Useful Idiot

Lets just say my initial impression of you was that you were looking for someone to inflate your ego. And I just didn't come here looking for that job. And I don't mean that as slam or provocation ,...just that since we are now being honest, etc

I would love to have tangible reason to change my narrative. I had hope that the change of blood would reinvigorate the ball club, but the more I see of Harris, I just see him as a coaster...he's gonna talk big, spend little, and throw the chicken bones hoping to cast a magic spell. And when that doesn't happen, it'll be time for a new new culture. The Evil Puppeteer is Chris ilitch, IMO,...Avila and Harris are just his front men. Serious question: How close to completion is the urban renewal around Comerica? I have not been to Detroit in years, so I'm completely out of that loop. But I just have a gut hunch that the value of the franchise will be greatest if it's surrounded by the land of Oz

LOL. Complete honesty, nothing would make me happier than to eat that crow. Here, let me make it easy for you, when that happens, feel free to post the following to me: But I believe that under the present operational strategy, there is a less than 10% chance of that happening...and even that IMO is being generous

I just don't see the value in the insults some seem to prefer to use to express their disagreement. I can only guess they envision the act as being some form of "sharktank" designed to intimidate me and bring me under control? (hence the metaphor about trying to put a ring in my nose) The fact that I was able to rechristen the sharktank, and re-brand it as the monkeycage, and elicit a response, did tickle me, I will admit that

It's a matter of how you look at it. In 2012 our attendance was in the top 10 of major league baseball. . We drew over 3 million paying fans in 2012...that is a robust attendance figure. Hardly "small market". We would qualify as a net payor today with such a figure But, the organization also operated at a net loss that year (2012) due in no small part to payroll expense. So Ilitch could spend his way into becoming a payor once again (by fielding a competitive roster)...or he can savor the low hanging fruit by keeping payroll low, and pocketing the revenue sharing. He is in effect "rewarded" for fielding a dud.

You alone have been willing to engage me without the slights and "sharktank" exploits that seem to fascinate so many here, so I want to return the favor. The following sarcasm is not intended as a slight to you, but rather as an indictment of the general state of the game: So, once all the general managers figure out that accomplished talent is worthless, when will the bottom fall out? There are outliers (both ways) , but the teams that seem to be in contention year after year tend to have aggregate payrolls well north of our neighborhood. Thinking we can "halve" the benchmark standard and still "have" the prize, seems like overly wishful thinking to me

Baez was a klinker, regardless if you are willing to admit it of not. We went for the "lower priced spread" in terms of available shortstops at the time, and, IMO, were commensurately rewarded.

That's a shame, you more than some others here impress me as capable of distilling abstract metaphors

Basically, I feel that the Ilitch brain trust has been rubbing it's azz in our faces, since 2017. And members here insulting me for being observant, really isn't having the effect many of you might be supposing?

Well great, then can we please dispense with the "we hate you for not allowing us to put a ring in your nose" game that you all seem so obsessed with? I think my skin is thicker than your barbs are deep

The prospect of being either a net payer, OR a net recipient in the revenue sharing game, is not some half baked scheme that I just dreamed up. It's very real Happy I could illuminate this dark chasm for you today

I don't anticipate bailing out. (you should be so lucky) But' unlike several here, I have no intention of drinking the (Ken Kesey) Kool-aid, either

I really see that as an abusive comment. Hope you found it gratifying. What I've concluded is that I'll be dead of old age before this team is ever close to dominance. So I feel the reality is more one that this team quit me.

Sorry that you and I don't share much common ground.

Winning requires talent, talent costs money. So, if you're getting the subsidy anyway, by keeping your costs to a minimum, you come out ahead in balance. It's not that he's averse to winning, if "winning" came along miraculously with no strings attached (2015 Royals) I'm sure he'd graciously accept it. He's just not willing to pay the cost of admission.

Face it Goner, if you truly believed that my negativity was groundless, you'd just blow it off as meaningless nonsense. That you reveal your irritation betrays that you see enough truth in it, that it frightens you. As well it should. What I wonder about you personally is how long the shroud of denial will keep working for you? Will you give them 3 years? 4 Years? 5 years from now when they begin this process all over will you believe them when they insist that a wildcard berth is nearly in our grasp?

I'd say he's a shoo-in for revenue sharing subsidy again this year, likely right where he wants to be.

yes, but we're getting new lighting, isn't that great?

In software development there is a process known as "stepwise refinement" and I saw the 3 as better than their predecessors, so was happy with the progress because I felt that payroll limitations would prevent better alternatives. Another computer term "garbage in, garbage out" pretty well sums up the direction I believe we are headed

Players like Reyes and the Castros allowed us to stop fielding players like Ronny Rodriguez, Christian Stewart, and Brandon Dixon. SO I SAW THEM AS PROGRESS. That was my fascination with Reyes. But I guess you found it more gratifying to cast me as some pathetic fan boy, the way all you guys here tend upon insulting anyone who won't allow you to put a ring in their nose. SO, you too reaps what ye sews.

2022 was a let down, in terms of my belief in Reyes. I felt the footsteps to the gallows for him about half way after the AS break. BUT I STILL BELIEVE that a competent Pres/GM would have obtained an improved replacement before cutting Reyes lose. THAT HARRIS cut all those guys loose without a clear path forward just SCREAMS AT ME that his intention is to replace them with cheap guys even worse than the guys they replaced THAT IS WHAT I AM UNHAPPY ABOUT...they are still playing the " Let's Schidt on the fans, they don't know no better" game, and I'm sick of it

I'm being sincere now...you only think that because you don't really know me. I NEVER thought Reyes was great, I just had hopes he would unlock better potential SINCE I FELT WE WERE BEING HELD MONETARY CAPTIVE by an owner obsessed with thrift. IF I WAS GM, I would have gotten myself fired for continually telling little itch that he's gotta spend some money if he expects to play with the big boys. And, given money, I definitely would have found a better right fielder than Reyes. WOULDN'T it be funny if the actual cause a Avila's departure was that he finally found the resolve to ask for a robust payroll, and little Itch fired him because he believes that a "smart" GM can win cheaply? (rotsa ruck Scotty)

Salaries are unlikely to reverse IMO. Better to sign up now before inflation can REALLY take it's toll? I realize my harsh frankness is likely to cost me my spot at the Ilitch dinner table next Thanksgiving, but for those of you still going....don't let the handshakes and the smiling fool you, take my advice I'm only trying to school you. Smiling faces.......

You think you're disappointed now, wait until they rinse, lather and repeat the process again 5 years from now. Why give the fans victory at considerable cost, when we can be strung along on "hope" for a fraction of the cost?

Having felt "strung along" over these past 5 years being fed a steady diet of spin about sacrificing today for a better future, I'm not at all on board with this stall tactic, "plant a seed (Harris) , and watch it grow". If he didn't have such a "deer in the headlights" demeanor, or had at least showed some spark of brilliance at the Winter meetings, I might think differently. But, either he's restrained, or simply coasting, and I don't have patience for either. Clearing out the old cobwebs and replacing them with never has beens is no progress. Don't let them fool ya