SoCalTiger

But doesn't that make it difficult to determine if Verling is a long term option for third base ? I would defer to playing Verling at third every day . My mind set going in would be to determine if Verling is full time third baseman going forward. I would play Ibanez at second base or DH against lefties where he does real damage. If in time Verling proves not to be the answer at third then sure play Ibanez there until fixture is found ( Jung ? ). But I think Hinch will agree with you.

Mike Elias is the best GM in the league and will play Nick at second base where he belongs.

Nobody wants The "Fisher cheapskate " in their town. He should sell to someone who will keep the team in Oakland.

It's another case of MLB trying to be brainy and clever. Why have any requirements. If your player wins ROY your team gets a pick . Period.

Let him hack !! The return of "El Mago" will lead us to the playoffs and we ARE winning the Division. And yes I am serious. Baez was pressing for the opt out. Now he can just chill and hang in the "D" and Hack.

Wow Lots of information. What was your first question again 😀. I think it was who we had to play third last year and the answer was nobody but we should have had one and probably should have gotten one this off season as well. Why repeat last year. And it doesn't have to be Chapman. Some vet on a one year contract that can be forced out if Jung performs. As for the number of players who play third statistics that can be influenced by rest days and injury. I'm curious what percentage of teams have a third baseman that played 120 games or more. You could have a regular and then 4 guys fill in for rest or short time injuries and have 5 players at the position and still have a regular that plays 120 games could you not ? Stats like math are tricky and for folks much smarter than me.

Bobby Witt just got paid. Wow. KC making it hard on all teams to get early deals done.

Everyone last year with Verling being able to tread water....and yes I agreed to let candy go and a still happy we aren't paying him 15 million/year for three years. Plus Jung is coming even though he played second in college, was drafted as a second baseman, played every game, or almost, at second base in the minors and then through an epiphany he is now a third baseman !

And as fellow up how did we draft Tork as a third baseman and play him at third in the minors when he can't even play first base ?

I agree it should be coming to an end. Shouldn't this be done at the minor league level ? I mean the coaches and management know or should know what is the best position for a player before promoting him to the majors and hopefully even very soon in their minor league career. Hopefully Keith only plays second base and isn't flip flopped between positions as he was in the minors. Look at JHM..third base to outfield back to third and then back to outfield between two organizations. Now he is trying to make the majors and has been handicapped by the constant position change. Atlanta settled on the outfield why didn't' we just leave him there to get reps ? It seems we are grooming players for "optionality"...it's a fad and I do not think it will stick.

Agreed but it "seems' to me that managers get themselves over involved in the game using this "strategy" and actually weaken the product. Also isn't an injury more likely to happen to someone playing out of position. Like a plumber getting fried trying to wire a house ? It seems this can be accomplished with one or two "utility" players being used minimally while allowing good or potentially good players mastering one position.

Good point but if the cat is overwhelmed why watch it drown ?

I hope Maton slips through waivers but I also think he will be claimed. Maybe Miami . I also think we should not have played him at third base which he obviously could not play. This is my Hinch bug a boo. He keeps playing people out of position ( See Willie Castro 2nd base/ Niko Goodrum shortstop and McKinstry almost every day somewhere etc) for "optionality" or some such silly catch phrase. Although maybe its the front offices forcing him ?

Seems like as good an explanation as any and more than I would know. He does seem a bit "mechanical" and that would play in with someone who is thinking and not reacting. I just hope he improves being such an integral part of our ascent.

Or Keith could end up at first base....hopefully Tork notices this and stays motivated and works on his "D". Overall team competition should only help us.

It seems how publications value McGonigle affects our overall rating. Some value him very high and others very little at all.

Great trade for the O's. They had to get another solid starter for that team.

No I did not. Guilty. Just going off the rating in your post and articles I have read. For instance I’ve read Keith’s arm is insufficient for third base. Not sure if true. Jung looks like a catcher to me so third seems possible plus his arm is written about as great per his coaches. Stuff like that. But best analysis is on this board for sure. So thanks to everyone.

So one player with solid defense and questionable offense and three just the opposite. I remain concerned about the team defense and its effect on the pitching staff. If Baez declines defensively and Tork does not improve we might have the poorest infield defense in the division and if Keith can't turn the double play it might be ugly. The Guardians will pitch and catch and that plays every game which is why I think they remain the favorite to me as of today. Hopefully our defenders improve with the glove and Meadows hits enough to stick.

Fantastic season for the Lions and they should only be applauded including the coach. Make that especially the Coach.

Should we have any concern it might diminish his motivation ?

Or Max Clark ?

contrarily I might just let Javey be Javey and hack away hoping for the 25 homers and living with the .300 OBP in exchange for a .400 + slugging. I think the "control the zone" mantra has F'd hm up. Just let him rake and live with the strikeouts and ugly ab's in exchange for some game changing power/ AB's and good defense with great base running.

Could you please expound on this point. I do not understand how the 3.1 million option benefits the Tigers. Is there any way Mize could make more than that in arbitration for 2026 starting at $840 million ? Can the increase be that dramatic ?

I could not agree with you more. Well said and thanks for saving me the time to state this poorly. 🙂 I will add that I do not have much faith in Mize fulfilling his 1/1 stature. Not even close. Not sure he is even in the top five of our current staff though that's probably harsh.