casimir

Thank goodness they're only a successful rebuild away from promoting into a rebuilding team.

So you're saying I didn't miss much by not watching this game?

Oh, yeah, you're right about that. I wonder what game I was thinking of? Maybe it was Penny in relief I was thinking of? That game was a 15-5 series ending loss to Texas. Good grief, what a way to bow out. Scherzer and Verlander got clobbered.

I was told there would be no math.

Ah, yes, the Freddy Garcia era. Good times, all 5 or whatever games he pitched for the Tigers. That makeup game sucked. I remember it, I watched it as though it were a penance from confession. But Brad Penny did start a playoff game against Texas in 2011. He lasted all of 1 2/3 innings. I don’t remember exactly what the issue was, but the pitching staff was beset with issues that series. Injuries, ineffectiveness. I’m pretty sure Penny was relegated to the bullpen for the series, but got pulled back to the rotation out of desperation.

I do remember Brad Penny, maybe Al Albequerque and some other random AAAA type as the only healthy & available arms for a playoff game one season. But it certainly wasn't 2012-2014.

Has he been allowed to play because of his natural abilities thus far and simply hasn't been coached much? I don't know, I suppose its possible with a lot of younger players. But, yes, there are some fouls he commits where I just wonder what was going through his head at the time.

Its an unfamiliar feeling.

Its like a 16 vs a 1.

Now do something about Baez' bat.

I think the first side of the coin for all three is what it comes down to. Well, actually, maybe it all boils down to Mize's readiness. It just might be him or Olson.

Dude, if you don't mention it, maybe it won't happen?

Williams is right, if he makes that shot, no one would say a word. The other variable is what if that was the best look they would have gotten to end the game? I can't recall if he had his dribble still or if he picked it up, but I guess he could have gotten to around the free throw line and pulled up for a two. There still would have been time left on the clock, make or miss, say maybe around 5 or 6 seconds? Make or miss the two, Miami still has a chance to win. At least with attempting the three, Miami would have needed the three. Ideally they get a shot with less than 8 seconds, but I don't know that its as easy as that if the franchise player has a good look with 8 seconds left.

A gall darned tie? Ugh.....

Olson has pitched 95 innings in 2019, 105 in 2021, 120 in 2022, and 140 in 2023. I would think the plan would be to get him to around 165-170 this season. It seems silly to think of the pitching issues we've seen in the recent past with the Tigers in maintaining a starting rotation and here we are talking about sending down a guy that pitched as well as he did in his rookie season.

No argument here. It sounds like whomever took over for Dombrowski had a monumental task with the analytics and technology.

These games are being broadcast on Bally's this week.

I've noticed the grocery store music has gotten better as I've gotten older.

Yes, Avila had good intentions (from an overall perspective) and/or did some good things. Not all of the workstreams were sufficient enough, however, for some reason or another. I think development can be pointed at as a weakness. In general, though, it just seemed like they just weren't gaining traction quickly enough.

So what do you do with them? Malloy seems the easier case to deal with. He's not on the 40. It sounds like 3B is off of the table. The Detroit OF is crowded. He starts off the season in Toledo's OF. Maybe they consider giving him reps at 1B, but some what keeps him off of 3B might also keep him off of 1B as well. Either way, it sounds like his glove is going to need more work wherever it goes. Carpenter has improved himself with the glove, so maybe something similarly clicks with Malloy? And with Canha on a one year deal, you could kind of make the case that Malloy backfills that spot on the 26/40 whenever once Canha leaves. Leonard seems to be destined for Toledo to begin the season, too. Look, let's be honest, Baez isn't going anywhere. And with McKinstry and Urshela on the roster, they have other SS options for Baez off days/injury. Keith has been named the starter at 2B. Ibanez isn't doing anything to lose his roster spot. Vierling can be used at 3B. Kreidler probably has a bit of a leg up over Leonard in that he's defensively more versatile. So the depth seems sufficient enough to where the Tigers can keep Leonard working on SS at Toledo if they think it can be improved enough to where he's a pretty solid utility player for 2025. Keep in mind, Ibanez is kind of an older player for his MLB experience. If he starts to slow down, he might be jettisoned sooner rather than later.

He was both the pain and the ass. So at least he had that versatility going for him.

It’s funny to think back to what my first phone was vs what I have now. It was gotten for me over 20 years ago by wife because my wheels broke down on the way to work (a 45 minute jaunt). It was literally just a phone. A flimsy plastic antenna that could be pulled out of the phone which probably didn’t really do anything to help at all. I think I could text with it, but it only had alphanumeric keys, so it took forever to text anyone.

I seldom use my phone as a phone.

Its not just 300. Its the lack of pitchers that have a shot at "merely" 200 wins.

I'm not sure "win-win" is applicable given the storyline.