SATURDAY SURVEY

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Spencer Torkelson was promoted to Detroit  in 2022 and struggled for most of the year, even being sent back down to Toledo.  Many believed he was promoted much too early.

Last year, he hit .203/.285/.310/.604.  In 110 games, he had 8 HRs and 28 RBIs.  Defensively he also ranked 2nd from last with -8 DRS.

This year, he  is hitting .231/.306/.411/.717 and has 14 HRs and 52 RBIs so far.  He is currently sitting 3rd from last defensively at -5 DRS.

Tork is on pace for 24 HRs, 87 RBIs and 36 doubles for this season.  While he has had his first 2-HR game, he has also had periods of being inconsistent at the plate.  However, the stats that support ball-to-ball contact are considered to be in the top 10% of all MLB hitters. 

Defensively, he continues to struggle with the glove at what is considered the easiest position.

But Torkelson is only 23 years old and he spent just 1 year in the minors in a poor system that has now been broomed.  The Tigers made an ill-fated attempt to convert him into a 3Ber when he first arrived but changed course halfway through the season.  That certainly did not help his development and most certainly delayed it.

Between being rushed to the majors and being coached in a minor league system that proved to be inept, it is fair to consider that Spencer is trying to catch up.  He has shown improvement this year.

What are your thoughts about Torkelson now?

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FINAL RESULTS FROM A JULY TOTALLY TIGERS POLL:

 What should the Tigers spend on payroll for the 2024 season?

  • $150 – $175 mill  42%    
  • $125 – $150 mill  27%   
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  • $100 – $125 mill  11%   
  • $225+ million  3% 
  • $200 – $225 mill  3%    
  • $100 mill or less  3% 

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12 thoughts on “SATURDAY SURVEY”

  1. Tork, like Greene were brought up to soon but they were both killing the ball in AAA. Ideally the Tigers should have had a couple of vets batting in the middle of the order with Tork and Greene batting 6 & 7. But Avila brought them up and dumped the Tigers success/failure in their laps.

    Liked by 3 people

  2. I like how he keeps Baez’s throws from turning into ridiculous errors. I don’t understand why he’s considered a poor defensive first baseman. Many of Tork’s outs seem to be on screaming line drives and very hard hit ground balls so sooner or later they’re going to start to fall and then maybe he hits .300.

    Liked by 6 people

    • The same defensive stats we use to salute Vierling’s and McKinstry’s stats show that Tork is a bottom tier defender. Still, if he rakes he earns his keep like many a hit-first 1B before him. I consider him a work in progress whose current performance has more to do with ’23’s hitting coaches than Al Avila’s ’22 enthusiasm for granting him an unearned starting position.

      Liked by 4 people

  3. Inconsistency has been a problem for Tork, which is understandable considering the way he was brought up. We should stick with him at first base, and I think he’ll turn out to be one of the best.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. He appears to have the ability to become a decent 1B with acceptable offensive numbers – for a sub-.500 team. As the Tigers improve in the next couple of years, he will have to grow with them or be replaced. He is good enough for what they have now, can he advance with the team is the question.

    Liked by 3 people

    • He has the ability but a lot depends on his attitude. Time will tell if he can mature before he’s too old to play the game. To paraphrase George Bernard Shaw, “Youth is wasted on the young”.

      Liked by 3 people

  5. Now that he’s here he is improving offensively and defensively while it may not be as fast as some think. Leave him alone and let him continue to improve. He has proven power offensively and that’s what we need.

    Liked by 2 people

  6. This is on AA for rushing him to the show & the worthless development system or lack thereof that was in place at the time. Hopefully his hitting & defense continues to improve

    Liked by 2 people

  7. Why would we want to move on from Tork? He is on pace to be the first TigerI to hit 24 home runs in a season since Justin Upton 28, and Nick C 26 in 2017. I watch a lot of baseball games and I don’t buy into the defensive rankings.

    Liked by 3 people

  8. As disappointing as he has been, Torkelson is the best player drafted that year in ther top 5 or 10 picks.

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