SATURDAY (AND SUNDAY) SURVEY

New PoBO Scott Harris has a reputation for working the waiver wire and picking up value.  He also has a track record of resuscitating pitchers who go on to have productive seasons.

Harris has said in his press conferences that the goal is to always keep improving the Tigers.  Reading between the lines, he is telling us that the roster will be churning over through the course of the year as he continues to strengthen the roster.

He has also stated that he intends to fill holes at C, 1B, 3B and the OF.  But so far, he has signed only 2 pitchers to MLB contracts.  They are Matthew Boyd and Michael Lorenzen.

There are still 7 weeks left to sign players before spring training starts.

But Harris has broomed 16 players and claimed 7 others off waivers.  He has traded for 2 and signed 13 more to contracts.  All but 2 of them are minor league contracts.

Other than Boyd and Lorenzen, only 2 of the new players have invitations to spring training.

The rest of these transactions are considered to be depth moves.  Most of the new players will be reporting to Toledo.

Here are the new additions:

VIA WAIVERS

2 catchers

1 2B

1 shortstop

1 OF

2 LHP

1 RHP

VIA FREE AGENT SIGNINGS

1 catcher

1  shortstop

1 RF

2 LHP (including Boyd)

5 RHP (including Lorenzen)

VIA TRADE

1 3B

1 OF

1 LHP

After reviewing the positions acquired, what is your first impression?  Is there a pattern you are seeing?  What does all of the acquisitions say about how this team was built under the old regime?  Does it say anything about the current roster as it stands now?

Which one of the following options stands out the most to you?

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What did you miss on our Twitter feed yesterday?

• Were you part of the TT Twitter discussion yesterday? Our site was trending and over 30 people tweeted their responses.

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• We tweet out breaking news before it’s published in the sports pages. The best news from the best sources.
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THE PAYROLL POLL

Part Three

Let’s conclude the 3-part series on payroll in baseball.

The first poll was focused on Mets owner Steve Cohen and his willingness to spend whatever it takes to win a ring.  Yesterday, we explored what each team was spending, especially those shelling out the most and the least.  We asked the question as to whether MLB should install salary caps.   If you missed that poll, you have today only to vote before that survey also ends.

THE PAYROLL POLL

Now let’s turn to the Detroit Tigers and their payroll.

For the first 13 years of owning the team, Mike Ilitch spent sparingly on the Tigers.  Upon hiring Dave Dombrowski back in 2022, the Tigers increased payroll significantly almost every year.  The team went from $54 mill to $212 mill during his tenure.  Most of that time, the Tigers ranked within the top 5 of team payrolls.  Often sitting at #2 or #3.

While that money fueled multiple division titles and October baseball, it failed the ultimate test – a World Series trophy.  The Tigers won only 1 game out of 2 WS appearances.

And despite attracting large attendance numbers, the Tigers operated in the red for the last 10 years of Dombrowski’s tenure.

Due mostly to contracts that increasingly got expensive, Opening Day payroll continued to climb for the Tigers in 2016 and 2017 while the team slid backwards in the standings.  Because of those 2 factors, the Tigers were pushed into a tear down that lasted 5 years and a rebuild that has yet to take off.  They now hold the record for the team with the longest playoff drought.

Last year was the first one since 2017-18 that the Tigers grew their payroll.  Chris Ilitch ranked 3^rd in spending the most money for the 2022 season but it was not spent well by his former GM, Al Avila.

The Tigers sit at #18 in payroll for the 2022 season with $136 mill.  They were $14 mill below the average MLB payroll.

The White Sox are over $200 mill.  The Twins are just slightly ahead of the Tigers by $13 mill.

The Tigers are significantly outspending the Royals and Indians.  It is way too soon to put a dollar amount on this year’s payroll.

Where should the Tigers be sitting in payroll for the near future?  How much do they need in order to become competitive?

Or is a solid organization more of a factor in how successful a team becomes?

How much is enough without putting the team’s future in jeopardy and risking another tear down?

Consider all of this – and more – when you think about how much this organization should invest.

Tell us by voting. 

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What did you miss on our Twitter feed yesterday?

• It is soooo slow in MLB now. (How slow is it?)

Why should you follow Totally Tigers https://twitter.com/totallytigersbb on Twitter?

• We tweet out breaking news before it’s published in the sports pages. The best news from the best sources.
• Want more than 1 Totally Tigers fix every day? How about throughout the day?

THE PAYROLL POLL

Part Two

Let’s continue the series of payroll polls we started yesterday.  The first poll was focused on Mets owner Steve Cohen and his willingness to spend whatever it takes to win a ring.  So far, it’s $384 mill and counting.  And no, it doesn’t include the salary for Carlos Correa.  Yet.

If you missed that poll, you can still vote today before the survey ends.

THE PAYROLL POLL

Now let’s turn to whether or not MLB should add a hard minimum and/or maximum payroll limits.  Currently, there are financial penalties for going over a payroll of $233 million.  However, some teams are avoiding having to pay the tax by restructuring contracts with players over a longer length of time in order to drive down the AAV (Average Annual Value) which is used in calculating the luxury tax.

Last year, 4 teams went over the luxury tax threshold.  Three additional teams spent over $200 mill but just under the luxury tax.

Seven other teams spent between the average MLB payroll ($151 mill) and under $200 mill.

Eight teams had payrolls just under baseball’s average and above $100 mill.

Six teams are listed with payrolls ranging from $50 mill to just under $100 mill.  And the final 2 teams had total salaries ranging from $44 mill to $48 mill.

All 14 teams with payrolls above the MLB average are located within major cities.   The remaining 16 teams with payrolls under the average all are considered secondary markets except for Washington, DC.  They are currently tearing down and rebuilding.

The 4 teams paying luxury tax are spending anywhere from 5 times as much or at least double that of one-third of MLB’s teams.  Overspending 10 other teams.

Through these statistics, you could say that the 30 franchises are divided into 5 different spending categories:

• Spending over the suggested soft cap

• Spending just under the cap but above MLB’s average payroll

• Spending under MLB’s average payroll but over $100 mill

• Spending under $100 mill

• Hardly spending at all

Should MLB impose some form of spending limits?  A maximum?  A minimum?  Both?

Tell us by voting.  But please remember to keep comments focused on the caps.  We’ll discuss what the Tigers should do in tomorrow’s blog.

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What did you miss on our Twitter feed yesterday?

• Why is Michael Fulmer still looking for a home?

Why should you follow Totally Tigers https://twitter.com/totallytigersbb on Twitter?

• We tweet out breaking news before it’s published in the sports pages. The best news from the best sources.
• Want more than 1 Totally Tigers fix every day? How about throughout the day?

THE PAYROLL POLL

Part One

While we wait for PoBO Scott Harris to sign an actual MLB player who will be part of the Tigers’ 2023 Opening Day roster, let’s turn our attention to the biggest headline grabber in baseball right now.

Payroll.

And it’s all because of Mets owner Steve Cohen.

We’re going to take a deep dive into the subject over the next couple of days.  Each day, we’ll cover each of the following topics:

• The radical changes being forced upon MLB teams because of Steve Cohen’s massive spending.

• Whether MLB should now consider putting actual minimum and maximum payroll limits on teams.

• Where should the Detroit Tigers be on the payroll spectrum?

Today, let’s start by tackling the issues created by the Mets this off-season.

Steve Cohen bought the team 2 years ago.  Since then, he’s been spending more on his roster than any other team. 

Especially this year. 

So far, it is estimated that the Mets 2023 payroll is app. $384 mill.  And that doesn’t include a potential contract with Carlos Correa which is still being addressed.

Cohen is expected to pay over $111 mill in luxury tax alone for the coming season.  That assessment is more than the entire payroll of one-third of MLB teams.

Cohen is baseball’s richest owner and he is admired by Mets fans for being serious about getting this team a ring.  However, there are those who aren’t thrilled that he is trying to buy a championship by vastly overspending every other team.

No other team comes close.  The amount of money being spent by Cohen is beyond the realm of what anyone thought a baseball owner would spend.  There are rumors that other team owners are very unhappy with him.

On the other hand, there are teams that are barely spending at all.

Is Cohen’s entrance into MLB a good thing?  Will it force other teams to step up and be competitive?

Or is this excessive?  Is he creating a situation where the Mets will grab all the top free agents and significantly impact how every team performs?  Will some teams simply not try to compete knowing they can’t match his wallet?

What do you think?

In today’s comments, please limit your thoughts to the Mets and MLB in general.  Please save your comments about payroll limits and the Tigers for Thursday’s and Friday’s polls.

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What did you miss on our Twitter feed yesterday?

• Which Tiger will be the team’s biggest selling point for attending games next year?

Why should you follow Totally Tigers https://twitter.com/totallytigersbb on Twitter?

• We tweet out breaking news before it’s published in the sports pages. The best news from the best sources.
• Want more than 1 Totally Tigers fix every day? How about throughout the day?

THE FANS HAVE SPOKEN

by Holly Horning

How many of you return a day or two later to check the final results of our weekly polls?

We really have an excellent cross-section of fans and historically, this group of readers almost always tend to be spot on about what they see happening with the Tigers.  I am hoping that those with offices at Comerica read what the fans are saying and consider it when they are making decisions.

As background, each poll is carefully constructed, offering the full spectrum of options as well as avoiding the possibility of leading readers to a specific answer.  And they are also tamper-proof.  Unlike the All-Star voting, it’s 1 reader, 1 vote.  The blog platform kicks out any additional votes submitted by a reader who has already voted once.

Let’s now take the time to review all of the major polls completed since mid-November.  What you may find most interesting is the often-seen difference between how the overall population of fans feel compared to the published reader comments.  Sometimes, the most vocal of fans are in the minority.  Some of you may be surprised at what you see.

What is also fun to see is how far apart – or how close – fans are in voting.  Of special note are a couple polls that were done in advance of moves being made.

As you peruse the questions, it may also be interesting to see how often you were in the majority – or in the minority.

Here are the questions, with the winner listed at the top.

What should the Tigers do about their infield?

Move players around. Fill holes where needed from outside.  57%

Keep players in same positions.  Fill 1B and 3B from outside.  43% 

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How excited are you about the Tigers’ off-season?

Very excited 54%

Maybe a little more interested  36%

Yawn  10%

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Should Miguel Cabrera stay with the Tigers as a coach after he retires?

Yes  58%

No  42%

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What type of free agent should the Tigers sign for the 2023 season?

A couple solid veterans with 1-2 year contracts.  85%

A more expensive higher-profile player requiring a 4-6 yr. contract.  15%

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Which reliever would you trade?

Gregory Soto  67%

Joe Jimenez  30%

Alex Lange  3%

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With 1 day to go, have your expectations of the Winter Meetings been met?

I have to take a wait and see approach.  40%

No, I was hoping to get a better handle of what the Tigers will do.  32%

Yes, I understand this is primarily an event to kick off future moves.  28%

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What do you think about this week’s trade (Joe Jimenez) with the Braves?

Solid move  52%

No complaints  43%

Not happy  5%

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Which roster building strategy do you prefer?

Mostly homegrown sustainable talent that keeps team competitive every year.  92%

Win now mode with expensive contracts but followed by tear down.  8%

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What is an appropriate amount of time to wait in order to gauge how effective this new Front Office will be?

Second half/end of 2023 season  75%

Early/first half of the season  14%

By Opening Day  8%

Before Spring Training  4%

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Which rule change will benefit the Tigers the most?

Defensive shift limits  78%

Pitch timer  16%

Bigger bases  6%

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Which is the one gift you would most like to receive?

Resurrection of top draft picks  45%

Watchable games  32%

New tv broadcast team 23%

What did you find most interesting about these polls?

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What did you miss on our Twitter feed yesterday?

• With the release of Harold and Willi Castro, you just knew this was going to happen.

Why should you follow Totally Tigers https://twitter.com/totallytigersbb on Twitter?

• We tweet out breaking news before it’s published in the sports pages. The best news from the best sources.
• Want more than 1 Totally Tigers fix every day? How about throughout the day?

OPEN MIKE

During this holiday time, readers have the chance to post their thoughts about the Tigers or baseball in general. Your observations, comments and questions. Extra credit goes to those who take the time to post instead of perusing all the online post-holiday sales.

For today only, a maximum of 6 sentences please.

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MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Happy Holidays (or Happy Holly Daze as we say around here) to all of our dear readers!

Whether it’s Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or another holiday you celebrate during the month of December, we send our very best wishes to all of you during this special time.

And every one of you who read TT‘s blogs are the gifts that keep on giving for us. It doesn’t matter if you comment regularly, sporadically or lurk silently in the background, TT loves you all and appreciates your loyalty. We look forward to adding new formats to this year’s mix in 2023.

Here’s hoping that your holidays are merry and bright. And during this time (and with huge apologies to Clement Clarke Moore), may we dream that:

(sic) In hopes that Scott Harris will soon would be there;
The fans were nestled all snug in their beds;
While visions of new MLB talent danced in their heads.

WHO IS THE WISEST?

Over this week, we identified the 3 Wise Men of the Detroit Tigers.

The first is Chris Ilitch:

THREE WISE MEN

His offering?  A new tv broadcast crew.

The second is Scott Harris:

THREE WISE MEN

His offering?  Watchable games this coming year.

And the third is Ryan Garko:

THREE WISE MEN

His offering?  The resurrection of top draft picks like Spencer Torkelson.

Out of these 3 presents, which is the one gift you want the most?

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What did you miss on our Twitter feed yesterday?

• Another former Tiger gets an MLB contract but it’s a demotion.

Why should you follow Totally Tigers https://twitter.com/totallytigersbb on Twitter?

• We tweet out breaking news before it’s published in the sports pages. The best news from the best sources.
• Want more than 1 Totally Tigers fix every day? How about throughout the day?

THREE WISE MEN

Part Three

by Holly Horning

On Tuesday, we started a 3-part series about the 3 Wise Men of the Detroit Tigers.  A riff on the historic story and the gifts they should give Tiger fans this season. 

The first wise man is Chris Ilitch.  If you didn’t read the blog, here it is:

THREE WISE MEN

The second wise man is Scott Harris.  Here is that blog:

THREE WISE MEN

Today, the third and final Wise Man is Ryan Garko, VP of Player Development.

I believe the best gift Garko can give fans is to resurrect the development of the Tigers’ top draft picks, especially Spencer Torkelson.

Since the tanking process began in earnest back in 2017, the Tigers have yet to claim that any of their top #1 or #2 draft picks have succeeded at expected levels in the majors. Even 5 years later for some of them.  And yet the purpose of tanking was to load the farm system.

But if you have an inferior player development program, that won’t happen.  Enter Garko.

After only 1 year on the job, multiple reports have the farm system program noticeably improving.  Garko broomed much of the minors, installed technology and added specialized coaches to the mix.  He also introduced a uniform system of coaching so that players are taught a specific way of playing from their first to last days in the minors before reaching Detroit.

And it is paying off.  However, it will take time for results to trickle down.

But it was often reported that Tigers prospects did not develop quickly or fully under the old system and were considered to not be developed enough in the necessary skills upon reaching Detroit.  This was fully evident in the struggles of 2018 #1 draft pick Casey Mize and 2020 #1 draft pick Spencer Torkelson.

Mize is out for the year recovering from surgery but the challenges for Tork continue.  He was brought up too early last year and struggled mightily at the plate.  Even after returning from a return trip to Toledo, he continued to battle at the plate.

The Tigers have said that they will be looking for a first baseman (potentially short-term) this off-season.  That indicates that they still are not convinced that Torkelson is ready to take over.

Of additional concern are his comments about his off-season priorities and his refusal to acknowledge that his swing needs changing. This points to a failure in the previous minor league corporate culture.  As a result, the Tigers took control of his winter plans and sent Adam Melhuse, Toledo’s hitting coach, to AZ to work with him.

If the Tigers are to finally leave this rebuild, they must recoup as many top draft picks as possible.  Otherwise, the tear down will have been for naught.

The best gift Garko can give to us is to resurrect Torkelson into the top player he was projected to be.

Is this the best present that Ryan can give to fans?  Or do you feel he could give a more worthy gift?

Let us know.  But it has to be a gift he is capable of giving.  And it has to be realistic.

Don’t see your comment? Comments are limited to a maximum of 3 sentences. Please make sure to check out the other rules for posting under the link at the top of the page in order for your comments to be published.

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What did you miss on our Twitter feed yesterday?

• Could the Giants be missing Scott Harris?
• One explanation as to why the Tigers haven’t signed any more free agents.

Why should you follow Totally Tigers https://twitter.com/totallytigersbb on Twitter?

• We tweet out breaking news before it’s published in the sports pages. The best news from the best sources.
• Want more than 1 Totally Tigers fix every day? How about throughout the day?

THREE WISE MEN

Part Two

by Holly Horning

Yesterday, we started a 3-part series about the 3 Wise Men of the Detroit Tigers.  A riff on the historic story and the gifts they should give Tiger fans this season. 

The first wise man is Chris Ilitch.  If you didn’t read the blog, here it is:

THREE WISE MEN

Today, Wise Man #2 is Scott Harris.

I believe the best gift Harris can give fans is to rebuild a roster that will create a watchable team.  Maybe not a team that plays .500 ball or better, but a watchable one. Unlike last year.

The 2022 season was the first in which I found the team created by Al Avila almost completely unwatchable.  For years, I have watched every game the Tigers played.  Granted, I have often skipped/fast-forwarded through an inning or two when I saw the writing on the wall but last year I found myself turning off the game completely.  And knowing that I wasn’t missing a single thing.

So what does it mean to have a team that is watchable?

Hitters not flailing at pitches several feet outside the strike zone.  Opposing pitchers not sitting down Tigers hitters with only 9 pitches thrown.  Outfielders not misplaying balls or SSs who led all of MLB in errors.

A team that has some fight in them and extends innings while putting the ball in play.

Of course, the Tigers lineup was loaded with players last year who had no plate discipline, hit as individuals (not as a team), struck out often, failed to work counts or strike zones and couldn’t generate walks.  Harris has now shed 16 of those players and has gradually been signing players who are more likely to put the ball in play and get on base.  And he’s got another 10 weeks to put more presents under that Tiger tree.

Is this the best gift that Scott Harris can give to fans? 

Let us know.  But if you think there is a better option, share that, too. But remember, it has to be a gift he is capable of giving.  And it has to be realistic.

Don’t see your comment? Comments are limited to a maximum of 3 sentences. Please make sure to check out the other rules for posting under the link at the top of the page in order for your comments to be published.

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What did you miss on our Twitter feed yesterday?

• Why Miguel Cabrera may be the last full-time DH for the team.
• Why are Comerica’s dimensions not going to be changed?

Why should you follow Totally Tigers https://twitter.com/totallytigersbb on Twitter?

• We tweet out breaking news before it’s published in the sports pages. The best news from the best sources.
• Want more than 1 Totally Tigers fix every day? How about throughout the day?