Tenacious D

No, just stoopid

Outrageous

It’s not being outlawed, I don’t believe. Pitch framing’s impact would be eliminated with robo-strike zone. You can fool Angel Hernandez (fairly easily it seems), but not this guy:

I agree that we should not move prospects for rentals to help our cause this season. However, I would move some in a trade for a controllable player that can help beyond this season, similar to our first round picks we dealt for Cabrera (Maybin, Miller) and Anibal and Infante (Jacob Turner).

Some AllStar break fodder for your immediate dismissal/disdain: Foundational Building Blocks · SP Tarik Skubal – current and future ace. Should only be moved for a total haul. · SP Reese Olson – solid #3/4 starter. Has looked good over 200 career MLB innings. · OF Riley Greene – Only 23, should continue to improve, but he’s very good as is. · IF Colt Keith – hitting over .300 with power since May 1. Should continue to improve. Might end up at 3B, eventually. Promising, but still have something to prove: · OF Kerry Carpenter – bat looks good when he’s been healthy. Defense improved, as well. Just needs more AB’s to prove he’s the real deal. · SP Casey Mize – Has shown some flashes in first season since TJ. Probably not an ace, but valuable as a #3/4 and is controlled for a few more seasons. · OF Wenceel Perez – versatile and can hit some. Might be a good version of Willi Castro. · OF/3B Matt Vierling – on pace for a 20 HR season. Valuable on this team with the number of LH bats. Also nice to be able to plug into CF and 3B. · UT Andy Ibanez – one of the best platoon utility guys—crushes LH pitching and can fill in at 2B and 3B (helpful with LH Keith and Jung at those positions). · C Jake Rogers – He is what he is, but in the world of below average catchers, you can live with his arm, D, occasional pop and .215 batting average. · RP Tyler Holton – not as dominant as last season, but still very effective. Should be part of our pen for many years. · RP Beau Brieske – he should continue to get better as a reliever. · RP Jason Foley – not sure he’s a closer, but probably valuable in a set-up role. · RP Will Vest – same as Foley, though more of a roller coaster. · RP Alex Faedo – would like to see what he could do for an extended period without an injury. Valuable in a swing role. · OF Justyn-Henry Malloy – looks like he is starting to figure things out offensively. Will need to hit a ton, though, to find a regular spot in the lineup. Promising start. Prospects who should be able to contribute: · CF Max Clark – due for a promotion to High A. Could be ready by late 2026 or spring 2027. Should fill gaping hole at leadoff and provide the best outfield defense in the league, with Meadows and Greene. · SS/2B Kevin McGonigle – same as Clark—should be in West Michigan soon and on a similar time horizon (‘26/’27). Key will be whether he can stay at SS, though perhaps less of a concern with Rainer. · SS Bryce Rainer – Lots of accolades for him – should provide power and solid defense. Arm would also play at 3B, but he’s more valuable to us if he can stick at SS. Will also be invaluable in blowouts when we have to have a position player pitch (can hit 95 MPH). · C Dillon Dingler – looks like a bit of a Jake Rogers clone, at least up until this season. Bat really turned the corner in Toledo—he gets promoted if we trade one of Kelly/Rogers. · SP Jackson Jobe – could probably pitch in the bigs right now. Biggest issue with him is getting his innings up so he can pitch 150 or so next season. · 3B Jace Jung – looks pretty close to being ready. Will be interesting to see if the Tigers do the same with him as Keith and Malloy, or if they promote him in the 2nd half. No one is blocking him in the bigs. · 2B Ho-Yu Lee – looks like a great trade with the Phillies, and provides optimism for what a Flaherty trade might look like. He’s only 21 and raking in Erie/AA. Showing power and good base running ability. Should move up to Toledo this season. Prospect Wild Cards (players who have either regressed, injured or had a bit of renaissance this season). · SP Tyler Madden · SP Keider Montero · SP Wilmer Flores · SP Sawyer Gipson-Long · SP Troy Melton · SP Brant Hurter · SP Owen Hall · SP Ethan Schiefelbein · SP Paul Wilson · SP Jaden Hamm · SP Dylan Smith · SP Blake Dickerson · RP Tyler Mattison · C/1B Josue Briceno · SS Eddys Leonard · 2B Max Anderson · SS Gage Workman · 3B Carson Rucker · IF FRANYERBER! · OF Roberto Campos · OF Justice Bigbie Taking up Space (might not make it through the season) · RP Joey Wentz – given too many opportunities. Failed starter who is now acting like a failed reliever. · UT Zach McKinstry – versatile, but his bat doesn’t warrant playing as much as he does. Only on roster because he can play a passable shortstop. Impending Free Agents · RP Andrew Chafin – worth resigning to a one or two year deal · IF Gio Urshela – was a stopgap for Jung. Should not be extended. · OF Mark Canha – Would like an upgrade here. · SP Jack Flaherty – if not traded, should be given a qualifying offer. · C Carson Kelly – worth extending for up to two seasons (i.e. 2/$16M). If his market is high, probably need to cut bait. · RP Shelby Miller – depending on how he finishes, would not likely resign, but upgrade through free agency or a failed starter at Toledo. Damaged Goods (low likelihood of contributing) · SS Javier Baez (contract through 2/27) · SP Kenta Maeda (contract through 2/25) · 1B Spencer Torkelson – would like to be optimistic but his demotion has only fueled more pessimism that he’ll figure things out. · SS Ryan Kreidler – can’t seem to stay healthy or take advantage of opportunities when presented.

Hope gets lit up. Should have been Tarik.

Are you saying 2030, because these players will require a few years in the majors to be contributors? Otherwise, I think someone like Rainer will be promoted by 2028, 2029 at the latest (unless it turns out to be a bad pick).

I’m a bit indifferent about our draft haul so far. Part of this is because I didn’t really pay close attention to the players in this draft cycle. Cautiously optimistic about Rainier, but I was also excited about Workman, Pacheco and Graham when we drafted them at SS, and none appear to have a future in the bigs. The pitchers seem a bit “meh,” too.

Probably drafting a bunch of college seniors for below slot over the next couple of rounds.

I like Griffin from what I read. Really, no idea, though. Not excited about Caminiti, but will get on board if the front office think he’s the best guy at #11

Was hoping Kurtz would fall to us. Gone at #4

How’s everyone’s draft parties going? My mango chutney has been a smashing success so far.

I hope we don’t take a linear approach to adding talent—doesn’t have to just be moving veterans for prospects. If we can also package some prospects for a controllable player (i.e., Vladdy or Bichette), we should do that, as well.

My boys and I during happier times. Cool seeing Ohtani, though.

Generally, I agree, but if the Tigers want to sign a pitching lottery ticket every year, hoping they can fix them, I’m OK flipping them to accelerate the rebuild. When you’re ready to win, then you can try and hold them. I’m bullish about Lee, who we received for Lorenzen. Dude is only 21 and raking at AA. I suspect we’ll get better for Flaherty, if we move him. Might not be to the O’s, though, since they had him last year and he underwhelmed.

I think it’s also known as the Never To Be Heard From Again list.

What’s interesting, is if we can get a few bats going and get closer to .500 by the ASG, you could hold on to your assets, call up Jobe, which could be an imposing top 4 with Skubal, Flaherty and Olsen. We could even be buyers, flipping someone like Jung, for a big league bat. Wild Card? In full transparency, I’m drinking at O’Hare, so don’t judge too harshly 🍺

May 13 seems a bit arbitrary, but we’ll take it.

Interesting—I’ve not seen the typical amounts that the more elite players are getting in baseball. Seems likes it’s reported on more in football and basketball.

All of our trade chips showed up today.

What a doofus

It’s not as if Kelly is an offensive force. He’s adequate at best and a 2 year deal that goes sour, with the type of money he’d command, would not be crushing to any team’s payroll if you had to cut bait.

Bring up Jobe late July. Dude is probably our 3rd best pitcher, behind Skubal and Flaherty. He needs innings, why not under the supervision of our best pitching coaches?