casimir

One thing is for certain. The unknown of what happens makes this the most intriguing offseason that we've seen them go into in a long time. It doesn't mean that in March it will have been the most intriguing offseason that we'll have seen the Tigers come out of. But the variable of the absolute unknown is fascinating.

A couple of notes: I don't know where to get a list of rule 5 eligible players, but those guys probably have to factor in as well. At least the keepable ones. The 3B free agent market is dreadful. Unless a 3B is acquired via trade, I suspect they grit their teeth and roll the dice with Candelario. He has it in him, at least he's shown it before. Its a matter of getting that out of him. The hitting coaches will be different. There was some lobbying during the TV broadcast last night for Alexander to return in some capacity, maybe long reliever being his best fit. I think he does return as he can swing between starter and reliever. There is going to be a need to pitch 1,400 innings, and Alexander can probably give them over 100 in some sort of hybrid role, hopefully more relief innings than starting innings. And I think the overwhelming variable in all of this is a new front office. Harris brings new eyes to the organization. The new GM will likely be from outside of the organization. So, there will be different input from those seats, plus Hinch who knows the inside of the clubhouse. Despite Hinch being hired by Avila, he seems to be distanced enough from Avila that he is a quasi new/different set of eyes. That 40 could be burnt to the ground for all we know. But Jack Morris, of all people, made a pretty salient point after the game. The goal should be the playoffs, and the team could redirect towards that as more of a short term goal than a long term goal, but the type of turnaround that would be needed is tough to accomplish. They could make the playoffs next season given enough of the right moves, but how many times do we see a 25+ game turnaround? Drunk Uncle Jack dropping a dose of reasonable reality. Imagine that?

No reason to not use that arm. What are they saving him for, the wild card round?

Underpromise and overdeliver. -- Casimir 3:16

Good flipping grief! I’m suspending myself for the rest of the regular season.

I think I managed to get game times and opponents correct every 2 out of 3 games. That's like taking a series. I feel that's a success.

The good thing about Soto blowing the early game on only 11 pitches yesterday is that he should be available for today's game.

Highlighted area. Zoomed out for context of where we were (the "n" in -on-) and where we were looking towards (the shoreline of Toronto). It was a perfectly clear day. Niagara-on-the-Lake is a beautiful little town. Lots of vineyards in the area. We were there on a weekend, so all of the little shops and the main drag were packed with folks. But we took a horse drawn carriage ride around the town, and ended up in front of a wedding procession via carriage towards the end of our ride. Just wandered about the shops and the village square. There's a cemetery there that is actually Polish land for a regiment that died during the War of 1812. It was a whim type of a jaunt up there while we were staying at the Falls, maybe only a 20-30 drive up.

And now....., the rest of the story. We tried to find Niagara-on-the-Lake when we went up the CN Tower, but of course, the reciprocal view wasn't there. A bit too hazy from that height.

You try to trade him.

Detroit Tigers (66-95) at Seattle Mariners (89-72)

Lofty goals.

Nice work.

It hit me last week. My youngest likes to bicycle to dance practice, but it’s too late for the return trip home now. The weather is fine, but it’s just getting too dark.

This reminds me, we were on the shore of Lake Ontario in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. We could see high rise buildings in downtown Toronto. We were told they were 32 miles away. Seems impossible, but maybe that’s right.

Bret Saberhagen had that at the beginning of his career.

Sounds like Cabrera will be playing for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic.

Shortening daylight. Just not ready for it yet.

Is this the international space station? I’m an idiot, there’s probably only one space station. But, yeah, we’ll make it a must see if the conditions are right. It’s crazy to think you can see it from that far away, however far away it is.

You’re killing me, sabes.

Maybe, maybe not. If he were left handed, I'd be more forgiving. His season by season BABIP is absolute Jeckyl and Hyde.

Just heard this little nugget: An average trip around the bases after hitting a home run is 26 seconds. Albert Pujols has spent over 5 hours of his life in a home run trot.

There are currently 49 guys on the 40 when you include the 60 day ILs. Personally I have a hard time seeing Garcia being kept ahead of 41-49 plus any players that need to be added to the 40 this offseason. He'll be 28 to start next season and doesn't miss enough bats or induce enough weak contact. It seems like an easy nontender despite a handful of decent starts.