1984Echoes

But also... A winning/ playoff-potential team will... Bring in LOTS more fans, all season long. So... not necessarily independent between winning and more fans (which you pointed out, so I'm agreeing with you... but I didn't want to undersell the impact of on attendance of simply being a winning team... especially in Detroit with their rabid fans...).

Do you mean like how Chris Ilitch spent $25M (per year) on Baez, and $15M on Eduardo Rodriguez, and $15M on Jonathon Schoop, and $10M on Robbie Grossman... ALL in the SAME YEAR? But somehow... that means that Ilitch WON'T spend: $12M on Maeda, $15M on Imanaga, and $25M on Yamamoto...? Because... reasons...? MIguy... you're reasoning is FAULTY.

Isn't it add BOTH of them and the payroll is STILL below $125M? I say... Add them both.

On board with this... wanna see a complete game dismantling of an inferior team. The only thing I would disagree with is that I don't believe Green Bay is an inferior team; so it wouldn't be back-to-back... I think Green Bay is like we were last year, up-and-coming and... dangerous. I think that's what caught the Lions, players and coaches, by surprise last week. They were surprised at how dangerous these new Packers are... I mean, I know they prepare fully for each team so that there are no surprises, or shouldn't be... But the Packers "Out-Lined" them, both offensive and defensive lines. The same thing that the Ravens did earlier in the year. That was a... surprise. IMO.

So I think Imanaga is an important step two. Not just because he's a lefty and looks like a mid-rotation type of guy... And that he's Japanese, and that he and Maeda could settle the back-end of the rotation and also be useful elsewhere as needed (IMO). But if Maeda AND Imanaga sign with Detroit... then it starts to look very attractive to Yamamoto to join the Tigers bandwagon with a signed contract. Mostly, I like the top end talent that allows a team to get to the top or to at least have a chance at the very top (championship(s)...). There's... A lot of IF's in there...

PS: Wins over Jersey and Boston are definitely sweet...

Also going out on a limb (but not really, in my mind...): This team is capable of making the playoffs. I know there are ups and downs (we've just been through a few weeks of those...), breaks and bad breaks, and injuries and such... But this team seems to have the right amount of depth and talent to make it that far. If we struggle a bit, Lalonde can just juggle lines, or goalie schedules, or call up Edvinsson or one of a few others ripening at Grand Rapids... So... we'll see. But I'm optimistic for the playoffs after this nice response to the doldrums of the past few weeks. It's just this type of adjustment(s), and getting some wins after a rough patch, that makes me believe we can make it.

Step 1.

I would look at Imanaga as a long-term starter and Maeda as a short-term 1 or 2 year guy. I also really like that he's another lefty, with high potential to jump right into the rotation. But I would also look at Imanaga as a "glue guy" and wanna use him wherever he fits best. I agree he should start as a starter and only lose that spot based on the rest of the rotation being stout(er). That also forces the other guys (Manning and Mize in particular) to both make huge strides and if they can't, they don't beat out Imanaga. Maybe Mize spends a year rehabbing and fine-tuning in AAA. Or Manning gets pushed to AAA. Or maybe Imanaga beats out Maeda and it's Maeda that become the jack-of-all-trades guy. I just think overall, it simply makes our pitching staff stronger, however that works out. Based on that, I don't think that contract for Imanaga creates problems for the Tigers, even though I also agree that if he's not actually in the rotation then it's quite a bit pricey.... but I think everything else that's added, including him taking over Maeda's rotation spot later if not a rotation spot immediately, is a huge positive for the Tigers pitching staff.

I'm actually doing the opposite: The seasons are stand-alone but I'm going to make a recommendation: I am binging Fargo because it's caught my fancy again after watching the 1st two episodes of season 5 (and I purchase complete seasons on Blu-Ray to watch at my convenience...). So... I started with season 4 because it was the least familiar to me, as I think I only watched this season once (I remembered everything as I watched it but there were still some surprises due to limited familiarity...). I don't get the 3.5 stars you gave as I thought this season was brilliant. And... As it begets Mike Milligan... I am now watching Season 2. And then Season 1. And then Season 3. So basically, chronologically. And I like how it's going so far... following the chronological order... It rolls nicely...

I thought Rodman was 6' 9". Probably 6' 8" without shoes...

Maeda is the oldest at 35 so he is rumored for a 2 or 3 year contract. Affordable. Imanada, at 30, is projected at a similar contract as Kodai Senga (5 years/ $75 mill) so that seems also affordable. Yamamoto, 25, would be the only long-term big money contract at his projected ~$250 mill... I think it works.

Go for the Japanese Trifecta: Maeda - back of the rotation and attracts Yamamoto (along with the promise to target Imanaga as well...) Yamamoto - Tops the rotation along with Skubal Imanaga - Lefty, could be a jack-of-all-trades as a spot starter, lefty middle reliever, etc. in 2024. Could take over Maeda's spot after a year or two in the league to get acclimated. Or push Maeda (as a RH'er) into this spot if he acclimates quickly. Just a thought...

Damn... Yeah...

I love all of the seasons. Some season may be better or lesser than others... but I haven't really thought about them in those terms; I just love the quirkiness of the characters, the story/plotlines that they use, the insanity or craziness, in the middle of exciting Dakotas/ Minnesota/ (and Kansas City?)... It just works. I haven't actually thought of the seasons in a rating format... This season actually starts a bit slow for me... which sounds crazy after what's already happened... but they're introducing the characters and plotlines so I expected that. And I see the potential in who/ what they've shown so far; so I expect some implosions are soon to be forthcoming. I have a lot of anticipation building up...

Fargo.

How about exclamation points? We are going to offer you $______________ !!! Personally, IMO, enough exclamation points (but not too many... at least 3 but not more than 5...) should close the deal because it shows HOW serious a team really is...!!!

If Maeda opens the door to getting Yamamoto: I approve of the Tigers serious interest in him. Yamamoto at the front of the rotation and Maeda at the back-end, or wherever he is needed in the rotation, to stabilize it... absolutely works for me.

In other words... Call yourself a trendsetter... At least for this offseason...

You realize chas, that this entire offseason that EVERY potential free agent offer will be questioned as to whether it was serious or not... (IE: $240 mill/ 10 years offer to Yamamoto.... WAIT!!! Is that a serious offer?)

WAIT!!! How do you define a serious offer for Maeda?

The Giants let that deal die due to a measly health examination...? Then they were NOT SERIOUS!!!

PS: Eagles-49'ers is a tricky game as, if the 49'ers go on a winning streak, it's possible they knock us down to the #3 spot. We have to win our games too, which goes without saying... but lose 2 or 3 games and it opens up a path for the 49'ers...

If you don't get into as bidding war for a player asking $330 mill and offer AT LEAST $350 mill, $380 mill, $420 mill... You are not serious. Bidding war participants only are serious. Everyone else is just BS'ing and wasting time, space, and oxygen...

This is my choice. Facing Stafford and the Rams in Detroit would be spectacular (a spectacle...).