casimir

How do you know they didn't inquire on Hernandez?

Cash is just as good as money.

I definitely agree with you about the good position to take on payroll.

Where would Teoscar Hernandez fit in amongst an OF of Greene, Meadows (who at the time was assumed to be the starting CF until his bat disappeared), Carpenter, Vierling, and Canha (who was traded for in early November)? Not nitpicking, but his SO% and BB% are not good. And throw in that it looked like he might be declining in 2023, although it could very well have been a one year thing.

It depends upon what is going into the results. Are there better results solely because of talent? That won't work. Are there better numbers because of a different approach (and talent)? I think that's what the vacation to Toledo is all about.

They've got to be well under way with this aspect. It might be a few years before seeing the impact of players that they've both drafted and had time to develop. But we should see a few players that were already in the minors before Harris' time bubble up (whether they'd been drafted by the Tigers or acquired via trade or minor league free agency or however). That's not to say the minor leagues are as full of prospects as they should be. But the infrastructure should be in place and operable.

The free agency thing is where the lack of response, how shall I say....., the silent response speaks out loud. Trades are a bit more difficult to come up with scenarios. Much like free agency, you have two parties that have to agree with each other. Its just not always as easy to see where teams line up there priorities and valuation in order to think of trades that could be made.

No argument. Like I said, I don't know who the replacements would be. But I'd prefer effective Ps regardless of which limb they pitch with.

What's happened to Justice Bigbie?

Torkelson represents an inexpensive option at 1B. He has to prove that the production is there. If that can happen, it allows Harris to look elsewhere to upgrade. The level of trust might not be where it was over the 23-24 offseason, but Torkelson is still young enough that the team could reasonably assume that there is still progression in the right direction. If, of course, he figures it out in Toledo and carries it up to Detroit to close out this season.

Why not both?

Sure, roster depth is needed, no question about that.

They should move on from both. But I'm not sure who replaces them. Can Brandon Belt pitch?

That's all well and good. Neither is an effective option right now.

This will not be a popular opinion, but.... Joey Wentz is the current BP whipping boy. Go ahead and compare his season numerals to Andrew Chafin who has been just about as "effective". Chafin: 20 IP, 1.800 WHIP, 11.3 H9, 5.0 BB9, 10.8 SO9. Wentz: 25 2/3 IP, 1.753 WHIP, 11.2 H9, 4.6 BB9, 10.5 SO9.

The best bet/hope is Torkelson figuring out how to get back to his 2nd half 2023 form and stay there going forward.

That’s a helluva jinx you got there.

That's not even the most fascinating part of it. Grabbing him and placing him immediately in an unbreakable headlock was the key to it all.

With a loyal fan base that hasn't experienced it in several years.

I think there are internal options for 1B long term. I wouldn't exclude bringing someone else in, but I don't think that's a priority right now. To the original point of moving one of the 3 Cs on the 40 to 1B and/or DH, I don't see the point in it. Malloy is a DH. Canha, Urshela, and Ibanez have 1B experience. Keith and/or Jung could eventually be moved there. And despite Dingler banging it around recently in AAA, its tough to assume that carries up to MLB pitching. Late add: And I don't think Torkelson should be written off just yet.

The Tigers never had a 3rd C called up due to injury last season, and have not had one yet this season. It seems impossible to not have that extend throughout the duration of this season. I don't wish for it, but its likely to happen this season. They'll have one of Rogers/Kelly as the primary C next season and Dingler as the other C next season.

Has the transfer portal stopped rotating?

No, neither they nor Ohio State be playing them.

Old friend Jose Urena. Pound him like he's a bottle of Budweiser.