casimir

The Oakland and Tampa situations need to be resolved. But we hear this every year, so what's a little more time? I'm not sure I see Kansas City and Pittsburgh as relocation candidates. Both are entrenched in their communities and have good stadium situations. I guess in pro sports you never say never about moving a team, but I just don't think either of those two are franchises looking for another town right now.

Tampa Bay Rays (55-49) at Detroit Tigers (42-64)

I think that’s fair. It’s really impossible for us to grade, however, because we don’t know what deals were discussed, how talks developed, etc. There’s the anecdote about one insider saying Avila wanted an Aroldis Chapman type of return for Soto. In fairness, how do we know that to be accurate?

Maybe I’m off here, I don’t know. I wonder if teams look at the Tigers’ bullpen success as more creditable to Fetter than the individual pitchers? Now, look, I get the pitchers are the ones on the mound throwing the baseball. But it seems like the bullpen, which had been a sore spot for so long, suddenly did an about face with Fetter. And the patchwork effort of the starting pitching rotation, my goodness, we can all agree it’s been simply unreal how they’re maintaining some semblance of decency. So do teams look at the at and discount the value that they see in the Tiger pitchers as individuals?

Seems harsh considering they were able to find a taker for Grossman.

Keep quadrupling down on the failure of Avila's tenure. Never change.

I think you're right about pulling the ball. Hitters haven't figured out to adjust and swing at vast holes on the infield (which, OK, it ain't the easiest thing to do).

No, not you specifically. This is a broad question for the room. But you kind'of sound guilty. So fess up.

Yup. I noticed Kody Clemens is still alive. Might as well get him some more reps.

Isn't there a shift rule beginning in MLB next season? It will be interesting to see what the results of that are. I am hoping less reliance on HR or SO and more batted baseballs put into play. And then how does pitching fit into that?

I guess ignoring the system ratings, where is the stream of prospects that the improved drafting & developing that was talked about? Whatever happened to Caesar? What is in Toledo that is just about major league ready? That's a lot of mediocrity. Where is the fruit of the higher draft position?

Everybody is pitching to everybody else like they're Ted Williams.

Or they could draft & develop a strong system such that one graduate doesn't spiral the minor system to the bottom third.

You're not the only one wondering this.

Detroit Tigers (42-63) at Minnesota Twins (54-49)

But the milestones.

Is Gipson-Long someone that is going to be drafted in the rule 5? Just looking at his age and stats, it seems a little far fetched. Although, who knows, maybe Avila will draft him. I may be wrong, I don’t know, but if this is all the Tigers could get for Fulmer, just keep Fulmer. Don’t allow teams to bully you down to absolute nothingness as a return. Don’t perpetuate the notion that you’ll cave in for anything at the last minute.

If we're going this route, shouldn't it be "hot and ready" rather than "gin and tonic"? Do they still do the hot and readys?

I hadn't heard that, but it wouldn't surprise me. It was only $5M for the season, so, what, about 1/3 of that remaining?

Fun fact: Eric Hosmer's .272/.336/.391 would pretty much solidify him as the best bat in the 2022 Tiger lineup. Plus, he might have the glove required to tame Javy Baez's erratic hurls to 1B.

Careful what you wish for. You could be a chicken.

Avila surprisingly managed to trade away Grossman. Maybe he's just tired from that heavy lifting?

I would like the 1 in 12 to be annual thing. How do I sign up for that?

Hosmer to 1B (and collect some prospects with him), Torkelson to 3B, Candelario to.... oh damnit, I thought there was some logic to what I was thinking. Foiled again.

There's always free agency.