2026 Exhibition Spring Games

[IdahoBert]

On today’s March 18 game against the Pirates on the road Mize is the starter and once again there’s no TV.

I guess afterthought teams like the Tigers and the Pirates just can’t afford to do TV broadcasts for spring training - but at least there’s radio on WXYT 1270 AM.

No lineups yet made available. I wonder if the Tigers will just field minor league position players or bring the real club to Bradenton… It’s a “night game“ beginning at 6:05 PM EDT.

[slothfacekilla]

 

 

[Tiger337]

I would guess the Tigers will make most of their final roster decisions this weekend before traveling west to Arizona to play the Rockies.  

[Tigermojo]

42 minutes ago, slothfacekilla said:

 

 

 

[RatkoVarda]

Julks sent to minor league camp despite great numbers

[Tiger337]

Does anyone know which invitees are still in camp?  McCosky said there were still 43 players still in MLB camp after today's moves.  I assume that includes 32 40-man roster guys, 3 60 day IL guys and  8 NRI.  It is hard to find a list of NRI still active though.  I've got 9.  

Edit: OK, Looking around a little more, I think I've got it down to 8: B. Smith, Vanasco, Nido, M.Anderson, McGonigle, Peck, Guenther, Slater 

Edited Wednesday at 11:56 PM by Tiger337

[IdahoBert]

FYI - Skubal's final Spring outing is Friday March 20 against Philadelphia in Clearwater, Florida at 1:05 PM EDT.

There will be a Phillies TV feed but no Tigers TV feed although the Tigers will have their own radio broadcast as usual on WXYT 1270.

Then on March 26 in San Diego at 4:10 PM EDT he will start against the Padres in the first real game of the year. Genuine radio and TV coverage for our team will then commence. 
 

[oblong]

Benetti doing NCAA games this weekend?  I know he's got Michigan and State today.  Wonder if htat played into the decision.  Were they on TV twice this spring? Seems low.

[chasfh]

I like reading this kind of thing when it involves my team.

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2026/03/19/detroit-tigers-austin-slater-opt-out-opening-day-roster/89164693007/

Slater, a .248 hitter in his 699-game MLB career, has redefined his approach at the plate since signing with the Tigers, thanks to the player plan given to him by the Tigers ahead of spring training.

The results in camp? More walks and fewer strikeouts with damage, all while continuing to showcase his understanding of the strike zone.

He remains focused on swing decisions.

"My swing felt really good last year, and I got away from being really stubborn in my approach and my plan," Slater said. "Pitch selection was not maybe as great as it's been in years past. It used to be a strength of mine, and I'm trying to hone that back in."

[IdahoBert]

2 hours ago, oblong said:

Benetti doing NCAA games this weekend?  I know he's got Michigan and State today.  Wonder if htat played into the decision.  Were they on TV twice this spring? Seems low.

I like that idea instead of the notion that the Tigers simply can’t afford to do TV broadcasts.

Also, it means that we’ll see Dan Dickerson on TV a lot during March Madness which will be a “good thing” as Martha Stewart would say…

[chasfh]

Kevin McGonigle is not on the Tigers' Spring Breakout Game roster, and if you're itching to see him make the team out of camp, that's a good sign.

[Sports_Freak]

Austin Slater's first opt out is this Saturday. If the Tigers cut him, he's a free agent. See ya later, Austin? Good luck?

[tiger2022]

Had Slater played in the 80s, he would have been named Pat Sheridan.

[Tiger337]

36 minutes ago, tiger2022 said:

Had Slater played in the 80s, he would have been named Pat Sheridan.

Slater is (or was) a better hitter, but Sheridan was a better defender.  Interestingly, they both had 5 career WAR. 

The mention of Sheridan's name makes me remember Kubek saying:" Pat Sheridan! Got a good arrrrrrrrrm. Can steal a base."  I am not sure why that sticks in my mind.   

[diaspora04]

3 hours ago, Tiger337 said:

Slater is (or was) a better hitter, but Sheridan was a better defender.  Interestingly, they both had 5 career WAR. 

The mention of Sheridan's name makes me remember Kubek saying:" Pat Sheridan! Got a good arrrrrrrrrm. Can steal a base."  I am not sure why that sticks in my mind.   

Sheridan meant business.  Slater less so.

[theroundsquare]

3 minutes ago, diaspora04 said:

Sheridan meant business.  Slater less so.

I mean, Sheridan was named after a tank.  Slater . . .  

[guy incognito]

12 hours ago, IdahoBert said:

I like that idea instead of the notion that the Tigers simply can’t afford to do TV broadcasts.

Also, it means that we’ll see Dan Dickerson on TV a lot during March Madness which will be a “good thing” as Martha Stewart would say…

But not so good for us radio-only folks, since it means we’ll get a lot of Gania (who’s not Shepard-level awful but is no Dan).

*edited to fix spelling. I know the Twins’ former shortstop isn’t our backup radio guy.

Edited yesterday at 01:28 AM by guy incognito

[monkeytargets39]

5 hours ago, theroundsquare said:

I mean, Sheridan was named after a tank.  Slater . . .  

 

 

[IdahoBert]

2 hours ago, guy incognito said:

But not so good for us radio-only folks, since it means we’ll get a lot of Gania (who’s not Shepard-level awful but is no Dan).

*edited to fix spelling. I know the Twins’ former shortstop isn’t our backup radio guy.

Yeah, I understand your point. I love listening to Dan and anything less than him is a letdown.

[chasfh]

17 hours ago, diaspora04 said:

Sheridan meant business.  Slater less so.

Put the right makeup on Sheridan and he could have passed for a member of the Baseball Furies.

[chasfh]

10 hours ago, IdahoBert said:

Yeah, I understand your point. I love listening to Dan and anything less than him is a letdown.

I seriously wonder whether Dan has a shot at the broadcasting wing of the Hall of Fame. He's not nearly as famous as most of the announcers there, but he is a broadcaster's broadcaster.

[Tiger337]

37 minutes ago, chasfh said:

I seriously wonder whether Dan has a shot at the broadcasting wing of the Hall of Fame. He's not nearly as famous as most of the announcers there, but he is a broadcaster's broadcaster.

Are there any famous radio broadcasters anymore?  There are some long-time broadcasters like Brennaman and Hamilton who gained their fame when radio was a more important medium.  Then there is Jon Miller whose fame was aided by his time on television. And every Yankee broadcaster is going to be famous even ****ty ones like Sterling.  But I think it's really hard for a radio broadcaster of the last 20 years or so to be famous.  

Dickerson is the best.

[oblong]

2 hours ago, chasfh said:

I seriously wonder whether Dan has a shot at the broadcasting wing of the Hall of Fame. He's not nearly as famous as most of the announcers there, but he is a broadcaster's broadcaster.

I think so.  If you do it for a long time I think you get in.  Are there any not in that have the longevity?  It's not a rhetorical question.  I ask it because it seems like some get in that I only know in passing.

 

[IdahoBert]

In today’s March 20 game against the Phillies, it’s a 4–4 tie. It’s like déjà vu all over again.

[IdahoBert]

At 7:30 PM EDT today, March 20,the Tigers and Pirates are playing their “futures” game against each other where the minor league prospects of each club face off. It’s on Peacock, but I’m not sure how you can access it from other sources like mlb.tv or whatever. All of these different entities carrying games is getting confusing for me.