alex

Maybe one more reason they drafted Max Clark.

Sounds like this might be the plan. Yet, if they continue to play well perhaps they could extend Lorenzen (2 for 20?) - why because we are going to have to pay another vet SP 'something' this FA season and I do not see SHarris dolling out big multi year contracts (see SF history as well). That and many SPs are not getting the extended deals that they got before as teams are wising up and 1-2 yrs for what amounts to SPs that 'may' throw 150 innings is going to be more common (IMHO). There is always a few outliers but no longer the norm. SHarris may only pull a deal if he likes it, depending of course on the players involved. I do not see him doing so because he might have to (I understand you did not say that as well). There looks to be more a 'Sellers' market - and pitching is always in demand. ERod? Maybe just offer funds to the 3 years left? I cannot see him getting 6 years. He and his agent have to weigh it based on several factors of course including if he likes it here. Nobody not named Ohtani really is in line for 5-6 years (maybe JUrias?). Adding? I really do not think you need to trade a 'top' prospect. Maybe a mid range player and there may be teams looking to rid 'some' payroll as that is a factor as well. Again, IF SHarris is thinking of adding a veteran bat this off season, and a player comes up in the next week or so who may fit... Could also trade a younger player for another younger player who SHarris and staff may like more. Go Tigs! 😉

Yes, Marisnick was even hitting better than Haase - though the hope is Haase breaks out. In the field nothing to compare. However, 26 man roster decisions are not just the manager - the GM may have as much, if not more to say about it. This happens more as we are always trying to 'mix and match' - seems Short and Haase have been quite non-productive hitting wise for awhile now (Short does play good D at a few positions and this has value). We could use some production. Not sure what it is with Haase - but because he can C and the Ps like him...

Yes, well put, people tend to only reflect on the home team (or team followed more than others) that is relative to them. Objectively, there are many 'Top Prospects' that struggle initially or shortly after the league adjusts and some just plain do not make it - even after some success. Tork is coming along. He may not be 'living up to expectations' but in reality he is making positive strides (IMHO and that of others) and hopefully will have a long productive career over time.

Points taken. I am not saying Javy is good because he has been on the field - but that aspect has value. I would say 'yes' he should perform 'stat' wise better than he has. With said he is apx 6th in RBI's for shortstop's in leagues combined at this time (July 14). That is decent - but IMHO, he could be a better offensive player (he certainly was with the NYM). Yet, that more than likely will not happen because of his chase rate and as you mentioned some decline perhaps is showing up - yet, I maintain, he is a talented in several ways. The last regime identified him as a 'core' piece to go with the Mize, Manning, Skubal, Greene, Tork, etc. young core - but injuries have so far derailed that core - so I am saying the injury 'factor' is not really taken into consideration from fans when planning how a season may look. JLeyland had been quoted before often saying 'Your best ability is your availability'. IMHO, I feel there is value there. Front offices and fans cannot go into each season and say by June 'We have injuries so now we cannot compete (ex RGReene, TSkubal, CMize, etc. for Detroit two years in a row. AJudge, CRodon, NCortes, HBader - NYY, Boston has had many injuries, LAD, The ChiSox, etc., etc.).' I am again saying this aspect of baseball is more prominent now than before. Depth has to be there. All things being equal the team with the most healthy good players (depth included) stands a better chance of winning more games. Depth comes from draft & development (hopefully now this gets better), scouting the league and knowing when to get someone (ex a ZMcKinstry, AGarcia of Texas, LGurriel of AZ, etc.), signing a FA, etc. I do feel this regime is and will be better at ID 'potential' players - but no question some luck is always involved because of injuries - and today they are more prominent than before and hence depth must be part of the planning. Hopefully, in the future say 28 man rosters may be realized. Maybe a few less games played with more scheduled off days. Bring back old fashioned DH's on the schedule ex 2 per team or so. Recovery can help things go along ways. Today's athletes are in better condition than ever - yet, closer to being over-trained than ever before (hence more recovery time is needed) and that may have a bit to do with the injuries. Organization's are beginning to understand this better - but the above few changes, IMHO, could also help.

IMHO, it is all rather funny. People often want to sign and then if they do not work out 'entirely' quickly rid FAs. To then sign similar players, lol. FAs are always a crapshot. Something many may still miss is that health is so underrated and therefore depth is not yet appreciated by most fans. Players who can stay on the field are hard to find (see any team). Simply, a bit of luck is involved here. The Tigs will have more injuries here in the second half (as WILL ALL teams). Most liked the ERod & Javy moves at the time. Personally I still do. Javy is talented. He just needs to step it up a notch by means of 'focus' (I feel when games get out of hand he loses focus and patience even more). He (or anyone) needs a stronger surrounding cast that what is here currently (we all know that) and hence not to put so much pressure on one player (like in Chicago & NY), regardless of salary. The Tigers are a MLB team, hence should have an MLB payroll. MiLB should have MiLB payroll allotments (per parent team). Point being they need to have X in payroll regardless to be competitive. You find out who is part of a nucleus, what position, what costs to add, etc. Maybe toward year end you decide Javy moves to second IF they seek to sign another SS (ex Tim Anderson, etc.) and that right there prompts him to opt out. Or, he is ok with that and you still get a another SS (again this helps with depth as well). Again, IMHO, Javy is quite talented. We have all seen the plays. He can hit a bit as well. He has won before. However, he has to figure out the focus & throws to first aspect a bit better.

I have mentioned before, IMHO, I think the clock should be given a break once a P reaches 10 Ps (or 12... ) for each batter. This allows more recovery time for a P. Once a P and batter get to that many Ps it then seems to really take a toll on a P. Maybe like an extra 30 seconds, one time, once the P/batter confrontation reaches that 10 pitch point. To change anything during the playoffs, as some have mentioned, may wish to be later implemented to get it done during the season as well. That might be a step backwards for the game. Again, IMHO, I feel the P clock, base sizes, no shifts, etc. have really helped the enjoyment and pace of the game - and I consider myself a baseball purest as have been following a looong time. FWIW, if MLB did not implement those changes I would think the game would of continued to be less attractive to many current and future fans.

Hmm, may of previously had a type of agreement with Jake Marisnick, you come here you get a chance to play for 30 days or so but when Riley is off the IL all bets are off... or does anyone still have options ex Zach Short? For at least the short term. Let us not forget as 'injuries' seem to pop up with 'all' teams on a very regular bases 🤕.

Well put. Then, if we do bring them up, and they do not 'succeed' right away many fans then sour on the player even if they are say - just 23-24 yrs old ex Tork. It takes time to develop players. Maybe there is a generation exception here and there - but that is rare. If Tork was doing still what he did last year, which maybe was not 'that' bad for that time, then there is an argument. At least now he is taking more steps forward (and some back still). IMHO, there is SOME progression with some nos. (and the old eye test) to back it.

This 'sounds' good but for the most part those days may be gone for most all teams. The days of 6-7 starting position players 'starting' 150+ games for any team may unfortunately be a thing of the past. Like 3 SPs going 200 innings (used to be 250 before that) - for any team is also a thing of the past (there may be an outlier here and there but... ). Now teams seem to be gearing more for 'options' at SP to be able to pitch 150 innings. Say 10 per in and out of a system. Injuries are a major part of this and there are several underlying reasons there, some maybe more apparent (at this time) than others. However, I DO agree with you. Hopefully the Tigs can come up with a couple more productive 'starting' type players (ex start 120+, and in several other games as well). Seems right now they are more concerned with getting pieces in place and maybe later (again hopefully not too much later) adding 1-2 of those 'bigger' missing pieces.

Interesting... does this refer to the ball being lighter per say?

There is a lot to this with regards to the amount of injuries to Ps. It may be more than just baseball, but the movement and physical stress may really help exploit a possible underlying scenario that is complex (IMHO)... I have posted it several times now: The days of 3 SP on a team throwing 200+ innings are loooong gone! (note: perhaps an outlier staff or two may occur.) Crazy, we used to think in the 90's to early 2000s how could any of those previous decade SPs toss 250-300 innings a year... Each organization needs 10 SPs ready to put up innings for the MLB team. You start a season with 5 SPs in rotation (not counting IL out of the gate), have 2-3 ready at AAA and maybe 1-2 from AA. Yet, if not there to begin with maybe the waiver wire and/or trades. At any time 1/3 are on the IL (again an outlier here and there). Most all teams now know this and it has been repeatedly mentioned on various MLB broadcasts. SI, by Tom Verducci, had an interesting article just recently about the scenario of current MLB SP : https://www.si.com/mlb/2023/05/22/starting-pitching-decline-pitch-count-timer-injuries

Good point. At this day and time that rarely happens for any SP staff for any extended period of time ex 3 SPs giving 180 innings on a team (let alone 200!). Again, each team needs 10 guys or so from MLB-AA (and waivers, trades, etc.), ready to give SP innings for the MLB team (does not mean each one will in the majors). This has been said several times now from different baseball people while stating their observations.

True. Yet, if we can throw in a valued fringe prospect or two so the return is greater, then that may be a way to go also.

This makes sense. Even if we are or are not going to get higher priced per say FAs then they need to consider this. Trading prospects does not mean the higher end types (Keith, PMeadows, Campos, Jung, etc.). Teams evaluate differently and a fringe guy for us may be a strong consideration for another organization (and vice-versa). Any way to make the team/organization stronger moving forward has to be considered. It may not be as cut & dry as 'Sellers or Buyers' - maybe both.

OMHO, perhaps the days of teams SPs (most ALL teams), all being fully healthy at once may be few and far between. Depth this day and age is of utmost importance. Remember hearing on a national TV game last year, from a former SP, saying every team going forward will need 10 SPs ready to go between MLB/AAA+. It is just the reality.

All IMHO: I am beginning to wonder why is this management so concerned about getting spots 20-26 on the roster filled. They need top talent. More everyday types. All the utility guys that maybe do not K so much and walk a bit are 'not' going to make up for the lack of stronger talent. Yes, some combo of McKinstry, Vierling, Maton, Skolak, Rizzo, Ibanez, Nevin, Short, etc. are 'ok' - and it is a good thing that they play multiple positions (however so could Goodrum, Jones, Castros, etc.) but this team needs 'Talent'. If the team is so consistently bad, talented players will not want to come here FA wise. There is a difference between a 65 win team and a 75 win team - 10 games. The point is things can change fast. Heck 2 weeks ago we were thinking of competing for the division, now to avoid a 100 losses. Who knows in two weeks again (seriously). FA and trades are not the answer (but a couple can help). Drafting and developing young talent IS a big part of the answer. Yes, the past administration did 'not' draft very well. Too many SPs. That mindset has hopefully changed and all teams this day and age need apx 10 SPs between the MLB staff, AAA/AA and long relief on hand (Q - what do Mize, Manning, Skubal, ERod, Turnbull, Faedo & Jobe have in common right now?). I have mentioned repeatedly the days of 3 SP on a team throwing 200+ innings are loooong gone! (note: perhaps an outlier staff or two may occur.) Crazy, we used to think in the 90's to early 2000's how could any of those previous decade SPs toss 250-300+ innings... I do not see the point of A.J. talking about McKinstry now being thought about for some games in CF. We heard all this before (again Goodrum, Jones, Castros, Reyes, etc.). Forget that. He can play 2B, 3B and sometimes a corner OF spot. FAs? There is a difference here with position players and Ps. Ps will more likely come here as they know Comerica has a reputation as a 'pitchers park'. Still, a team can try to get '0ne' position player a year that could be a longer term fit (easier said than done of course). Trades? This is where scouting really comes in hand. This list was posted by SeattleMike: https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-trade-candidates-change-of-scenery-2023 These type of players may be worth 'calculated risks'. Drafting and development are the key and supplementing from there. You do not have to wait for a core to 'develop'. We have Greene, Tork, Carpenter, Keith, Malloy, PMeadows, JJung, Campos, Dingler, etc. If this developmental staff cannot get 3 'good' players out of that group, well then... We will have 3 of the top 46 picks this year. Let's start adding now - as things in baseball (esp this division) can change very quickly. On another note: I am not sure what has happened to Haase. Seems he is now, and has been, in the very low production area (with the exception of 2-3 games this year). C is an area that may need more attention. Go Tigs.

Agreed. A good thing. The only thing I would like to see implemented is during the extensive ABs ex 12 pitches+. At the 12 pitch point to one batter, add an additional 20-30 seconds at least at that point (one time). This way the pitchers arm is not overly extended during a short period. I swear I have seen this effect Ps (and their arms 'health wise') shortly afterwards.

Indeed! A good win for the team. It will not be easy, as roster was stretched/reaching before, but IF they can play 'close' to .500 this next month+, there could be some semblance of interest/hope for much of the remainder. There are going to be injuries for ALL teams. Opportunities for some younger players here and we may pick up another vet or two. With said some should be coming back as well from the IL - dare I say it - it is always more fun to have hope in July+... 🫢 🙂

IMHO, maybe a combo of things: ex 1) payroll (if worth a raise). 2) Put those funds towards another player (a different dice roll). 3) He had been here for awhile and maybe brass decided best to 'change' (some pressure and perception of change to fans and press as mentioned earlier). 4) Maybe try to change the clubhouse culture as this team has been 'losing' for awhile now. Players get too comfortable sometimes and a 'change' is often needed so a wake-up may take place... Jeimer is a decent player (though streaky), but maybe it was time for a change from both sides. Could always try to resign him later... How does that FIRST resonate with each reader. Maybe that was part of the answer as well on how the team feels.

Yea, I do like the potential shorter timeline with Langford. Yet, if Jenkins is an exceptional hitter, then perhaps the timeline is 'not that long' as well. Here is where scouting comes into play. Also, as mentioned, the Tigs have 3 picks in the top 46 or so. They hopefully will make some hay here.

This would make sense for 'now and the future'. We might be able to get a player for both 'time periods' ex for 1-2 decent prospects (maybe not top). There may be a good team (or not so good) with a blocked player. Seems Harris has done this with several who are now playing more & helping (here in the D) who would not have as much elsewhere.

Seems the Cubs went more this route for their contention run and WS title during 2016+/- years. It makes sense and we already have several young 'high draft pick' SP choices on the current roster - Now, can we keep them healthy to get 2 of 3-4 for several years at 175 IP🤔.

IMHO, there is something to be said about that. Also, they can help in a pinch at the MLB level - while still emphasizing most of the 'process' on the younger players and development. Let's face NO team has all 26 roster spots filled with 20-27 yr olds (MLB is not AA ball) and you can bet the expected winning teams have quite a few 30+ yr olds. I do get it of course, that we are developing and a process is taking place - but this is an MLB team, hence an MLB payroll and fans are paying MLB prices to view in whatever venues of choice. That and you never know when an injury takes place, and someone may ask about a player (or even help out here) to potentially get a lottery A ball type. ex Trayce Thompson of last year (yes, I know that transaction was cash).

Maybe they look at Gibbs as more of an all around offensive player/threat, ex both as RB & WR. This way they get one player for/with two purposes.