1984Echoes

I look at 2025 as another transition/ evaluation year. But one with a "serious" chance of making a playoff push. Again... that "seriousness" is 99% dependent on the kids, again. Meaning Olson, Jobe, Montero/ Mize, Jung, Meadows (if he can both get back to MLB standards as well as stay healthy), Greene & Carpenter (health), Keith/ Malloy/ Dingler/ Perez avoiding "sophomore slumps". Plus any others I haven't already mentioned. A lot of talent. But still going through a lot of growing pains and there's little certainty there. Especially positionally. Harris is NOT going to block any position, until all the positions with these kids are settled to the point of "revealing" a weakness that actually needs to be filled with an expensive FA. Nothing is settled right now, except maybe Catcher and DH. We're not spending big this winter. Not because Harris/ Ilitch are unwilling to spend money... but rather, just too much uncertainty yet to take the big plunge. The only big $$$ I'd like to see spent is on the most premium Closer we can get our hands on. We don't have a premium closer. Adding one pushes Foley and & Lange down a notch, as well as everyone else. Meaning, one step down the ladder to easier jobs for all/most. And.. then we'd have a shutdown guy that doesn't give us late inning losses. Other than closer, I expect a couple of Flaherty/ Urshela signings. IE: We're not going to sign a 5-year SS to replace Baez. Why would we? Harris is not going to block McGonigle (A+, estimated ETA 2026-27), or the 1st rounder that we just drafted (Rainer, rough ETA 2027-28) with a 5-year FA. Sorry.

Speaking of which: Max Clark: 2-5, single-double Max Anderson: 2-4, 2 singles-BB McGonigle: 1-3, double-BB Campos: 2-4, single-double Gold: 2-4, double-triple Now add Liranzo and Briceno (when he's ready). Yeah... could be some fun there the rest of the season...

+1

Lockhart is probably who I was thinking of... His July starts: 20 1/3 inn's, 9 hits, 3 runs, 1 HBP, 7 BB's, 28 K's. Bring him up. Give him his MLB shot....

I thought Madden had been a bit better recently... but.... I was mistaken. He had two good starts in June: 11 inn's, 6 hits, 1 run 1 BB 12 K's. Outside of those two, he has a well over 2.00 WHIP at Toledo so yes, he's been atrocious. At some point, they'll end up pushing him to middle relief like Faedo & Brieske to see if he does any better there... it looks like.

Campos there too... Still not giving up on him yet.... AND... I don't know when Briceno gets back... But I'd like to see him challenged at WM this year too...

PS: The scouting reports says he has a great plate approach, despite the weak hit tool. Maybe they offset? Or the Tigers can help with the holes that he has in his swing? I'm not counting on anything here... I just think that a "wait-n-see-what-develops" approach works for me with this kid...

+1

I could see it happening. There are lots of ways to limit a pitcher's innings, even in MLB. And if he hits 100 innings this year (don't forget AFL...); doesn't that mean 125-130 innings next year, starter's innings...? I think the decision is, simply, is he ready for MLB Opening Day 2025... or not yet? They can figure out everything else, after that...

I think the top end guys are fine. If there was any meat left, IMO, it was in not getting some lower-level lottery ticket pitcher that the Tigers could possibly develop. But to me, it might knock it down half a grade because, who doesn't love lottery tickets...? But that's too immaterial for me to even think about at this point in time... I'm too busy looking at the guys we got and what their skills/ upsides/ deficiencies are...

I think he does better from the left side. And is not as good a catcher as Dingler (unless he develops more?). My first thought is he ends up the 30 game catcher from the left side (if he makes it to MLB) while Dingler is the 130 game catcher from the right side (facing both righties and lefties). And if Liranzo can also learn 1B, he can get some play there. Even with the lower hit tool, they're still going to try and get to his power, one way or another. IMO.

I agree with this. I see no reason to treat future Tiger's rosters as "locked in" with Tork as the 1B'man. The first soltion to me would be to give 1B gloves to Malloy, Keith, Liranzo, Vilade, and anyone else who could "possibly" play a part in solving 1B if Tork doesn't figure it out. Whether it's a large or small part of the solution...

I think this is too harsh. I give him a 50/50 chance. He either figures it out. Or he doesn't.

The only flipside to this is... while we may have to muddle through this year, I still see next year's rotation as Skubal-Jobe-Olson-Maeda, and let everyone else duke it out for #5 starter, or two of the many candidates to push Maeda all the way to the bullpen and gain the #4 rotation spot. I'm not worried about the off season or next year. I think it was valuable, and impactful, to "blood" Perez, Keith, Dingler, Malloy (possibly Jung will be called up soon, IMO), Montero, etc. in MLB this year, more than anything else. My 2 cents.

Tyler Owen cranks it up to 99. Harris thinks they might be able to do something with him is my guess.

Looks like Montero is not going to cut it. Who's next?I vote for Lael Lockhart. Drop Wentz for Lael Lockhart please. Except he's already spoken for, just above. Maeda... dude, pitch better. We need you to...

If not... I'm playing hooky anyways...

That's going to seriously complicate trading for him. He wants an extension because he's worried about his health.... Hmmmm... So what's already barking, right now, I wonder...?

Shoulder. But close enough.

I don't think you get that for Flaherty though. Those guys you're getting with a Skubal trade. I think that's the "best" we're going to get with Flaherty. If you think we can get more than that... a potential "superstar" for Flaherty per your example... Who is it that you think we can get for him that would fit that description? Remember, he's a "rental" only.

I don't think it's a 1-for-1 with Flaherty even if you've listed a headliner prospect. IMO, I think at a bare minimum it's 2-1 or 3-1. As for Rushing, I think scouting reports are he's not a great catcher, so short-side or backup catcher, plus a lot of 1B risk... but IMO, still a useful guy. But he's taking short games at catcher (20-30 per year) with a dominant catcher (let's call him Dingler) and then you're plugging him in at sometimes 1B, DH, PH'er... So he's limited IMO, but still very useful in spots, especially with the bat. IOW: It's the bat that's being traded for, not him as a starting catcher. That says: Who else is included? Per my 3-1 trade... I would jump at a Rushing + Freeland + Jackson Ferris package (RatkoVarda proposal...).

Too Strong to fail...

Well, just for completeness: How does Bowden's trade work out? If possible, try it his way and then also mine: Bowden: Mayo, Kjerstad, Povich. 84: Mayo, Kjerstad, Povich, Cam Weston.

PS: (or FYI, whichever floats...): I'm heading out this afternoon for a family reunion near Munising (cabins right on the beach of Lake Superior) and that means 20+ cousins (and assorted aunts/ uncles and a plethora of munchkins running around as well) which will keep me busy and hard to keep up with both what's going on at/ near the deadline and all this discussion. Won't be back until Sunday August 4th so I'll miss MOST of the commotion! Oh, and tomorrow before I take off for Munising (I'll be halfway there in Ohio, from Jersey...) I'm going to the National Baseball Card (actually, "Sports") Convention in Cleveland. Gonna be a WILD ONE!!! And I know you will miss me SOOO MUCH!!! 😁 So have a great time... I know I will!

Jim Bowden (sorry if this is already posted...): https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5657415/2024/07/25/mlb-deadline-trade-proposals/ 2. Tigers trade LHP Tarik Skubal to Orioles for OF Heston Kjerstad, 3B Coby Mayo and LHP Cade Povich The Tigers would start the conversation by asking for second baseman Jackson Holliday or catcher Samuel Basallo and the Orioles would immediately reject either one being included in the deal. However, to part with an ace like Skubal, who has two additional years of control, the Tigers would need to get two everyday position players and a starting pitcher they could put right into their rotation. Mayo and Kjerstad would fit nicely behind Riley Greene in the Tigers’ lineup for years to come and Povich should develop into a solid mid-rotation starter. It’s a high price to pay for the Orioles but would give them a postseason rotation of Corbin Burnes, Skubal and Grayson Rodriguez, along with some protection if Burnes doesn’t re-sign in the offseason. PS: I'm good with this trade.