1984Echoes

I think worst case in evaluating Avila begins with: He started to put in place some of the pieces required to move this organization in the right direction (Caesar, analytics, PD, etc.). He picked a lot of players who MIGHT be a part of the next Tigers playoff-contending team. He definitely lucked getting Hinch, which pushed the Org further towards both analytics, and understanding how to use them. In the end, he was probably in over his head. Not a good trader. Didn't have a full understanding of how to actually utilize analytics. Was too late, too little, and too lazy (fell in love with his acquisitions and did very low levels of churn for an organization that NEEDED it...). And got the chopping block. But if all he did was point us in the right direction and take a few baby steps... And Harris gets us all the way back... I can live with that. (And I've been a higher supporter of Avila, at least prior to 2022... then most.)

With an outside shot of Parker Meadows, Dillon Dingler, Ty Madden, Jobe, Jung.

PS: We can only hope.

BINGO!!!

Counterpoint: Ukraine has retaken 180 sq. kilometers in the south and has retaken 30 sq. kilometers surrounding Bakhmut. Ukraine is on the verge of cutting off Russians in Bakhmut from retreat or resupply. Bakhmut. Putin's greatest victory in Ukraine over the past YEAR. Bakhmut. On the verge of 15,000 surrendering Russian military troops. Russian military performance under Vladimir Putin: What a ****ing humiliation.

And then came Long Live Mike Maroth.

There are player-for-player (MLB) swaps, and there are trades for blocked prospects stuck at AA or AAA that I think would fit this definition. Alex made an attempt in a post just above us...

Yeah... Not ready, yet.

So bending over and licking Putin's boots is now defined as "hawkish"? I'm confused. I was pretty certain Trump extorted Ukraine in an attempted slander at the opposing opposition party (specifically Biden). But I guess that is also called "hawkish" nowadays...? Can somebody help me with this? Because i don't get it.

Don't we already have this? IE: TFG.

They might be waiting for the numbers to all finalize, leaving him for last so they know exactly what "extra" number above slot they can give him. I'm guessing he is agreeable with that approach...?

All MLB games should look like this (IMO)... no matter the broadcaster...

Well, if any coach could get some compete out of him, hopefully that would be a player's coach like DC... or rather, just, DC.

McGonigle and Paul Wilson are the two key remaining guys to sign on the dotted line...

That's called "too late to the table" and yes, that's part of why he did get canned. IIRC, Avila did move pitifully slow in bringing in guys/ scouts that actually understood the word "analytics", and what to do with them, which says: he didn't know who they were/ he was in over his head/ he didn't have the contacts/ draw power to bring in those guys. Or, all of the above. But, starting in 2018 (pre-draft-hitters "era"); I started to really like his drafts. (Faedo & Vest are still here from 2017 but that's not much...): 2018: Mize, Skubal, Parker Meadows (at AAA and still has a chance) and guys still hanging on or were part of a trade: Kody Clemens (made it to MLB-Philly this year with a .644 OPS), Garrett Hill, plus some relievers still kicking around that probably amount to nothing but, still in the Org so they... "have a chance"? 2019: Riley Greene, Kerry Carpenter, Beau Brieske, plus a lot of fringy guys like Kreidler, Lipcius, Brendan White, Navigato. 2020 (5 round draft): Torkelson, Dingler (did ok at Erie so there's still hope), Colt Keith (on the verge), and still might have a chance: Trei Cruz, Wilmer Flores (signed as an undrafted FA pitcher after the draft)... versus guys who are struggling to make progress (but still too early to consign to a dustbin): Daniel Cabrera, Gage Workman... The newer drafts are too recent to know whether we get decent players out of there or not. But there are a lot of promising candidates... Overall... the correct assessment on Avila seems to be: too little, too late, and too lazy.

We might get that next year. Or at least I'm hoping for that... It's another year past Jake's TJ and... after at least one full year of proven health (knock on wood...). Plus one more thing: I think there will be higher competition for AB's next year, squeezing Haase out, to only Catcher and maybe some PH'ing... which I would be OK with if it eliminates his position starts other than at C...

I wouldn't see anything wrong with that either. But going back to his high hit tool as he's shown in at least college and the minors... I'm still holding out for something very, very... Lofty. Even if I have to patiently wait for it...

PS: The reason I made my earlier comment last night: I also am annoyed with all the Tork-bashing. That comment was more aligned with: "Can we stop bashing him now?" then with "I might finally believe he belongs". That probably didn't come through, but that's what I meant. The reason I do NOT feel the need to bash him, even if he hasn't met my expectations: Is that I have patience. I know he's going through his learning curve. And I might even sound impatient or frustrated at times... because I believe he can (and will) do better. But I still believe he'll hit my higher expectations, even if he has to go through these growing pains. Still pleased he was our draftee. And just patiently waiting to see just how high he can get to before I need to reset any expectations that I might have...

Wait... So which is it? As for myself, the scouting reports said he had an extremely high hit tool. And he proved that out in the minors. My expectations were multiple years hovering around .320 (even if his career was closer to .300-.310-ish), 30-40 homers with maybe a highpoint of 50+ somewhere, career 500-ish HR's, and high point years of .900-ish + OPS, even if career ended up closer to .850-ish. My expectations have not changed.

So.... Was this Torque's "coming out party"? Is he now a "bona fide" baseball player?

In prior years' a 35th round pick or so...

Ditto.

They've kidnapped Americans before, from the DMZ. Or hacked them to death. My first thought was that they kidnapped him. But then again... maybe not. He sounds squirrelly...

Throw the book at those Benedict Arnold Traitors to the Constitution of the United States. IMO.