1984Echoes

PS: That may very well be it... if he had those pitches and just couldn't command them with any consistency. Sometimes it is sharpening up other parts of a pitch though... changing the grip (or finding a more effective way to throw a changeup or curve), or a different changeup all-together, tunneling better, etc...

Watched Local Fox News Detroit (down here in Lakeland Florida!!!) and they were saying he has an improved changeup (BONDO?!?!?!)... And he had better command of his two fastballs (4-seamer and 2... is that a cutter or a sinker? I didn't hear that part and I forget what his FB "out" pitch was... thought it was a sinker but it looked more like a cutter...). So if he can command 4-effective pitches... and if he can be a LOT more consistent with his command (he just hasn't shown that yet, until... this year? 1.42 career minor league WHIP. Actually better in MLB at 1.33 in 2024 and 1.39 last year). It may also up his K-Rate and lower his walk rate (3.6/9 in minors, 2.9 in MLB...). If he takes a big step forward (with command, consistency, changeup & 4-seamer...); I think we're now talking about a good mid-rotation starter. Again... if he's getting better than a 1.20 WHIP... I never thought of him like that before. I always thought he was a fringe AAAA/ 6th/7th starter before... at least prior to this year. I hope he gets there. Just my 2 cents.

Time for POPCORN!!!

So far so good. I like how he's starting out this year.

I always thought his secondary stuff was weak. Two nasty pitches (sinker/ slider) working and he dominates. Yes, good command needed too obviously. When I watched him last year, if EITHER the command was off or one of his two "nasties" wasn't working he gave up too many walks (command) or hits (bad secondary stuff). That's why I am so interested in whether he develops a third pitch (Bondo's CHANGEUP!!!). I think if Montero develops his secondary pitches more... he's a better pitcher. More unhittable (if one of the two "nasties" isn't working) as he'll have other ways to keep hitters off balance. Better command and he'll be more consistent. I want both. Just my 2 cents.

I'd prefer him as a backup. Draft Freeling please Brad.

The only starter signed past this season out of Skubal-Valdez-Flaherty-Mize-JV is Valdez. Sooner or later, a starting rotation spot opens up for Montero... If he gives this level of quality start often enough.

Was anybody watching this game? (These questions are obviously not directed at only you MT39...) How did Montero do it? He's always: 1) Had spotty command that comes and goes... It looks like he was hitting his spots this game (just by the box score...) how did he actually look? 2) Had two nasty pitches (sinker/ slider), and not much else that was effective. Those two on = awesome game. One of those two off = crappy game. Did he have two pitches, and two pitches only working this game? Or did he improve his changeup or curve or 4-seamer or some other secondary pitch that just might make him a more consistently effective starter? His history of 1.5-ish WHIP will not be effective. If he drops that to a 1.2 or less WHIP he becomes a REALLY nice starter for us. IMO.

As a switch-hitter... I think Hinch is going to bounce Perez around wherever he wants to... As for RH/LH splits... I think Vierling is going to get a lot of time in RF AND LF PH'ing and subbing for both/(either) Kerry and Greene against LH'ers. IMO.

It's Baez FT for now. Sprinkle in some Wenceel PH's or against nasty RH'ers... I don't think even Vierling will get much time there, close to nil... IMO. Until Harris/ Hinch decide to call up Clark.

September? No... I don't believe it will be that long before he gets called up. If he stays on fire in Toledo, there's going to be a groundswell of noise to call the kid up. I don't think Harris is even in a resisting mood, at all... but I do believe he will be playing it cautious. So... maybe mid-May or thereabouts? Just a WAG...

I agree with all of this 100% Also, I dump and stretch Compher to make additional room. Ras... maybe he can garner a draft pick and I don't really care which round it is... same thing, move him simply for the roster spot. Is Alex Tuch still hitting free agency? He's the one and only FA I go ALL OUT to sign (I mean, if I were SY...). And if I need to use the cash I would have spent on Kane to seal the deal and fit Tuch's expensive FA deal into the Wings salary structure... bye bye Kane. Love ya', and thank you so much for being here... but, it's just time for the Wings to go in a different direction. IMO.

Speaking of which... (OR the current Governor of Michigan...). OR... a multitude of other potential candidates... But yes, couldn't "close the deal", move on to the next.

This will never happen. But they need to put serious laws on the books with some teeth to it. The passing and enforcement of laws will have an impact. Investigations I believe, will end up with nothing. Like the Trump Impeachments (PLURAL!!!) And no law to these effects will be signed until February, 2029. See you then... If we still live in a democracy.

My only question with this would be... Who plays RT?

This would need to be an ABSOLUTE REQUIREMENT. Contractual.

PS: I want NO part of Proctor. ZERO. ZILCH. ZIPPO. NONE. NUNCA. NYET.

I have it as: 1st round grades (and within Lions reach so not Mauigoa) Fano, Freeling, Lomu, Miller. 2nd round grade: Iheanachor, Proctor, Tiernan And yes... I would pick Iheanachor and his learning curve risk over Proctor and his Aaron Gibson risk. But that's just me.

Not enough GRIT...

But do NOT score...

After the draft, there will be several more veterans released in money-moves (out with the old and expensive, in with the new and CHEAP!!!). But even now, there are several vets that are available and, after the draft and as we get closer to training camps... I think their prices will come way down and the Lions could consider one or two as veteran depth signings to add... The most interesting to me (right now) are: At WR (do we want one additional guy here?) it's Jauan Jennings and Deebo Samuel who are interesting to me. At DE it's Cam Jordan and Jadeveon Clowney. I don't know that there is a coverage LB'er out there right now that would pique my interest... Anyone else or any other position we might be interested in, to add as a depth guy?

Only when they start showing it on the field...

Independents are 35% of the American electorate. THEY are the ones who sway elections to the left or the right. And THEY are the ones who are leaving Trump in huge droves. "Republicans" (or should I just call them the MAGA Party now?) are locked into Trump, for better or worse. Dems will vote for their Dem candidate, for better or worse. It is Independents that can go either way. In 2020 they went Biden. In 2024 they went Trump. In 2026, we are now seeing them leave Trump in massive droves and creating a Blue Tidal Wave. Would you be interested in getting to know an Independent? One? I know of one specifically. (But NOT one who would EVER vote for a lying fascist scumbag like Trump... and never did...). IMO. (or... Just my 2 cents.)

Unless you do.

I want the Knicks in the #4 spot and I want REVENGE!!!