Will Tigers Pony up for Skubal

[Shelton]

13 minutes ago, Tiger337 said:

I think every sports forum on the internet has fans that want the GM or manager or both fired.  

Seems like most folks feel the team could do even just a little bit better if only the manager or GM used this one neat trick.

I wish it were possible to truly get a feel for how tigers fans feel relative to fans of other teams. Because to me, it sure seems like the vast majority of tigers fans are ****ing lunatics.
 

And I don’t feel like it’s just a matter of proximity bias, because I don’t get the same sense from Lions fans, M fans, or Wings fans. The Pistons only have 13 fans, but for the most part seem pretty chill. 

[gehringer_2]

34 minutes ago, Shelton said:

The Pistons only have 13 fans, but for the most part seem pretty chill.

They wanted both SVG's and  Monty Williams' heads pretty badly, and they were right!

Edited Wednesday at 02:36 PM by gehringer_2

[Tiger337]

49 minutes ago, Shelton said:

Seems like most folks feel the team could do even just a little bit better if only the manager or GM used this one neat trick.

I wish it were possible to truly get a feel for how tigers fans feel relative to fans of other teams. Because to me, it sure seems like the vast majority of tigers fans are ****ing lunatics.
 

And I don’t feel like it’s just a matter of proximity bias, because I don’t get the same sense from Lions fans, M fans, or Wings fans. The Pistons only have 13 fans, but for the most part seem pretty chill. 

Tigers fans are pretty bad, but Red Sox fans are worse.  

Edited Wednesday at 02:51 PM by Tiger337

[chasfh]

7 hours ago, Sports_Freak said:

This is exactly my point about Harris acquiring Morton and Paddack at the trade deadline. As fans, we dont have access to the same information as a baseball executive. And yet many folks knew Morton was washed up and Paddack never had success. There's a very good possibility they cost us a division and contributed to a huge collapse. That was a total fail on the part of Harris and I see no way to sugar coat it or make excuses for him. But I'm sure some people may try...

In a numbers game, you will always have a number of failures. I think this is too low a bar to then declare him de facto incompetent and no longer deserving of the job. My bar is he sits on his hands when we have nothing left in the cupboard, or otherwise moves chairs around the decks, and we lose 80-something or more games. That’s when I will consider calling for his head then.

[chasfh]

1 hour ago, Tiger337 said:

I think every sports forum on the internet has fans that want the GM or manager or both fired.  

It’s true, although I don’t think that happens so often to a team coming off two straight playoffs after a long drought and is universally regarded as a team on the way up with bright prospects even for the coming season.

[Tiger337]

4 minutes ago, chasfh said:

It’s true, although I don’t think that happens so often to a team coming off two straight playoffs after a long drought and is universally regarded as a team on the way up with bright prospects even for the coming season.

I think the long drought and two playoff appearances make it even more likely that fans would complain.  They are eager for a winner and they have seen that those opportunities have not been all that common for the Tigers over the years.  Fans might not see the Tigers as a team on their way up with the best pitcher in baseball leaving after next year.  Some fans might see the Tigers as being there already rather than up and coming.  They can win a championship this year and with Skubal leaving we don't know that their chances are necessarily going to better in 2 or 3 years.  The future is now.  

[Shelton]

5 minutes ago, Tiger337 said:

I think the long drought and two playoff appearances make it even more likely that fans would complain.  They are eager for a winner and they have seen that those opportunities have not been all that common for the Tigers over the years.  Fans might not see the Tigers as a team on their way up with the best pitcher in baseball leaving after next year.  Some fans might see the Tigers as being there already rather than up and coming.  They can win a championship this year and with Skubal leaving we don't know that their chances are necessarily going to better in 2 or 3 years.  The future is now.  

Yes, lunatics. 

[Tiger337]

Just now, Shelton said:

Yes, lunatics. 

Short sighted maybe, but what part of that is that loony?  

[1984Echoes]

28 minutes ago, Tiger337 said:

Short sighted maybe, but what part of that is that loony?  

Yeah...

It's not lunacy or looney...

I'm on board with you...

IMO, I think it is just simple impatience.

[gehringer_2]

57 minutes ago, Tiger337 said:

I think the long drought and two playoff appearances make it even more likely that fans would complain.  They are eager for a winner and they have seen that those opportunities have not been all that common for the Tigers over the years.  Fans might not see the Tigers as a team on their way up with the best pitcher in baseball leaving after next year.  Some fans might see the Tigers as being there already rather than up and coming.  They can win a championship this year and with Skubal leaving we don't know that their chances are necessarily going to better in 2 or 3 years.  The future is now.  

I think the losses in the two previous trips to the WS also make fans more attuned to the idea that when you get a chance to get there, don't scrimp. As we've discussed on the forum many times, it's doubtful how much you can improve your odds of winning a WS once in the playoffs no matter what you do, but it's also doubtful the majority of fans, being less statistically immersed, think that way.

My own preference to build a WS team would be HR power and pitching depth, but that's the best way to build any playoff team.

Edited Wednesday at 04:25 PM by gehringer_2

[RedRamage]

2 hours ago, Shelton said:

Seems like most folks feel the team could do even just a little bit better if only the manager or GM used this one neat trick...

... that MLB owners don't want you to know!

[Tiger337]

8 minutes ago, gehringer_2 said:

I think the losses in the two previous trips to the WS also make fans more attuned to the idea that when you get a chance to get there, don't scrimp. As we've discussed on the forum many times, it's doubtful how much you can improve your odds of winning a WS once in the playoffs no matter what you do, but it's also doubtful the majority of fans, being less statistically immersed, think that way.

My own preference to build a WS team would be HR power and pitching depth, but that's the best way to build any playoff team.

"pitching and three-run homers"

[Sports_Freak]

1 hour ago, chasfh said:

It’s true, although I don’t think that happens so often to a team coming off two straight playoffs after a long drought and is universally regarded as a team on the way up with bright prospects even for the coming season.

I don't want Harris fired. Give him a few more years. I just want people to admit he isn't the perfect GM they think or say he is. His bad moves outnumber his good moves, by far. And the only thing he has going for him so far is the promise of some prospects. And we all know what prospects are like. I just read that Malloy was our number 7 prospect a few years ago. Prospects come and go but I think we have a few good ones coming up soon.

[Sports_Freak]

1 hour ago, Tiger337 said:

I think the long drought and two playoff appearances make it even more likely that fans would complain.  They are eager for a winner and they have seen that those opportunities have not been all that common for the Tigers over the years.  Fans might not see the Tigers as a team on their way up with the best pitcher in baseball leaving after next year.  Some fans might see the Tigers as being there already rather than up and coming.  They can win a championship this year and with Skubal leaving we don't know that their chances are necessarily going to better in 2 or 3 years.  The future is now.  

The future certainly is now. I see the Tigers running away with the division this season. All the pieces are in place and I really like the bullpen additions. Its looking like it will be a very fun summer. Hey Spring Training? Hurry up!!

[chasfh]

8 hours ago, Tiger337 said:

I think the long drought and two playoff appearances make it even more likely that fans would complain.  They are eager for a winner and they have seen that those opportunities have not been all that common for the Tigers over the years.  Fans might not see the Tigers as a team on their way up with the best pitcher in baseball leaving after next year.  Some fans might see the Tigers as being there already rather than up and coming.  They can win a championship this year and with Skubal leaving we don't know that their chances are necessarily going to better in 2 or 3 years.  The future is now.  

So ironic that you conclude your post with "the future is now" when so many fans want to trade away our generationally-talented two-time-defending Cy Young pitcher so we can possibly compete three or four years from now at the explicit expense of now.

[chasfh]

6 hours ago, Sports_Freak said:

I don't want Harris fired. Give him a few more years. I just want people to admit he isn't the perfect GM they think or say he is. His bad moves outnumber his good moves, by far. And the only thing he has going for him so far is the promise of some prospects. And we all know what prospects are like. I just read that Malloy was our number 7 prospect a few years ago. Prospects come and go but I think we have a few good ones coming up soon.

Scott Harris isn't a perfect GM, I don't think and haven't said so, and I don't know anyone else who has said so. I'm not sure I can agree at face value that his "bad moves outnumber his good moves, by far."

[Tiger337]

9 minutes ago, chasfh said:

So ironic that you conclude your post with "the future is now" when so many fans want to trade away our generationally-talented two-time-defending Cy Young pitcher so we can possibly compete three or four years from now at the explicit expense of now.

Here, it's mostly just ATF who wants that.  

[Sports_Freak]

1 hour ago, chasfh said:

So ironic that you conclude your post with "the future is now" when so many fans want to trade away our generationally-talented two-time-defending Cy Young pitcher so we can possibly compete three or four years from now at the explicit expense of now.

I haven't heard anyone say that. You sure like making things up.

But I did hear you say;

But then you defend Scott Harris for acquiring 2 of the worst pitchers in MLB. For a contending team. It woulda been OK if we were just playing out the season but everyone with any sense saw what was coming with those guys. That is, if you can read a stats page.

[buddha]

18 hours ago, Sports_Freak said:

This is exactly my point about Harris acquiring Morton and Paddack at the trade deadline. As fans, we dont have access to the same information as a baseball executive. And yet many folks knew Morton was washed up and Paddack never had success. There's a very good possibility they cost us a division and contributed to a huge collapse. That was a total fail on the part of Harris and I see no way to sugar coat it or make excuses for him. But I'm sure some people may try...

To me, acquiring paddack and morton is perfectly in line with harris' philosophy: trying to find players who have an underlyinng characteristic or talent that is being ignored or obscured by present results, then buying low on that player and counting on your coaches to use them in the most advantageous positions to get the most out of them.

it worked with finnegan.  it didnt work with everyone else.

after the failures of morton and paddack, i would hope the tigers' brass was reviewing their process to determine what went wrong so they dont repeat the same mistake.

after this offseason so far, i dont think they feel the need to change course.  jansen is just another example.

[Dan Gilmore]

Finnegan was fine, Morton had bad stats at the beginning of the season before we got him but had gotten better in the middle of 2025. Paddock, yeah, not a good idea. And then Morton lost that fine line of keeping batters guessing a little and it was over.

In 2026 I am curious to see how the late innings are handled. Will it be by committee or defined roles, or a combination. Do Vest’s non-9th innings numbers 😵‍💫 matter or is that too small a sample. I still want better late innings LH options. 

[Sports_Freak]

29 minutes ago, buddha said:

To me, acquiring paddack and morton is perfectly in line with harris' philosophy: trying to find players who have an underlyinng characteristic or talent that is being ignored or obscured by present results, then buying low on that player and counting on your coaches to use them in the most advantageous positions to get the most out of them.

it worked with finnegan.  it didnt work with everyone else.

after the failures of morton and paddack, i would hope the tigers' brass was reviewing their process to determine what went wrong so they dont repeat the same mistake.

after this offseason so far, i dont think they feel the need to change course.  jansen is just another example.

And throw a wasted $15 million on Cobb. If Chris were cheap, that would stop him from allowing Harris free rein in spending money. I wish somebody would have stopped Avila when he was wasting money on ineffective pitchers. But thinking about it...it's much better, as fans, if these guys sign pitchers and never have them pitch. Its better than allowing them to pitch and pull a Paddack or Morton. It hurts the team more. 😆

[Edman85]

Arb filing/figure exchange day!

The Tigers will very likely pony up for Skubal in 2026 today.

[chasfh]

15 hours ago, Sports_Freak said:

I haven't heard anyone say that. You sure like making things up.

I’m sorry, are you actually denying that there are people here who want to trade Skubal?? Please tell me I don’t have to provide proof of that!

[chasfh]

15 hours ago, Sports_Freak said:

But then you defend Scott Harris for acquiring 2 of the worst pitchers in MLB. For a contending team. It woulda been OK if we were just playing out the season but everyone with any sense saw what was coming with those guys. That is, if you can read a stats page.

Where did I defend Harris for signing (I assume you mean) Paddack and Morton? Do you have receipts on that?

Edited 9 hours ago by chasfh

[Tiger337]

I don't remember Chas defending the acquistions of Paddack and Morton.  He usually defends non-moves rather than moves.