Normally this is the day where we engage in extended conversations about the Detroit Tigers. But on this holiday weekend, we’re going in the opposite direction.
Now that the Detroit Tigers have played nearly one-third of the season, what are your thoughts and feelings about what you’ve seen so far?
But here’s the catch: You have to sum up it all up in just 1 word. One word only.
THE BEST COMMENT FROM YESTERDAY’S BLOG:
It’s a tie!
from McWatt: “Shuffle away because it’s the only way to find the true “keepers”. Perez, like Carpenter before him, is a delightful surprise and Keith seems to be coming around. But I’d be looking to either demote Torkelson or trade him to a team that thinks he can be salvaged.”
from Jim: “I voted shuffle the roster because the coaches don’t really know who will handle the MLB. Twenty years ago, I asked a retired MLB player friend why some guys do great at AAA, but can’t cut it in the MLB. He said most the guys at AAA have MLB physical talent, but the space between their ears can’t handle facing boyhood idols, 40,000 people in the stands and 20 reporters at your locker each night, none of which occurs in the minors.”
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………..
We continue to get further proof that the new player development system is working. Before Ryan Garko came on board, the Tigers would place recently drafted prospects on the top 100 prospect lists, only for them to rarely advance in the standings and the majority of them fall off in 1 – 1.5 years.
Currently, we’re seeing more and more prospects make the list – and move up in the rankings. And they are sticking there.
The Tigers now have all their listed prospects in the top 50 of MLB’s Pipeline standings. (Colt Keith is no longer eligible for the list.) There are multiple systems that rank prospects and most of them do 2-3 rankings each year.
In this particular one, Jace Jung moved up to #48 from #90. Max Clark moved up from #16 to #13.
Jackson Jobe made the biggest move from #25 to #10. He is also ranked as the top pitching prospect. Last year, he was #2 in the pitching category.
He is hitting 3-digits consistently in his delivery and has 4 solid pitches in his arsenal.
It’s interesting to note that Paul Skenes who took the top honor just had his MLB debut. Could Jobe see Detroit at some point this year?
Speaking of prospects, several national analysts are reporting that Jace Jung is ready for Detroit.
We hear Scott Harris saying that they don’t want to promote prematurely and aim for setting their prospects up for success. However, the worsening problems with Javier Baez (those last 2 games don’t count) may force their hand to move sooner rather than later.
Forget that A. J. Hinch said Javy is the team’s SS will play “a lot.” He’s never going to embarrass a player and public criticism isn’t going to make him play better. Probably worse.
Jung is reported to have adapted to 3B well. If he comes up to man the hot corner, current 3Ber Gio Urshela could move to SS, where he has played on and off for 5 seasons. And Zach McKinstry could spell both of them.
But if Baez can’t improve this season, he will see less playing time. The Tigers will do it quietly and slowly.
As you’ve already read here, things have to be coming to a head between the starting pitchers and the positional players. The Tigers have 3 elite SPs right now – Tarik Skubal, Reese Olson and Jack Flaherty. Olson has 0 wins despite his outstanding stats. Flaherty just got his 1st win in 9 starts. And the glaring lack of wins for them is all due to the complete lack of run support.
You’ve got to think that they (or maybe the entire starting rotation) have had a talk or two already with Chris Fetter and A. J. Hinch. If I was pitching that well and had nothing in the win column yet, I’d be pretty upset.
Eventually, this is going to take a toll – both with the pitchers and the entire team – if an effort is not made to correct the situation. How long can either Olson or Flaherty keep pitching as they do while knowing it will probably be in vain.
It may foster resentment within the clubhouse.
But also consider that when the Tigers need to sign a starting pitcher for next year, many are going to remember that the Tigers don’t give their pitchers run support.
The lack of offense can easily stain and spread for a long time if this issue is not addressed. And soon.
Which one of these stories resonated the most with you?
Don’t see your comment? Comments are limited to a maximum of 3 sentences and must address the day’s topic. 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.
THE BEST COMMENT FROM YESTERDAY’S BLOG:
from wdadams98c431b287: “Jobe is untouchable IMO. Beyond him I can see trading one of those mentioned, or Flaherty. Greenberg and Harris won’t move a pitcher unless they like the offensive return, and the pitching development team is performing their function well enough that our pitching depth wouldn’t be damaged.”
What did you miss on our Twitter feed yesterday?
A comparison between run support for Tarik Skubal and Reese Olson.
There seems to be some debate about how good the Detroit Tigers really are this year and how far they can go.
Some point to the much better start this season and current record that shows the team playing above .500. Others claim the improvement seen at the end of last year is proof of better play.
On the other end, some say the AL Central standings are misleading. Others use offensive stats to show that this team is still a work in progress.
So what is the best way to evaluate the Tigers’ performance and chances for a higher finish to the 2024 season?
It all has to do with stats and where they rank in MLB that will give us a better and more accurate way to evaluate. This team has to be compared with the other 29 franchises (or at the very least, the other 4 teams in the AL Central) in order to put a proper context to their play.
Here are the top 5 rankings fans need to watch throughout the year………
1. OPS PLUS – It stands for On-Base Plus Slugging and takes into account every time a player gets on base, adds in his slugging percentage and adjusts it to the rest of MLB players for comparison purposes. It also factors in every ballpark a hitter plays in. In team rankings, the Tigers sit at #26 just below the Twins and ahead of the White Sox.
2. RUN DIFFERENTIAL – It is determined by subtracting the number of runs given up by the team from the number of runs a team scores. For the first time in years, the Tigers so far are scoring more runs than they give up. They currently sit at #16 with a +7 run differential.
3. TEAM ERA AND WHIP – Combining these 2 stats gives a better picture of how many runs a team’s pitchers are giving up. The lower the ERA, the fewer runs allowed but the lower the WHIP indicates just how many or how few runners are getting on base. The Tigers’ ERA ranks #3. Their WHIP sits at #2.
4. TEAM WAR – WAR is a stat that measures all facets of a player’s skills and translates that sum into how many more wins that player provides in comparison to the average replacement player in MLB for that same position. The Tigers’ team WAR is just under 26 which loosely translates to almost every player being worth just 1 more win apiece. They sit at #23 in MLB.
5. TOP 100 PLAYERS – The most winning teams in MLB and those who go far in the playoffs have at least 5 players apiece in the top 100. In the AL Central, the Guardians have 4, the Royals with 1, the Twins have 2 and the White Sox have 2. The Tigers just recently made the list with 1 – Riley Greene. KC, Cleveland and Chicago have theirs in the top 25. Greene is currently sitting at #81.
Which one of these stats do you believe will change the most this year?
Don’t see your comment? Comments are limited to a maximum of 3 sentences and must address the day’s topic. 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 happens to Buddy Kennedy when Gio Urshela returns?
There are less than 2 weeks left until Opening Day and opinions about the Tigers still remaining in camp are starting to gel. For most of these players, we’re seeing enough of them to make educated decisions about their value on the roster.
Many of the positions have already been determined but there are still legitimate battles going on in starting pitching, the bullpen, infield and outfield. But there are still a number of players on the cusp of making the roster. It’s not a given that someone who made it last year will make it again this year due to increased competition.
So which of those players right on the edge am I rooting for to make the roster for Opening Day? I’ve got my top 5 who are not locks – but should be.
1. ALEX FAEDO – He completely reinvented himself during the off-season and it shows. He’s got the best WHIP after Tarik Skubal. Oh, and more K’s than any other pitcher in camp.
2. ANDY IBANEZ – He’s a plus defender and only the best hitter in Lakeland so far. The Tigers are going to need both his bat and glove this year, esp. in the iffy infield.
3. RYAN KREIDLER – He was a plus defender back in 2022 (derailed in 2023 w/2 surgeries) and hitting .286/.483/.429/.911 this spring. I simply don’t see the Tigers playing Javy Baez much in 2024 given his continued decline and even more shocking spring training. Kreidler offers both a solid glove and bat.
4. REESE OLSON – He’s the baby-faced assassin. After 1 bad outing, he’s been on fire and locating his pitches as well as Tarik Skubal. Unlike Casey Mize, there’s no rust to knock off.
5. MATT MANNING – He’s in the middle of refining his delivery and arsenal. His overall stats are currently on the higher side but he’s got one of the best WHIPs out of all the starting pitchers. After Maeda and Flaherty, he’s got more of a veteran presence than any other SP which is desperately needed given that the rest of the starting rotation is very inexperienced.
Is there another player on the verge of making/not making the roster that you’d like to see at Comerica on Opening Day?
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?
The Javy Baez watch is only becoming more urgent because of the team’s overall ST performance at the plate.
Totally Tigers 