papalawrence

A lot of teams are in the same boat. It is extremely difficult to hit. And every team not called the Dodgers has flaws.. Given everything, the Tigers were a shattered bat grounder to 3B by Javy away from getting to the ALCS. I agree it's not a huge step forward, but with Skubal the Tigers are close. If Harris trades Skubal, that's a step backward.

I heard him say it has improved since Greene and Tork first came up, and still needs to be improved. I took it as, in part a dig at AA and the former regime and the context they left. He also said a lot of positive changes have taken place over the past 3 years, and will continue to improve. He subtly toots his own horn at times. He has changed the culture and it's much more positive. But it's also true that most of the player impact has come from AA's drafts. Harris has been so-so with trades, good with player development, and potentially very good with drafting, but that's ultimately yet to be shown at the big league level. Hinch and Fetter deserve significant credit with the positive outcomes so far.

I admire Freeman. I hate the Dodgers.

With velo and spin so improved it's more difficult to lay off those pitches because they often start in the same spacial slot. I was impressed with how Tork showed more patience this year. Baez did in stretches. The game evolves and adjustments will be made.

In all my years watching I'd never seen anything like that. Also, I hate the Dodgers

Some recent thoughts percolating amidst the cobwebs of my mind (was that a Glen Campbell song?): I heard an interview by Mike Trout a couple years ago where he compared pitching when he entered the league, and pitching now. He said it used to be very difficult, now it's close to impossible to hit. Most every team experienced significant losing streaks this season. Most batters experienced slumps. In the NL Trea Turner won the batting title with a .304 average. I know there are still a lot of home runs. But also continued increased strike outs. It's more difficult to put the bat on the ball. Maybe a batters swing has to he mechanically more precise. Slumps more prevalent. And then it gets in one’s mind and a slump can prolong. Ohtani was 1-19 in the NLDS. Harper and Schwarber both slumped in the NLDS. Players have always slumped, but I don't recall the losing streaks happening to most every team. Per BA, 192 pitchers hit 100 MPH this past season. With most of them being in MiBL. And now batters face most starters 2 at-bats, then different pitchers subsequent at-bats. It just seems much more difficult to hit today. We see the slumps and strikeouts. And the toll this takes on pitchers with the exploding number of TJ. Harris' approach seems in line with this thinking. Control the strike zone. Value bat to ball skills. The game is more difficult. With guys like McGonigle coming up, I remain positive about Detroit's future BA article How Many Professional Pitchers Throw 100 MPH? https://share.google/JWnEniII0WczuqNXX

Off topic, but I lived in Seattle from 1991-2000, and visited Vancouver, BC a couple times a year. My ex wife and I loved Stanley Park. Good memories!

I do wish Harris would say something along the lines of: "Of course we'd love to keep Tarik long term. We'll try. We love him. We can't be sure of what he wants."

Speculation is that AZ wanted Melton in a Suarez deal. If that's true, of course you decline that deal

I am definitely rooting for Milwaukee and Seattle. That would ensure a franchise would have their first championship

Seattle wins game 1

If the new cba negotiations go well and they have a 2027 season. I'd prefer they sign Skubal as well. I understand the risk. It was frustrating to see Max, JV, Porcello go on and win WS elsewhere

With Wheeler out, I believe the best 4 teams are in the final 4.

I lived in Seattle from 1991-2000 and had a friend with season tickets. I saw many games, including Ryan's last. I still have friends there and would like to see the Mariners finally go all the way.

I would think the Phillies, Dodgers, Mets, Yankees and Blue Jays would all offer huge packages for Skubal.

Me too. And I had a sense that Meadows was going to get a huge hit. On Tigers Territory podcast, Cody Stavenhagen said it best - the Tigers played hard. They have a playoff roster, but not an ALCS roster. They have holes. The better team won. I think Skubal's quotes that the Tigers brass should have WS expectations is similar. Time to see where Harris stands.

In these quotes it seems Skubal is watching what happens this off season. He sees the Tigers as a ALDS team and he wants a WS team. The off season likely impacts Skubal's future in Det Detroit Tigers' Tarik Skubal sets World Series standard moving forward https://share.google/Z6Xzc37sYUcHue0yz

Harris whiffed on Maeda, Cobb, Paddack and Morton. He has to do better with the rotation.

Unless Harris is blown away with a package, I'm sure Skubal is in Detroit for 2026

I thought we'd see more from Meadows this series.

Crap. At least Naylor didn't get the game winner

Dingler has stamina!

You can borrow one of mine

Yeah seems like Seattle getting most close calls

Not Javy time