Will Tigers Pony up for Skubal

[oblong]

2 hours ago, Screwball said:

That's interesting. When I learned we put three fingers in the ball. The two middle fingers of whatever hand we threw with. The holes were drilled so we could put the first two knuckles of our finger in the hole. Then another hole for the thumb. I don't remember when, but at some point, they went to the "fingertip" ball. You only put the first knuckle of your finger in the ball. This made the distance between the thumb hole and the fingers longer so you got more leverage to spin the ball - in theory. Probably true.

As the game progressed some quit using the thumb, and only drilled 2 holes in the ball for the fingers. Now, they do a thing even more unorthodox by using both hands to launch the ball in order to get more spin. It's all nuts compared to years ago.

I find this interesting given my background. Sorry for hijacking the baseball thread into a bowling conversation.

Wow. I had no idea. I could have been a bowler?

My ring, middle, and index finger were caught in a door in fifth grade. Next to last day of school.  1984.  Door closed. 30+ stitches. The tip of my middle finger is gone. My ring finger is slightly deformed and I broke the index finger. First few weeks of summer vacation sucked. Certain songs of that era make me think of soaking my hand in some kind of solution while watching MTV.   That middle finger was he’ll playing baseball on cold days if I got jammed. It was numb for 2 innings. 

[NorthWoods]

11 hours ago, oblong said:

Wow. I had no idea. I could have been a bowler?

My ring, middle, and index finger were caught in a door in fifth grade. Next to last day of school.  1984.  Door closed. 30+ stitches. The tip of my middle finger is gone. My ring finger is slightly deformed and I broke the index finger. First few weeks of summer vacation sucked. Certain songs of that era make me think of soaking my hand in some kind of solution while watching MTV.   That middle finger was he’ll playing baseball on cold days if I got jammed. It was numb for 2 innings. 

Obvious you're not a bowler, any bowler would know that room would look better with a big bearskin rug.   

 

[CMRivdogs]

That rug really tied the room together

[Screwball]

11 hours ago, oblong said:

Wow. I had no idea. I could have been a bowler?

My ring, middle, and index finger were caught in a door in fifth grade. Next to last day of school.  1984.  Door closed. 30+ stitches. The tip of my middle finger is gone. My ring finger is slightly deformed and I broke the index finger. First few weeks of summer vacation sucked. Certain songs of that era make me think of soaking my hand in some kind of solution while watching MTV.   That middle finger was he’ll playing baseball on cold days if I got jammed. It was numb for 2 innings. 

They could have custom drilled a ball for you. My Saturday consisted of 24 lanes of high school kids. Good for future customers. It was ran by the owners wife. She was everybody's mom. Saturday was also ball drilling day. The guy who drilled balls was behind the counter with me fitting balls for people. They were off work on Saturday so he was busy all day.

One day a guy came in with a bad hand, kind of like yours. I don't remember what happened but his hand/fingers were messed up. He wanted to bowl in a league but couldn't throw a regular house ball due to his fingers. He asked the ball drilling guy (Smut himself) if he could fit and drill him a ball. He told the guy he would try, but couldn't guarantee anything. He said go for it. He spent about a half hour measuring this guys hand and using the fitting ball as best he could. I was helping.

He went to the back and drilled this guy a ball. We turned on a lane so he could give it a try. It worked, and you would think this guy just hit the lottery. He was so happy. He signed up and got to bowl in a league. He was forever thankful. He got to do something he always wanted to do but didn't think he could. It was a neat deal, and if I remember right, they didn't charge him a dime.

[Screwball]

20 minutes ago, CMRivdogs said:

That rug really tied the room together

What rug?

[casimir]

22 hours ago, oblong said:

Because of an injury as a kid to my middle finger I can’t grip a bowling ball in the holes without it being painful.  So I just always gripped the ball and chucked it. I’d hit about 150 regularly.  When I was 13 a friend needed me for his league one weekend. I got on some Larry bird 3 point contest groove and had 6 or 7 strikes in a row. 230+.  I shanked the 10th. 

I had 6 strikes in a row to start a game.  My dad told me to not think about it.  Welp, that was that.  Still got a 234.

[casimir]

I think the Tigers need a find a lefty named Smut for the bullpen.

[CaliforniaDreaming]

💰Happy Skubal Arbitration Day!💰

[Edman85]

The hearing is today. We probably won't know the result today though.

[CaliforniaDreaming]

1 hour ago, Edman85 said:

The hearing is today. We probably won't know the result today though.

Well...that is disappointing. Do you think there could be any leaks, or are both sides pretty willing to play by the rules?

[tiger2022]

If he doesn't win his case, he isn't going to be happy making less than a scrub like Flaherty

[Edman85]

6 hours ago, CaliforniaDreaming said:

Well...that is disappointing. Do you think there could be any leaks, or are both sides pretty willing to play by the rules?

My understanding is the arbitrators take a few days to decide.

[Tiger337]

55 minutes ago, tiger2022 said:

If he doesn't win his case, he isn't going to be happy making less than a scrub like Flaherty

He made less than Flaherty last year.    Less than Cobb too.  

[AlaskanTigersFan]

https://www.cleveland.com/guardians/2026/02/tarik-skubal-arbitration-case-could-completely-revolutionize-mlbs-salary-system.html - Amazing article explaining how Skubal is basically representing the players and the Tigers are representing MLB and the owners. I highly recommend. 

 

If Skubal wins, it will transform arbitration. Teams will no longer have 6 years of control of players.... Skenes will make $40 million next year..... How will these smaller teams be able to afford good players? Small market teams will be squeezed anytime they get a good player.....  Tampa and Pittsburgh will be selling their franchises next year if Skubal wins......... They'd have too. 

[tiger2022]

But what has Pittsburgh actually tried to do with a once in a lifetime pitcher?  They put a bunch of AAA players behind him.  They deserve to lose him ASAP.

[RatkoVarda]

32 minutes ago, AlaskanTigersFan said:

https://www.cleveland.com/guardians/2026/02/tarik-skubal-arbitration-case-could-completely-revolutionize-mlbs-salary-system.html - Amazing article explaining how Skubal is basically representing the players and the Tigers are representing MLB and the owners. I highly recommend. 

 

If Skubal wins, it will transform arbitration. Teams will no longer have 6 years of control of players.... Skenes will make $40 million next year..... How will these smaller teams be able to afford good players? Small market teams will be squeezed anytime they get a good player.....  Tampa and Pittsburgh will be selling their franchises next year if Skubal wins......... They'd have too. 

Skenes may make that much in his last year of arbitration, but until then, he is limited in what comps he can use in arbitration. maybe the new CBA would allow different comps to be used, but the current one would not.

[tiger2022]

It's only his last year of arbitration that he can compare to other pitchers 

Skubal can compare himself to any mlb player

[Tenacious D]

Anyone hoping that Skubal wins?  Genuinely curious.  All my life I’ve sided with the team over the players and wondering if anyone feels differently.

[Tigermojo]

2 minutes ago, Tenacious D said:

Anyone hoping that Skubal wins?  Genuinely curious.  All my life I’ve sided with the team over the players and wondering if anyone feels differently.

I'm fine either way. It's a business and these guys are the best. I would be surprised if he wins. I think Boras overplayed this one, but maybe he cares more about the next contract than this arbitration. 

[casimir]

4 minutes ago, Tenacious D said:

Anyone hoping that Skubal wins?  Genuinely curious.  All my life I’ve sided with the team over the players and wondering if anyone feels differently.

Yes, I’m hoping that Skubal wins the final game of the 2026 World Series as a member of the Detroit Tigers.

[RatkoVarda]

18 minutes ago, Tenacious D said:

Anyone hoping that Skubal wins?  Genuinely curious.  All my life I’ve sided with the team over the players and wondering if anyone feels differently.

I'm 100% for the players

[SoCalTiger]

1 hour ago, Tenacious D said:

Anyone hoping that Skubal wins?  Genuinely curious.  All my life I’ve sided with the team over the players and wondering if anyone feels differently.

I'm 100% for the owners. You want my $ get your own team Big Shot.

[lordstanley]

I don't really care either way. All I know is that the Tigers didn't pony up to sign Skubal so instead went horsing around into the big game of chicken called arbitration and if the Tigers lose they'll have to grin and bear it.

[papalawrence]

Skubal for Sasaki rumors popping up again, mostly on Dodgers sites. That's the one name that intrigues me. Still much unknown. But you get 6 years. I don't think Detroit did enough to win it all with Skubal this year. I don't want to see him go. I'll be angry if he goes. But if Sasaki comes here in return, it would soften the blow for me.

[Shinzaki]

We're signing Framber!!!! 3yrsx115 milion

Sasaki for Skubal...nice starting point

Edited 3 hours ago by Shinzaki