1984Echoes

I think Avila brought a lot of the right pieces into this Org, including a boatload of players and Hinch. But he was clearly in over his head. We're all thankful that Harris is our GM. And happy to be rid of Avila. Harris clearly understands draft and development, has invested the required resources in this and revamped it to be a proper developmental system, understands analytics and how to USE them... and is completely in-synch with Hinch. Who also understands draft and development and analytics completely. I like the emphasis in controlling the strike zone (both as a pitcher and as a hitter), and his drafts specifically for very high hit tool (power to be developed) and pitchers that can actually hit the strike zone. And I am also one willing to give Harris the time to get us to that Championship level... unlike Chas's idea that only he ("just about") is willing to give Harris the time... Avila was clearly over his head. But I think the effort to discredit Avila 100% for ANYTHING and EVERYTHING he did is asinine. IMO.

PS: Besides, if we're giving up a crapload of 1sts for Markkanen (I'm on board with this... are you buddha (just askin'))... We ought to be able to swing one very minor personnel switch that's in our favor... Does including Sasser for Clayton make Utah say "No" to this deal of multiple 1sts for Markkanen? Do they shut down the deal because of this...? That would seem drastic.

For ****s and giggles?

Cool. Although stating that the reason women are losing interest in American men is because "America is full of atheist..." was not so cool. IMO.

Atheists do NOT believe in the devil. Just another figment of humankind's active imagination...

Did you have a problem with us atheists?

PS: Can we also give them Sasser, as well? Just for ****s and giggles? Or Sasser to Utah and we get Walter Clayton as part of the deal? Clayton is a bit more PG'y than Sasser...

If Langdon can pull off this trade, at a lesser cost... I give him kudos. How much lesser? I don't know exactly, but if it were (3) 1st rounders, (1) 1st round pick swap, and a few 2nd rounders... is that good? Can we get him at an even lesser cost than what I lowered it to...?

And Tork, and Dillon Dingler, and Mize and Jobe, and Kerry Carpenter and...

He hired AJ Hinch.

Thank you.

EXACTLY.

I think the only psyche Avila damaged is yours, chas.

The other thing is... I don't think Yzerman is going to just "sit on his laurels" either... Meaning, even if no trades are made... If McLellan gets annoyed by Berggren or Ras, just for example, they can swap them out with Lombardo or Mazur or MBN. If Gibson or Talbot get nicked up a few games, they'll call up Postava or Cossa (health permitting of course...). Not certain where they think Wallinder or Tuomisto are so far this year (or maybe even count Holl as a backup option)... But it seems like Grand Rapids is sitting on several prospects that may become options if needed. It seems like between Detroit and GR, there's a higher level of talent in total than in years past. To be utilized as needed. And if Stevie does want to pull a trade off at the deadline (bringing in talent) ... I'm not going to complain. And I think we just might have the pieces (and draft picks? Is Stevie ready to include draft picks now?) to facilitate...

Hinch/Harris won't be afraid to use those if necessary...

Got it, thanks! Meadows: 1 MILB option year remaining Perez: 2 MILB option years remaining Sweeney: 3 MILB option years remaining

PS: Do we have any shot at the Japanese players posting? No draft pick. And they have two 3B'men (although one I think is mostly a 1B'man) and Tatsuya Imai... who looks like he'd be a great #2/3 starter...

Between Meadows, Sweeney, and Wenceel... who still has minor league options?

The Interior O-Line needs to mature. And 100% health for Decker and Sewell would be great too...

The overturned goal from Danielson was a beauty...! Too bad...

Markkanen for Harris, Ivey, Holland... and however many 1sts and 2nds it takes to convince them...

I believe this 100%, also.

Harris, not Robertson, as an expiring contract.

Yes please.

And probably ASP and Kasper and MBN too, amongst others. But no, they're not all going to hit the NHL ice on the fly... They're going to go through learning curves and rough patches and such... And we're just going to have to live with that until they're up to full speed. Hopefully most of 'em make it instead of flopping. But we'll have to wait 'n' see on that end of the rink.