Tiger Cubs (notes on the minors)

[Tenacious D]

On 10/29/2025 at 10:57 PM, gehringer_2 said:

Max Anderson leading the AFL with a 517 BA in 42 PA

https://www.mlb.com/tigers/news/arizona-fall-league-early-statcast-standouts

https://www.mlb.com/arizona-fall-league/stats/batting-average

Anderson has hit a wall in AZ—batting average down to .465

[papalawrence]

5 minutes ago, Tenacious D said:

Anderson has hit a wall in AZ—batting average down to .465

Both Max and McGonigle are hitting .400+

[Dan Gilmore]

1 hour ago, TigerNation said:

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/kevin-mcgonigle-talks-hitting/

Interesting that the interview mentioned Riley, and strikeouts, and towards the end, not hunting the perfect pitch to drive (Tork?). I’m eager to see McGonigle move up.

[Sports_Freak]

 

[gehringer_2]

6 hours ago, Dan Gilmore said:

Interesting that the interview mentioned Riley, and strikeouts, and towards the end, not hunting the perfect pitch to drive (Tork?). I’m eager to see McGonigle move up.

It was interesting - also very notable that he said the Tigers pretty much wait for hitters to come to them. I suppose with all these guy having private coaching that all you can do without risking the infamous "too many voices in his ears" that Hinch mentioned in '24 when Tork was struggling. It was also interesting to here him say he was basically a 'see ball, hit ball' guy even though you hear a lot of people say you can't hit that way. 

[Tiger337]

1 hour ago, gehringer_2 said:

 It was also interesting to here him say he was basically a 'see ball, hit ball' guy even though you hear a lot of people say you can't hit that way. 

I noticed that too.  Hopefully, he is smart enough to make the addjustment if you really can't hit that way in the majors.  Either that or he so talented that he is one of the few who can still hit that way.    

[Dan Gilmore]

Doesn’t differing ability to do the “see” part of that phrase define how well a hitter does the “hit” part? It’s expected that hitters will crush a mistake pitch, a hung slider or cutter that stays true. But those cookies do get popped up or sprayed foul. With so short a time recognize a pitch, plot its path and coordinate a swing, failure is the norm.

McGonigle does mention some areas he feels he needs to improve on, or at least be aware of how a pitcher might try to defeat him. And he has worked on his bat speed (an area the coaches have assisted in) to at the least foul off the pitches he didn’t see well or were too well placed to barrel up. I am eager to find out if his approach and skills continue to work well as he moves up levels. The contrast with Tork is significant to me.

[gehringer_2]

2 hours ago, Dan Gilmore said:

Doesn’t differing ability to do the “see” part of that phrase define how well a hitter does the “hit” part? It’s expected that hitters will crush a mistake pitch, a hung slider or cutter that stays true. But those cookies do get popped up or sprayed foul. With so short a time recognize a pitch, plot its path and coordinate a swing, failure is the norm.

McGonigle does mention some areas he feels he needs to improve on, or at least be aware of how a pitcher might try to defeat him. And he has worked on his bat speed (an area the coaches have assisted in) to at the least foul off the pitches he didn’t see well or were too well placed to barrel up. I am eager to find out if his approach and skills continue to work well as he moves up levels. The contrast with Tork is significant to me.

actually when Tork came back from Toledo he said trying to hit more pitchers where he saw them was part of what he was trying to get back to, that he had become too focused on the 'perfect swing' on the perfect pitch. The way McGonigle talks about aiming for center- to oppo against the FB and pulling the off-speed when he recognizes it is pretty much the same thing Tork says now. I do think Tork continues have trouble sticking with it though!

I'm also think guys need to be careful chasing bat speed. Chasing bat speed is OK, but only up the point that it starts costing accuracy with the swing. There is already plenty of energy in most of these guys' swing, and some of the guys with great bat speed don't hit all that well. I believe at one point it was reported that Trey Sweeney had the best bat speed on the team!

[papalawrence]

AZ fall lg all star game is today ay 7 ET

Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game 2025 https://share.google/WbGo9icyziUQvc7GX

 

[Cruzer1]

According to BA, Max Anderson has looked very good defensively at 3b, and will probably win the MVP. He should be the 3b for the Tigers next year.

[RatkoVarda]

19 minutes ago, Cruzer1 said:

According to BA, Max Anderson has looked very good defensively at 3b, and will probably win the MVP. He should be the 3b for the Tigers next year.

so the left side of the Tigers infield will be 2 rookies by July, and they will still challenge for a playoff spot?

[Shinzaki]

Tork got married recently...maybe that will lead to less chasing

 

[4hzglory]

41 minutes ago, Shinzaki said:

Tork got married recently...maybe that will lead to less chasing

 

Ha Ha, but in reality, it isn't less chasing that has been his issue, it's too much taking of borderline pitches.  Like many have said, I think he will be the one on our team helped most by the challenge system.

[Tenacious D]

8 hours ago, Shinzaki said:

Tork got married recently...maybe that will lead to less chasing

 

Nice scoop 

 

[Cruzer1]

16 hours ago, RatkoVarda said:

so the left side of the Tigers infield will be 2 rookies by July, and they will still challenge for a playoff spot?

It would be the most efficient way to go. They need to find a place for Colt to play. 

[Tenacious D]

[gehringer_2]

59 minutes ago, Tenacious D said:

Jose Briceno.

Just for a little perspective.

[Tenacious D]

10 minutes ago, gehringer_2 said:

Jose Briceno.

Just for a little perspective.

Are you suggesting Briceno is a bust?

[papalawrence]

One of the articles mentioned he did go up against a top ranked pitcher and got multiple hits against him. Overall not great competition, but it's still good to see him succeed. Skubal went to games and posted "he's ready."

Edited 21 hours ago by papalawrence

[Tenacious D]

As I wait for Gehringer’s response, here is a 20-year old Briceno’s performance at High A/AA

 

[4hzglory]

14 minutes ago, Tenacious D said:

As I wait for Gehringer’s response, here is a 20-year old Briceno’s performance at High A/AA

 

Yeah, it was a confusing response.  Briceno had a really good year off of his fall league performance.

[gehringer_2]

1 hour ago, Tenacious D said:

Are you suggesting Briceno is a bust?

Not at all. The take away was to remember that just because a player tears up the AFL is no particular indicator of whether they are  close to an MLB call-up the following season -- or not.

As you posted, Briceno followed a great AFL with a strong performance at......AA.

Edited 20 hours ago by gehringer_2

[Tenacious D]

8 minutes ago, gehringer_2 said:

Not at all. The take away was to remember that just because a player tears up the AFL is no particular indicator of whether they are  close to an MLB call-up the following season -- or not.

As you posted, Briceno followed a great AFL with a strong performance at......AA.

At age 20

[gehringer_2]

6 minutes ago, Tenacious D said:

At age 20

what does his age have to do with it? The point is that Briceno demonstrates that the AFL is an easier league than AA - much easier.

I'm not knocking Briceno - just using him as a yardstick

Edited 20 hours ago by gehringer_2

[Graterol]

On 11/12/2025 at 1:53 AM, Cruzer1 said:

It would be the most efficient way to go. They need to find a place for Colt to play. 

He isn’t going to start, but I could see him in an Ibanez role platooning at 2B/3B/DH.