QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, KUDOS & CONCERNS

By:  Holly Horning & Kurt Snyder

Saturday’s segment is a day to touch on as many issues as possible. With 90 (47-43) games behind us, readers have the opportunity to read and think about a number of different topics.

Kurt and Holly don’t share and it’s only for the readers’ benefit. It almost always translates into a wide array of thoughts. Suspect nothing different today.

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HOLLY

QUESTION

What does it say about the depth of the farm system when Upton’s temporary replacement is Tyler Collins? Collins is hitting .214 in Toledo and with Gose now demoted, the Tigers have several unknowns in the outfield along with JaCoby Jones who was just recently moved to CF and also struggling with the bat. Maybe now we know why he was moved to the outfield.

COMMENT

Sometimes the hardest position to be in is somewhere smack in the middle. The Tigers don’t have a good or bad record and while they are potentially in the race for a wild card, they are also a solid 6.5 games (pre-Royals) back of the Indians. Not just fans, but even the guys who are paid to analyze baseball aren’t sure exactly who the Tigers are or where they are headed.

CONCERN

If Al Avila does decide the Tigers are in the hunt, he will need to trade for a starting pitcher. It is decidedly a seller’s market and the price for such a proven and significant piece will be ….significant. Former GMs familiar with their situation said that a trade for said starting pitcher would have to “hurt” – meaning that the Tigers would have to consider giving up JD, Iggy, Maybin or Joe Jimenez in order to get a deal done.

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KURT

COMMENT

I continue to be more amazed by how far-reaching cancer has affected the world. One of the most moving moments at the All-Star Game was the demonstration of the Stand Up to Cancer campaign where seemingly everyone in attendance at the game, including the players, stood and held up their sign acknowledging the name of someone they knew effected by cancer. As they scanned the crowd, I saw no one without a sign raised until they reached … Miguel Cabrera; just an observation.

COMMENT

I realize that the Tigers had some legitimate All Stars to auction off to the highest bidder last season at the trade deadline, bagging them serious talent that will influence the future success of the franchise. But this is where the GM really earns his money. The challenge? How to unload high-priced players with years left on their contracts for talent in return; unfortunately, this is where the Tigers may see themselves at the end of the month.

CONCERN

Stephen Moya, despite his improvement at the plate, may not be worth the risk to continue to play him in the outfield. In fact, any improvement he has made at the plate is more than cancelled out by horrible defense. And it’s becoming a concern as he continues to contribute to one the worst, if not the worst, defensive outfields in the league; I smell trade bait, there is no room for him anyway.