1984Echoes

So I said earlier that the Tigers shouldn't "FORCE" a pitching prospect into a trade package just because they have a "need" to add an arm... And I'm sticking with that. But... If Cade Povich is part of a trade package for Skubal, just for example, and he's there because the Tigers wanted him, and they wanted him because they think he can be a dominant MLB starter... Then of course I would be on board with that. As long as they are trading for a guy that they believe in his ability... that's all that matters. So between Flaherty, Skubal (who might NOT be traded), and Kelly... Maybe Harris spots a AAA starter that he really wants and gets in return. The key, to me, is to not force it though. Even if we get zero pitchers back... there are other ways to obtain pitchers. Offseason trades, FA signings, Jobe is ready for MLB (if that's true). "Reaching" for a guy in a trade because of a perceived need might end up with us obtaining another Joey Wentz. I would rather Harris find another Reese Olson, or better, IF he's out there and available in one of these trades. IMO.

Has anyone ever gotten over the yips? I have an earnest yearning to see the dude play at 2B. As you say, valuable guy that can not only pop 15-ish dingers and steal 20-25 bases, but also, as a switch-hitter, doesn't get bounced out of the lineup when there's a pitching change. That's also valuable at times. (PS: I didn't look at his splits so if he's good one one side and bad on the other... nevermind.) But if he could get over the yips, and play not only all 3 OF spots but also 2B... extra value. And I think he's also able to play CF... not as good as the other true CF'ers on the team... but in a pinch, he can manage. IMO.

PS: After Dingler went 3-3 with the 2 HR's and a single... They decided to just start walking him... So 3-3 plus 3 BB's... Sitting right now at .299 and an .899 OPS... Trade Kelly. Give Dingler his shot...

Vilade SF to CF for the win...

Bases loaded with 1 out in the bottom of the 10th... tied 10-10... Vilade at the bat...

Clase: Now THIS is what a closer should look like. Absolute dominance. And he's not a big K guy either... but you can't get a hit off him, he doesn't walk anybody... And this year he is especially ON FIRE...!!!

That's a nice start... But the Tigers are missing at least 3 more prospects on their side of the ledger...

I would assume this is also the time, if we're getting guys back from the 60 and adding all the draftees that sign... For back ends of rosters to be whittled down a bit...

Endorsing Yahya Sinwar instead is not a good look...

Question: Which one of those are true? Answer: None of the Above.

Zero chance of this happening. But... There probably is a MAGA evolution to discuss. The greater picture is the Republican Party. But we already know MAGA has taken over and traditional/ moderate/ establishment/ global trading and defense Republicans are now homeless. Some of them Never-Trumpers, some of them shifted to Independents, some of them still fighting to get their party back (lost cause)... But what exactly happens to MAGA when Trump loses? My first thought would be that there will be some fraying at the edges. Meaning... the extremists will become even more extreme. That tends to happen when a movement falls apart. Could the movement not fray...? That would take a new charismatic leader... And I don't think Trump's sons (ANY of them) fit the bill. More like a couple of idiots and one other barely out of diapers. Unless there's a Trump 2.0 to keep them together... the extreme fringes of this movement are too grotesque to hold any popular standing with anyone. And if they become even more extreme (acts of violence) they will become both more unpalatable as well as more often behind bars. Also... with even the mainstream ideas discredited by an Electoral spanking (whites-only, white men control all women's health care, including tracking their pregnancies, the rise of theocratic-fascism and populist (Trump) fascism, overthrow of the Constitution of the United States, forcing out professionals and replacing them with boot-licking sycophants... etc.)... What then? Their politics are not popular. There will either be infighting over what their platform should actually be (since they don't have one except for repression against all those that they hate...); or a fracturing into many mini-factions. The Evangelists. The White Trash Bigots. The Fascists. What happens after Trump loses? Could be interesting to watch (in a horror movie sort of way...) Could be extremely dangerous. And scary. Buckle up.

Trump's deal allowed 5,000 Taliban terrorists out of prison. The intelligence community told Biden and his team that Afghan National forces could hold off the Taliban for at least another 18 mths - 2 years. Biden was ready to start pulling troops out in February. His generals said: "We're not ready, please push this back at least 6 months." He did that. Based on their request and the intelligence community's advice. SURPRISE!!! The Taliban wiped out the Afghani National forces in 3 months. But yeah... Biden got soldiers and friendlies killed. It's all his fault. In other words, you don't have a clue. Are you MAGA? I'm just asking based on what you're showing us here... I won't judge... just curious.

100% on board with this. But I'm a bit tired of the Biden Bashing under TRUMP's Taliban deal. The China-Russia-Iran Anti-Democracy Tripartite Threat is what is currently overriding everything else in International Importance. "Keep your eye on the prize".

Since TRUMP SOLD that Farm to the Taliban... You are correct.

PS: Trump has lost: Nearly 100% of all Indies. Nearly 100% of the young vote. Nearly 100% of suburban, or centrist, or suburban moms. He's going to get wiped out in an electoral landslide in 2024. This will be FUN!!!

It's ALL in the hands of Independents. Turn out the base, and Republicans get 30% of the vote. And they are locked in (well, at least MAGA is...). Turn out the base, and Democrats get 35% of the vote. It's ALL in the middle, with Independents, 35% that could swing either way... Oh, and what was Trump's standing with Indies? Not very high IIRC.

These BENEDICT ARNOLD ANTI-Constitutional MF'ing TRAITORS need to be lined up against a wall and executed. You want a ****ING CIVIL WAR? Let's go you MF'ING PRICKS. Try to LIE your MF'ING ASSES OFF and use VIOLENCE AGAIN to achieve your political aims and the National Guard will just put you down like the RABID DISEASED MF'ING DOGS that you are. TRY IT. MF'ERS.

Does Trump or his brainless F'ing sheeple MAGAt followers have any IQ to lose? I believe that's a debatable point.

I don't think that's correct because they were following him for several years, basically "hid" him by not having him play in any games, and were targeting him for that bonus/ signing. I thought Avila had some "Cuban Connection" that allowed them to do all this. In other words: Campos is an "Avila Special" with all the good and the bad that comes with that.

A "5-tool" lottery ticket, IIRC.

They're all lottery tickets at that age though. Some with more "perceived" ability than others. Campos was supposed to be a "5-tool" star. A "hidden gem" from Cuba that the Tigers were able to, somehow, actually hide him in the Dominican, IIRC. By having him not play anything so... yeah, we "bought" him "sight unseen". Literally. I don't think the book has closed on him yet. And I wouldn't read his first 4 years as "that's it, nothing more to see here". That's maybe just me... But I'm evaluating nothing right now as set in stone, I have zero expectations at this point, but ALSO a "wait-n-see" attitude. If he pops up all of a sudden... "Cool". If he never makes it and ends up as nothing more than "AAAA", which I think is where you have him at this point? Then it's "Oh well". But, again... I don't think it's time just yet to just give up on him. IMO.

I think Briceno is also ready to be challenged at a higher (A+) level. But he's been injured so he hasn't been able to show anything, obviously. But I think once he completes a rehab, in Lakeland and/or at a lower level... He'll also join Clark/McGonigle in West Michigan.

Sounds about right. now. Errr, not right now, maybe later. ... in the season.

Right, but ummm, yeah.... Didn't I say AAA guys? Jobe is not in AAA. And didn't you already make the point that Flores and Englert are already on the 40? I don't think Harris is going to go out insisting that a SP needs to be added to a trade package because... simply, he's in some desperate spot where he MUST have a SP included in a trade package. I think that was your point, IIRC. Tell me if I'm wrong on that. Which I believe is not correct. If he's trading Flaherty or Kelly or Skubal he's trading them for guys he likes, whether there is an MLB-ready SP in there or not. I don't believe you are correct that he will try to squeeze a SP in there simply based on need. If he needs another SP, he will rely on the 40, or make a 40 move, or decide to NOT trade Flaherty or Skubal because he's deciding to hold onto his cards based on circumstance, OR he will trade Flaherty or Skubal because of a monster package being offered AND he will make a deadline trade for a cheap back-end guy. Sorry, but I firmly believe he's not going to distort a trade package simply because of a perceived immediate need in the rotation. And all I'm saying is that there are other ways of achieving that, without the distortion.

Nix that. I think we can get something better for Urshela... How about Joey Wentz?