THE STRATEGY THAT HAS NO NAME

by Holly Horning

Big news was made on Tuesday at the Detroit Economic Club even though not much was said.

The club hosted select members of the Detroit Tigers, including PoBO Scott Harris and A. J. Hinch.  In the past, both Mike and Chris Ilitch have attended.  Chris was absent for this one.

In planning an intriguing, scintillating series of interviews, intrepid and dogged broadcaster Matt Shepard was put in charge of the interviews.  C-Mo was his wingman.  Neither to be confused with the reporters who work for 60 Minutes.

Plenty of softballs right down the middle of the plate were lobbed.

But it was the “interview” with Scott Harris that caught the most attention.  That and the announcement that he wouldn’t be taking any questions.  He did leave immediately after he spoke. 

Ironic that we went from Al Avila who blurted out anything and everything that came to mind.  We’ve now got a notoriously tight-lipped PoBO who divulges nothing.

Careful what you wish for……

So what did Harris say?  That “progress” was being made.

He stated “We are focused on what is right in front of us, and we’re going to try to make incremental progress wherever we can.  When I think about the incremental progress that I want to make, it’s already happening. It’s already happening under the hood. I know we’re in a rough patch right now, but let’s not forget about the progress that we’ve already seen in a couple of months here.”

The “progress” to which he was referring was the 16-11 May record, the first winning month since September of 2021.  He then talked about the progress made in controlling the strike zone and the improved pitchers’ and batters’ walk rates.  Also how the quality of at-bats and plate discipline are “improving every night.”  And how the defense has gotten much better, producing 4 above-average defensive positions at 2B, SS, LF and CF.

Harris summarized with “That’s progress.  We can’t ignore that. What counts is winning games, of course, but those are the seeds of progress that lead to winning games.”

He finished with “There are going to be growing pains. There always are going to be growing pains, but these are the seeds of progress that we need to pay attention to.”

He did not discuss the significant offensive problems or the bad month of June.

What he is really stating is that the Tigers are taking baby steps to get better.  He’s putting the minutiae of the game front and center.  So much small stuff that it makes us think that making this team competitive is going to take a very long time at the rate the Tigers are going.

We all knew that Harris wasn’t going to magically rebuild this team in the 1^st year.  Or the 2^nd. For months now, I’ve labeled this year as a “reassessment” one.

But we also didn’t expect such small stuff to be made as the highlight of the year. 

If this is the focus for Harris’ first year, fans have to be thinking how long it will take until the franchise becomes competitive.  You’ve got serious offensive problems (and they certainly are!), no one yet who can be inked into the future starting rotation, multiple defensive holes to be filled, prospects to bring up and given experience, free agents to sign and at least a year for the entire roster to gel.

Realistically, we’re talking more than 3 years, folks.  And if we’re honest, probably longer than that.  But on the other hand, if fans are happy with simply winning the uncompetitive AL Central, then it could only be 3 years.

Instead of listening to what the new PoBO had to say, what this “interview” really was about is what he didn’t say.

We knew that Scott was coming in and had to do a reassessment of the entire organization before effectively taking control and making significant changes.  He said as much on Tuesday:  “In my job, I have to look under the hood. I have to look at the processes behind what we’re doing and the outcomes. Those are some real signs of progress that are ultimately going to lead to a brighter future here in Detroit.”

But that is all he talked about.  Reassessing this year.  There was nothing said about what the team plans on doing going forward. No timeline given.

No talk about bringing up prospects, effecting trades or signing free agents.  He’s refused to talk about anything other than the 2023 season.

Fans have been left in the dark for now.  We have no idea how the Tigers will jump forward in 2024.  No plan or strategy has been revealed.

Back in 2015, Dave Dombrowski called it a “reboot.”  Later, Al Avila gave the label “rebuild” to it.

Scott Harris?  There is no name.  And it’s on purpose.

Imagine him calling it a “rebuild”.  Again.

Not only would it stoke the fans’ ire about the past 7 years, but it would be a clear admission that the former GM and Front Office were complete disasters at their jobs.  That it would make the organization look completely inept and ownership (2 owners) not staying on top of things.

Putting anything but a positive label on what is going on would also be a tacit acknowledgement that this organization became a dumpster fire and was allowed to rot and become antiquated for years before changes were finally made.

It’s one thing for fans to know it.  It’s completely another story when you admit it publicly. Just imagine the headlines.

The plan by the Tigers is intentional.  No name describing the new stage will ever be offered to the masses.

Calling it another rebuild will send whatever remains of the fans heading to the exits.  We’ve endured more bad years than anyone should have to suffer that hearing these words again would be too much. The final straw.

And the Tigers and ownership know this.  Which is why Chris Ilitch was absent and Harris took no questions and made a beeline for the door as soon as he was finished.

They know fans are very unhappy which is why they are intentionally keeping things in very much of a grey area.  Controlling the message. Keeping the fans guessing.  Keeping them hoping.

They are taking it year by year, wishing the fans will, too.  The intent is to offer some vague hope and keep stringing them along.  Because if Harris were to say that there are more rebuilding years, or god forbid, a tear down year was needed because of what Harris found “under the hood”, fans would universally put their feet down and walk. 

And with their wallets, too.

And after all those tortuous years, good luck getting them back.

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