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It’s official, the ABS Challenge System will be used full time in all games next year. Two challenges per team.

The Friday night game in Boston is an Apple TV game.

Article in the Athletic by Ken Rosenthal: After the deadline, Harris was dismissive of the idea that the Tigers needed to maximize their competitive window with Cy Young favorite Tarik Skubal, telling reporters, “this idea of a window is an illusion.” Really? Skubal is under club control for only one more season after this one. And the way this season started, this was perhaps the Tigers’ best chance to win before he reaches free agency. ——///—— I have to disagree with Harris’ quote above. In the real world, there is a window of opportunity where Skubal is involved. I’m generally not a Rosenthal fan but I believe he on the right side of this discussion.

Strider gets a bonus point today for wearing a peace symbol necklace.

Morton, When it rains, it pours.☂️

I really hate Morton didn’t work out. It sucks for him and the Tigers.

My impression is that the general consensus on this board is that Harris could have, or should have, done more to help this team at the deadline. If the Tigers don’t make the post season, or make an early exit in the playoffs, I’m sure this conversation will be a permanent topic for the history books, warranted or not. Regarding Skubal, he is probably the most intense competitor on this team. He is, THE SHOW. He lives for every pitch of every start. Skubal wants to be front and center of any rotation and he wants to win. He’s had a taste of the playoffs and that’s his goal every year going forward. There aren’t many Skubals out there. Hypothetically, let’s just imagine that before this season Skubal was privately open to staying in Detroit beyond next year. If my imagined hypothetical did really exist, I could see where the lack of aggression on the front office’s part to improve the team for the second half could leave a negative impression on Skubal. Prime time players want to win and play on winning teams. They want to know that the organization will support and reward success. Skubal has busted it for himself and this team. I have to wonder, after the deadline moves, or lack thereof, if Skubal feels like the FO didn’t have the teams back. Money aside, this would discourage any player worth his salt from wanting to return. Realistically, I know Detroit will never retain Skubal beyond next year. But looking beyond just the money, Skubal’s impression of the organization may not be what it was at the outset of this year. Just thinking out loud…

I think he was referring to minor league games. 😉

6-2 Cleveland

The guy that plays some third base in that movie is Phil Mankowski. Mankowski played some third base in the mid to late seventies in Detroit. He was there when Sparky came in. Phil is one of our neighbors. He’s a really nice guy and still likes to talk Tiger baseball.

Cleveland games is delayed.

The Mantle-McLain story is so cool. Can you imagine something like that today! Good times.

For diversification purposes, I’m looking at an international tulip bulb ETF. Morningstar has a positive rating on it. The ETF fund is based in the Netherlands.

Yep, he had become a fav of mine. Hate he’s missed so much time this season.

Montero with a five pitch first inning. Efficient.

Mantle’esq!

Six games with Cleveland and three games in Boston. It’s going to be interesting.

Gritty

Toronto wins again.

And of course the Blue Jays beat the O’s 6-1.

Tigers rotation w/o Skubal

Paddack’s still got it.

Yep, I thought about that several times yesterday and today. Twenty four years ago today this country was probably more united than at any other time since the attack on Pearl Harbor and the WWII years. Today? I’d feel comfortable in saying that this country hasn’t been this divided since the Civil War years. Civility is dying. It’s bad.

Remember, everything has to have a political ingredient. Everything. Including a grocery chain headcount reduction. 😉

Two out of three ain’t bad in New York.