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Putting aside the rough end to the first half ... as we go into the All-Star break, let's take a moment to really appreciate what the Tigers are. They are, in my opinion, the most special Tigers team of my lifetime. Yes, the 1968 and 1984 teams won 100+ games and rings. The 2006 and 2012 teams went to the Series. And the run from 2010 to 2014 was like nothing else any of us had lived to see up to that point. But this team is so different from those teams. Not only do the 2025 Detroit Tigers have the best record in the majors. Not only do our underlying metrics show we are the among the best teams in baseball. Not only that we are completely running away with the division. But, also, our future is still so, so bright. Sure, we thought that about 1968, and about 1984, and about 2006. But as we've already learned, those teams were run by stand-pat front offices who did not respond effectively to the needs we had so we could continue winning, and as such, they were essentially one-offs. But I think all of us know already that this front office will not, will never, just stand pat. That's the gift of having a PBO who is young and brilliant and hungry. He knows how to put the right people in the right spots, both on and off the field, to maximize our chances for success both now and later, and we know that the farm system will continue to bear fruit this year, next year, and for years to come. But perhaps most special of all is this particular team, this active roster, right here. It is filled with young, hungry kids with the talent to play well, which a lot of teams have, but also, the aptitude and flexibility to learn how to win, which so many teams do not have. And the majority of these kids are under team control for years to come. We won't have to worry this winter about a blood-letting of players peeling off and scattering about to other teams. The team we see now is essentially the team we are going to see next year, the year after, and (perhaps with one notable exception) the year after that. Plus, there are no prima donna superstars on this team. We might have reasonably thought the highest paid, longest-contracted player would become that guy, and maybe under any number of different regimes he might have. But this player has been brought into the fold by this brilliant front office and field management team, and is just as on board with the mission of the Tigers as all the guys who are making close to minimum and are still trying to establish their careers. They are playing together, truly, as a team, with a plan and the inclination to work together to win, and not merely a collection of individuals all trying their best on their own and hoping it pays off in wins. As we saw 10-15 years ago, you don't have to be a bunch of stand-up good guys to get fans on board as long as you're winning, but boy, is it ever sweet icing on the cake. This organization has become, in much shorter order than we could ever have imagined, the envy of baseball, and I am glad I got to see a team like this playing under the Olde English D before it got too late for me. You young guys here, try to savor this moment as the special moment it is. Decades from now, you will look back on the mid-2020s and remember it fondly as that special moment the Detroit Tigers went from black-and-white to technicolor.

Drafting one player you've never seen play over another play you've never seen play

I was looking your answers in which you suggested that any of us who dared to criticize actions of ICE obviously want no laws and open borders, and using the same type of reasoning to suggest that you think that ICE is always justified in removing people no matter what and no matter how. Got it?

Yes, because obviously you either have to support ICE completely or want completely open borders and no immigration laws because there's nothing in between. I guess some of us are just guilty of the 'sin of empathy,' yes?

Nazis. If you support this you are a nazi.

You can't make this bull**** up

FWIW, even though it ended in sucky fashion, I was not at all disappointed with last season.

The sale of the Tampa Bay Rays from current owner Stu Sternberg to a group led by Jacksonville developer Patrick Zalupski for about $1.7 billion has been agreed to in principle and is expected to be completed as soon as September, a person briefed on the process who was not authorized to speak publicly told The Athletic on Monday.

And they went 7-1 in the playoffs and never trailed in either of the two series. Even if they had coasted to .500 after the 35-5 start, wouldn’t have mattered because they flicked a switch and dominated again when the post-season started.

I think it's OK to deport people, especially violent criminals after, due process. I am against indiscriminate mass deportation. I am against ICE raids of farms, stores, hospitals, etc just so they can reach some quota and pump up the MAGA base. Of course, there needs to be immigration laws - laws which make it easier for productive immigrants to come here and stay here and laws to keep the bad ones out. However, I am very sure that the current immigration policy is totally fueled by racism and fear and that is totally counterproductive.

There you go again. Anybody that criticizes ICE in any way doesn't want immigration laws.

LOL. Since when does 8 people represent 'literally every person deported.'

You don't seem to be MAGA based on the whole body of your posts, but whem you say stuff like, "you guys just want open borders" any time they criticize ICE, it makes you sound like one of those guys that has Fox News going in their home all hours of the day.

Probably made him take the picture.

And no super scary teams like the Dodgers in the National League. The Astros despite their success this year likely have peaked. Yankees and Red Sox will be up there due to budget ability, but the Rays or Mariners, maybe not. I'm not writing off the Twins, Guardians and Royals the next few years but nor do I have reason to believe they're going to take jump into being consistent 90+ win teams. In other words, no reason the Tigers can't start putting together a playoff streak in the years ahead and take it from there.

I wonder if they gave Cal Raleigh a ride or made him catch his own flight after that 2-homer night...

Did that last year and they are mostly on the shelf...

That's where I'm at as well. I was thinking about the Sasser spot for him. He's bigger, more of a true PG, plays some solid defense, and seems to have really improved his outside shot.

A lot to like about the Tigers' present and future. I've posted this before - I also love their style of play, even more that the station to station, big bopper Miggy teams. The one thing I hear repeatedly from the players is how thorough AJ is with preparation. All the structural pieces seem to be in place. Now just get some pitching help so they can win it this year!

gettiing who they want dont confuse public mock drafts and boards with how the Tigers see them

That gets mentioned a lot and is worth highlighting. It's one of those things that I've heard the experts on the radio say quite a bit over the last 40 years. So then someone hears it and assumes its true and it becomes a legend. They were 69-53 after 35-5. That's a .565574 Win %. Over 162 that % is 92 wins. That's a good season. They didn't coast after a hot start.

Hard disagree on SGL not being a swing and miss guy. The k's weren't there this year in his time back, but down the stretch in 2023, his K rate and Stuff Metrics were bonkers off the chart.

@Edman85?

if healthy, this rotation is 6 deep and fine through the rest of the year: Skubal, Flaherty, Mize, Olson, Montero, SGL - they also have Melton who may join BP the relievers are not so good: Vest, Kahnle, Holton are only guys you would want in to see in a close playoff game. Hanifee and Lee might make playoff roster by default. need two guys who strike people out

All my neighbors are immigrants, and I have no clue what their legal status is. I don't feel the need to call ICE on them since they appear to be productive neighbors in the community. That means I support open borders.

It wasn't wrong to question her. She actually came to the immigration office herself to try to straighten things out and that's when she was detained, It was wrong to hold on to her for weeks when there was no evidence that she was a danger to society. I don't need to provide specifics. You are the one that needs to explain why she was held for weeks. The null hypothesis is not that ICE is always right. Innocent until proven guilty is the American way.

Some White people get detained too and that's supposed to make everything OK? Whites and non-whites do not get the same treatment by our legal syatem. Non-whites are targeted disproportionately. They always have been.

Sinner. https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-enticing-sin-of-empathy

Which means... The only SP help we should be looking for, if any, would have to be better than Mize-Montero-Olson-Flaherty... because we already have those guys and the rotation gets shortened in the playoffs anyways, as you've noted. We don't "NEED" SP help... But if the rare opportunity to add a true #2 starter were available, and at a cost that Harris approved... I would not be averse to adding that person. Because the above 4 are pitching like 3/4/5 starters (inconsistent, not reliably dominant, IMO). I don't know that anyone fitting that description is available anyways, so moot point. I'm just sayin'...

Toledo W 6-1 Lee 2/3 2BB 4SB Malloy 3/5 2RBI 2K Cruz 0/5 3K Gipson-Long 4.2IP BB 5K Erie PPD WM L 5-2 Pacheco 1/3 BB K Graham 2/2 RBI BB 3B (Quietly he has had a .301/.382/.511 line since 5/1 ) Lakeland W 3-2 Franyerber 0/4 Strong 2/4 RBI 2K 2B Rucker 2/4 2RBI Reyes 5IP H ER 2BB 4K

plenty of time to get pitchers in the later rounds

its hard not trust a guy whos turned around a franchise in 2 years ... not like we're picking in the top ten at this position these guys are for the most part lottery tickets

when Rainer falls to you, you take him, but it looks like none of the big ticket guys they wanted fell to 24, so they pivoted and grabbed 2 guys they liked, which hopefully cascades into the financial flexibility to grab even more guys they like

He spent 10 seconds more with that kid than he did with his own.

I was hoping that Jordan Yost was related to Eddie Yost, but I have not seen anything to indicate that he is. I was also thinking that Ned Yost was Eddie's son, but that not true either.

Have a number of C and IF prospects in the system. No real hurry on either of these guys

I mean, it's a lefty high schooler with good bat to ball skills who plays a premium position. The Tigers certainly have a type.

This validates my disinterest and lack of investment in this draft. Hope he turns out well.

Yep. I think having that hefty lead might erode a little intensity but the bullpen is a bit alarming, but it's good that we are finding out now and not 10 days AFTER the trade deadline. I am still not worried. I think it's a helluva time for an All Star Break - and going until July 13th to have your first 4-game losing streak is darn impressive, no, it's DAMN impressive. Everyone take a deep breath. It was a bad weekend and that's all it was.

Announcer: Coach Udoka, thanks for joining us. What is your favorite thing about coming to Vegas? Udoka: Pussy

I guess I need to watch this show.

There is not a universe with an optimistic buddha. None, zip, zero, zilch, not'ta.

Avila bought some of the materials. He simply had no idea how to build the house.