Tiger337

They needed hitting, but they also needed pitching and they had a limited budget. Maybe they did pursue a hitter and they couldn't find one that wanted to sign for what they were able to offer. Or maybe they tried to get one in a trade, but teams did not have a reasonable asking price. Or maybe they decided that Valdez and Jansen would improve their run prevention more than the best available hitter would improve their offense. I was pretty happy with the team going into the season. I was still happy after April, but then the injuries piled up. You should know that I am not a Harris slappy, and I was pretty unhappy with the off-season before they got Valdez. I thought he would make a big difference and he still might. I still don't know what hitter you think they could have gotten that would have changed everyting.

I didn't say everything was fine and wonderful. What I am saying is that they would be a worse organization without analytics. If other teams are using it better than them (I don't know if they are), that would be a problem though.

Yes, that is why I said I was happy that the Tigers had finally embraced analytics, but I wasn't sure whether or not Harris (and company) was a good GM compared to other analytic GMs. The lack of international talent is a problem. I am not sure if that is left over from the previous administration or whether it's an ongoing problem.

They adressed it with McGonigle.

Which star outfielder did you want them to buy at the outfielder store? You don't think the Tigers don't know that a great hitter would improve their team? They probably looked at the players available and determined that improving their pitching would be easier to do given their budget. Again, how can you say that they didn't need pitching given all the injuries they have had? They were in pretty good shape before all the injuries hit both the offense and pitching.

You can never ever have too much pitching! Their strategy was to win with great pitching and an average offense which is a defensible strategy. It was working pretty well until everybody got hurt. How can you say they didn't need pitching when a couple of weeks ago (before Mize came back) they didn't have enough pitchers to get through a series? Which batter did you realistically want them to get? Was it Suarez again? Because he sucks this year too.

I agree with that.

Not sure what any of that has to do with analytics. Most teams are heavily using analytics now, because they can no longer survive without it. You lost that argument a long time ago and I don't know why it's still a debate. Teams ALWAYS need pitching and there was more pitching available at the deadline than hitting. I don't think analytics told them to sign Morton and Paddack. Those guys were signed because they were cheap and would give them innings. By the way, you were begging them to sign Suarez and he sucked after the deadline. Your gut failed you.

I think Hinch is a good tactical manager. I am too much of an introvert to understand why professional athletes need a manager to get them fired up, but I am open to the possibility that the Tigers don't respond well when things are not going well. Then again, things were going just as bad in 2024 and they performed miraculously.

Small sample sizes. You can find plenty of 8 game periods where Carpenter has not hit in his career.

In general, I think players win and lose games, but there are exceptions. Hinch's management in 2024 was brilliant.

I am very happy that Harris turned them into an analytic organization. That is a huge step. Whether or not he is just a run of the mill analytic GM or whether he is a really good analytic GM remains to be seen. I am not sure there is much he can do at the deadline, but, in general, I am waiting see how creative and aggressive he gets in the future.

They were hitting fine as a team before all the injuries, so bringing back Torres, Carpenter and Baez would surely help. bringing back Meadows and Baez would also help their abysmal defense. None of them are great players, but they are better than Short, Perez, Lee and Jung. Losing Skubal kind of hurts too.

If he can hit like Keith and be a great defensive shortstop, then he will be very valuable.

That is already known to be true. Lack of brain function contributes to dementia.

Analytics is exactly what you want to use long term. You lost that argument a long time ago. I guess short-term, you could try different things, but there aren't a hell of a lot of options right now. Or they could fire Hinch and Harris and bring in some old school guys that will shake things up and play the hunches?

What's the message in shaking things up when you've been doing everything according to logic and analytics for three years? Desperation?

You don't need to be a big home run team to win. Tampa Bay and Milwaukee have fewer home runs than the Tigers. They shouldn't be reliant on homeruns playing in Comerica. They need to do other things well though - like pitch, play defense and get on base.

Weak on crime.

Is that how the Tigers came back in 2024?

Maybe not totally, but mostly. I'd rather the Tigers get their injured players back and keep Hinch.

You definitely won't get that from this team. Maybe Valdez LOL

It will be a bad team unless substantial changes are made. That could happen, but it will take a lot.

His daughter can.

I don't think he has a desire to end the world. I think he would like to be celebrated forever after his death. You and I will never celebrate him, but many will. If he ends the world, nobody will be left to remember him.