SkyBlue

Jobe's start tonight is the free MiLB game if you are looking to watch something to kill time for the draft.

1 hour ago, Tenacious D said:

For all of you MLB TV folks—I’m in Orlando on a work trip and can’t access due to a blackout.  Anything I can do so it recognizes that I’m out of market?

Go to a local bar or find the regional sports channel at your hotel, Rays games will be on in the Orlando market.

Baez movin' on up...

30 minutes ago, oblong said:

We are going near the TB region this year for vacation, we went in 2021 but they had red tide which made swimming in the gulf not really an option, plus it rained 3 of the 4 days.  This will be a do over.  My wife is like "Why don't we go to a game?"  I'm trying to tell her that stadium is horrible and I have no desire.  I'm open to going to a minor league game somewhere if we can find one.  As it is, they are away anyway so dodged that bullet. "What kind of fan are you if you don't want to go to another MLB ballpark".  "The kind of fan that doesn't need to go to the equivalent of the Pontiac Silverdome"

You have several minor league stadiums near Tampa, including Tampa.

Clearwater

Dunedin

Bradenton

Tampa

Lakeland, furthest out.

I'm assuming none of this is new information to you.

37 minutes ago, RedRamage said:

 

The front office's stance is that we want to control the strike zone. But clearly weren't not. Bottom third of the league in strike outs and just outside bottom third of the league in walks. To be fair the front office is likely hindered by semi-tight purse strings and a bad team, making free agents less thrilled with coming here, so it's hard to get too upset... but it still feels like we have a lot of "meh" players and all we added in the off season was a couple more "meh" players.

The coaching staff seems to be onboard with the front office's desire to control the strike zone, but if they're preaching it to players, the players don't seem to be getting the message.

 

I think we don't appreciate how long it takes to change the approaches of hitters who have been in a system, many of them, longer than this front office/development staff have been in the system.

There will be some who you can get to change, others who won't or don't have the talent to change.  Add in they, hitters are probably anxious about making changes to what got them drafted, to AA, AAA or even MLB levels which makes it more difficult.

I think it is why the front office and coaching staff if you want to include them in this mix, are viewing this year as a year of evaluation.  What players have bought in, but more so than buying in which is perhaps easy to say, but are then transferring the buying in to better performance at the plate.

It's not what any msg board wants to hear but in the middle of year 2 of Harris and this development group it takes time to change hitters and their ability to control the zone.   TBH, I'm not sure how much you can change a hitters ability to control the strike zone/improve their eye so to speak.  So, 2024 we see what we have in the hitters and possibly more importantly, or as important, what we have in pitching.   Can we flip a couple of pitchers for a more improved bat plus a FA hitter to strengthen the offense.

Tigers recall Wenceel Perez

The Tigers are calling up infielder/outfielder Wenceel Perez for his major league debut. Perez announced the news himself on his Instagram story. The team hasn’t confirmed the move themselves just yet, nor have the Tigers announced the corresponding 26-man roster move. Per Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, Perez will be replacing Andy Ibanez, who has some sort of injury. It’s not yet clear what that injury is or how significant it is.

So far I'm impressed with what I've read, UMHoops, and elsewhere about May.

The first two assistants he has hired are supposedly very good recruiters and Boynton is an excellent defensive coach.  Supposedly Rooth is in AA and may end up staying with UM.

Pretty good anthem to start the year.

40 minutes ago, CMRivdogs said:

Here's an overview of MLB's blackout rules. 
 

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news/mlb-blackout-restrictions-map-2023-baseball-games/m843wsljyvrrdmf50zjhusre

This has been going on for years. Protecting the regional cable monopolies. 

I understand, guess I have always subscribed to the local sports option via the regional option from whatever service I have so never viewed it as blackout rules.  162 games for no additional costs seems unrealistic whether it is from Comcast, Bally or whoever.

I was surprised that the one team cost via mlb.tv was $129 while full pkg is $149.  Has there ever been a breakdown on how much goes to the teams from MLB.tv?

1 hour ago, Motor City Sonics said:

Can I watch my local team on MLB TV?  

Is that due to the Bally Sports issue in regards to the Tigers and other teams utilizing them where they went under?

So were the games blacked out when Bally carried the Tigers, ie the business model you reference?

Is it an MLB issue or Tiger's issue or a regional sports network going under and will be resolved when they finalize with Amazon?

I can watch the local team in my market.

So, I doubt it is the business model, and until they resolve it, bootleg it, it is an option available to watch the team you want to watch.  If you don't want to do that, more power to you.

Just now, Motor City Sonics said:

Stop making people bootleg it.  It's a stupid business model.  Nobody else is doing this for a reason. 

TBH, no one is making people bootleg MLB or the NFL or the MMA or the NBA

MLB.tv is $150 a year and includes Milb games.

Their subscriptions continue to increase as does the NFL's.

14 minutes ago, Motor City Sonics said:

Hey Rob Manfred,  try to do something right.  END THE BLACKOUT RULES.    No other sports are doing this anymore.  

Just bootleg it, plenty of options.

7 hours ago, CaliforniaDreaming said:

It seems to me that this whole discussion points towards Harris' development of a top notch "pitching lab". The uniqueness of this park should attract good pitchers but not good hitters as much. So he is focusing on the pitching side...develop or fix good pitching, limit opponent's run scoring (especially home runs), and then try to manufacture enough runs to win low scoring games. Add in a good OF defense and it sounds like the right strategy for Comerica Park.

Whole response typed and lost not sure what happened.....

So...

I think Harris and his development team is focusing on both pitching and hitting, however, the results have shown quicker on the pitching side for a couple of reasons.   One, Hinch and Fetter, Fetter a big reason, have been focusing on this prior to Harris coming on board and further along.  I believe it is quicker to see those results with pitching than hitting.

Free swinging hitters are tougher to change, their habits are more entrenched imo and when those types make it to the big leagues they won't change.  Harris, Avila to a lesser degree later in his Tiger timeline, has a type when it comes to hitters and the development model to improve them.  Free swingers aren't his type which we have seen in his draft and more his free agency additions, ie Gio and Mark C as two examples.    

The results are coming to COPA, just taking a little bit longer, but Avila did give him some talent to work with in Keith, Greene, and couple of others.

3 hours ago, chasfh said:

Fair point. Here is the 2023 data only:

Where does that leave us?

10% below league average?

Hopefully we can lower that a tad more to middle of the pack instead of 9th worst as the young guys gain experience and add power. Granted that is only from the Tigers side of the equation.

I also don't know how the Tigers home scheduled was when looking into who they played at home in 2023 vs 2024 as the opponents will factor into the number.   So, too small a sample size at this point to draw a definitive conclusion at this point other than not the worst in the league.

So,where does that leave us?

TBD, but not worst in the league

1 hour ago, chasfh said:

Home runs is the most efficient way to score runs in bunches, since relying on stringing together three singles as an ongoing strategy is fraught with points-of-failure along the way. The correlation between runs scored and home runs for the perios 2014-2023 (excl. 2020) is +0.78, whereas that between runs scored and single-base events (i.e., 1B+BB+HBP) is +0.57—not nothing, but definitely not as good for as home runs.

Anyhow, people can go ahead and place prop bets on homers at Comerica Park based on whatever the hell Oddsshark is and what they put on their website, but based on Statcast, Comerica is hands down the worst home run park in baseball:

 

Beyond team run-scoring strategies, the real point is that big hitters, meaning those for whom home runs is a part of their game, are not going to consider the team with the worst home-run ballpark in baseball as a top destination, unless they have already made their hundred million and now prioritize winning over getting good and paid, so that they don't mind suppressing their stats to do so. I don't have anyone in mind who would be up for that even this year.

Granted it's a great chart and data but it doesn't address my comment that the fences were moved between the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

The stats you show are for a three year period which means 2021-2023?  The fences were moved in 2023 so your data is flawed in relation to my post whereas the morons at Oddshark or whoever they are have just 2023 HR stats.   

But, carryon.

15 hours ago, chasfh said:

As long as Comerica plays as a pitchers' park where it's hard to jack bombs, the Tigers are always going to be challenged to put together a top offense.

If that is the only way to score runs, sure. 

Also the team did move the fences in a bit last year.

https://www.oddsshark.com/mlb/best-and-worst-ballparks-for-home-runs

2 hours ago, Sports_Freak said:

5. I have Scott Sizemore memories. Handing the 2nd base job to a player with zero MLB experience. It didn't work with Sizemore, hopefully Keith can hit a little. But thinking an addition of un unproven player is a plus is being shortsighted. Nobody really knows how/if he'll perform.

 I understand and remember him as well.

Keith has played at second, sure small sample size, however his coaching and development in Detroit is far superior to anything Sizemore had in his brief tenure in Detroit.  I also like the Urshela signing.  But, offense is most definitely the biggest question mark for this team.

21 hours ago, Sports_Freak said:

A few thoughts on the upcoming season;

1. The team that comes north will probably look much different than the team this summer. There are usually several call-ups during May and June. Injuries and ineffectiveness.

2. We'll see what players think about playing in 40⁰ weather next week. All that training down in 80⁰ Florida is fun but does it really get them ready for the first 6 weeks or so of really cold weather?

3. For the last 2 or 3 years, all I've heard, over and over, is how we'll have so much money to spend on some quality players once we shed Cabrera's contract. What did we add? A journeyman outfielder who's upside is that he's good at.....getting hit by pitches? And Tiger fans are making excuses for Scott Harris? Yeah, OK...maybe next year we'll spend money on some players.

4. Our Starting Pitchers look ready to compete. Yes, we have a few quality arms. But let's get thru the first 6 weeks without any injuries. Our team has been destroyed by pitchers injuries the last few years. The top 3 pitchers in the minor leagues better stay ready. 

5. And finally, our bullpen. Believe it or not, this is what will determine whether we finish close to .500 or not. Hopefully, our SP will keep us in games. But our anemic offense may mean our BP arms are the difference between being a decent team or being a bottom feeder.

All in all...this team will struggle to get to .500. Getting off to another horrible start may have fans calling for Hinch to be fired.

 

1.  This is normal for baseball not just Detroit.

2.  I'm pretty sure the majority of the Tigers roster has played baseball in northern cities during the spring, doubt any will be suprised. Assuming this point was just a throw in negative point yet seems a reach.

3.  Are we complaining that they didn't go and spend a bunch of money this offseason?   I, for one, probably in the minority on this board, like the approach they took and didn't feel now was the time to spend big dollars.  I do think Chris I will spend when Harris and Hinch ask him to do so.

4. Agree to a point, not really judging this team based on last years team or injuries.  Good news is we seem to have SP depth in Toledo and Erie.  Some quality depth.

5. BP will definitely play a big role as it usually does.  I agree offense remains a question mark but I like the addition of Keith and the addition of Urshela.  

6.  Hinch isn't in any trouble good start or bad.  I 100% agree that team needs a better start this spring.

I think Avila drafted well his last couple of years and deserves some credit for that.  Now did he have the infrastructure in place to rapidly improve the development process for his talent?  No, however, a lot of that goes back to DD and Ilitch mandates and how far back the organization was in the newer approach to development.

I remember going to the back fields when DD was here, early ST days, and not seeing any equipment on the field to measure things.

It was noticeable to see these new gadgets on the field after DD was gone.  But Avila was 20yrs behind the leaders in the movement and a decade behind the rest of MLB.

Harris has taken what Avila started and excelerated the development process in all phases.  Now, I realize it's early on and putting the cart in front of the horse. 

To be blunt, I had lost some of my Tiger passion the last couple of years. Didn't go to any Flying Tiger games for two years, partially because now Low A to be fair.  Now, I'm back all in.  I can't wait for each level to get started.

9 hours ago, Tiger337 said:

If he's just talking about 2024, then he's correct.  

Here is a link to the archived article for those who  don't have a News subscription.

Henning: New and improved 2024 Tigers are an Avila and Harris product

Not a fan of the call at 2nd, if that is how the rule is going to be enforced not a fan.

6 minutes ago, AlaskanTigersFan said:

If they want to talk about supporting UCF, let me know! lol

They already do, financially and on committees.

Great school.

42 minutes ago, AlaskanTigersFan said:

So, I work for UCF now and my job is to talk with Alumni. I can't get a lot of them to get on the phone or answer emails.

The amount of information you all can pull up like the Florida laws and screenshots and everything..... If any of you need a job for prospect research, please let me know. 

Thoughts and prayers go out to the lady and her family. This is why I lost faith in MIguel Cabrera and wasn't a fan of him.

I had a family member part of that legal process, some interesting stories there to put it mildly.

Also have two family members heavily involved at UCF as alums.

Almost as if the Lions knew something was going when they added two DB's in the last week.

43 minutes ago, RedRamage said:

You're conjecturing a lot of things here... We don't know what the police have or haven't done to try to contact him. Are they just calling his cellphone? If it's an unknown number I don't usually pick up when I get a call.

I can tell you when the police have contacted our family their number never comes up as unknown. I would be surprised if this is the case.   While it appears he is definitely guilty of something let it play out before cutting him without the facts.