The Detroit Tigers have just played their first series of the 2024 season. In honor of the new year, we’re turning the tables on our regular Monday blog. Today, we’re putting the readers in charge. Here is your assignment:
With what you’ve watched, listened to or read, what is the singular event or moment from this series that caught your attention the most? It can be something really positive, a head-shaker or a unique moment. Tell us about it in 3 sentences or less. Remember, you need to describe a specific event, not a general observation.
And if you’re a reader who prefers not to comment, we ask that you click the “like” button of a comment with which you agree.
Ready? Let’s kick this new season off with lots of discussions!
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 pagein order for your comments to be published.
Happy Easter to those of you who celebrate this day!
On this long holiday weekend, we welcome readers to share their thoughts about the Tigers or baseball in general. Your observations, comments and questions. Extra credit to those who create topics or questions that generate thoughtful dialog threads.
For this day only, a maximum of 6 sentences please.
Don’t see your comment? Comments are limited to a maximum of 6 sentences. Please make sure to check out the other rules for posting under the link at the top of the pagein order for your comments to be published.
Now that we’ve had a chance to see the Tigers in spring training (20 wins/9 losses and 2nd place finish), as well as watch the first game of the regular season, what are your first impressions?
Is this a team that appears to have more talent than last year’s? And if so, how much more?
Is the team playing better baseball?
Have the young players visibly matured?
The many groups that offer their season predictions have opined about how well the Tigers will do this year.
PECOTA actually believes the Tigers will lose 3 more games than they did last year when they finished 78-84 and in second place. They forecast 75-87 for this year.
Others predict a similar record to that of 2023 while some say 81-81. A few are forecasting an above .500 and around 83-79.
Keep in mind that the team has almost an entirely new starting rotation. Only Tarik Skubal and Reese Olson (half a season) remain from last year. Overall, the Tigers have added 9 new players to the roster and they enter 2024 with the young players coming in and having a little more experience under their belts.
So what do you believe at this point in time will be Detroit’s final record? How many wins will they get?
Make sure to come back and check the final results!
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 pagein order for your comments to be published.
FINAL RESULTS FROM A MARCH TOTALLY TIGERS POLL:
What should the Tigers do about Javy Baez’s contract if he can no longer perform at the plate?
Cut him and pay him the full amount of his contract. 53%
Negotiate a retirement package that would restructure his contract. 47%
Yesterday was Opening Day in Chicago for the Detroit Tigers. Tarik Skubal took the mound.
The final score was 1-0.
On this day, we ask readers to offer their thoughts about this first game. Extra points to those of you who respond to others and create some discussion threads.
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 pagein order for your comments to be published.
What did you miss on our Twitter feed yesterday?
What the Tigers need to do to keep Javy Baez motivated.
It didn’t take long for the defensive concerns of this Tiger to show up.
Remember all those times when Scott Harris said that the young kids would play and not be blocked?
Well, it seems there are exceptions.
Javier Baez was named the starting shortstop for the 2024 season. $98 mill reasons why.
Ryan Kreidler was sent down to Toledo. And he made it very clear that he was upset. “To be honest, I think I should’ve made the team.”
He.was.right.
The explanation offered to him was pinned on how the roster was constructed, as I predicted would happen in last week’s 2-part blog. Often, it’s not the best people who made the roster as certain conditions may favor someone else. It’s not about a single puzzle piece. It’s about how that piece fits into the rest of the puzzle.
Defensively, Kreidler played better than Baez this spring training. In his last season of playing, he was worth a +4 DRS.
Offensively, there’s just no contest. Their stats:
Baez: .086/.105/.086/.191 ( 7 for 49, almost 50% SO rate)
Kreidler: .321/.472/.536/1.008 (high walk rate, leader in SB)
Ryan was a 4th round draft pick but had only partial seasons in both 2022 and 2023 due to hand surgery and then core muscle surgery. Keeping him healthy going forward has to be a concern for the Tigers.
And those 2 incomplete years served to push him under the radar to some extent. Scott Harris and A. J. Hinch haven’t had enough time to really watch him over the past 2 years, especially when the PoBO came on board while he was on the IL.
But here’s the deal. The only things keeping Javier Baez in the lineup is that he remains a plus defender, a much-needed veteran presence (esp. in the infield) and his contract that goes another 4 years.
But things are already ugly and only going to get worse over time. Baez is 31 now and will be 35 by the conclusion of his deal.
Kreidler is 26.
Everyone knows that Ryan earned the starting SS job.
Another major reason why Baez remains on the roster despite all the evidence is that no team in baseball history has ever cut a player owed as much as Baez. Yes, it’s a sunk cost but every team in this situation waits until the situation becomes absolutely hopeless before cutting players with millions of dollars remaining on their contracts.
Baez is owed $98 mill. The top player cut with remaining salary remains to be Chris Davis, who had $72 mill left before being given his termination papers. Ken Griffey, Jr. comes in 2nd with $56 mill.
In 2023, the 13 players cut and still owed salary amounted to a grand total of $35 mill for that year.
Now you see why that $98 mill is such an albatross. But maybe after the 2024 season, the remaining $73 mill may be more palatable.
But there remains a problem with an increasingly unhappy player who will be in Toledo this year. And the longer he is there, the more unhappy he will be.
And it may get to the point where Ryan Kreidler may ask the Tigers to trade him.
The problem is that the Tigers do not have anyone else in the system who is even remotely close to taking over the SS position. They are not going to trade a valuable shortstop with no other options in the pipeline available.
They’re also not going to go all in on Baez as their only candidate for the next 4 years.
Which is why something will change this year.
First, Javy needs to continue to be a plus defender. He also has to hit better than he did last year. He cannot continue to be an automatic out. Anything less will force some change.
But his most important role, esp. early in the season, will be to mentor and help train Colt Keith. Baez is the only up-the-middle veteran and only 1 of 2 in the infield with enough experience to help guide the others.
The Tigers are desperate for offense and Baez is most likely to be a speed bump in their plans. If the team starts losing games because they can’t score, there may be changes sooner rather than later.
The Tigers can’t afford to drop in the win-loss column again so early in the season.
But if they manage to keep their heads above water, expect to see Javy playing regularly. Not because he’s crucial to the lineup but because working with Keith is a priority.
You simply can’t have 2 rookie players up the middle in the infield. Three if you count Parker Meadows in CF.
Potentially, Kreidler sees Detroit sooner rather than later and it will be because of someone going on the IL or struggling and getting sent down. If the Tigers are smart, they bring him up and start playing him regularly. Maybe not starting games but as a regular late-inning replacement at SS, esp. if the Tigers are behind.
Scott Harris is a smart man. He knows that both he and Kreidler are between a rock and a hard place. He’s not going to keep Baez in a role that impedes the team and throws the Front Office goals down the drain. He’s not going to allow 1 man to throw this train off the tracks.
He’ll do it diplomatically. He’ll do it gradually. He’ll squeeze all the juice out of keeping Baez in the lineup. We should see Baez playing less if he continues to flail at the plate. Hinch benched him last year and he’ll do it again.
But he simply cannot allow the best man to sit in Toledo all season.
Teams that want to win don’t end up hanging onto pieces that prevent them from getting there.
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 pagein order for your comments to be published.
What did you miss on our Twitter feed yesterday?
Guess who just predicted the Tigers would take the AL Central this year?
Spring training is officially over. Although it is a time of experimentation and try-outs, results can also give us a little hint of things we may expect.
The Tigers finished with 20 wins, 9 losses and 4 ties. Overall, they finished 2nd (out of 15 teams) after the Baltimore Orioles in the Grapefruit League. They also ranked 2nd in runs scored and run differential.
In 2023, they finished 2 games under .500 in 11th place (out of 15 teams). They ranked 13th in (negative) run differential.
There was more competition – legitimate competition – for a number of roster spots. The majority of the starting rotation is new and the bullpen has had significant changes. Positionally, there are 3 new infielders and 1 outfielder. Four others have graduated from rookie status into more experienced roles.
As we await Thursday’s Opening Day, how are you feeling about what you’ve seen this spring?
How many players impressed you? Disappointed you?
Did you see noticeable improvements in play? At the plate?
Does this appear to be a team that has finally left the rebuilding stage and is ready to compete?
How happy are you about the overall performance of this team over the past 6 weeks?
Please grade this team based upon what you’ve seen, heard and read about the team’s performance during the 2024 spring training season.
Make sure to come back and check the final results!
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 pagein order for your comments to be published.
It takes a lot to put baseball’s Opening Day on a back burner but it appears it just may happen. Take baseball’s most famous player, an interpreter, evidence of massive gambling and an ever-changing explanation and the focus has changed from “play ball!” to “playing the odds.”
Of course, we’re talking about Shohei Ohtani and his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. But this story goes well beyond what they did or didn’t do and strikes at the heart of the game itself, putting baseball into possible jeopardy as it did back in 1919 with the Black Sox scandal.
But before we get to the real issues and concerns about all of this, let’s quickly summarize how this all came about.
A illegal bookie in California came under federal investigation and records recovered showed a connection to Ohtani’s interpreter and close friend, Ippei Mizuhara, placing bets.
ESPN was the first to jump on the story. In an extensive interview, Mizuhara admitted he got into trouble and owed the bookie at least $4.5 mill. He asked Ohtani to help him out and Ohtani paid off the bookie.
Ohtani’s spokesperson then confirmed the story but immediately after Ohtani’s lawyers got involved, both denied their earlier statements.
These lawyers stated that Shohei wasn’t involved at all and that he had no idea Mizuhara was gambling or that his money was being taken. They stated that Ohtani was actually the victim of “massive theft.” They did not explain how it could have occurred. They did state that they have turned matters over to the feds but refused to say which agency.
It was only after the ESPN story broke that reps said that Ohtani realized something was wrong. He had no idea that almost $5 mill had been missing from his bank account.
There are now even more questions about what actually happened. We’ve got dozens of questions about the “facts” that simply don’t add up outside of the changing “he knew/he didn’t know” issues.
First, is how Mizuhara got access to Ohtani’s finances. Potentially, if he was also acting as an assistant in running errands, finding housing or buying things for Ohtani, that would be a plausible explanation.
But it’s highly doubtful that Shohei is the one who is balancing his checkbook and checking his finances. That’s why accountants are hired, esp. when you just landed a $700 mill contract. But no one he had hired to oversee his finances noticed anything until the feds came calling. Were they truly incompetent or were they apprised that the nine $500,000 wire transfers were legit and approved?
What also doesn’t add up is Mizuhara’s ability to run up a $4.5+ mill tab. The gambling started back when both were with the Angels and Ippei was making $85,000/year. Now with the Dodgers, he is believed to be making $300,000 – $500,000/year. Even with that salary, what bookie would allow him to run up a $4.5 mill tab without making some payments along the way?
How could Ohtani willingly get involved in paying off gambling debts after being extensively schooled by MLB via Rule 21? Every year, all players attend a session where the rules are explained and everyone signs a document stating they fully understand the implications if they break them. Rule 21 is posted at the entry to every MLB clubhouse.
In the CBA agreement, it is the first rule emphasized in prohibited conduct. Players cannot bet on MLB, minor league, college, international, high school or youth games. Nor can they bet on softball or skills contest like the Home Run Derby, at-bats, particular pitches or innings. Very simply, anything that has anything to do with baseball or softball is off-limits for betting or assisting others.
Even fantasy baseball. PLayers can’t even give advice to those who play fantasy baseball.
Ball players also cannot allow others to place bets on their behalf or assist others with placing bets.
And Rule 21 is also clear that MLB employees, of which Mizuhara is one, also cannot bet on baseball. If they bet on a game that does not involve their team, it is a year suspension. Games that do involve their organization result in a lifetime ban.
It is not yet known if Mizuhara bet on baseball. We do know that the bets placed were in California where all gambling is illegal. The IRS has opened a criminal investigation of him.
While there is still much information to be discovered, it appears plausible that the changing of statements about whether or not Ohtani knew anything or participated in paying off debts could have been made in order to protect him from being suspended or banned.
Which is why absolutely no one is talking – not the crisis manager, his agent, his lawyers, the Dodgers or MLB. That is until late yesterday afternoon when Ohtani gave a press conference and firmly denied any involvement.
It appears that Ohtani may be put in some legal jeopardy. The IRS is exploring evidence that the bookie is in receipt of wire-transfers from Shohei.
Federal law states that it is illegal to do what Shohei is alleged to have done which is why his reps are now saying that he knew nothing and did nothing to help his friend. If it did happen, Ohtani would have broken federal tax codes by paying off the bookie.
Which is why Muzuhara changed his story about Ohtani knowing and helping to one in which the player was not involved in any aspect.
Which is why he later said he lied to ESPN.
Which is why Ohtani’s new crisis communications specialist said that Mizuhara used his status as Shohei’s interpreter to control and change the communication Ohtani received. Mizuhara flatly denies this statement.
Which is why the Dodgers fired him. Now Mizuhara cannot be compelled by MLB to give testimony because he is no longer an employee.
All of this makes one ask if:
Ohtani was involved at all with the bookie.
Mizhura was placing bets for Ohtani. That would explain the millions owed by someone who wasn’t earning a significant salary in comparison.
Ohtani and his reps paid off Mizuhara for doing a complete 180 on his story and taking the fall.
What is of greater concern is how MLB will handle all of this. Ohtani is the face of MLB, their golden child, their cash cow.
How much of an effort will they make to find out the extent of Ohtani’s involvement?
Under Rule 21, if Ohtani is shown to have any involvement with an illegal bookmaking operation, even if he was trying to help a friend, it gives Commissioner Rob Manfred the power to discipline in “the best interests of baseball.”
But what are those interests? Decimating a team and killing attendance?
Is it about growing the game and attendance/viewership?
Or keeping the game honest?
So far, MLB’s statements have been fairly neutral about what they would do. Only that their investigation is completely independent from the one initiated by the government.
Is the plan to keep things on the quiet side just in case the facts turn out to be really ugly? Keeping it behind the scenes so it doesn’t distract from the actual 2024 season?
There’s a chance the Feds won’t share info or documentation because it may jeopardize their case. This identical situation happened with Pete Rose who was shown to have placed bets with the mob on baseball both as a player and manager.
Because it was a RICO case, the government wouldn’t share official documents with MLB. That evidence remains sealed and locked up in a secure government location.
How willing are they to dig into whether or not Rule 21 was broken? Will they request an interview with Ohtani, who could decline and be supported in his decision by the MLBPA?
There is still a lot that is not known and we should not rush to judgement. This needs to play out and it may take some time.
However, there is one thing we do know.
MLB brought this mess upon themselves by aligning and pushing gambling that will earn them millions in profits. Only they call it “gaming.” A nicer term that doesn’t hint at the problems and addictions it creates.
By creating relationships with gambling organizations, an incendiary device was planted into and by MLB. The potential for illegal actions becomes bigger and easier.
The temptations increase and those who get into trouble gambling are more likely to consider betting on baseball in order to pay off their debts. That’s what happened to Pete Rose who became so in debt to his bookies.
In Ohtani’s press statement, he stated that his interpreter had a huge gambling addiction.
Maybe it’s not the baseball players themselves. Maybe it’s their friends and/or family who get sucked in and then ask the player for help. And they will feel immense pressure to help.
As professional baseball partners with gambling, these lines of legal and illegal become more and more blurred. The chances for compromising the integrity of the game increase significantly.
How much scandal can MLB afford if and when more of these events happen?
Will they truly dig into what really happened with Shohei Ohtani and Ippei Mizuhara, knowing that the facts could truly damage the game’s popularity just as they have been promoting the heck out of this same player?
Will the Dodgers pressure Manfred to sweep this under the rug? Will they form a coalition of owners to push for hushing up the investigation? Owners are the ones who hire and fire their Commissioner.
There’s just a huge conflict of interest in every aspect of this case.
But it’s really short-sighted if MLB thought they could create a cash cow without having to deal with any scandal or problems.
They were looking at increasing revenue without considering the very real cost.
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 pagein order for your comments to be published.
What did you miss on our Twitter feed yesterday?
We wrote about how impressive this Tiger exec is. And unsurprisingly, he just got a big promotion.
Today, it’s about quick hits – bits of news that catch my radar during the week as well as connecting the dots re ongoing stories. Even the quirky.
So let’s get to it! Here are the most interesting topics that hit my radar over the past week………..
Ah, you know things are getting bad when the Tigers have to turn to their #1 media apologist to flood his paper and Twitter with daily “news” about Javier Baez in an attempt to change the narrative.
Baez has become national fodder for his horrendous spring training performance at the plate that is now only highlighted because he went through yet another off-season intensive training in an attempt to cure his hitting woes.
Everyone has noticed. Especially the Tigers’ public relations people.
In 2 days alone, this reporter has written articles or tweeted:
“Another El Mago moment from Baez”
“Javy’s gem”
“Great play by Javier Baez”
“Super quick tag by Javy Baez”
“Process, progress and patience”
“The Javier Baez situation is not a crisis; it’s a work in progress.”
I had no idea that an MLB player with over 12 years of experience, could still be a “work in progress.”
Time to get out your waders, folks.
What some people won’t do in order to get the next scoop and keep their access…..
Speaking of “B”s, Scott Boras is back in the news for all the wrong reasons. He has catastrophically bombed this year with his clients.
Even through part of spring training, the top 4 free agents in the game still were not signed. All his.
Today, as we are about to move into the first week of the 2024 season, the top 3 free agents still do not have homes.
Before then, the top free agents were:
Cody Bellinger with a price tag of $200+ mill. He got $80 mill.
Matt Chapman’s price was $150 mill and he finally accepted an offer at $54 mill.
And Blake Snell wanted $270 mill, just signing for $62 mill. This 2-time Cy Young Award winner, who is just coming off his latest CY, suffered the double indignity of having to throw a demo for teams.
As one reporter tweeted, it was like asking Tom Cruise to audition for community theater.
Snell is said to be livid at how his free agency was handled.
Worst of all, these 3 players received contracts of just a year or two – not long-term ones. They have opt outs after this year so they can do this soul-crushing exercise all over again.
To get an even better idea how out-of-touch Boras is with contract proposals, his other client, J. D. Martinez, just signed with days to go until Opening Day. He is 37 and can only DH. Boras was asking for 3 years and $60+ mill.
J. D.’s new contract is for 1 year at $12 mill.
On the other hand, there just may be a silver lining. Boras reps 5 Tigers – Jackson Jobe, Jace Jung, Matt Manning, Tarik Skubal and Spencer Torkelson.
Don’t you think these guys are thinking long and hard about whether or not they should change agents? I would.
It would now appear that teams have learned they can exert more power over Boras and refuse to pay his prices. Maybe it’s because the vast majority of his clients end up with disastrous contracts in the end that teams don’t forget.
Fans have been very vocal about the retention of broadcaster, Craig Monroe (C. Mo). That he talks too much and hogs the airwaves. That his energy level is too high and he often imitates a cheerleader. The list goes on.
I watched that first broadcast with Jason Benetti and the two of them were not well-synced. However, if you’ve been watching additional broadcasts, things are starting to change with C. Mo.
His voice is a little more subdued. There’s more thought put into what he says. He is starting to mirror his partner, Benetti, to a better degree.
And I thought that might happen. Broadcasters get all kinds of feedback from those in charge down to focus groups who offer critiques. But I think Jason also had a big hand in helping him tweak his delivery. I’m sure the 2 sat down after their first couple broadcasts to discuss how things went and how they could improve.
You simply can’t have 2 announcers with significantly different styles. They end up clashing. And the lead guy isn’t going to want someone stepping often into his space or not complementing his effort.
It’s not going to be an overnight process but it appears things are starting to head in the right direction.
And I don’t doubt that C. Mo is capable of working hard to improve his skills. I recently read an in-depth piece about his life and the roadblocks he faced. And you come away really admiring him for everything he has accomplished despite the odds.
Which one of these stories resonated the most with you?
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 pagein order for your comments to be published.
What did you miss on our Twitter feed yesterday?
Jack Flaherty has really been listening to Scott Harris.
The 2024 baseball season starts later this week. Scott Harris is going into his 2nd year as the PoBO and now Jeff Greenberg has joined him as the GM.
The Tigers have tweaked 2 infield positions and 2 outfield slots while overhauling their starting rotation and making significant changes to their bullpen. At least 3 rookies are expected to make their debuts during the coming year.
But some struggles remain with several players and an offense that needs significant help. However, there has been more competition for roster openings, unlike previous years.
As we await that first pitch, what are your thoughts about the new season?
Are you excited about what may happen?
Are you looking forward to watching this team more?
Or do you think the Tigers haven’t done enough?
Today’s assignment is to tell us what you’re thinking and why when you consider what the 2024 season may bring.
Make sure to come back and check the final results!
Don’t see your comment? Comments are limited to a maximum of 6 sentences. Please make sure to check out the other rules for posting under the link at the top of the pagein order for your comments to be published.
FINAL RESULTS FROM A MARCH TOTALLY TIGERS POLL:
Who should be the primary 2Ber to start the season?
While the world has been focused on how badly Javier Baez is doing at the plate in spring training, there is yet another player who is raising concern.
Spencer Torkelson has gotten just 4 hits in 35 at-bats. He leads the team in strikeouts at almost a 50% clip. No HRs and his total bases equals that of Baez. His slash line is .114/.225/.200/.425. His batting stats are the 2nd worst by far, just ahead of Baez. Everyone else, including the invitees and prospects are hitting much better than he is.
Yes, it is spring training but you have to consider that he’s also hitting against pitching prospects as well as MLB-level ones. And it’s been a prolonged slump.
Tork has had problems in the past. In his rookie year, he got sent down to Toledo for failing to hit. Last year, he went through several slumps during the season.
There is some thought that his MLB-worst defensive skills at 1B are messing with his process at the plate. That he’s having a hard time focusing. Even Miguel Cabrera who is coaching him, said they are also working on the mental side of the game.
How concerned are you about Spencer Torkelson’s struggles at the plate?
Make sure to come back and check the final results!
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 pagein order for your comments to be published.
FINAL RESULTS FROM A MARCH TOTALLY TIGERS POLL:
Which player should the Tigers select for their Opening Day roster?
Totally Tigers 