospects (no not of their Top 5) and/or another player - and shoot for a 'good' young player(s) of position(s) of need that is/are also athletic. I have said this many times. The FO has to have the ability to negotiate deals. SHarris and JGreenberg, etc. they need to show this knack. It is not something that all GMs have. If we continue to get rentals (not a bad idea especially w SP), this ability can really help us. SHarris got a good return it seems for Lorenzen. Yet, he has now made a couple deals with DD from Philly. I would like to see this expanded because something tells me DD may of been the 'driver' both times. He needs to use his imagination. I felt JD Davis could of helped us. He was out there last week. Many say just let the kids play - we are doing that regardless. Davis is not that old, has legit power, but only so-so defense. I like Gio on defense - but he has very little power esp at Comerica. I felt that if Tork was staying at AAA for awhile, then Davis could have been a fit. Oddly (maybe not) the NYY got Davis yesterday. No doubt the injuries to Stanton and Rizzo played a role here - but two things I am curious to see 1) how he does in the pinstripes and if he is not good enough for us (ex does not move the needle) then how is it NY, best league record, went out and got him? Some imagination, on a potential 'crazy' deal. How about Flaherty and Tork and a prospect to NY for OF JDominguez and SS/Inf OPeraza? We get two highly regarded young athletic players for positions of need. We can sign a 1B this off season. The Yanks get a SP for the run and a young 1B for their future and a decent (NOT Top 5 prospect as well and/or a bullpen arm). NY has a young shortstop in Volpe and OF prospects are decent in their system and no doubt they are a favorite to resign Soto. Verdugo likes it there as well - so he may re-sign. They can save $ with a young 1B and use towards their FAs. I feel Tork should come around (possibly here or another team). I do not buy he has no value in trade. Some may say 'no way they trade Dominguez' - yet, Tork was that last year. All just imagination, color me crazy, that may even make a little sense ; ) Go Tigs!

That's more obscure than a Benetti pop culture reference. I had to look that up but I've never been to New Orleans.

Patrick Lee is 24...he should have been raking in Low A

We had some kick ass schools in Detroit once.

Sounds like a typical media gripe. It makes the beat guys' job a little harder to have executives not afflicted by logorrhea, or as though the GM is on sodium thiopental. Boo hoo for them. Besides, I actually think the things the coaches and players do say to the media are a lot more interesting since Harris and the new people he's hired behind the scenes have come aboard. They are actually talking about process, which I find fascinating, instead of hiding behind opaque disneyfied jockspeak. I'm all for that.

I don't think executives in the game share the same prejudice borne of disappointment that you and others here have about Tork. I'm fairly certain they think of him as a massive hitting talent who's simply flailing about in Detroit. The guy set all kinds of records in college. I'd bet there are at least a dozen other organizations that think they can fix him.

this is what has led to a lot of the frustration I think for fans. Without any quotes from the front office or coaches, aside from Hinch in his sponsored radio ads, it makes everything think they aren't doing anything. But... they don't need the media.

Langdon is in a nice situation since the bar is so low. 28 wins is a horrendous season for an NBA team. Pathetic by all standards. Yet, he’s an absolute star if he can hit this number which he should be able to do while he’s acquiring assets and draft picks for the future.

that would make Dingler a borderline all-star

Talking heads still can't find a picture of Buggs in a Chiefs jersey.

BA's statcast standout Thomas Bruss, RHP, Tigers Bruss made his first appearance in this series about a month ago. Since then, he’s started mixing in more of what looks to be a plus changeup. Baseball Prospectus rates the changeup as -1.5 runs/100 pitches, which means it will prevent 1.5 runs more than the average pitch per 100 pitches, including an incredible 59% expected whiff rate on swings. We’re looking at three distinct pitch shapes, with the changeup getting a lot of swing and miss. The fastball still has great velocity, averaging 96.5 mph, and he’s getting slightly above-average ride on the pitch. It won’t overwhelm batters, but it is very promising. As we wrote last month, it’s the type of pitch that goes from average to plus-plus if he can find two inches of ride (not an easy thing to do). The changeup is currently running a tremendous 37% swinging strike rate (whiffs/pitch) and a 60% whiff rate (whiffs/swing), backing up the StuffPro evaluation. The slider looks like an average or better pitch as well, given the fastball velocity and the true gyro spin. My confidence in Bruss as a potential big league arm is growing. While I’d love to see him promoted soon, that will also mean we lose publicly available Statcast data on him until he gets to Triple-A. With pitchers, the raw ingredients are often more instructive than the raw performance. Bruss has a lot going for him in that respect, given the massive 6-foot-8 frame and the velocity. If he’s still in the FSL in a month, will check back in again. He was a minor league signing earlier this year.

But as for Dingler: 2021: High A .287 BA, .925 OPS. 2022: second time through AA (his first pass in 2021 he struggled badly): .238 BA, .752 OPS. 2023: 3rd time in AA: .253 BA, .833 OPS 2024: second time through AAA (his first pass in 2023 he struggled badly): .287 BA, .858 OPS. My hope is that if he got called up this year (either/or after trade deadline if Kelly is traded; if not: September) he might struggle initially, but by next year he would start showing flashes that would boost him as better than Rogers 2.0. You offered .210/ .300/ .400. I'll offer .240 to .260 (range over the years 2025 to 2030), .330/.450 average OPS of .780.

I will do EVERYTHING POSSIBLE to avoid becoming a bitter old man. I hate even thinking of that. I've seen it in grocery stores where two 80 years olds (Boca Raton, FL, a long time ago) are screaming at each other at the top of their lungs: "You weren't in the meat department. You were SUPPOSED to meet me in the MEAT department!!!" Etc. Yeesh. No, I prefer my mostly upbeat optimistic basic core personality. I'm good with that.

I would think it would send the EXACT OPPOSITE message. "If you don't take this job/ sport 100% seriously with 100% dedication, you might fail just as easily as 1-1 Tork did. Please give it your all." I don't think most of these kids even need this message because I am guessing MOST of them will do absolutely anything/ everything to make it to The Show. Some guys... no message will sink in. Sort of like Tork: it seems like he's been too close-minded to let any kind of messaging sink in. Well... Toledo is the message. But for 1 or 2 guys... maybe it would sink in. "Give it your all, no matter the talent level, it's the only way to succeed." That seems like the correct message to me. IMO. I don't see how any prospect would ever say "Oh, they traded Tork, I don't care anymore." I mean, seriously, who would think/ act like that? That seems just way too far in outer space to have any kind of validity. IMO.

He might not be Freehan or Parrish... But I think he'll be better than Rogers 2.0. Just a WAG.

I've always wanted to retire to someplace warm but I really am considering politics in where ever I go.... but who am i kidding? I'll probably go wherever my son goes, if he goes anywhere. TN was always a dream because of my family there but I'm really only close to a handful that's left and 3 of those are over 70. And politically it's a **** hole.

Since @1984Echoes already called out the performances from yesterday I'm just going to drop some highlights of the teams.

I predicted to someone not long ago that the Royals would be well under .500 during the second half of the season, but it looks like that level of play might be arriving sooner than later.

When I wanted to find a picture suitable for the above post I typed “moron wearing Detroit Tiger cap“ into Google and aside from this photo, three photos of Brad Ausmus showed up among the first dozen photos, and that struck me as unfair. There was also a photo of Ian Kinsler right up near the top and also a photo of Smokes. Google is really cruel.

I hope Ryan Kreidler is saving all his big league money.

Hamm looks promising

There was a love triangle that completely blew up VP Levels of the Tour.

Not surprising. The pitching staff was surviving on low BABIP and the offense on unsustainably high BA with RISP.

There are a bunch of teams who really want Clingan. If he falls to 5, I'm shopping the pick to move down and acquire some future assets.

I think it goes to prove conventional wisdom that while a guy with strong basic catch and throw skills may be able to be adequate no matter where you play him, it's takes concentration at one position type to make a plus fielder.

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