On Friday, I asked Tiger fans to come up with their list of the Tiger players who should be the “Mt. Rushmore” of the organization. Instead of the 4 faces, we ran with 5.
Thank you to everyone who contributed.
But before I reveal the answers, some relevant details.
There were a total of 18 players nominated. Most of them from decades ago. Only 2 from the modern era. Positional players (12) outnumbered the 6 pitchers nominated.
Now, as promised, here are my 5 nominees:
Miguel Cabrera
Ty Cobb
Hank Greenberg
Al Kaline
Justin Verlander
My rationale was based upon stats, milestones, significant achievements (MVP, Cy Young, no-hitters), awards and how each player matched up against the best in baseball during their eras. Two of them first ballot Hall of Famers. A third one who would have been if not for his wartime service. The last 2 guaranteed to be first ballot when their time comes. And I covered 4 eras of baseball in my selections.
Now, let’s see what the fans said in their voting as we build up to the top 5……..
1 VOTE
Bill Bruton
Mark Fidrych
Bill Freehan
2 VOTES
Willie Horton
George Kell
Lou Whitaker
LESS THAN 10 VOTES (from least to most votes)
Hal Newhouser
Jack Morris
Mickey Cochrane
Harry Heilmann
Justin Verlander
Mickey Lolich
JUST MISSED THE MOUNTAIN
Alan Trammell
“MT. RUSHMORE” (from least to most votes)
Charlie Gehringer
Miguel Cabrera
Hank Greenberg
Al Kaline
Ty Cobb
4 MAN (TRADITIONAL) MT. RUSHMORE
Miguel Cabrera
Hank Greenberg
Al Kaline
Ty Cobb
Of interest:
Ty Cobb beat Al Kaline by just 1 vote.
Four generations of Tigers are represented in the final list.
So Tiger fans, what do you think about the results?
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It didn’t take Jackson Jobe very long to hear what he is doing wrong on the mound.
MLB gave the players their latest threat today about how long they are willing to wait out the start of baseball.
Some players are hopeful to play baseball very soon. Just not in the US.
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Throughout the week, there are so many smaller stories hitting the media. They may be bite-size, but often they are just as important as the headline-grabbing news. Sometimes, even more.
And that’s what brings me to today. A way to discuss some of these stories. A way to bring them out in the open for discussion.
And that’s the plan for Mondays. Keeping track of these mighty little bits that hit my radar throughout the week and sharing them with you today because I know one or more will also resonate with you. So, let’s kick off this week’s musings…
We can keep tripping down the rabbit hole when it comes to player development within the Tigers system. Even after writing multiple blogs about it within the past couple weeks, the info continues to come out that puts a better and increasingly-defined perspective on what the Tigers were doing before changes to the Front Office were made several months ago.
For example, many analysts questioned the selection of Jackson Jobe. Despite all of his upside, many teams tend to stay away from high school pitchers because they have one of the highest risk factors. On the other hand, the Tigers tend to do better when drafting pitchers.
Recent analyses point out that Detroit has had the least success of any MLB team when it came to successful drafting beyond their first and second draft picks. Additionally, their international scouting arm hasn’t produced a single positive WAR player in 7 years. Eugenio Suarez was the last.
There are only 2 other players who appear to potentially beat this development jinx. One is Tarik Skubal who was a 9th round pick. The other is Ryan Kreidler, a 4th round selection.
Scott Pleis remains as the Director of Amateur Scouting (since 2010). It is still being argued whether the drafting process or player development system is at fault (or both) for the disappointing results in which prospects end up being promoted and succeeding at the MLB level.
The Tigers have broomed as well as moved some personnel around in the scouting area and have made some significant hires in player development. The biggest concern is how long will it take to see if these changes improve how they scout, draft and develop players.
We’re seeing a lot of Max Scherzer lately. But not anywhere near the mound.
In the boardroom.
He’s front and center for the MLBPA during the CBA negotiations and reports have him being quite vocal and involved in the negotiations.
Even before the last CBA expired, Max was often heard talking about the important issues that needed to be addressed between owners and players.
Mad Max has a business finance degree which he appears to be using in his work as one of the primary player reps. He also sits on MLBPA’s Executive Committee.
He has a reputation of helping craft 2 unique contracts during his career with the Nationals and now the Mets.
It’s not too hard to imagine that Scherzer may take this talents and develop a second career after what we assume will be his final year of pitching in 2024.
Will he become an agent? Or will the MLBPA bring him on board as a negotiator – or even as the head of the union?
Which one of these stories resonated the most with you?
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Quick! Here’s what you can do to send a message to MLB about the lack of a new CBA. But you have to do it today!
A national writer who specializes in sports and humor writes a column telling MLB to get its act together. You will laugh – and then you will cry.
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The Detroit Tigers have finally started to revamp their player development system. A new VP, new managers, new coaches and finally the addition of pitching and hitting specialists. Some personnel were even moved around and changed job positions.
But not every minor league team was completely overhauled. The expectation is that more personnel moves will be made in another year.
As the Tigers continue to stock their farm system, having the right people to coach and manage becomes even more important.
As the talent levels in the minors gets better, where should the team put their best managers and coaches? AA or AAA?
Today’s blog addresses this dilemma and allows readers to share their thoughts in more detail. And hopefully, to actively engage with others by responding to their posts and creating back-and-forth discussion threads. The more the merrier!
For this one blog only, you’ve got 6 sentences maxto share your thoughts. Of course, you can respond to as many other readers as you want.
TT will supply the ammunition. One thought-provoking question. Several options provided. One hard choice to be selected. One vote.
Ready?
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Before we get into today’s poll, a quick reminder to post your “Mt. Rushmore” of Tiger players to yesterday’s blog. Today is the last day and results will be published early next week. Here’s the link:
Recently, the students in a class at Monmouth University were given the task of developing an argument to support MLB’s recognition of Armando Galarraga’s perfect game. A game, as you may remember, that had its designation voided because of a blown call in the 9th inning with 2 outs.
After intensive research and study, the class came to the near-unanimous conclusion that Galarraga should be awarded perfect game status. They compiled a thick binder of arguments and evidence and sent it to Commissioner Rob Manfred.
Many within baseball feel that Armando should be retroactively awarded perfect game status. Even the umpire who made the call said he was wrong.
But others, like Jim Leyland (who went on the record about this case), are against changing the record books. This, despite the fact that records have been changed in the past – most notably the George Brett pine tar incident.
What should MLB do about Galarraga’s perfect game?
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What did you miss on our Twitter feed yesterday?(And why aren’t you following TT yet?)
MLB teams continue to cry “poor” yet the financials for one team show revenue of hundreds of millions of dollars and 9-figure profits.
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While baseball fans wait for owners and players to finalize a new CBA, MLB Radio has been presenting a fun program called the “Mt. Rushmore of Baseball.” Every day, they tackle 1-2 teams and select which 4 faces belong on Mt. Rushmore for each organization.
They haven’t gotten to the Tigers yet so why don’t we beat them to the punch?
But we’re going to do them one better. We’re going to list 5, not 4, players. Because…..
…it’s Five for Friday!
Here are the rules:
List your players in 1 column (1 player per line). Extra points if you alphabetize them (for tallying purposes).
Do not include comments in your post but you may respond to others.
Now, who to select?
It’s up to you. It can be players who have the stats. Players who embody the team spirit or have amazing stories and performance. Players you have connected with over the decades. Players from decades ago and/or recent years.
However, this shouldn’t simply be a list of your favorite players. This monument to the Tigers will be seen by everyone. It is representative of the team and its candidates will be judged against all the other 29 teams.
It should be a list of the players you believe are most deserving to represent the team.
In other words, think very carefully before adding Brandon Inge, Donnie Kelly Baby or other players with more sizzle than steak. Cult favorites not widely known by the baseball world need not apply.
We’re looking to put the 5 best faces on this mountaintop.
So as not to sway anyone, I am withholding my list in this blog but will reveal them next week when I share the winners of Mt. Rushmore+1.
Ready?
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What did you miss on our Twitter feed yesterday?(And why aren’t you following TT yet?)
Rob Manfred goes back on his word.
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It’s no secret that the Tigers have had a poor player development system for years.
Even fans knew it as we saw in their comments about how Dave Dombrowski, while depleting the farm system, ended up not trading any real talent other than Willy Adames.
In the social media threads, fans often asked when the Tigers last developed a talented top player from their farm system.
And then the tear down and tanking happened. The only real question to ask was why it took so long, as Detroit collected top prospects, to broom the old player development system.
VP Player Development Dave Littlefield, who was a disaster in every Front Office job he had, was demoted and turned into a scout. In any other organization, he would have been fired outright.
Replaced by Ryan Garko who comes from MLB’s best player development system – the Dodgers. He has only been with the team since the end of the 2021 season.
And he certainly has his work cut out for him. His job is not only to maximize player development but to also get it to the MLB level as quickly as possible in order to join Mize, Manning, Skubal, Torkelson and Greene.
Recently, the list for the Tigers’ Top 20 prospects came out. Included in each player description was a list of strengths and weaknesses. And for those who signed with the Tigers in 2020 or earlier, patterns emerged.
These concerns were oft-repeated: “hard time throwing strikes”,“too many strikeouts” and “development has not progressed as far as expected.”
All signs that instruction and coaching were lacking which is why Garko has added dozens of new faces to oversee and run programs in the minor leagues.
Almost 7 years after stating his goal of having a uniform training and development program, Al Avila finally has his Tigers Way.
Let’s now look at the Tigers Top 20 prospects. I’ve divided them down into the years they came on board and included their ages.
You can see how some of them have been ageing in the system. You’ll also notice that top players in the earlier years are few and far between. And it’s not because the rest were promoted, btw.
2016
Eli Alfonzo (free agent signing) (22)
Joey Wentz (24)
2018
Eric de la Rosa (25)
Parker Meadows (22)
2019
Austin Bergner (25)
Beau Brieske (24)
Riley Greene (21)
Ryan Kreidler (24)
Manuel Sequera (19)
2020
Dillon Dingler (23)
Wilmer Flores (undrafted free agent signing) (21)
Colt Keith (20)
Spencer Torkelson (22)
Gage Workman (22)
2021
Roberto Campos (19)
Jackson Jobe (19)
Izaac Pacheco (19)
Christian Santana (18)
Dylan Smith (22)
Ty Madden (22)
Now, for the other end of the analysis. Who dropped off the list but still remains in the Tigers’ farm system? The report lists them as players who are either regressing or unable to step up to the next level.
They are:
Abel Bastidas (17)
Daniel Cabrera (23)
Trei Cruz (23)
Alex Faedo (26)
Zack Hess (24)
Wenceel Perez (21)
One way we can interpret this is that the 6 who dropped off were replaced with 6 who just signed this past year. Some of them, like Jackson Jobe, who have yet to play in a single game – or throw a single pitch.
Yet they are now part of the Tigers Top 20 players. All based upon their previous reputation and not on their performance in the minors.
Another way to look at this is that the Tigers have a number of players in their top 20 who haven’t played yet. Players who have supplanted those already in the system. In other words, if we base this solely on minor league performance, it could be said that Detroit doesn’t have enough players to make up a list of 20 top performing players.
Do you also see how young some of the players are who have dropped off the list? Was it due to the natural weeding out process or was it due to the lost season from Covid? Was it due to poor coaching? A little bit of everything?
Concerned yet?
Another way to evaluate this list is positionally. Here’s how many top prospects the Tigers have at each position:
C – 2
1B – 1
2B – 0
3B – 3
SS – 4
OF – 4
RHP – 6
LHP – 1
Other than Spencer Torkelson (1B) and Riley Greene (OF), who will be next to get promoted to Detroit?
Where is that pipeline of prospects that every team needs in order to contend?
Dillon Dingler (C) is rumored to have a shot by the end of 2022. Will he have enough to take over as the #1 catcher or will the Tigers need to extend Tucker Barnhart?
Ryan Kreidler (SS) is thought to be on track but no one knows whether it will be 2022 or 2023. Meanwhile, the Tigers had to go out and sign Javier Baez to a multi-year deal.
There are no prospects to take over when Jonathan Schoop leaves in 2 years. And ironically, Schoop has barely played 2B because he’s been covering 1B.
Will the Tigers hang onto Jeimer Candelario when he becomes expensive or will the 2 prospects on the list be able to assume 3B?
What other observations can you make about the Top 20 prospects?
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What did you miss on our Twitter feed yesterday?(And why aren’t you following TT yet?)
Was Max Scherzer trying to hasten an end to the CBA negotiations by doing this?
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Today, another opportunity for readers to discuss the hottest topics in a forum where thoughtful dialog and a variety of opinions are welcomed.
Let’s create some running conversational threads. And for those of you still going into offices, here’s a question to take with you – or use via Zoom calls – as you talk to your co-workers.
Here is today’s hot topic.
The continued lockout by MLB owners could potentially cause several problems related to the development of players.
Both issues are tied to spring training.
If the Tigers’ time in Florida is shortened, players may not have enough opportunities to properly get conditioned. With the Covid-shortened year, we saw a rash of injuries throughout MLB that were linked to them not having enough time to get ready for the season.
The second issue concerns players on the 40-man roster, which includes prospects who hope to make the roster this year or in the near future. Due to lockout rules, they cannot use team facilities or be in contact with managers and coaches. They also cannot be allowed to join their minor league facility and train/play with them.
A delayed/shortened spring training will give them fewer opportunities to show their MLB manager what they are capable of doing for the team.
For your own analysis, here is the official 40-man roster for the Tigers:
The prospects on this roster are in limbo until a new CBA is signed. The inherent risk is that they may fall behind in their development.
As it regards the Tigers, which of these 2 scenarios would be worse for the development and future performance of the team?
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What did you miss on our Twitter feed yesterday?(And why aren’t you following TT yet?)
What jersey # is Spencer Torkelson wearing? Who else wore that # for the Tigers?
Did you wish this famous Tiger a very Happy Birthday?
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Over the weekend, Tiger fans were asked to name the top 5 players they will be watching most closely this coming season. Today, we’ve got the results – and the patterns seen.
First, the responses ranked – from those with the most votes to the fewest. I’ve divided it into categories with the first group receiving the largest chunk of votes cast, followed by the moderate recipients and then those with just a scattering of votes. The last group received just 1 vote each.
Akil Baddoo
Javier Baez
Tarik Skubal
Tucker Barnhart
Casey Mize
Matt Manning
Derek Hill
Eduardo Rodriquez
Michael Fulmer
Miguel Cabrera
Joe Jimenez
Eric Haase
Alex Lange
Jeimer Candelario
Willi Castro
Kyle Funkhouser
Jonathan Schoop
Gregory Soto
Harold Castro
Robbie Grossman
Victor Reyes
Jake Rogers
Spencer Turnbull
So what can we make out of the fans’ preferences? I’ve got a few observations based upon the patterns seen…….
“Mize, Manning and Skubal” appeared to be the fans’ mantra.
Akil Baddoo received the most votes and appears to be the most intriguing player on the team.
Newbies Baez and Barnhart also earned top interest.
Excluding Baddoo, Derek Hill garnered the most interest by far in the outfield.
Miguel Cabrera is no longer a “must see” player.
The bullpen overall shows up in a cluster of moderate interest.
Those receiving the least amount of interest are either on their last year (Grossman), recovering from injuries or have fuzzy futures with the team.
Fans have definitely moved on and turned their attention to the future of this team.
What other observations can you make?
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How many hits has the shift cost baseball in 2021? It’s in the thousands….
Which hitter was punished by the shift the most?
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On this holiday, let’s open up this blog for readers to share their comments and questions with others within this online community.
For this day only, a maximum of 6 sentences.
What’s on your mind? (Please remember to follow the posting rules found at the top of the page.)
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The Detroit Tigers are expected to promote Spencer Torkelson and Riley Greene this year. Potentially 1 or both may make the Opening Day roster.
Multiple scouts are reporting that Dillon Dingler is also close to his MLB debut and predict that he will also debut at some point later this summer.
Given these 2-3 promotions, combined with the seasoning of the young pitchers, what year do you believe the Tigers will turn into a viable competitive team? Let’s define this term as:
Finishing the year above .500.
Ending the year in either 1st or 2nd place
1 or more players ranked in the top 10 of at least 1 offensive/pitching category
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