Sports_Freak

I'm really not sure why a mostly healthy and rested Detroit team, at home, weren't heavy favorites. Maybe the gamblers assume it would be a SOL game?

How about 1st base, 2nd base, SS, catcher and the entire outfield? The only reason we didn't lose 110 games is because our pitching outperformed expectations. But yeah, let's replace our 3rd baseman, with nobody on the roster to play there. Jeezzzzz...

Yeah, it's only been 39 seasons since our last championship. What's another 7 or 8 years?

I agree. After waiting so long for the rebuild to be over and then having the GM declare it over, I don't want to wait for endless rebuilding. Harris was quoted in the sports page today as saying he's more than will to take a risk. Taking a risk would be to keep your starting 3rd baseman for a measly 7 million dollars. If you end up signing a different 3rd baseman, trade him and pick up part of his salary. Do Tiger fans really want to trade away ML talent to get a 3rd baseman, possibly with less offense, less defense and a bigger salary? How many years are we going to be lied to? I get it, Candy really struggled in 2022. Yes, an upgrade would be great. But patience is limited and not having a replacement on the roster just makes not paying him look like a stupid and cheap move. It's telling the fans...hey we're not going to win anyway so we may as well not pay anyone. But buy some tickets now, we need the money.

Maybe CF will be open for him? It's going to take a huge package to get him, Pittsburgh isn't going to just give away a player who's under team control for a few years. Probably have to start with Greene and Soto. Still want Reynolds?

Agreed. And I don't like the idea of trading any ML talent for a different 3rd baseman. Or rolling the dice and signing a player to a long term contract.

I'm not sure those are plays you want to run with a player coming off of a serious injury. Just line him up and have him go deep. He'll take 2 defenders with him.

I remember one year we let Polanco walk and gave the job to Scott Sizemore. That didn't work out. This year we let our 3rd baseman walk with no player waiting in the wings. Just sign a good defensive LH hitting 3rd baseman who hits .320 with 30 home runs and 120 RBI and I'll be happy. 😆

Especially with the Lions at home, playing better and on extra rest. If I were to bet....

Did I see Jacksonville favored in this game? I'm kinds confident the Lions will win at home. Kinda expecting it.

The Rangers have been giving out huge contracts the last few years.

Yeah, a drafted QB used to sit for an entire season learning the league and how to read defenses. It's changed...

Exactly my point in letting Candelario go. If they had an in-house replacement or if the FA market was full of 3rd basemen, I wouldn't care. If we end up having to trade a quality player for a 3rd baseman who gives us less production and costs more than 7 million dollars, I will say it was a horrible move.

I agree 100%. Get me a player that produces and I'll be happy. I just don't want to see some AAA kid playing 3rd base with no offense and horrible defense.

Yes, an improvement would be nice. But at what cost? I really think the Tigers will miss Candy. Yes, he had a bad 2022 but so did several other hitters. Candelario was only released because of financial reasons, a bad reason to let a starting player go when there's limited in-house or free agent options.

The only reason he even pitched in the Majors last season was because most of our starting pitchers got injured. And then the Toledo arms we brought up got injured. What did we end up using, something like 15 different starting pitchers? And it wasn't even our pitching that lost us so many games, it was a lack of offense. Pretty amazing.

I see your point but I think he signed for $5 million with the Nationals. If the Tigers sign a FA 3rd baseman, he'll probably cost more with less production or bad defense. Or just put Zach Short at 3rd base, I'm sure he could outhit....nobody? Maybe they'll lower ticket prices since they're saving so much money?

Yes, I'm sure <someone> will be brought in. My concern is lack of production or terrible defense. Candy had a bad year. But so did many other positions. 1st base, 2nd base and the entire outfield. And we sat out top HR hitter from 2021 for 3/4 of the season over some very weak hitting catcher. Candy's year was concerning but not our biggest problem. Just my opinion.

I don't understand this. Why would anyone be glad unless we had a replacement? It's like quitting a job, have a new one lined up before quitting. We might not even get thru April without realizing we miss him.

True. And the return on some of the established all-star quality players we traded was underwhelming. But how many of us ever thought JV would still be winning Cy Young awards at age 39? The way he takes care of himself, I guess it wasn't out of the question. But still...natural age regression...

It was Ilitch who extended Miggy. IMO, Avila was horrible. Most of the players he signed or traded for didn't produce. But they played anyway because they had to pay them anyway....but any horrible player he signed or traded for pales in comparison to his biggest blunder, extending Brad when he should have been fired.

Avila didn't reach for any picks. All the players he took were expected to be taken with the draft slot we were in. I think it was Brady Singer or Casey Mize, as an example. But yeah, fire Avila, dump all his picks/trades and start a new rebuild.

Did they announced Miggy got a 3 year extension and will be our new 3rd baseman yet? That would shut up all the Candelario haters. And BTW? Candy signed with the Nationals for something like 5 million. But yeah, we have SO many internal options.../s.

Gotta tear it down and rebuild. Then, in 4 or 5 years, the next GM can do it again. Rinse and repeat.

THE University of Michigan is much, much better than little sister ohio.