Tenacious D

Just now, Tenacious D said:

2 minutes ago, oblong said:

Over/Under on # of Miggy HR's in 2023?  4.

 

Yeah, I think the ghost of Norm Cash can rest easily.

F Shep.  He still sucks.  If he were really brave, he would have said something during Al’s Reign of Terror.  Going off now could only endear him to Harris, who knows he has inherited a mess. That’s not courage—it’s pandering. I’m kind of shocked by the reactions here and that no one else sees this.

1 hour ago, lordstanley said:

Yes, sweeping changes. Right down to the Motownforums.com level.  No more room for n’er do wells or people who go on a hot streak of several good posts one week but then say nothing comprehensible for the next month. 

I don’t like where this is going

which means we'll win this game, because, it's 2022.  Anyone feeling sad about the season ending?  I'm relieved to get this behind us--one of the worst seasons I've endured over 45 years of being a Tigers fan.  Probably because expectations were a bit higher.

So, their backup catcher gets the win.  Our All-Star closer with the loss.

Pretty embarrassing turn of events if we lose this one this way.

That 10th inning was a microcosm of our offensive performance this year.  The backup C faces 5 Tigers and doesn’t give up a hit or walk.

Does Brian Garcia have a spot on the 40-man this offseason?  Between a few starts here and in Toledo, seems like he has reinvented himself into potentially useful SP depth.

5 hours ago, chasfh said:

So, I took a look at all the Hall of Famers who went in as hitters, not pitchers, and I wanted to know who had the worst final seven years of their career going in. Since these guys went in for hitting, instead of using WAR, which includes defense, I am going to use offensive WAR (oWAR), since it contemplates only the offense part.

Here are the ten worst seven-year offensive swan songs by a hitter before going into the Hall:

Ray Schalk is the worst with a mere 1.7 oWAR for his entire final seven years, but he was definitely not known for his hitting, so really, no surprise.

Al Simmons did go in for his hitting, but it was definitely for his first eleven seasons, and oh, what a stretch that was. He'd had almost 2,200 hits already, 240 of which were home runs, but his batting average is what really stood out: after his eleventh season, he was standing at .354 lifetime. He was considered to have had a puncher's chance at Ty Cobb's lifetime mark.

But then, starting with his 14th season, he was getting old, and he started getting hurt a lot, and he limped through that final seven-year period with a .278/.328/.431 line across 1,600 PA, resulting in an oWAR of 3.0.

I bring this up because for the past six seasons, Miggy, in a little more than 2,400 plate appearances, has slashed .262/.329/.386, which results in an oWAR of -0.2. So, unless he has a Pujols-like renaissance next season, Miggy is certain to walk backwards into the Hall with the worst final seven years of any Hall of Fame hitter ever—worse even than non-hitter Ray Schalk.

 

Really expected to see Tram on that list.  He kind of limped to the finish line.

1 minute ago, RandyMarsh said:

The Phillies clinch the playoffs for the first time since 2011 which now puts us and the Angels in a tie for longest current drought in all of MLB. 

Just looked at the Phillies box score—a lot of pop in their lineup. Except for Nick C, who put up pretty pedestrian numbers this season.  He can’t blame that ballpark, though.  

I've liked West coast games since I was a kid.  I rarely make it to the end of our games scheduled in EST, so this won't change things.

LaRussa officially retiring (again).  I hope his health is OK, but he really tarnished his legacy (at least to me) with the last two seasons.  That was a formidable roster of young talent, and nothing to show for it. I know they had injuries, but all teams experience that.  I suspect with a strong manager that the ‘23 team will perform well—the talent is still there.

5 minutes ago, Hart said:

I would put Torkelson in a different category than our disappointments.  Everybody in baseball thought he was a top prospect and while top prospects often miss, we are only one year removed from that status.  Besides trying to find somebody to help him reach that potential, the Tigers have a tough decision what to do with first base next year.  You can pencil him in at first base and risk having some of the worst production at a premium hitting position.  You can send him to AAA but it doesn't feel like he has a lot to gain from going there at this point.  You can try and upgrade by signing a veteran on a short contract but then you block him.  

Ultimately, I think we are stuck rolling the dice with him next year.  It's probably worth getting Haase some work at first base in the offseason though so you have a backup option.  

 

Maybe another reason to bring back one of Candy or Schoop as 1B insurance.  Doesn’t make sense to acquire anyone to play there.

10 minutes ago, gehringer_2 said:

he has plenty of power, but 99% of the time his lower half is so far in front of his swing that by the time the ball gets there he is all upper body. The HR today he kept his lower half back and was in full rotation as he hit the ball. He could be a good hitter if he did that all the time. And if pigs had wings.....

Coolbaugh can fix that <ducks>

2 minutes ago, gehringer_2 said:

no way Victor Reyes should have only 2 HR in 300 AB.

Dude is 6’5” and 215

View from RF

I don’t think the roster spot is that big a deal—we have enough position versatility to offset.  The real issue is needing to give him actual AB’s, which is a problem.

16 minutes ago, HeyAbbott said:

I don't understand how it would do the team more harm to the club to cut Miggy for 2023. I suspect that it might not go over well with the Latin players, and that would be my only reason for keeping him around. It is time to move past the Miggy era right now. If he is going to stick around, make him the 2nd assistant hitting coach or something, but I don't want him on the active roster.

I think it's less about how teammates would perceive a move like this.  I think they want him to leave on his terms as a reward for all of his contributions and milestones.  They likely don't want to risk any negativity/bad blood--they've come this far.

37 minutes ago, mtutiger said:

Brendon Davis time lol

Daz and Short are both on the 40-man.

Curious if anyone is excited about this stretch and can find any positives from it?

15 minutes ago, oblong said:

Unless he does something very drastic like go vegan I don't see it happening.  When you get to 40 you have to make substantial changes to do what he is saying.  He already doesn't drink, I presume, so unless he's just pigging out on fast food and junk food it will take something like that.... to lose weight at this point you need diet and exercise. Not just one or the other and I assume he's getting a decent dose of both.  

I suspect during the off season he's a good boy because it's training time.  You can control your day.   Spend a lot of time at the gym.   Once the season starts,  you get the long days and odd hours and time on the road.  He's probably predisposed to just being a big fella.

 

this foray certainly didn't help

7 minutes ago, RatkoVarda said:

Meadows or Carpenter can fake it in RF for 2023? with Greene in CF; and Baddoo, Meadows and Carpenter in LF? That's a really bad defensive OF so not a long term solution. Still want Harris to get a RH power bat for RF, even just Hunter Renfroe or someone like that. Move on from Willi and Reyes.

Parker Meadows (L) may join the mix in 2024 (or late 2023 if things go well).

 

I'd bet Harris goes outside of the org to get another outfielder for next season.

36 minutes ago, gehringer_2 said:

I just saw a quote that he's determined to come back next year in better condition to stand up to a full season. I don't how he plans to accomplish that with his mobility so limited, but I wish him all the luck in the world.

hate to be cynical, but he has stated this in the past.  In addition to his debilitating health issues, he seems to more closely resemble a 40-and over men's softball player.  The extra weight certainly isn't helping.

20 minutes ago, bobrob2004 said:

If the Tigers win today, they'll overtake KC for fourth place.

I don't love this.  I'm not a fan of tanking anymore, in general, but what value is there in leapfrogging teams at this point in the season?  I think we've won 7 of 8 games, and I still feel lousy about this team.  I'd prefer the better odds going into the draft lottery.