7/24/25 6:40PM Blue Jays @ Tigers

[casimir]

1 hour ago, lordstanley said:

 

From gritty to ****ty.

[IdahoBert]

There’s a lot of data out there and unless you’re the Colorado Rockies everybody combs over it and they’re starting to figure out how to deal with the tigers so there’s always that and they have to make adjustments.

But I get the feeling also that this is just one of those bad spells all the best teams have gone through this year and this is our turn. I don’t think we’ll get back to being a .667 club but they will right the ship. There’s no way they played 130+ games so well and that it was all just luck. 

[kdog]

 

[SoCalTiger]

Pitching not so good either. 
is it ok to worry a bit ?

[gehringer_2]

 

11 hours ago, Tiger337 said:

Someone has to say it...TORK!

Torkelson is actually having a  pretty good July (933 OPS) - maybe the only guy on the team. His slump came in June (under 700)  but even that  only with a 230 BaBIP that month.

Edited July 25 by gehringer_2

[casimir]

9 hours ago, SoCalTiger said:

Pitching not so good either. 
is it ok to worry a bit ?

The bullpen need is obvious.  I don't think there's a debate there.

I suspect the offense will pull out of it eventually.  But I do wonder, the alternate universe 1st halves from Baez and McKinstry, how do the 2nd halves get forecasted there?  That's a bit tricky, but maybe a bat acquisition pushes that pair into a SS platoon to minimize a market change to one defensive position rather than two.  And let's also remember Dingler is in his first full MLB season, so there's that bit of concern as well.

Carpenter's return should be considered a boost to the offense.  But we've seen the injuries, we understand he's a LHB vs RHP only per this organization, and teams will exploit that as best they can rather than other areas in the Tiger lineup.

There's chatter about Suarez for 3B.  I suppose Nailor's trade to Seattle just further reveals Arizona's hand there.  Nailor wouldn't have fit in Detroit with 1B/DH taken up.  Suarez, if you're alright with his defense, could have a spot on the Tiger roster.  But given he is perceived to be the best bat on the market and that he does come with a weak arrow in his quiver, I'm not sure he's a likely target.

Or, let's consider this.  Perhaps the Tigers still think Meadows and Vierling are due to perk up at the plate and that solves a few of the issues with the offense?  Is that too far out of the realm of possibility?

[Shades of Deivi Cruz]

6 minutes ago, casimir said:

The bullpen need is obvious.  I don't think there's a debate there.

I suspect the offense will pull out of it eventually.  But I do wonder, the alternate universe 1st halves from Baez and McKinstry, how do the 2nd halves get forecasted there?  That's a bit tricky, but maybe a bat acquisition pushes that pair into a SS platoon to minimize a market change to one defensive position rather than two.  And let's also remember Dingler is in his first full MLB season, so there's that bit of concern as well.

Carpenter's return should be considered a boost to the offense.  But we've seen the injuries, we understand he's a LHB vs RHP only per this organization, and teams will exploit that as best they can rather than other areas in the Tiger lineup.

There's chatter about Suarez for 3B.  I suppose Nailor's trade to Seattle just further reveals Arizona's hand there.  Nailor wouldn't have fit in Detroit with 1B/DH taken up.  Suarez, if you're alright with his defense, could have a spot on the Tiger roster.  But given he is perceived to be the best bat on the market and that he does come with a weak arrow in his quiver, I'm not sure he's a likely target.

Or, let's consider this.  Perhaps the Tigers still think Meadows and Vierling are due to perk up at the plate and that solves a few of the issues with the offense?  Is that too far out of the realm of possibility?

I've become less enamored with the mix-and-match daily routine of the team. We have a lot more mix and notsomuch match. Trey Sweeney has no business being here right now. Unfortunately, the same can be said for Parker Meadows and Matt Vierling.  I still like Zach as a complimentary piece, but the OF outside of Riley is an offensive blackhole. Carpenter coming back will certainly help, but for how long before he is hurt again?

Kwan from Cleveland would be fantastic. Suarez obviously as well. Certainly bullpen is a high priority, but I'm also not confident in this offense getting it done in the playoffs.

[theroundsquare]

I feel like the Tigers are on their way to being the answer to a really unfortunate sports trivia question 

Edited July 25 by theroundsquare
i don't type good

[casimir]

37 minutes ago, Shades of Deivi Cruz said:

I've become less enamored with the mix-and-match daily routine of the team. We have a lot more mix and notsomuch match. Trey Sweeney has no business being here right now. Unfortunately, the same can be said for Parker Meadows and Matt Vierling.  I still like Zach as a complimentary piece, but the OF outside of Riley is an offensive blackhole. Carpenter coming back will certainly help, but for how long before he is hurt again?

Kwan from Cleveland would be fantastic. Suarez obviously as well. Certainly bullpen is a high priority, but I'm also not confident in this offense getting it done in the playoffs.

Kwan at the top of the lineup vs RHPs would be fun.  *But he doesn't hit LHP.  And does he go to RF or does Greene go to RF?  I suppose Carpenter to RF and Green/Kwan platoon LF/DH.  Or does Kwan have the chops to patrol CF?

I agree with you about Sweeney.

As for the platoons, Torkelson at 1B, Torres at 2B, Greene at LF,....  If Meadows and Vierling could get themselves into a modicum of their 2024 season (I'll split the difference on Meadows's 2024 given the uberglove), that would help solidify 3B/CF with the understanding that Keith is also going to factor into 3B.  Meadows has a BABIP around .250 right now vs a league average around .300.  Vierling has a FB% of around 50% vs a career average and a league average of 25%.  So when I look at that, I think there's reason to believe both are unlucky and/or getting through bad starts to their seasons.

*-Edit to Kwan:  He has been competent vs LHPs in his career, so the 2025 line might be more flukey than I originally thought.

Edited July 25 by casimir

[Klondike]

Don't forget Perez. He's only 16-69 in last AB with no home runs. I asked for him to take over for Carps when he was slumping. I guess that water thing is just taking over.  It also shows that getting someone that was successful in the first half is no guarentee he'll do the same in the second. Best bet is to get good ballplayers to start with and let them play the whole season.

[kdog]

Baseball is so long that everyone usually finds their level. 

[SeattleMike]

4 hours ago, casimir said:

The bullpen need is obvious.  I don't think there's a debate there.

I suspect the offense will pull out of it eventually.  But I do wonder, the alternate universe 1st halves from Baez and McKinstry, how do the 2nd halves get forecasted there?  That's a bit tricky, but maybe a bat acquisition pushes that pair into a SS platoon to minimize a market change to one defensive position rather than two.  And let's also remember Dingler is in his first full MLB season, so there's that bit of concern as well.

Carpenter's return should be considered a boost to the offense.  But we've seen the injuries, we understand he's a LHB vs RHP only per this organization, and teams will exploit that as best they can rather than other areas in the Tiger lineup.

There's chatter about Suarez for 3B.  I suppose Nailor's trade to Seattle just further reveals Arizona's hand there.  Nailor wouldn't have fit in Detroit with 1B/DH taken up.  Suarez, if you're alright with his defense, could have a spot on the Tiger roster.  But given he is perceived to be the best bat on the market and that he does come with a weak arrow in his quiver, I'm not sure he's a likely target.

Or, let's consider this.  Perhaps the Tigers still think Meadows and Vierling are due to perk up at the plate and that solves a few of the issues with the offense?  Is that too far out of the realm of possibility?

Baez is already regressing. I think the Tigers expect both Meadows and Vierling to perk up, helping to overcome Baez's expected fall off. Who knows about Mckinstry. But if he regresses significantly the Tigers can adjust his playing time accordingly. As for the other breakout, Tork, I think he may have found his groove. Even during June, when his bat was quieter, he still looked ok. Just a bit unlucky.  Something rarely mentioned but last year his OPS+ after he returned to the Tigers was 125. Better than Greene's. 

[SeattleMike]

1 hour ago, Klondike said:

Don't forget Perez. He's only 16-69 in last AB with no home runs. I asked for him to take over for Carps when he was slumping. I guess that water thing is just taking over.  It also shows that getting someone that was successful in the first half is no guarentee he'll do the same in the second. Best bet is to get good ballplayers to start with and let them play the whole season.

I wonder if Perez could be used in a trade. Throwing in an established MLBer who's only 25 and showing a bit more power and better competency in the field might make the difference in a trade, especially to a franchise like the Pirates or Marlins. 

[casimir]

2 hours ago, SeattleMike said:

Baez is already regressing. I think the Tigers expect both Meadows and Vierling to perk up, helping to overcome Baez's expected fall off. Who knows about Mckinstry. But if he regresses significantly the Tigers can adjust his playing time accordingly. As for the other breakout, Tork, I think he may have found his groove. Even during June, when his bat was quieter, he still looked ok. Just a bit unlucky.  Something rarely mentioned but last year his OPS+ after he returned to the Tigers was 125. Better than Greene's. 

I think it’s a reasonable assumption going forward that Baez and McKinstry cool off, Vierling and Meadows heat up, and Torkleson has found himself.

I also think it’s reasonable assumption that Carpenter gives the offense a boost hen he returns.  I’m just not sure it’s reasonable to assume he’ll be healthy for the rest of the season, but that’s what they‘ll have to hope for.