gehringer_2

But in today's trade/CBA environment I don't think you will ever get the pitchers to put it together if you don't grow your own. In trade/FA you will get mostly over the hill guys unless you can spend like the Yankees or Dodgers, and the Tigers can't. How many teams did we have for how many years with all kinds of bats and the best arm we could bring in was a Billingham or Joe Coleman (who had one good year?). Objectively, 2011-2014 was the best playoff run in Tiger's history and that was keyed by having that core of Verlander, Scherzer and Porcello, and true we didn't draft Max but we got him before anyone knew he would be much of anything so I'm counting him as a 'build around' talent.

the 68 team lead the league in runs and run prevention. But my point was that that offense was together a number of years and never produced a winner except that year when Sparma and Wilson had pretty decent years, Lolich had fine year, McLain went supernova and Hiller was excellent relieving and spot starting all together. Plus you expected good run production at Tigers Stadium. Was leading the league by more an 120 runs scored more or less impressive than by 70 in runs prevented in that ballpark? On the offensive side, Kaline was out half the year and Cash had a down season. 3b, and SS were not strong at the bat and Stanley was not a big stick. Horton, Freehand and Northrup were among league leaders with great seasons and McAulliffe was a good OBP guy.

was it right after they drafted him then that they didn't bring him to the minors? I just remember we expected him to be pitching and they shut him down. I don't remember complaints about his weight but he certainly wasn't the same pitcher. TBH, I suppose weight doesn't bother a lot of pitchers

The Tigers shut him down early after a nice 1st year and he lost the top end of his FB the following season and was not very effective. From then on it always seemed that the question would be could he recover the velocity difference to set up the good slider he always had - then came TJ so he ended up with a bumpy career ride. But he's throwing 95 again, it's not the best FB in the world but he commands it well, and with the slider and change working he should be fine if he stays healthy from here.

Monday. No MiLB games scheduled.

Jake Odorizzi carried off the field at Fenway. He collapsed after taking a step to cover 1st on a grounder.

John Keating's mind has gone bye-bye

Mize and Turnbull in the dugout with the team tonight.

they needed this one because tomorrow is not a favorable match-up.

always need to complete the disclaimer on that: "Unless your name is Mariano Rivera'

Soto living on borrowed time if he can't find his breaking ball. So he is broken and Fulmer is broken, but we get the win anyway.

Soto apparently can't throw a breaking ball.

went to the same well too many times in a row there.

good out but trying to over throw again.

actually, I'd very much like a defensive sub for Willi here.

he jambed his heel or hip hitting first base outrunning the DP. He limped back to the base a little but shook it off.

If he had made better pitches and gotten hit, then the onus falls more on the O. But when you can't throw strikes, you get less credit.

Lange had thrown one pitch - just sayin'

Semi-intentional pass there.

which Fulmer do we get tonight?

surprised there haven't been more runs scored, tight strike zone to both teams. Pitching has been that solid

Willi with RH AB - do something here.

Jonathan Schoop - April is forgiven.

We can laugh now, I have no doubt he will have us crying on one soon. By my count he has escaped disaster while misjudging 3 of the last 4 balls hit to him. Talk about living on borrowed time.... But since he is hitting he'll stay out there until the damage gets too severe to take.

Nice start for Faedo.