kdog

Until Keider Montero’s victory against the Twins on Wednesday, who was the last Venezuelan-born rookie starter to come up through the Tigers' system and win a start for Detroit? A. Jose Alvarez B. Jair Jurrjens C. Wil Ledezma D. Felipe Lira

It does not bother me if they were manipulating service time. If the team was good, it might.

Wentz is another sunk cost. We know what he is...but we probably don't have a left handed alternative.

we probably don't right now. But the attitude that we have to endure Maeda as some sort of penance for spending is not great. I understand not being able to do anything with Baez. But once they have options, having Maeda pitch is a waste of time..similar to Canha, Urshela, and McKinstry in the lineup. It's more about winding out the clock on his deal...not competing or winning. He'll either be DFA now or at the end of spring training next year.

They have a narrow path to winning games. The starter has to be decent and give up four or fewer runs. After the game, Hinch said they have to find his command. A bad start has been an aberration this season for the most part. But they are doing a bullpen game on Saturday and Flaherty is uncertain with his health and trade possibilities. So they are going to need more guys with or without Maeda. Blurb from Cody's article:

Looking at game logs, he’s gotten into the 6th inning two times in his last 10 starts. I’m not sure he can eat innings.

The game has been mercifully called. Tigers haven’t won consecutive games since June 2nd and 3rd.

Aside from the die hards, they are in who cares mode already.

lol…that is a beating. Not sure he can get another start in the near future.

10 base runners in under 4 innings…just terrible. Put him on the dl or dfa.

Maeda will need 10 runs of support today.

And if he listens and takes coaching, he's ahead of Manning. Or maybe they have decided that Manning can't be trusted even if he's trying hard. Either way, I want MM to get a lot of starts in the majors once Flaherty is gone and Maeda is hurt again/DFA.

Faedo created his own mess and got out it lol.

Just about every starter on this road trip has given them a chance to win. Flaherty was shaky in the first Anaheim game. They've lost because the bullpen blew it or the offense failed.

Montero has gotten 5 whiffs on his slider(23 pitches)

Kelly turned a 96 MPH 4 seamer to the pull field....a skill that most of this team doesn't have currently.

Carson Kelly has been their second best hitter lol.

Matt Manning is pitching for Toledo tonight. He would have been lined up again for this start if the Tigers thought he was making any progress.

You're talking in the abstract. The Tigers need people to watch their games and buy tickets. The other thing I would ask, have they actually fixed hitting development? Or would we see a repeat of 2024 where every single young hitter is failing?

This is a check in the Scott Harris column.

Flaherty's second back injection certainly hurts the cause. The rest of the guys they have are spare parts and throw ins.

Tigers blurb on Kiley McDaniel ESPN column($$)

That's what I'm waiting for...Plan A hasn't worked out; What is the pivot? Re-rebuild or see if you can make moves that will get this team reasonably competitive for next year in the Skubal window.