1984Echoes

That doesn't make sense when a team is Championship caliber. MUST have competent backup QB or two because injuries happen. And we don't want our season derailed by a Goff injury and subpar backup QB play. Now... that being said... if Allen shines brightly and some team makes a stupid offer for Hooker... maybe... But I still think that won't make sense until after the season plays out. Isn't Allen a FA after this year? He might be the one that gets traded...

I think we can have nice things in Detroit. But it's pick and choose because we can't have EVERYTHING in Detroit. Harris chose Colt Keith. For example. I'm just guessing... but I think Skubal/Boras and also Ilitch are going to take this choice out of Harris's hands. I've been waffling myself on Skubal. Not on the contract... because I think he is absolutely pricing himself out of Detroit. Both AAV AND term (10-ish years). But waffling on keeping him in 2026 and just taking the pick, or getting a haul this offseason. One the one hand, he's our best chance in 2026. On the other hand... if some team (Dodgers/ Phillies/ other) makes a crazy offer that makes us both highly competitive in 2026 (maybe not as good without Skubal... but almost as good) AND VERY HIGHLY competitive for the next 5-10 years because Harris is able to EXTRACT such a haul... I think that outranks 2026 Skubal plus pick. I think it would be malpractice, if Harris can get such a haul, to NOT trade Skubal. But I have to be correct and there is just such a haul (or damn close to it) as I outlined above with the Dodgers and the Phillies. And I'm STILL waffling because I would love to have Skubal in 2026. But then again...

I like this idea!!!

I've been charting Manning's relief appearances... He pitched only 1 inning between June 28th and July 20th... three weeks. I'm assuming he was injured for the most part during this period. On June 28th he got rocked for 6 runs in 1 2/3 innings. I assume he was pitching injured... or else he had to "go back to school" to fix whatever was "broken"? But outside of that one appearance: From June 1st through July 20th, including July 20th but not June 28th: he had 12 appearances for 15 1/3 inn's, giving up 9 hits, 5 ER's, 2 HR's. 2.93 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 9.4 K's/9 and 4.1 BB's/9 for a 2.4 K-BB ratio... Small sample size. The walks are still a problem. No expectations from me whatsoever. But maybe he has a chance? Maybe the Org thinks he does? I wish they would have stuck him in the bullpen earlier... Like... last year.

I thought Sweeney was brought in because Jackson is a RH'er...?

After next inning... It's getting REALLY close to reliever time... Could we get a Bert please?

If a stream of curses emits from yours, or mine, mouths... At an EXTREMELY high decibel level... But no one is close enough to hear anything... Did either of us actually curse?

So this season... Moniak is hitting .268/ .845 OPS/ 123 OPS+ in 81 games with 13 HR's... all over the OF... It's in Colorado, so there's that... .870 OPS against RH'ers... I still say he was worth a shot. At least.

But you have to get Skubal and Boras to agree to that... That's the tricky part. And they BOTH know they can bank oodles more than that offer on the open market... Sorry... but no deal. NOT done.

PS: One more thing: "There are no perfect solutions".

Two flip sides: Both the Dodgers and the Phillies (Dombrowski) are HIGHLY motivated purchasers of talent. And whoever gets their hands on him first (meaning this offseason) will quickly hand out a Boras-sized extension. IMO. Getting him first is a flip side I believe. And will have both, and maybe another team or two willing to make really big offers... But we'll see. Second flip side: Skubal wins his second Cy Young award this year and I think those same teams will trip over each other trying to give Harris the "best offer". (Or a deal "he can't refuse".) IMO.

The more critical injury "bet" right now is to keep Davenport healthy all or at least 90+ % of the year...

Reduce his minutes significantly... And maybe get more games out of him. Here for vet leadership and 3rd PG, steady, plays defense... I think he'd be a great voice in the ears of all the kids... Oh, and bring him in on a vet minimum... reducing cost/ exposure... Just a guess.

And 1A and 1B are already signed. 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 17-18-19 to go. Get them ALL Harris!!!

Maybe this gets us our hometown discount with Skubes... We shall see...

But at the start of 2027, Skubal will be 30 years old. I know he has tree-trunk legs like Nolan Ryan... and maybe he has zero health issues during a 10-year contract... But is that the best risk for the Tigers Organization? 10 years of Skubal at $40-50 mill per annum at ages 30-39? Can we pay him $52 mill per year for six years so $312 Mill ages 30-35? I would do that... but would Skubal/Boras? The years, even though he's a stud, is the most difficult part. And with a young core coming up, Jobe not even a full year... It looks REALLY attractive to do a timeline reset while STILL remaining playoff-competitive with a Painter-Jobe+ or a Sheehan-Jobe+ rotation. We would be playoff capable in 2026 with either of those packages. And I think we would receive a haul with Skubes. 3 highly regarded pitchers and a couple position players/ studs (depending on the package...)? I'm just guessing... But I am very open for a "reload" if it makes the most sense for the Org. My 2 cents.

Backup Vet PG: Malcolm Brogdon?

Getting MLB or MLB-ready players may constitute a "reload" instead of a capitulation. I prefer the "reload" method that STILL has us hunting 2026 playoffs, even without Skubal. That's why the Dodgers win the offers with Sheehan & Dreyer & Freeland OR the Phillies win with Painter, Kerkering and Crawford.

But we'll do even worse against a starter with close to zero MLB experience...

Have we officially shifted from "scuffling" to "struggling"? Or is it "treading water" to "6-game losing skid"? "Playing .500" to "slump"?

We shall see...

This is not true. Please call Scott Boras for more information.

Who said anything about Harris "publicizing" Skubal up for auction? There IS something called "working the phones", FYI. And Dodgers' Sheehan & Dreyer are IN the majors; Freeland is in AAA... Phillies' Painter and Crawford are in AAA, Kerkering is in MLB since 2023. I did my homework thank you very much.

PS: That would be hilarious if we traded Liranzo & Sweeney back to the Dodgers as part of the "package" along with Skubal for the 5 guys I listed from them...

Probably. But I think "Skubal up for auction" will generate an overpay. At least one. I think we'll get one of those offers, even if we are sending a couple prospects (not our top 5) back. Just my guess.