mtutiger

Grant Witherspoon (acquired from the Rays before the season) gets the call.

The Royals didn't give him much to work with tonight... which kinda speaks to the fact that the depth of the lineup drops off precipitously past the cleanup spot. They really need Carpenter back to add a little more thump

They arent trading Alex Lange.

4 BBs... first time since JD Martinez in a Tiger uniform.

He also was a short timer anyway... even if they tendered him, he would gone after this year regardless in all likelihood. I'm happy he's doing well in Washington but I dont blame them for moving on

The thing with the Jeimer conversation is that, because of his status as a possible non-tender candidate, they kinda had to make the decision right then and there, way back in November. Before anything else had happened in the market basically. So it came with risk that moving on may not result in the most desirable outcome in terms of replacement.... We don't know the rationale for it, maybe Harris and / or Hinch just weren't fans of him deep down. And we don't know the degree to which the org did or didn't try to acquire certain guys to backfill the role once they made the decision to non-tender him. But I was fine with the decision at the time and the fact that he had a nice series against the Tigers doesn't really change any of that, to the extent that there was downside it was less about moving on and more about the replacement.

I guess my overall gripe about the discussion with the starting pitching centers around the term "depth" - I still don't think they came into this season with any less "depth" than most other organizations do. The problem is that they are currently in the middle of using that depth, not only because of injuries but also because of bad performances (ie. Turnbull, possibly Joey W. coming up) That said, Manning and Skubal will be back at some point, and maybe Turnbull will come back and perform a little better than he did prior as well. They are just gonna have to weather the storm for a bit, and I don't think that makes the Tigers unique compared to other orgs.

I mean, 5 IP, 3 runs is pretty average... there are teams out there, even purportedly good ones, who would love to have depth starters who could consistently provide that

Tork Bomb!

My comment presumes a healthy Carpenter. Either way, the overall point is that a bag of cement is probably more reliable than Cabrera at this point. I love him and respect his contributions in the past. He just doesn't have it anymore

No doubt. But I assume that even though the city is consolidated with Duval County, there are parts of Jax that are more suburban in nature as well, and those areas have seen a drift away from MAGA style Republicanism over time. Certainly the fact that Biden carried Duval (first D to do so since 1976) would suggest that. I guess my only point, even with the diversity in settings within the city/county proper, it probably isn't the best strategy to lean heavily into the culture wars and that being a more traditional business-style Republican is probably the more platonic ideal.

I agree with your overall point about the system needing more talent, but I'll go out on a limb and suggest that both Kerry Carpenter and even Justyn Henry Malloy are way more reliable options than a guy sporting a sub 40 OPS+

Meanwhile, Cleveland just melted down in epic fashion in Flushing... wow

Javy owes Tork another steak dinner... Jeebus

My goodness, Akil makes the error hurt. Wow!

Crazy how Zach Mack has more or less been what we thought Maton would be lol

It's heinous, but what gets me is that it isnt even effective politically. Fetterman is the best example... he was left for dead in those fever swamps after his debate. And yet he won pretty convincingly among the actual electorate And yet Pig Smuggler's sources will continue to go back to the well over and over because their clientele will lap it up. The literal definition of bubble mindset

Fun fact on Wil Myers: His OPS+ (49) would be worse than everyone in the Tigers lineup.... except for Miguel Cabrera. Including even Jonathan Schoop! Just not worth losing sleep over missing out on him. It just isn't.

With Cabrera, I do think it's not out of the realm of possibility that he finds himself out of the lineup if he keeps on this current trajectory.. He's prideful and doesn't want to quit, I get that, but there's an inflection point where it may become more prideful to give into reality and gracefully go onto the 60 Day IL. I don't think we are there yet, but it could happen, particularly if they do kinda remain in shouting distance to first place.

In Haniger's case, the Giants are also his hometown team... maybe not the ultimate reason he signed, but I'm guessing it was a selling point.

Brandon Drury flat out stated after he signed with the Angels that he didn't want to leave the West Coast. Again, the word "agency" is in "free agency" for a reason.

Wil Myers is currently on his way to being run out of Cincinnati lol

From what you have said, I do think where there could be a lesson in what happened to Davis comes down to authenticity; he came into the race as the kind of Republican that shouldn't have too much of an issue winning a place like Jacksonville and, because of the demands of a fractious primary process with a MAGA candidate, ended up completely shedding his brand while turning himself into something that he wasn't. Just from my experience who (at least for the time being) works in and resides nearby to Fort Worth (soon to be the largest city in America with a Republican mayor), the fact that remains the case is because the Mayor is very moderate (to the point of being openly critical of state government at times) and has gone to great pains to carry on the more moderate image and appeal of her predecessor, who she used to work for. If she did a heel turn and did what you have described from Davis, she'd be at serious risk of a credible Democratic challenger and absolutely could lose. The same is true in Arlington, where I live.... the past two Republican mayors have even participated in events with the Biden White House surrounding more bipartisan issues, such as infrastructure investment in part because in the city they represent, it's good politics for them to present a more moderate or bipartisan image. In any event, it's a tough balancing act for Urban Rs these days, probably not unlike the issues that Rural D pols can have.... their goals and the goals of the national party are often at odds.

Horrifying. Maybe Ron should pick up the tab for the hell they have been subjected to

Always curious how the ostensible views of the "muh freedoms" crowd never did seem to extend to those choosing to stay home during a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic.