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They also got something decent out of Rondell White and Fernando Vina. Jason Johnson and especially Troy Percival, not so much.

Nolan Ryan pitched 226 innings in his first three major league seasons, and 358 in his first four. But even summing it up like this is doing a lot of heavy lifting of the point: he also pitched 120 innings in the minors as an 18-year-old, and another 202 innings in the minors, plus three in the majors, as a 19-year-old. That's 327 innings of professional ball pitched as a teenager. Ryan then pitched another 34 in the minors as a 20-year-old before suffering an arm injury that team doctors actually recommended surgery for, but Ryan refused, I guess because back in those days, he could. he rehabbed it himself as he saw fit, after which he transformed into the freak we all know. I wonder how he rehabbed himself into that? 🤔

Agreed, which is why I think Malloy might have an inside track to win left field to start with. Especially since he has been terrible at third base—basically, worst in the International League, through yesterday, of any third baseman with over 250 innings logged there: That's the worst fielding percentage, 35th of 35 guys, and the only guy in the eight hundreds, and his range factor is fifth worst, and he has among the most innings played there. On the other hand, Colt Keith has far superior rate stats albeit in far fewer innings: only one error in 173.2 innings, range factor of 2.24, which would put him about middle of the pack in the list above. Now, here is an interesting thing I learned from game logs: The Tigers used Malloy as the regular third baseman from start of the season up to May 29, during which he started 36 of his first 50 games there, the other 14 at DH. Then, starting May 31, he almost never started at third: in his next 59 games through August 22, he started only three games at third, while starting 29 games in left, 15 games in right, and DHing 12 other times. Since then, he has once again started mostly at third, 20 of 25 games, the rest of DH. During the period he wasn't playing third, Keith spent a decent amount of time there. Obviously, he hasn't since. So, I don't know whether they found something in his play and he has improved in his second stint there, versus his first stint, or not. Maybe someone who's plugged in to what's going on with our AAA team can fill us in?

Speaking of nothing left to prove: as I think more about it—and I know I suggested less than a day ago we have no place to put him—Malloy's got a real shot to win the left field job, since Riley won't be playing the field next season and Baddoo hasn't exactly locked it down.

Willie could definitely hit .250 and jack 15 bombs for this team. Of course, he is almost 81 years old, so ...

I wouldn't be surprised to see the Tigers weren't willing to spend this winter, given where they are in the rebuild cycle. They are still clearing the rot out of the system and that's where the focus is going to continue to be for at least another whole year. I don't think it's a case of, they won't spend because they don't care and they don't want to win yet because the diabolical immutable plan. I think it's more like, we are putting the best team we can on the field while we clean up this system and figure out who here can do what, and also who out there can come in and help us take a step forward, and we're hoping our improved developmental processes will yield more wins, and perhaps with this group, we can make it a race in '24, and maybe even steal the division. After all, teams who have successful rebuilds frequently—if not usually—make one giant leap from sub-mediocre one year to playoff contender the next. If this rebuild goes as planned—big if, I know, but still, if—then I expect this team will take that leap, too. it could be in 2024, or it could be in 2025. I would say, though, that if they haven't done something like that by 2026, if they're still playing sub-mediocre ball, something will have gone wrong.

Great! Now his campaign team just needs to announce a "Republicans for Biden" group and he can preempt Trump completely.

I'm not saying he can't do anything. Of course he can do something, and I suspect he will do as much something as he can. What I'm basically saying is, I'd be surprised if he pushed all his chips in this winter and started dealing from the top of the system in exchange for established major leaguers in a long-shot bid to win a weak division next year. In any event, maybe the key to winning next year isn't trading top prospects for established major leaguers, or even signing top free agents. Maybe the key is to get more out next year of the players we have on the team and in the system already. They've poured a ton of resources into the development function for just that reason.

Oh ha ha, I just took you at your (now I know was joke) word that it was Avila. That’s how closely I’ve been following the fortunes of Brenan Hanifee!

They signed top free agents by throwing more money and years at them than anyone else cared to. That was the last administration's jam. I doubt it will be this administration's.

I'm not sure either are likely to be on the opening day roster as of today. I think they would have to have monster springs for that to happen. Keith especially, he of all of 300 or so plate appearances at AAA, and I think Harris will want to give him a smoother path to onboarding into the majors than just throwing him out there as though he were a 27-year-old non-prospect we need to fill a sudden opening. And since Riley is going to be a full-time DH, I don't see anyplace to put Justyn, either, unless we punt on defense at third, which may not be the best way to onboard him into the majors.

Really? Costco members can't do better in wine than this? Good thing I've kept my money in my pocket this whole time ...

Yes, shame on Democrats for thinking they can play that game, too ... 😉

Is that the top shelf at Walgreens?

Not even marginally? Absolute zero effect? OK. Either way, we are not getting any top free agents to commit to years here, not this winter anyway. We are still on a seven-year losing streak and the best players want to sign with teams that are winning, since they are already getting the money in any event.

I do wonder whether we can get marginally better short-term free agents by pointing to a second-place standing and a 70-something-80-something record, as opposed to a fourth-place standing and a 66-96? Marginally-better short-term free agents is nothing like a goal, of course, but it would be an improvement of sorts, and in a continuing rebuild, and little step forward is still a step forward.

Hey, Avila did a great job bringing him on board, it’s Harris who’s screwing him up … 😉

Yes, and beyond just the optionability, the guy is also throwing up a win and a half in a utility role where he’s giving us a plus glove at five different positions as well as a bit of pop at the plate. It’s not as though the guy is Willi Castro where everyone is scapegoating him and calling for his head despite what he could give us so we have to let him walk for nothing just to keep the peace. Considering we’re not going to seriously contend next year anyway*, and that we have a contractual obligation to put players on the field, we might as well ride him out for another year. Sure he’s streaky, but most players are streaky, and I don’t think we can manage a roster to maximize players who are steady the whole year. There just aren’t enough of those guys around to build a roster around. * - I realize we are in a weak winnable division, but I believe we should win it while still building toward the future on plan, not by switching gears to try to contend on the edges by go off plan and, for example, trading from the system for so-so big league regulars, or overpaying with years marginal free agents that happen to played on playoff teams.

I’ve been noodling this idea more, that there seems to be an opportunity for a system to develop two-to-three inning guys who can bridge a starter’s five innings to a closer/setup? Because right now it almost seems as if everyone is being geared to throw either five innings max effort, or one inning max effort. You end up using five pitchers in a normal close game, and then you have to vamp the next day until at least some of your guys rest up. It feels unsustainable on a mandated 13-pitcher-max staff, which means you end up churning through your 40 until you max out options. The thing they would have to manage for is how much rest a guy throwing three innings balls out would need. Probably not four, but also probably not none either? They would also have to optimize the training regimen for a guy like this, something different from a starter’s and a one-inning-guy’s regimen. I’d be interested in seeing what something like that looks like.

My understanding is that Lachlan is more pro-Trump than Rupert so I would expect FOX to tack hard toward the OAN right. Wouldn’t be surprised to see them exhume and resurrect Alex Jones.

Betcha Lorenzen comes back, or at least if he doesn’t, it won’t be his choice.

Can you imagine him being locked in a room with three of his fervent red hat supporters? He’d be screaming and clawing at the door until his fingers bled trying to get out.

Yeah, I figured. There’s definitely social pressure to tip at a high level. My buddy gives me the stink eye if I leave 20% or, god forbid, less.

Sounds incredible. I assume this is going to run through 2029 or so?