1984Echoes

I would be looking to see if he states explicitly that the Fed is looking at both 25 or 50 basis point reductions. I think the market right now is waffling between those two expectations... But one of them is definitely expected as the September meeting.

But that's right now. They've been winning... and I expect them to continue winning at a +.500 rate (which I stated above...) which puts them in the 15th range instead of the 8-ish range by season's end. That's my point.

I would look to: Dump Baez. He's not a "RH'ed bat" anymore. Look for the best RH'ed platoon/ defensive replacement option to match up with Sweeney, whether internal or external. The best option, IMO, is to go after Bo Bichette. He's at least a good option for 2025. Ibanez is a RH'ed option for 1B/ 2B/ 3B. Is there anyone we can get that would be better? I think McKinstry could be replaced with a RH'ed bat. Internally, could that be Navigato? I don't see a need for a McKinstry as an OF'er. We have Greene, Carpenter, Meadows... who all look like starters in the OF. All LH'ers. But Vierling is an excellent RH'ed back up at all 3 positions. Perez looks like a viable switch-hitting backup for 2025. And we still have Malloy as a RH'ed LF'er (hiding him) and DH. Whether that's in Detroit or Toledo...

That says to me though (if the Tigers do indeed finish 15th-ish) that they would still need lottery luck to jump past them into the top 10... I'm not certain I would call that probable...

My thoughts on SS (for anyone's comments... Graterol I'm just using your comments here as a starting point...): Sweeney against RH'ers - yes, OK. He looked fine on the field from what little I saw... maybe he has range limitations? But also... maybe he could be the full-time starter there. I'm definitely penciling him in for 2025, and, if his bat plays at a high-level... I think he will be playing at least against RH'ers and in 50% (or more) of 2025 games as a starter. Baez. Whether Sweeney starts against righties only and platoons with Baez, or proves himself a capable full-time starter and Hinch decides to use Baez instead as a RH'ed McKinstry (defensive replacement for Sweeney as needed... all the way up to the RH'ed side of a platoon with Sweeney, plus Baez is also a capable fielder at 2B and 3B IIRC, and can also play the OF...). There's at least an argument that Baez could stick with the team next year. I'm not saying it's a good solution or argument... I'm just saying there's some logic there (call it faulty logic if you will... but still...). If the Org decides to dump Baez (salary is a sunk cost so we're paying it whether he is, or is not, with the team...) because they just want to find a better player... I don't think anyone will shed any tears. Which leads to... Internal or External options: Internal options are... not great. Andrew Navigato, RH'er, AAA - plays all over the field but I don't believe is a good enough fielder at SS for him to be a realistic option there. Could replace McKinstry anyways if they were looking to add a RH'ed bench guy that can play a lot of positions. Could he be any worse? Kreidler, RH'er, AAA - supposed to have a great glove at SS and has some power (but doesn't make enough contact to get to it that often) but, so far in MLB.. has proven to be a subpar solution. Eddys Leonard, RH'er, AAA - an unknown to me. He's played mostly SS in the minors, but also 2B/ 3B/ and some OF... but I don't know how his fielding is viewed, or whether he would have enough MLB bat to platoon with Sweeney, or just be a defensive replacement as needed, and be more of a RH'ed McKinstry? If Baez is dumped... He at least tosses his hat into the ring. Gage Workman, LH'er, AA - Also supposed to be a great glove at SS, has also played some 2B/ 3B/ OF in the minors... also has power but doesn't make enough contact to get to it often enough... But as a LH'ed Kreidler 2.0... I don't think he fits the need of trying to get a RH'ed bat to play opposite Sweeney. I think he plays in Toledo next year. Trei Cruz, Switch-hitter, AA - Played all over as has everyone else... has bloodlines (Jose Cruz grandfather and Jose Cruz Jr. father)... but hasn't shown enough yet to say he's a good option. He's a few steps behind Workman so that's saying something. Still, if it's only to be a defensive replacement for Sweeney, possibly up to a RH'ed platoon... He may also at least have his hat in the ring next year in spring training and from my viewpoint: I'll just say "anything could happen". Everyone else internally is too further back to be a viable 2025 option, IMO. External options, if we want better options from the Right-side in 2025, I believe we would have to look externally. But I don't see a need to go out and sign a huge contract SS. Someone for 2 years or 3 at most I would think is what Harris would be looking for, at a reasonable cost. So... : Ha-Seong Kim, RH'ed, 4 years with Padres - We'd have to trade for him, but a great option. But would the Padres even be willing to trade him? At what cost? I don't think the Padres will entertain offers for him so moot point IMO. Unless we find out otherwise. Adames, RH'ed, Brewers - is he a FA this year? Here's the problem: How do you sign him away from the Brewers, who are a playoff team? It's hard to walk away from that, and it can't just be "money" as the reason. Money doesn't trump winning, so something else will also be needed to entice. Bo Bichette - it might be possible to talk the Blue Jays into trading Bichette (Not a FA until after 2025), he'd be a good "recovery" option and fine at SS for at least 2025... Maybe more if things work out... And I don't think the trade cost would be prohibitive.. we would just need to match up with what the Blue Jays would want... I think Bichette is the best option, IMO. And as for Bellinger or Alonso types...? I don't think we sign another 1B'man until the Tork situation plays out, at least through 2025... for better or for worse... And the internal positioning is figured out (let's say for example, Hao Yu Lee is brought up to be the 2B'man, and Keith is shifted to 1B... just to use one example...).

Well.... Currently we're tied for the 10th spot but we're winning games and I expect this team to continue winning games (at a +.500 rate) in September so I see us finishing somewhere's around 15th in the league... How is it that we pick ahead of the White Sox next year...?

Look at that SMILE!!! on that first timer!!!

Which was ONLY about the announcers slobbering all over Mahomes... for beating up 2nd & 3rd teamers on Saturday. And had NOTHING to do with Mahomes prior history, which YOU brought into the conversation. Show me where I stated that he can ONLY do things against scrubs. Oh wait, that doesn't exist. Do you want me to spell it out for you next time? Will that help you?

Which has absolutely ZERO to do with the game against the Lions on Saturday.

That and "Superstar Mahomes" did ALL of that against 2nd/3rd teamers. WOW... such an accomplishment...

And I keep forgetting SGL who ALSO should be in the mix next year...

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

If we say no rotation FA signed this offseason... Then we're looking at/ deciding in Spring Training: who comes after Skubal-Olson-Jobe (IMO), between Mize, Maeda, Montero, possibly Manning again? To fill in two spots. I'm not certain who else will toss their hat into that ring... But I think we could get some decent rotation pitching out of that mix. I would just feel a whole lot better adding a Flaherty into the mix. Not just Harris deciding on whether to bring him back or not... But I think the Dodgers will really want to keep him and LA will look so enticing to him... But if it were up to me (yeah.. obviously not...): I would sign Flaherty and trade for Mason Miller and Andrew Nardi.

I can't believe I left him off as I also think he's on the 2025 Opening Day Roster... My Desired 2025 Rotation: Skubal-Flaherty-Jobe-Olson-Mize.

PS: He's 28 next year... It's "put up or shut up" time... Yes?

Mize pitching in AAA tonight. So far: 3 Inn's, 3 Hits, 2 BB's, 1 run, 5 K's. I think 2025 Mize tells us who he is. He's either a mid-rotation guy, or a bottom of the rotation guy. I won't mind it if he ends up as the #5 starter (Skubal-Flaherty (hopeful FA signing) - Olson-Maeda-Mize). But that WOULD be a disappointment. Can he do better than that? We shall see.

Gage Workman hit his 13th HR today... I speak of this in relation to Javier Baez. For the next year or 2... as long as Baez is still on the team... I see his role as a RH'ed McKinstry. Meaning... I'm going to guess that Sweeney is the big LH'ed bat at SS, at least until someone better comes along (McGonigle? Ranier?)... and that Baez will then be pushed into a defensive SS replacement/ RH'ed platoon at SS/ backup-utility wherever else they can squeeze him in. That's just my guess. And I don't see the team dumping his salary... Unless... Someone can push him out of that job description and the team decides (finally), whenever that may be... to eat his salary. And it would still be a bandaid/stopgap position, again, until something comes along that's better. I think Workman is a guy who has a chance to push Baez out. Not Kreidler. Not Navigato. Eddys Leonard? Maybe, but I don't see it. Trei Cruz? Maybe, but he's much further aback of Workman. Workman was drafted out of college with a subpar hit tool. That hasn't really changed much in the minors it looks like. But he was supposed to have a great glove, range enough for SS, power... just not much of a hit tool/ contact to get to that power. But he's not a zero either. He's at (almost) .260 this year in Erie which is... not great, but not terrible either (.790 OPS... good enough for utility...). More than I thought he'd ever reach... I believe he's played 2B-SS-3B in the minors as well so positionally, he's a fit for that type of job. I'm interested to see who comes out of Spring Training next year as the RH'ed SS. Baez? Or is the team willing to give Workman a shot and move on from Baez... Or is Workman still a year of AAA away from even having a shot? We shall see...

"28-Out Perfect (imperfect) Game". Sounds even better.

They could call it a "28-out no-hitter". I'm good with that.

Sign or trade for two late-inning dominant closer/ set-up types and push Foley down to the 6th/ 7th innings where he'd fit better. IMO.

I like that... "H2O" Hendon Hooker = Offense.

Rodon at 85 pitches and I think they pull him before the 4th... Dingler & Baez of all people wore him out by fouling off a dozen pitches (virtually) each.

OBVIOUS to keep Baez as the Right-Side SS. Sweeney is LH'ed. And I believe capable at SS (per the scouting reports), but not spectacular. It would seem OBVIOUS (since he's under contract next year for big money...) to keep Baez as a defensive replacement SS, RH'ed SS in a platoon with Sweeney, and as a defensive utility guy that has also played 2B and 3B (IIRC). Now there's a reason to keep his contract on the books (after trading-for and promoting Sweeney)... at least until someone PUSHES him out the door. And it will harder to do that now. At least that's what seems obvious to me. IMO.

Same here. But I get what's being said here as well... and it probably makes more sense. But Tork needs to make a LOT of improvements before spring training 2025... IMO. Or it might be time to move on.

Mason Miller from the A's; Andrew Nardi from the Marlins... Make it happen Harris!!!