mtutiger

The jerseys are OK... I really do not like the hats though. Mostly I'm with Rob though, I really don't care much one way or another. I'd rather they just wear what they have always worn (except with the correct "D" on the front)

In all seriousness, I'm aware, and Maton didn't end up a viable replacement. But the commentary around that particular deal tends to lack context.... one reason being that Gregory Soto isn't that valuable of a commodity and has demonstrated that in a Phillies uniforim for the most part, the second being that despite Maton and Donnie Sands leaving the organization, the one remaining player from the deal has been a more valuable piece than Gregory Soto would have been to this team. Especially early on in this season. I know it's not necessarily the point that SF was trying to make, but it really irks me that that deal sort of gets treated like a Scott Harris failure... in terms of results, it just clearly not. Even if Nick Maton didn't work out.

I'm aware. We only debated it about 23085722 times last year.

Maybe I'm hallucinating, but didn't they get Matt Vierling as well in that deal? People love to bitch about Nick Maton not working out, but FFS, there's a pretty good argument that despite 2 of the 3 players being gone, they clearly won that trade anyway.

My only real complaint is that Vierling probably needs full time ABs at the moment. AJ likes his optionality and all, and maybe Vierling gets more exposed as a full time hitter, but I think he's been earning that. Otherwise... you're right. The Top 5 hitters cannot do it all, and three of the remaining 4 (Tork, Keith and Meadows) are younger players whose success are necessary to moving the hitting to the next level. That's on them, it's not on AJ.

It's a really good point...

It's fair... I so think that if Tork goes down, Malloy ought to be the one coming up. Huira is the popular choice because he's a primary first baseman, but we need to see what Malloy has and, ****ty of a situation as it is, it presents an opportunity for him IMO

Malloy deserves a shot, let Canha and Ibanez handle first. There is real and meaningful baseball to be played here, and I dont know if they can wait out or work out whatever Tork is going through with him in the big leagues right now.

Jason Benetti doing a Droopy Dog impression.... fan-f'ing'-tastic

First or second seems ideal to me.... if the lineup were a little longer, it'd be nice to put someone with speed or OBP skills in the 9 hole to help with the issue being discussed, but that's not a luxury the Tigers have at the moment

He's still supportive despite these recent comments (imo), but it's definitely more of a window into the frustration. Gives the sense that they are really trying to work with him and the player may not be reciprocating on their effort.

Totally, it is from a place of frustration or even desperation... it's uncharacteristic of them in the Hinch era to air this stuff out in public and even sort of goes against his philosophy (which he sort of got into with Benetti and Dickerson on their pod).

Fans will love this comment, but I really think this is a mistake to air this out to the media.

Keith also looks the closest to getting out of this stretch... approach is good, hits the ball hard, etc.

Defense is a big reason for my tone shift on Torkelson.... I'd be more willing to be patient if he could field decently, but that two week stretch where he was booting balls left and right raises a ton of questions about his overall ceiling. Having said all of that, despite the difference in usefulness / tools, Meadows is tricky for the exact same reason you state up top.... he needs reps. Sure, he can be a little more useful while being overall a drag on the team because of speed and defense, but it's not good for his development if he's in a purely bench role or late pinch runner role, he has to be playing. Same with Colt Keith as well.

Yeah, I think he's going to have to do something fairly quickly or risk being out of the starting lineup (in pinch hitting mode as kdog has suggested) or sent down. We're not there yet, AJ and Scott probably aren't there yet, but it's getting closer IMO. In general though, at least on the SM, it seems to have reignited the debate about whether they should have brought Chapman in or whoever (who, btw, only has a 0.642 OPS at the moment), but the fact remains that the long term success of this team rests on these younger players. Even beyond Spencer Torkelson, Colt Keith and Parker Meadows.... all of them did what they needed to do in Toledo, sending them down may help for a reset but, in terms of gaining experience, there's nothing to be gained by that. And at some point, you have to give players runway to sink or swim. You have to be able to find out who these guys are and whether they fit into the long term plans. In the larger context of this being a much improved team over previous seasons, it's not ideal. But its the reality.... and it would have been the reality regardless of whether they signed a Matt Chapman or JD Martinez or whoever.

Two of the best ABs of the season right there, back 2 back

JK Simmons could probably hit better than these guys lol

Amazing.

On another note, it's amazing how Trump didn't so much drain the swamp more than he restocked it with new alligators lol

Yeah, this is the part that's a mystery to me.... could always be some sort of uberwealthy donor (think like Larry Ellison or Peter Thiel or someone like that) rather than Ma and Pa MAGA

That would be my guess as well.... although it'll be interesting to see what the share price is at that point lol

Correct. As a theoretical exercise, it's clear that there's a path to doing it. In actuality, as even the AP article from March states, it's not without complication or without possible legal issues arising from such a move.

I read the article at the time, but the excerpt again kinda paints the picture of a process that is complicated and not without legal pitfalls. So I'll believe it when I see it.

I'll believe it when I see it.