OPEN MIKE!

February 27, 2021 / totallytigersblog / 13 Comments

Readers on deck to take the wheel! Here is another opportunity to comment on the Tiger topic of your choosing.

Today, we open up the comment parameters for you, so you can really get those juices flowing. Comments can be expanded to a maximum of 8 sentences. So pick a topic and let us hear from you! What’s on your minds?

What did you miss on the Totally Tigers Twitter feed yesterday?

– Is there a difference between AJ Hinch and Ron Gardenhire when it comes to how Miggy is being handled this spring?

– It’s been more than 6 months since Cabrera did this. What does it suggest?

– Cabrera has goals for this season – but how close will he come?

Get your Totally Tigers fix beyond this blog. Follow us on Twitter where we post and dissect additional new content every day, the Totally Tigers way! Simply enter “Totally Tigers” in the search box at twitter.com and click on “Follow.”

Totally Tigers loves your comments but please be aware of the rules for posting. Comments may be edited and responses are only published if they address today’s topic, are respectful and do not exceed the maximum number of 3-4 sentences. All rules may be found by clicking on the link at the top of the page.

THE SATURDAY SURVEY

February 26, 2021 / totallytigersblog / 4 Comments

The Saturday Survey offers the opportunity to weigh in on a relevant topic. So here is a poll to gauge the pulse of our passionate readers.

Today, we center the discussion on storylines for spring training and which ones have your attention.

As always, we welcome your comments, so please vote and then submit your reasons (4 sentences max!) for how you voted in the usual comment box. Don’t forget to come back later and view the results!

This Sunday, the Tigers play their very first spring training game. For the next 5 weeks, what one storyline will you be watching with the most interest?

What did you miss on the Totally Tigers Twitter feed yesterday?

– Tiger shortstop appears to have a step on the rest – actually it’s not a good thing.

– Miggy milestones could be in reach if only …

– A year without baseball. And the Tigers may benefit.

RAPID FIRE

February 25, 2021February 26, 2021 / totallytigersblog / 12 Comments

By: Holly Horning & Kurt Snyder

Spring training is officially on! So let’s start addressing it and share our initial observations. Two bloggers, 5 questions and only 2 sentences each to explain our answers.
As always, Holly and Kurt don’t share their answers in advance so let’s see how similar or different their responses are.

What are your first impressions about the Tigers’ spring training?

HOLLY

For the first time, the manager and coaches came prepared to hit the ground running and players showed up having completed homework assigned during the off-season. Combine that with reports of at least half a dozen showing up early and reporters remarking about the high energy and impressive hands-on work by the coaches and I’d say that this is a really positive first impression.

KURT

Since there haven’t been any games played, the attention all goes to the new manager and his messaging so far this spring. A.J. Hinch is one of the most refreshing field generals the Tigers have had in a long time and it seems the team is really soaking it in.

Do you expect any of the rookies we didn’t see last year make the roster this spring?

HOLLY

If any are going to make it, they are going to be pitchers, but then again, we now officially know (courtesy of the Mariners’ now-former President) that teams go to great lengths in order to delay the service time clock. Time will tell if the Tigers wish to avoid that increased scrutiny or if the molasses-like rebuild will once again tell them to delay as long as possible because the roster is still nowhere near a competitive level and they don’t want to waste the players’ best years.

KURT

There is a sizable gap between the rookies we saw last year and the next round of players still yet to present themselves as candidates for the big club. Right now, I don’t know who it would be in order to say yes, but any who do come up will be responses to injuries, not necessarily making the team from the get-go.

Spencer Torkelson is playing third base exclusively. Was moving him from first base to third a good idea?

HOLLY

Torkelson actually started out as a third baseman so it’s not as far-fetched as we originally thought, so I’d leave it to Hinch to determine whether this can be a successful transition. The Tigers are following the analytic evidence that finding a top quality 1Ber is much easier and more cost-efficient than a player for the hot corner so the rationale seems to be that they will fill the more difficult position first and then possibly trade for someone to man first base later.

KURT

It’s a tough call because I would think the Tigers would want him working at a position that will get him to the majors as quickly as possible. On the other hand, they must really respect his ability to play other positions and will insert him wherever when he seems ready offensively; after all it is his bat that will get him to the big club.

What is the biggest difference you’ve seen this spring training? And how do you read this difference?

HOLLY

Unlike last year, no one (save a couple starting pitchers) is yet penned into any position with every opening to be earned during this spring training. It’s as if the team is taking a dry-eraser to the entire roster or tearing the foundation down to the studs and rebuilding from the ground up.

It makes me really want to question what the Tigers have been doing these past 3 years if the analysis of each player is being completely redone to find the best fit. Was the purpose to simply exist under the “tool” Ron Gardenhire and disguise it as a “rebuild” and does the true rebuild only start this year now that A. J. Hinch is managing?

KURT

Player enthusiasm for a new season has been replaced by enthusiasm for the new leadership in the dugout. The players seem to love the new style, attention to detail and high level communication by the staff and I’m anxious to see how it translates on the field.

It speaks to a new culture that was communicated first to the media and then waterfalled down to the players. You would like to say it has the potential to make believers out of the team, but this is baseball and talent will eventually have to shine through over the course of 162 games.

What did you miss on the Totally Tigers Twitter feed yesterday?

– The Tigers have a lot of them, but what will they do with them?

– It’s hard to shake what could have been for the Tigers, even 7 years later.

SO YOU WANT TO BE THE MANAGER?

February 24, 2021February 25, 2021 / totallytigersblog / 4 Comments

Once again, readers get a chance to make their own decisions about the Tigers. So You Want to Be the Manager? offers you that opportunity.

The segment puts our readers to the test in determining how they would handle decisions as the skipper. The Tigers have plenty of pitchers to choose from when they make decisions about their rotation. Here is your next assignment.

(Comments may be extended for this segment, but please do not exceed 8 sentences in your response. )

There are several candidates for a 6-man Tiger rotation should they decide to start the regular season with one. Boyd, Turnbull and Fulmer seem to be on everyone’s list as locks to anchor the rotation. And of course, the wild cards are Skubal, Mize and Manning, who certainly could join the rotation at some point this season.

But there are more to consider. You are the manager and you need one of them (not listed above) to help in the bullpen. Which one would help in the pen more than as a starter?

What did you miss on the Totally Tigers Twitter feed yesterday?

– The rankings are out for MLB’s payrolls by team. Where do the Tigers rank in money spent?

– Most teams have cut payroll this year. How much did the Tigers cut?

Totally Tigers loves your comments! But please be aware that there are specific rules for posting and that comments may be edited in order to meet our specific requirements. Responses are only published if they address today’s topic, are respectful and do not exceed the maximum 3-4 sentence response length. Please become familiar with all of the rules at: https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/commentsrules/.

TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING

February 23, 2021 / totallytigersblog / 9 Comments

By: Holly Horning

The scandals within baseball over the last month all have one thing in common. Loyalty.

Loyalty that allows people to become blind to the bad behavior of others. Loyalty that refuses to punish those who break the law or trample on the rights of others.

Loyalty that ignores employees who do or say bad things and even stands by silently as those same employees get promoted despite their actions. Organizations like the Indians, Mets, Cubs – and now the Mariners – who take a vow of silence about long-standing problems all because they try to protect the guilty parties out of loyalty.

And the organization that leads the industry – MLB – has that same blind eye.

So naturally, the topic of loyalty has been front and center these days.

In better situations, loyalty can be a very good thing. It represents a principle of supporting someone – or an organization – through thick and thin. An unwavering commitment during the good times and bad.

It’s always good to know that someone always has your back. With exceptions, as we are currently seeing in MLB.

But there can be such a thing as too much loyalty. And that happens when there is a systemic organizational problem or serious issue that needs to be addressed – but won’t because of loyalty to the people or to the culture that allowed it to happen. Loyalty to the person or organization becomes a priority over making things better.

And that’s when you have a problem.

With the Tigers, there is also an issue of loyalty – but of a much different kind than the examples we are currently seeing in the baseball world.

While most MLB organizations have changed personnel more frequently and brought in outsiders to help their teams develop and grow, the Tigers have stayed relatively unchanged. A significant number of employees have stayed together for 25-30+ years. Some going all the way back to the Expos with Dave Dombrowski and then following the road to the Marlins. From there, some made a side trip to Pittsburgh but they all ended up in Detroit.

Even when Dave Dombrowski left Detroit, we read that one of the first acts by the team was to nail down all current Front Office employees so they wouldn’t leave.

Until A. J. Hinch came along, you’d be hard-pressed to find employees from other organizations. No Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox, Rays, Cardinals or other top teams. But then again, Hinch did play very briefly for Detroit and he is best friends with Scott Bream, who was certainly the catalyst for getting Hinch to come to the Tigers.

Al Avila took that same well-worn path from his hiring by Dave Dombrowski with the Marlins. Then, he was hired by Dave Littlefield to come to the Pirates. After Avila’s arrival in Detroit, he later hired Dave Littlefield to come join him. (Reunited and it feels soooo good…..sorry, I couldn’t resist adding this.)

Jim Leyland, of course, was with the Marlins and previously, Pittsburgh. He’s been responsible for hiring a number of his friends and keeping them employed with the Tigers for years. Most of his coaches, including Lloyd McClendon, who played and coached for him with the Pirates.

When JL moved to Detroit, he brought Lloyd with him. First as a bullpen coach, then as hitting coach and his acting manager (before the bench coach position was adopted). After McClendon was fired from Seattle, he returned to Detroit as the Mud Hens manager then back in Detroit the very next year as the hitting coach once again. There was no doubt that Lloyd was here to stay and that an opening in Detroit would be found for him before the next season.

After that, the bench coach job became his once again after he was moved out of his hitting role – due to the Tigers’ last place finishes in most offensive categories for several years running. And when Ron Gardenhire departed abruptly, Lloyd became the interim manager.

McClendon had 7, count ‘em, 7 jobs with the Tigers. Twelve years. Three different managers. And in MLB, the average lifespan of a coach is 3-4 years.

But Lloyd was not the only friend brought in by Leyland. Ron Gardenhire is one of JL’s best friends. In fact, years ago, Leyland told him that he wanted Gardy to eventually manage in Detroit. Gardy had been unemployed for 2+ years before Detroit “scooped” him up. You know the rest of the story……..

Then there’s Gene Lamont, Leyland’s BFF and minor league roomie going back 55 years. Both a Tigers and Pirates alum.

After his firing from the White Sox, Lamont returned to Pittsburgh and inherited the managerial job from Leyland the next year. After he was fired, his replacement was Lloyd McClendon.

Do you sense a pattern yet?

But it’s Lamont’s stint with the Houston Astros where this cozy little club expanded ever so slightly.

Gene became tight with Brad Ausmus.

So tight that when Jim Leyland decided to retire from managing, he was tasked with helping find his replacement. Lamont pushed for Leyland to recommend Ausmus for the job. And yes, you know the rest of this story, too.

And maybe this also answers why the Tigers made such a strange hiring of a rookie manager for a top contending team.

It was a smart move by Lamont because it essentially assured him of keeping his bench coach job. That’s what you get when you help someone get that managerial job.

I could go on and on about all those friendships, all those years together, etc. but you get the picture.

And mind you, bringing people with you to another organization is not a bad thing. It’s known talent and it can be smart move.

That is, if these people are in demand by other organizations and bring top skills to the table.

The problems with Detroit’s hirings are multiple. The majority of them had Tiger roots. Or they came from just a couple other teams like the Marlins and Pirates. Not exactly teams known for their winning ways.

Almost everyone the Tigers hired over the past 15 years or so weren’t poached from other teams. They were unemployed, recently fired or retired. That’s not the way you build a top team.

While the best organizations in MLB were stealing top management talent from the Rays, Cub and Dodgers, the Tigers were plucking friends off the unemployment line. Or convincing them to come out of retirement.

And when they were finished with Detroit, back they went. No other teams wanted to hire them. Neither Ron Gardenhire nor any of his trusted coaches have had any other job offers since leaving.

And as a result, all of these executives and coaches who came to Detroit and stayed are much more advanced in their years than those employed by the majority of other teams. We’ve got a solid number of GMs and Presidents of Baseball Operations in their 30’s and 40’s in baseball. The Tigers? Until this year, most of them in their mid-late 50’s and 60’s. Even one in his late 70’s.

And when the people running your organization are older, it means that you are among the last to keep updated in the game. Among the last to adopt analytics, or understand the importance of a solid bullpen, for example.

It’s not a dig or even ageism. The older one gets, the harder it is to learn and adopt new ideas and technology. Especially in a young man’s game. They become more set in their ways and less willing to entertain ideas that are not part of their toolbox.

When you have a group of old-school guys who have been together for literally decades, you end up with a group behind the times and very insular in their approach. It’s a group that all thinks alike and doesn’t entertain new ideas easily.

Theo Epstein has stressed the importance of fielding an organization of employees who all come from different places. Different ages, different backgrounds, different clubs because that’s how you see the big picture. That’s how you bounce ideas back and forth and don’t get stuck in the same rut.

Consider the rebuilding process. The Astros tore down their Front Office in preparation for a rebuild. They brought on the best and the brightest from all over baseball. Hiring away top talent.

It took them 4 years from start to finish. Four years……

And the Orioles, also rebuilding, started off by brooming their entire organization the very first year and hiring the top talent away from Houston.

The Tigers are in year #5, #6 or #7 depending upon when you thought the process began. And they still have a long way to go.

Other than their head of analytics, it’s the same group of people. And, unsurprisingly, it’s going at a snail’s pace. Many fans would actually say that they’ve yet to see any real improvement.

What are the chances they’ve adopted some or all of the cutting edge strategies and techniques that the top teams in the sport are using in order to get ahead?

Slim.

You see, too much loyalty creates a stagnant work environment. An insular work environment. A secure work environment.

When you are too loyal, you don’t see the problems of others. Or if you do, you’re not going to do anything about them.

Too much loyalty prevents employees from being accountable for their work even if they are doing a poor job. Just look at the coaches who had multiple years when their entire team was sitting at the bottom of offensive and pitching categories. In most other cities, they would have been long gone.

But in Detroit, they either stayed or were just moved into other coaching jobs.

And it’s the same deal within the Front Office. It doesn’t matter how many bad trades were made. Those involved still have their jobs.

The same goes in the broadcast booth. No matter how bad Kirk Gibson is behind the mike, the Tigers will never remove him. He’s part of that tight little group.

And so are a number of other employees including those who address the health, well-being and training of the players. Some of them were part of that core group in Miami. Don’t expect them to leave anytime soon.

But this is why so many are embracing the arrival of A. J. Hinch. He’s new blood. He offers hope.

He comes from a top team and considered to be a highly talented manager. And he brought in youthful, new-think guys. Guys who don’t have a Detroit resume. Guys who come from a top college baseball team, the Dodgers, White Sox and the Nationals.

Guys who were actively sought out by other teams trying to hire them away from top organizations.

Guys who are considered to be among the very best at what they do.

When was the last time we could say that about any personnel within Detroit’s organization?

Let’s hope that Hinch and his coaches are able to expand their influence, not just within the roster, but within the overall organization as well.

What did you miss on the Totally Tigers Twitter feed yesterday?

– The Tigers have pulled out all the stops to help this player.

– A former Tiger star turns down an offer from a former GM? Who and who?

– How fast? Satchel Paige described how fast. Now that’s fast!

QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, KUDOS AND CONCERNS

February 22, 2021 / totallytigersblog / 12 Comments

By: Kurt Snyder & Holly Horning

Spring training is officially here! And that means only one thing…… Time to return to Questions, Comments, Kudos and Concerns – a wrap up of the most important observations of the past week. Observations that will have a lingering impact upon the Tigers and MLB.

Our 2 bloggers have identified their choices and they only have 2 sentences for each of their picks. As always, they don’t share before publication so let’s see how different – or similar – their selections are.

QUESTION

KURT

It’s been quiet on the Christin Stewart front for the Tigers. I know it’s super early, but all the attention when it comes to projecting roster spots for outfielders does not include him, not even coming off the bench – so just wondering if he is indeed a dead-man-walking when it comes to making this team.

HOLLY

In his recent train wreck of a speech, Mariners President/CEO Kevin Mather confessed that they practiced service time manipulation with their top prospects, which the MLBPA claims is an industry-wide problem and one of the biggest issues surrounding the upcoming CBA. Are the Tigers also guilty and will we see everyone come up to Detroit this year who checks all the boxes of being ready?

COMMENT

KURT

It doesn’t matter what the topic is when listening to AJ Hinch talk about his team and his culture and his overall plan for spring training. He is so engaged during his sessions with the media and he just really seems to enjoy just talking baseball.

HOLLY

I cannot remember a single Tigers manager who has been as eloquent as A. J. Hinch when he is interviewed. The man is an excellent communicator with everyone, which studies show to result in improved leadership, performance and team cohesiveness.

KUDO

KURT

I tend to not want to make a big deal out of players arriving early for camp, but when it includes Miggy, you have to take notice. I think AJ Hinch knows how important it is to form a bond with Cabrera and entertaining his desire to play some first base I am sure had plenty to do with him arriving in Lakeland early this year.

HOLLY

Back in 2019, the Tigers refused to disclose how many players, if any, showed up early for spring training. This year, despite the additional Covid requirements, more than half a dozen showed up early, including Miggy, demonstrating that these players are excited and buying into the new management team.

CONCERN

KURT

AJ Hinch wants Jake Rogers to concentrate on his strength, which is his defense behind the plate, as it is very important that the team reaps the benefits of a fine defensive catcher. But all eyes will be on Jake when he gets to the plate this spring and if it is business as usual once again, the rumblings will begin about another young Tiger from the Verlander trade becoming a bust.

HOLLY

Payroll currently sits at $71.9 mill which is the lowest since 2005. The focus on the Tigers signing multiple MLB players to minor league contracts, instead of giving out Major League ones, points to a priority of spending as little as possible even though 2 huge contracts came off the books last year.

What did you miss on the Totally Tigers Twitter feed yesterday?

– The Tigers have determined what Spencer Torkelson’s position will be for the spring.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

February 20, 2021 / totallytigersblog / 8 Comments

It’s time again to hear from our readers! Today is the day to let us know what you’re thinking on a selected topic.

Sunday is the one day of the week where we open up the comment parameters for you so you can get those juices flowing.

Comments on THIS DAY ONLY can be expanded to a maximum of 8 sentences.

We can’t wait to get your thoughts on the following topic.

In considering Rick Porcello as a free agent, is his value enough to warrant a return to Detroit?

What did you miss on the Totally Tigers Twitter feed yesterday?

– Players are already buying into the new management. Guess who arrived to camp early?

– Happy Birthday to former Tiger Justin Verlander.

THE SATURDAY SURVEY

February 19, 2021 / totallytigersblog / 13 Comments

The Saturday Survey offers the opportunity to weigh in on a relevant topic. So here is a poll to gauge the pulse of our passionate readers.

Today, we center the discussion on the impact that the new manager and coaches will have on the team’s performance.

Over the past week, the 3 major baseball projection sites forecast the Tigers upcoming season performance using statistical analysis. They estimate that Detroit will lose anywhere from 89-105 games this year.

But should we solely place the responsibility on players? What about the manager and coaches? Do they make a difference? And if so, how much?

A. J. Hinch and his new coaches are receiving very positive reviews from both the local and national media for their “hit the ground running” style, attention to detail, communication and in-depth analyses with players well before the start of spring training. Even Miguel Cabrera, infamous for not returning calls in the off-season, has been talking to them and sending in videos of his workouts.

So what say you, Tiger fans? Will Hinch, Fetter, Lombard et al maximize the talent they are given? How much of a factor will they be in improving the team?

What did you miss on the Totally Tigers Twitter feed yesterday?

– Should the Tigers sign Rick Porcello? The survey wants to know.

– Limited media access to his coaches – according to AJ Hinch.

– The Tigers have lost 5 players to waivers this off-season? Good or bad?

RAPID FIRE

February 18, 2021February 19, 2021 / totallytigersblog / 13 Comments

By: Kurt Snyder & Holly Horning

Spring training is officially on! So let’s start addressing it and share our initial observations. Two bloggers, 5 questions and only 2 sentences each to explain our answers.

As always, Kurt and Holly don’t share their answers in advance so let’s see how similar or different their responses are.

What are your thoughts about the potential for the Tigers to use a 6-man rotation?

KURT

Given the innings restrictions that will be in place after 2020, I think it’s unavoidable but also an opportunity to get a look at more pitchers in the starting rotation. The Tigers have the luxury of several pitchers who are all candidates for the rotation, so it’s a competition of sorts to see who will fit permanently heading into the future.

HOLLY

A great idea, especially given the Tigers’ unique position with so many of their pitchers coming off surgery or just arriving in Detroit, not having pitched much at all last year and the record injuries seen in MLB – all due to the changes and shortened season created by the pandemic. They are expected to have at least half of their rotation comprised of rookies (at some point this season) and I’d rather have them take it slowly, pitch with more rest, pitch longer into the season and stay healthy.

Do you believe in AJ Hinch’s thoughts about using a closer in earlier innings?

KURT

Thank goodness the Tigers are finally coming to the party of fresh ideas when it comes to, well, anything. Sometimes you need to shut down a game-changing rally well before the late innings and if you need your closer to do it you do it.

HOLLY

It’s what all the other teams who have kept up with the trends and changes to the game are doing now and it’s good to finally see that modern thought has finally entered the Tigers’ organization. Use your closer – your best reliever – in a later inning where the risk, esp. scoring, is greatest in order to shut down the other side and kill momentum is what every top team does now.

What do you think of Hinch’s belief in varying relievers’ roles and number of innings pitched?

KURT

AJ Hinch has been consistent in his desire to have flexibility all through the roster and that includes his pitching staff. The 3-batter rule certainly drives more flexibility when it comes to having pitchers who can face more hitters and log more innings, so it’s hard to argue with the concept.

HOLLY

Hinch’s mantra is flexibility because it gives you more options and increases the probability of winning instead of sticking you into the same strategy hole with the same limited options. Not every reliever is built from the same cloth, both mentally and physically, so finding their strengths and abilities of each one could save and enhance the careers of pitchers like Buck Farmer and Daniel Norris.

In the last 3 full seasons, the Tigers lost 98, 98 and 114 games. The top 3 baseball analytic sites have them losing between 89-105 games this year. Will this team be better or worse in 2021?

KURT

I have been consistent on this topic and still stand behind the idea that the Tigers have upgraded big time at the big league manager and coaching positions. Just having Hinch and a well-chosen group of coaches will help this team win more than they have in the past couple of years and the free agent additions have improved the roster as well.

HOLLY

They’ll be better, maybe with losses around 90, simply because they don’t have enough talent and the rookies don’t have much, if any, experience. Ron Gardenhire’s coaching staff was hugely ineffective (even detrimental) and I’ve got to believe that AJ Hinch and his superb coaching staff are going to make the difference by getting players back on track and maximizing talent – and good for at least 10 more wins.

What is your most important takeaway so far as the team prepares to play?

KURT

Matthew Boyd had the most inspiring message when it comes to his first impression of his new manager. He is most impressed by Hinch as a communicator, and that’s really important for a new manager looking to set a standard and get everyone pulling in the same direction.

HOLLY

A. J. Hinch and every one of his coaches have called, visited, extensively emailed and/or sent detailed reports and homework to every player on the roster – moves that impressed Al Avila who stated that he has never seen such detailed work and effort in his job until now. Especially remarkable was the response by Miggy, infamous for ignoring all contact during the off-season, in actually taking their phone calls, sending them video of his own progress – and buying into the process.

What did you miss on the Totally Tigers Twitter feed yesterday?

– Tiger catcher Grayson Greiner channels Yogi Berra?

– Tiger coaches have done their homework … before spring training.

THERE’S A REASON FOR EVERYTHING

February 17, 2021 / totallytigersblog / 19 Comments

By: Holly Horning

In an interview the other day, Alex Avila disclosed that his father, Tigers’ GM, Al Avila, had broached the subject about him returning to Detroit. In the end though, Alex said he still wanted to pursue getting that ring, which is why he opted instead to sign with the Washington Nationals.

And you can’t blame him at all. He’s watched all of his former Tiger battery mates – Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Rick Porcello, Anibal Sanchez and David Price – get their coveted pieces of jewelry. All with other teams.

His poor dad just can’t get a break.

Speaking of which, if you read the national baseball reports, especially the articles on the Tigers, Al Avila is quite the topic of conversation in the social media forums attached to those articles. The fans come from varied backgrounds and not necessarily from the Michigan area nor even as Tiger fans. And because these reports are written by national, not local, journalists, those who comment on their articles are really fans of baseball and not just of the Tigers.

Their comments, therefore, are wider in scope, less biased and take into account what they also see going on with other teams. But there is an overall characteristic they all share.

Let’s put it this way. Very few of them are fans of the Tigers’ current GM.

In their comments, they all point to Avila’s extensive failed track record. The one exception being the trade that brought Jeimer Candelario to Detroit. And it’s pretty damning when MLB Radio and TV both voted on the best trade in baseball covering the last decade. Sending Justin Verlander, another player and $16 mill to the Houston Astros for Jake Rogers, Franklin Perez and Daz Cameron.

That “best” trade was attributed to Houston’s Front Office, not Detroit’s. More than one analyst described the move as an “absolute theft.”

Those fans who also comment in the national papers repeatedly point to the attempt to flip one-year free agents to other teams that failed due to those players getting injured. All 4 of them last year and at least one per year in previous seasons. Overall, a failed rate of successful flipping.

But the one statement I read all the time? Those fans who wonder why the Tigers have not hired a new GM. Comments such as “Every other team in MLB would have fired him (Avila) at least several years ago. Every.single.one.”

Which brings us to why? Why does Al Avila continue in his role?

Fans aren’t dumb. They see what is going on despite the best attempts of the 2 major Detroit dailies. And the comments are reaching a fever pitch.

Don’t say it’s because Al’s rebuilding and we shouldn’t expect to see anything yet. A process that has been going on now for 5-7 years with no tangible end in sight. On average, it takes a team 4 years (including the Astros) to rebuild to competitive status. The Tigers are on a pace to at least double that average timeline.

And this year, the newest projections by an MLB-related firm have Detroit losing 105 games this year. Partially due to their roster but also because other teams have done much more with theirs.

Shouldn’t we be able to see some measurable progress by now? Some hope? Something more than promises?

If you look to owner Chris Ilitch, you don’t see tangible support for his GM other than the required lip service offered twice a year.

So many are puzzled as to why Al was given a contract extension. The only GM extension in MLB that is secret with no known contract length. And a press conference that was announced with 1 hour notice late on a Friday afternoon during the Fourth of July weekend. This is what you do when you are embarrassed to make the announcement and know that it will generate significant anger from fans and become a topic on the sports shows.

Naturally, you’d want as few people to attend as possible, especially the national media who look at the Tigers without those local rose-colored glasses.

Even Mr. Ilitch didn’t attend. He made Al himself announce his own extension. Talk about awkward……

This doesn’t exactly scream support for your GM. It does however indicate a desire to stay as distanced as possible from the team and the people who run it.

So why does Chris Ilitch continue to endorse the same leadership of his baseball team despite the less-than-acceptable results so far?

Contrary to what some desperately want to believe, there is no concrete evidence that ownership authentically believes Avila and Co. are doing a good job. And Chris is not incompetent. He’s also not blind. He’s a very smart man and he knows exactly what he is doing.

He is getting the results he desires when you break it all down. There are factors that are influencing him that go beyond the capabilities of the GM and his Front Office.

Let’s identify the major ones. The ones that support the long-term secret contract extension of a GM with a poor track record.

FAMILY RELATIONSHIP

It’s been widely reported that Mr. I and Al were very close and that Mr. I treated him like a son. Even preferring Al over Dave Dombrowski. That relationship could extend to the entire family. In most families, you don’t fire your “brother.”

LOYALTY

The Tigers are loyal to a fault. They keep failed managers, coaches and other personnel well beyond their expiration date and even take them back after they’ve been fired by other teams. They’ve routinely hire their former pals who have been languishing on the employment lines for 2 or more years. Unless you utter racially-insensitive comments or criticize Tiger management, you can be assured of keeping your job for years to come, no matter the track record.

HIRING EXPENSES

It costs a lot to find, interview, hire and get new GMs up-to-speed. And after you have a new GM, he will have to hire his own new team. The owner ends up having to pay two sets of Front Office salaries – the more expensive newer personnel and that of the remaining contracts of the former office. It’s been reported that Avila is one of MLB’s least expensive GMs and any new GM would demand a much higher salary.

CURRENT EVENTS

The pandemic has left sports in a financial hole and the uncertainty of the future and return to normal have put many things on hold. Including moving forward with changes, like personnel.

Likewise, the upcoming CBA is widely expected to result in a shutdown of the game next year. Very few teams are going to make significant changes to their organizations until they know more about what will happen in the ever-increasing feud between owners and players.

THE GM’S ROLE

We don’t know Chris’ real priorities for the team. Is it a rebuild? Is it a return to doing “just enough”? Is it stripping down the team in order to maximize profits? It may be hard-to-impossible to get a talented GM or up-and-comer to accept a role in which he won’t be able to use his skills in planning for success.

A GM can only do as the owner tells him and can only work with the resources he is given. And taking a job where you are the caregiver, instead of a manager, doesn’t look very good on a resume when you want another GM job.

THE FALL GUY

All GMs know that one of their primary jobs is to protect the owner from any negative impressions or hits. All the problems fans and others notice are seen as a reflection upon the GM, not the head guy. And when things go south, it’s the GM who gets the blame. When salaries are dumped, when payroll is slashed, when favorites are traded and when performance goes in the toilet, fans always look to the fall guy, not the owner.

But when you remove that GM, the spotlight increasingly turns to ownership. And if the next GM he hires falls out of favor, then fans start to wonder if the owner is really the problem.

PRIORITIES

Is Ilitch’s priority to build a winning team, a passable team or to maximize profits? If we exclude the pandemic season, the Tigers started making a profit one year after Chris took over from his father and continued until last year’s shortened season without fans. You don’t get to be tied for MLB’s #1 richest owner unless there is a concerted effort to focus on the bottom line. People with that much money have a real talent for making it. And a real talent for saving it.

PREPARATION FOR SELLING

What a difference a year makes. After multiple pieces of evidence appeared, indicating that the Tigers were exploring a sale, their top candidate developed serious long-term medical problems and then the pandemic hit.

The sports world is in unchartered territory at the moment given all the unknowns when it comes to putting fans, if they are even willing to return, back in the stands. Unless the team, like the Mets recently, are about to go under, owners have hit the pause button on selling their teams until life returns to normal, fans are back and new owners can be guaranteed that revenue will return to normal.

Owners want to sell high so expect any thought of selling to be put on the back burner for at least 2 years. No one is going to sell a team until the expected revenue levels return. No one is going to buy a team until they know what to expect in revenue.

Selling a team is a long, labor-intensive process. Financials have to be put in order, rosters have to be trimmed and improved, attendance figures have to be ideal – along with many other factors. Generally a minimum of 2 years of prep, 1-2 more to find a buyer and then app. 8 months involved in the approval process by MLB.

Today, we’re probably looking at another 3-5 years. And as we’re currently seeing, anything can happen to disrupt the process or even change the direction.

So when your GM has a contract of unknown, possibly open-ended, length, it’s an attractive detail for a potential buyer and a convenience for the current owner. It means a new owner isn’t on the hook for a contract of a GM they don’t intend to keep. It may also mean that they won’t have to pay off other Front Office executives they intend on firing.

There were reports that Chris Ilitch didn’t want to fire Brad Ausmus because it would have meant paying the salaries of two managers at the same time. Logically, he could have applied a flexible contract extension with Al that would avoid having to pay 2 GMs. Only time will tell.

So which one of these 8 factors is the reason why Al Avila continues in his GM role? Truth is, it may be likely that all of them are playing a role.

And while the pandemic has created problems and financial loss for every team in MLB, it’s also served as a diversion to the Tigers’ rebuild. It’s given everyone more time. More time avoiding the hard questions and spotlight that will inevitably come unless significant changes are made.

And if things don’t improve enough, how much longer until hands are forced and changes are made?

As long as the Tigers continue to promise a return to “competiveness” (and fans buy into it), pull in enough attendees and continue to turn a profit, don’t expect personnel changes to be made. Or until a new owner is introduced.

What did you miss on the Totally Tigers Twitter feed yesterday?

– Hall of Famer Ernie Banks: “Spring Training means …”

– Yet another projection on the Tigers W/L record for 2021. Ouch.

– One perspective on Nomar Mazara and how you can struggle with what seems like perfection.

– Tigers must decide the best time to sign another pitcher. Is it now?

Totally Tigers

Unique Analysis–Timely Topics–Better Baseball

Month: February 2021

OPEN MIKE!

THE SATURDAY SURVEY

RAPID FIRE

SO YOU WANT TO BE THE MANAGER?

TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING

QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, KUDOS AND CONCERNS

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

THE SATURDAY SURVEY

RAPID FIRE

THERE’S A REASON FOR EVERYTHING

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