By: Kurt Snyder & Holly Horning
It’s time to revisit the last week of baseball from Monday through Sunday. What stood out for our two bloggers? What do we need to keep our eyes on going forward?
Four observations apiece and just 2 sentences to identify each of them. As always, answers aren’t shared ahead of time so let’s see how similar – or how different – Kurt and Holly are in their responses.
QUESTION
KURT
How can Chris Ilitch quietly go about his business with all the national noise in the background chastising the Tiger organization for the way they have executed this rebuild? From a fan perspective, it’s good that the team is really catching hell which right now is the best way to be heard.
HOLLY
The national reports skewering the Tigers’ rebuild picked up speed this week with multiple new articles – so much so, that Al Avila completely disappeared (WITSEC?) so he wouldn’t have to address the growing frenzy. At what point will Chris Ilitch step in and address the growing controversy – whether in support of Al or making changes to the Front Office?
COMMENT
KURT
The Tigers have announced that they will shift the retirement of Lou Whitaker’s #1 to 2022. On the surface it makes sense to have a large crowd for the event, but knowing our owner, he won’t want to miss the opportunity for a sizable gate and not waste the event on a small crowd this year.
HOLLY
Al Avila did finally come out of hiding this weekend and did a short softball interview on tv with the Tigers’ broadcasters. However, the subject of the rebuilding was completely avoided (what a surprise) and instead, new tales of great hope about the prospects at Erie, esp. Riley Greene, were extolled.
KUDO
KURT
Over the last week, we have really seen Robbie Grossman settle in as the catalyst for this team, and maybe, just maybe, the leader. He has given Hinch everything he was looking for offensively as the leadoff hitter and he serves him well as the spark plug every team could use in the lineup.
HOLLY
So far, at least 6 stories questioning the Tigers’ rebuild were published nationally, serving to put the heat on Detroit’s owner and GM. They are doing what Detroit’s local media should be focused on – their job in reporting the real truth and not covering for incompetence in order that fans may clearly see what is really going on.
CONCERN
KURT
The Tigers are a step slow with how they are turning double plays which is keeping innings alive and costing them runs. It would be in their best interests to play Jonathan Schoop at 2B more frequently in order to take advantage of the experience and the gun he has to complete plays.
HOLLY
Among several of the national articles written, numerous (and anonymous) Front Office executives from other teams all say that the Tigers’ player development system is hugely outdated and the main reason why prospects are not progressing as they should. The current system simply cannot have another day in attempting to prepare these young men for MLB and must be broomed in favor of the better minds who must try to save the top draft picks before it is too late.
What did you miss on the Totally Tigers Twitter feed yesterday?
– Updated Tiger stats and how they currently rank against the rest of MLB.
– The differences between A. J. Hinch and Brad Ausmus when it comes to in-game strategy.
– Where the Tigers rank in stolen bases.
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I wish the coaching staff would determine which player is best at what position and leave them there.
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jimdme262 – I couldn’t agree more! The game was too late for me to see last night, but a quick check of the box score saw 4th string catcher in the outfied, 3rd string catcher catching and starting catcher DHing. I don’t know if someone is hurt or what but that can’t send too good of a message to the other outfielders.
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I stayed up and watched the whole game. I must say a very well played game. Grossman had a rare off game, but Schoop played a sparkling 2nd base and the 4th string catcher provided the punch with 2 homers. Mize looked like an ace last night. The game was only a little over 2 and a half hours long.
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#1 was first day back from IL. I guess they wanted to ease him in. #2 is in IL. He normally catches for Mize. #3 has experience catching Mize. #4 is also a LF in the past and with the call for flexibility, it may help him stay. If he hits like last night on a regular basis, he can play wherever he wants 😉
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It was nice to see some honest evaluation of the Tigers organization from the national baseball writers the last few days. The articles echoed so much of the sentiment expressed here on a daily basis. Avila has been in charge almost 6 years and the Tigers are woefully behind in their progress toward respectability. The product on the field doesn’t lie, regardless of relentless gaslighting by the organization and local media.
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Comment: I have defended and enjoyed Hinch’s enthusiasm for monkeying with the lineup. The three catcher approach last night was over the top but paid off offensively with Hasse crushing two home runs. On the other hand it has degraded the fielding. He has been wise to ink in Candelario at 3B and I hope Schoop is now the day to day 2B.
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As for national media voices being ignored by the organization, local media being in the pocket of the organization, and to the observations of poor player development compared to other clubs. I wonder if TT could reach out to former local media like Mario Impemba, or Rod Allen (not both at same time though – ha!) to get their take on the critique? Could provide a great perspective and very revealing if they are honest.
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One of the most telling lapses in “journalism” is the failure to consult professionals outside of the Tiger organization when writing about “prospects.” It is so lazy and unprofessional. Dave Littlefield must pick up the tab each time he feeds them a story!
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We seem prone to put all local media in the same basket. It makes me wonder if everyone is really reading or simply assuming. One of the major dailies gives honest evaluations. One writer first criticized the woeful double play attempts and then we see Schoop back at second and turning DP’s to accent Casey’s stellar start.
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We were so close to not living the current nightmare. Avila interviewed for GM jobs a number of times (2003: Mariners, 2005: D’backs) and was denied permission to interview with the Mariners again in 2008, the Mets in 2010 and the Dodgers in 2011. To quote Vin Scully quoting John Greenleaf Whittier “For all sad words of tongue and pen / The saddest are these: ‘It might have been. ‘”
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As more fans return to the stands the poor quality of the Tiger team should gain more widespread attention. They won’t attract a crowd at home or on the road and that’s not good for business. I wonder what opposing teams think when the Tigers are coming to town?
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As of this morning, the Tigers have the 3rd worst record in baseball, ahead of the Twins and Rockies. I’m sure the takeaway for CI and AA (and the local press) is this can be spun to show progress is being made and they are on track with the ‘rebuild’.
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Everything that can be said about the Tigers has been said. Many times over. There is a growing list of fans that will simply not care any more. Fan Apathy is death to a Sports franchise.
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