By: Holly Horning & Kurt Snyder
After 66 games (32-34), there are plenty of storylines playing out as we head into the heat of summer.
Saturday’s segment is a day to touch on as many issues as possible. Let’s see what Holly and Kurt have on their minds this week. They don’t share their Saturday topics and it’s only for the readers’ benefit. So, expect a wide array of thoughts.
HOLLY
QUESTION
Is it really the fault of the starting rotation that they are near the bottom of the AL in almost every major statistical category? They dropped Pelfrey and Sanchez, added Norris and now have a healthier Zimmermann which technically should make starting pitching better this year. Maybe, just maybe, the Tigers should be taking a longer look at the impact of the pitching coaches instead, especially given the comments by a number of pitchers who have successfully sought help elsewhere.
COMMENT
The Tigers had not one, but 2 chances to hire former Red Sox bench coach and current D’backs manager, Torey Lovullo as their manager. A man who has received rave reviews for a number of years now, a former Tiger and a guy who idolized Sparky Anderson and tries to implement the lessons he learned from his former manager. What does this say about the Tigers’ ability to judge talent and the preference to embrace mediocrity rather than have the courage to make the needed changes?
CONCERN
This week’s incident where KRod publicly threw his manager and pitching coach under the bus is about way more than a closer who has lost his stuff and has a hard time coming to grips with it. There has been a gradual increase in visible dissention amongst the players which is highly unusual for an organization that has historically kept its dirty laundry from being aired. This hints at some deeper issues within and will only grow if Ausmus remains a lame duck manager beyond the All-Star break.
KURT
CONCERN
Are we really doing this again? Miggy has declared he will continue to play through injuries to his back, groin, oblique and hip. I guess we can quit wondering what’s wrong with him, because the answer is just about everything; and the Tigers, well, will just continue to throw him out there because that’s what HE wants.
COMMENT
I wonder if KRod understands his mop-up roll now (as he calls it). After he finished another screw job for JV Thursday night, the crowd booed lustily. No one has any patience for someone who complains about how they are being treated and then answers the question themselves by stinking up the joint in the attempt to protect a lead; it’s safe to say KRod can be quiet now.
QUESTION
Justin Verlander’s fluid delivery has been described as one reason why he continues to be able to pitch effectively well into his 30’s. Will we ever be able to say that about Michael Fulmer’s ? His delivery is far from fluid and he strikes me as a pitcher we should be concerned about going forward – each time he throws he appears to put a tremendous strain on his arm, to the point where I wonder how long his career will actually be.
Totally Tigers 
I was at the game last night. Electric crowd, electric plays/web gems and lots of runs scored. I couldn’t help but wonder if JV was a little irratated because his team seemingly can’t give him enough run support thus resulting in no-decisions or losses. Of all Tigers who deserve a fresh start with a new team, it’s him.
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Re: Fulmer’s arm. How many times have we heard this about a pitcher? Max sound familiar? I suspect the number of correctly predicted failures is rather low. Of course, luck will have it that “they” are right this time.
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In regards to Miggy, I guess I have to wonder if the excitement of playing in the WBC led to a letdown when he returned to the Tigers. I watched the WBC games and the excitement in those games is seldom matched in the MLB regular season. That, and I believe he played harder and ran faster in the WBC than he has in years, and that led to body strains, aches and pains, etc.
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The WBC should have been banned long ago. The Torey Lovullo thing is spot on. Nothing bothers me more than seeing real managers that we could have had (i. e. Lovullo, Francona), then looking at Brad in the dugout as he runs K-Rod out to blow yet another save. It just boggles the mind.
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Holly, to your point, it is painfully obvious that the Tigers have shown incessantly poor judgment in their ability to spot talent. Also, it is infuriating to hear Cabrera state he has been playing hurt ALL year. His play has hurt this team, why is he in the lineup when he should be on the disabled list. Who is running this outfit?
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It looks like Miggy is in charge of Miggy. Brad and Dave Clark are but bit players in his saga.
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I attended Thurs nite and minus Miggy’s walk off, it was brutal viewing even for this baseball “nut.” The 4 hour pace, lack of sound managing by BA, and watching Miggy and VM drag themselves on and off the field, was NOT good publicity for selling the game to newbies. Unfortunately H&K, you both are correct, this squad as well as front office, is a train wreck only weeks away.
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