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Chris Ilitch has continued to financially support the Tigers’ minor league players. How does this effect your view of him as the owner of the Tigers?
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His continued support of the organization’s minor league players is a plus. But his overall frugality has also loaded the major league roster with minor league talent. That’s why the Tigers are a AAAA team.
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Assume the Tigers have 120 players in their farm system and that each of them will be paid $25,000. That is a total of $3 Million. When Ilitch embarked on his (alleged) rebuild, he slashed payroll by about $100 Million per year when he dumped the contracts of numerous quality players, such as Verlander, JD Martinez, Kinsler, Castellanos, Shane Greene, Mike Fiers,, et al. The Tigers are 135 games BELOW .500 the last three seasons combined. Ilitch deserves no accolades for paying his own minor league employees .
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I’m no Chris Ilitch fan, but I think you’re being a little rough on the man. Let’s continue with your thoughts about the slashing of the Tigers’ payroll. Doesn’t it seem odd that Chris didn’t leap at the opportunity to save yet another $3 million a year? As an owner, he wouldn’t have been alone had he taken that route. I think what we’re seeing here is that Chris Ilitch (the shrewd businessman) is a very different person from Chris Ilitch (the humanitarian). It’s hard to fault someone who takes a lead to continue payroll for minor league employees who depend on that income when he was under no obligation to do so.
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I admire what Chris did here as owner; a benevolent step in an awful situation. Good for him and the organization. I don’t think there’s a correlation to how well he’s run the team for success on the field, unfortunately. I would hope a balance between humanity and competitiveness would be doable. But this move does make me think about the gathering of all those ex-managers and friends back into the Tiger family. Nice in an emotional way, but not effective toward success on the field.
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It does not make me think any different of him as an owner, but it makes me think more of him as a human.
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It’s like Miggy’s recent donation. I admire what he and Chris did because many individuals would not have done it regardless of their own wealth. The Illitch family is very loyal, but that does not mean Chris is driven to provide Detroit with a competitive baseball team.
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