By: Kurt Snyder & Holly Horning
What was the biggest story of the week? (Last Monday through Sunday, that is.)
Was it something singular, a pattern seen or an overall theme? Or was it a story that will carry over throughout the year?
Our two bloggers will each give their takes from what stood out for them over the past week.
As always, we want to hear what you’re thinking. So, give us your big story in no more than 4 sentences.
KURT
The Tigers’ Front Office changes send such a great message to fans hoping that this rebuild would someday become legitimate. Surely, it has taken a long time, but the hiring of A.J. Hinch has been huge in advancing things towards a better course.
But can we give all the credit to A.J. Hinch? Well, if you wanted to find out what a franchise looks like when it is ready to contend, don’t you have to ask your manager who knew the ins and outs of the Astros organization when it was ready to take off?
Wouldn’t he know what was in place at the top of the house when it came to player development, analytics and the technologies needed to compete?
Yes, the Tigers were beginning to head in a more progressive direction prior to the arrival of Hinch, but they were not to the level required to compete, much less contend.
The subtractions and promotions that took place in the Tiger Front Office this week were the kind of moves necessary to move forward. And don’t be fooled, it’s no coincidence that they took place not even a year after the arrival of Hinch, who has to be influencing these moves.
Where the Tigers head now for their next VP of Player Development is yet to be determined. But as part of their search, the organization will definitely bend the ear of their manager.
HOLLY
The Tigers did something that many fans believed would never happen under the current ownership – making changes to some of the top people in the Front Office.
Historically, this Front Office was one of the oldest and tightest cliques in baseball, many executives dating all the way back to the late 1980’s in Montreal, moving to the Marlins and then seamlessly transferring to Detroit (with a side trip to Pittsburgh). People known for having each other’s back even when the once-accomplished track records gave way to under-performance.
Now we’re seeing the old boys’ network dissolving and being replaced by much younger men with no ties to these former organizations and all possessing impressive track records. It’s a great first step and shows that the Tigers are now able and willing to make big changes.
A. J. Hinch certainly deserves some of the credit for influencing (not making) the decisions but he shouldn’t yet be seen as someone who wields as much power as any of the top executives in the Front Office. After all, he is the manager and has only been with the team for less than a year. But he is a force to be reckoned with – a former director of player development and possessing a solid track record of success. He is methodical and does his homework so the Tigers are listening to what he has to say and using his measuring stick of what constitutes a winning formula in making their decisions.
The fact that both ownership and the GM signed off on these changes bodes well for the future and fans should no longer be as pessimistic as they were given the evidence of the letting go of old ways and the statement that the team is now looking for a new VP of Player Development from outside of the organization.
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It has gone under the radar, but the Tigers are expanding the reach and duties of Georgia Giblin, who presently is their Director of Performance Science. She is a trendsetter and has worked with Chris Fetter in similar capacities while at the University of Michigan. These are positive steps for the Organization as a whole.. Expect more changes as well as the ole guard sees their influence wane..
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Holly the word “outside” and Kurt the word “search” are two of the sweetest words a beleaguered Tiger fan can here. In regards to the FO moves, can you tell me who hired Menzin and Sartori? And now we’re cronie free and are actually going to search outside the organization for the key post of Player Development. I think from day one AJ saw the need and stayed in close contact with the Minor teams and has influenced the changes needed going forward.
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Hi, Naldo – Menzin was a Dombrowski hire. As for Sartori, he was probably an Avila hire, although I’m seeing multiple conflicting reports that are based upon a realistic hiring timeline. It looks like he’s an Avila hire, however, he was brought on board less than 2 months after Al became the GM and conceivably, could have caught the attention of the Tigers before Al took over. In general, when a new GM takes over, their priority isn’t the hiring of (at that time) secondary personnel at first (esp. at the end of a season) and the hiring process is generally not a short one and usually takes a month or more. What is somewhat interesting is that Menzin’s path to the Tigers and his relationship with Dave is very detailed, however, there is no storyline or credit given about how Sartori came to the team. Thanks for keeping the conversation going! – Holly
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Not quite crony-free. Smokey is still lurking around the corner.
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Hi, DD2 – Give it time. Rome wasn’t built in a day. 🙂 JL has been put in Erie for the time being. – Holly
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True Mr. Duck. But he lost the first of many seats in this year’s 2020 draft war room. I think it’s time that he checks all his chairs before he sits down, lol.
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A positive development amd big story for sure, but for me… the cuts where not deep enough. Tell me I’m being unrealistic. That’s fine. It will never change my mind that the GM needs to go. Not up, not over, out. He has proven almost nothing to me (save for an eye for reclamation) in his time in that seat. The only good thing he’s done fell in his lap. It’s my opinion.
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The story for me was realizing Jeimer Candelario reads this blog. In Kurt’s 20 thoughts this week he gave Jeimer a compliment but I commented that I needed to see more production from a guy with the 3rd most ABs on the team. Well, he’s put up 2 HRs 7 RBI and .370 BA his last 7 games. Good work Jeimer.
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We’re not done. There are 3 more that need to go, but only 2 who can be gotten rid of. Al Avila has been horrible. Jim Leland has been a very bad influence on this team beginning with Al Avila and Chris Ilitch. Chris Ilitch is a total failure as an owner but he has no plans to leave. That leaves 2 who have to go.
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It’s apparent the the old school cronies are being moved out of the way, and younger more progressive personnel are being moved into place. That’s a huge positive development for the Tigers organization. At some point maybe Holly and Kurt would care to share with their readers who and what they think is the real motivation behind these moves.
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Totally agree with Tommie, while it was encouraging to see the front office moves happen but until AA (with his mystery contract that who knows when it expires) is gone and JLand CI sells the team to someone who cares about baseball and not about being the King of a parking lot empire is gone it’s not a done deal
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