mtutiger

Gotta imagine they consider stretching Alexander out some at this point

Wenceel just heard my comment, because he just went back to back homers with Quincy Neiporte in the Erie game lol

It's hard to do, but I think the best way to look at this situation is to compartmentalize the PR aspect of the situation (ie. its not good PR to be out of communication with the team, the lack of communication of facts to the media isn't great PR) with the reality that the employer-employee relationship is between the employer-employee. Collectively as a fanbase, we really aren't entitled to more information about the situation than we have been given to date. That's just the reality, as much as we may dislike it

So is sitting there and saying that Eduardo is ducking the terms of his contract because he doesn't want to play here. Or saying he "abandoned the club" That doesn't stop people from concluding such apparently.

But none of us really know the situation and, frankly, are not on a "need to know" about the situation. That's between the team and the player. I have my gripes about the purported lack of communication, that isn't good and wouldn't fly for most people, but sort of the assumption that his reasons for being gone aren't legitimate kinda bothers me. We don't have enough information to render a judgment, nor is it really our place to anyway; its between the team and the player. And when kids are involved, their safety and well-being is paramount. Speculating more than I would like, I don't know the degree to which they factor in, but if it does involve safety and well-being of the kids, it's easy for us on the sidelines to say "Ilitch Enterprises will take care of it"; I'm not sure that would be the natural reaction of a parent in that situation tbh

I do have issue with the fact that communication apparently went dead between the two sides for a period of time, but at the end of the day, we don't know enough about the situation and should probably reserve judgment accordingly.

AJ keeps emphasizing the kids and that he's getting them ready for school... I still think whatever the issues going here are, it may not involve him

Not that the reinforcements are anything to write home about, but they are at least coming anyway lol

Predictably, some fans on Twitter appear to be vindictive about this situation, but regardless we should be happy that he will come back and contribute this year. They will really need him at that point in the season and they will need him going into next year.

Trading Skubal concerns me for two reasons: 1. (The obvious one) Al Avila would be doing the trading 2. While we do not know whether he grows into it, he's the pitcher in the system most likely to achieve ace status. With respect to the second point, I do think the Tigers have become a decent org in terms of developing pitching talent, but if we are completely honest with ourselves, outside of Skubal, who is the guy that they have who can grow into a 1 or a 2 starter? Maybe Madden imo, but even with him I'm skeptical. Assuming Manning doesn't get there, they have a bunch of guys who currently project, best case scenario, no higher than a 3 (ie. Faedo, Brieske, Olson, Hill etc.). And then you have complete wild cards in Turnbull and Mize... what do they look like if/when they get back? Probably not front line guys There's always a price, so I guess if you could get someone like Alec Burleson or Nolan Gorman off the Cards, maybe it becomes worth it. But I doubt that's happening. So I hope they don't move him.

Wenceel Perez has had a nice rebound this year and has recovered some prospect status, but ranking him #10 is pretty red-flaggy as well.

Every list I've seen by the Twitter Tiger prospect watcher class (ie. the Rogelio Castillo, Trevor Hooth types) seems to put him in the 12-13 range. Seems low to me as well The Pipeline list (which I believe Sam Dykstra does for the Tigers) is a good baseline... they aren't perfect, other outlets may be better, but on top of likely having more info, they don't have "Blue and Orange" glasses when curating, meaning more objectivity. And they have Santana at 4...maybe that changes in their post draft rerank some, but I doubt he leaves Top 10. I don't care if people do lists one way or another, it is all in good fun. But its important to put into context... BP or MLB Pipeline are likely going off more info and curate a list from a place of objectivity

Don't have nearly enough information either, but on the surface, I'd have a hard time not putting Jung at #1, ahead of Jobe. MLB Pipeline kinda backs that up, as they have Jung as a 60 overall and Jobe at 55 overall. Colt Keith has been great this season when healthy, but I don't think he's a #1. Guessing he'll crack the Pipeline Top 10 when they rerank, but more like 7 or 8

Keith has been great, but #1 seems high to me.

Would be idiotic, but on brand lol

My occasional drive between here and Chicago a few weeks ago was the same... people seem to have largely put the flags and signs away for now anyway

Maybe the Yanks will come a-calling

Wenceel with a dong to send Erie's game to extras as well...

Blue Jays have dropped 27 on the Red Sox tonight lol

Also a AAAA guy who is better than Keuchel lol. At the end of the day, this thread exists only because of a version of Keuchel that is no longer operable.

Not at all. I don’t blame them at all for letting Chase Anderson leave. He's a AAAA guy. My only point is that Keuchel is actually worse IMO

"Can't make it up folks!!!"

If the Tigers claimed Keuchel, would it be the right thing to do?

Easy for me to say, but you can't just bubble wrap your pitchers because a season is lost... they need to find out what they have with Manning, as well as Rony, ElRod and Hill. Or even Turnbull if he gets starts in September, etc. Claiming Keuchel gets in the way of that I would add as well that the Tigers let Chase Anderson opt out of his deal with Toledo because he wasn't getting promoted... if this team felt they were in a position to claim Keuchel, they wouldn't have let Anderson walk. Because, like Hutchison, while his track record isn't as good as Keuchel, he's probably better than Keuchel at this point in his career