This game came up on a youtube I was watching. Jose Valverde's 4 run implosion in the 9th inning of an ALCS game 1 will largely be lost to history. They won the game and the series.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA201210130.shtml
Not pressure from the fanbase. Most people know the team is horrible and the organization needs another multiple year rebuild. You shouldn't waste professional developmental at-bats on old guys who won't help you in '24-'26. Playing the guys I mentioned above aren't going to help you next season. They're just wasting time.
I'd agree if we had a bunch of guys with a .700 OPS. They are willfully putting together a lineup with guys who are below .600 and have a 3 month sample size. This is still a major league product and they just haven't held anyone accountable for poor offensive performance. We know Schoop is not going to find something; We know that Marisnick will never hit and Haase is probably just lost. This is still purportedly a major league product. You have to at least demonstrate you care about improving it in season. The clearly don't and are willing to live with whatever damage it does to fan support.
Addendum: Greene and Baddoo are coming back. That will stem the tide a bit.
Candelario is 29 and had a terrible season in 2022. Both he and the Tigers needed a change of scenery. Are you investing 3-4 years in a guy who is on the back end of the aging curve and not consistent?
A 1 year deal to make a terrible offense incrementally better doesn't do much good.
I think Harris will lean into heavy run prevention with his initial team build. They will invest in pitching and toolsy guys who can defend. Power and slugging will come from internal development. And their system is bad.
The Tigers have told you that their team is garbage with this offense. They know the team needs a huge overhaul. They don't feel like wasting time trying to make this offense better.
There is no in between contact with Tork. It’s a stretch of homers then pop ups and strikeouts. He just does not get on base enough when there is no slugging.
Hinch was really feeling himself during the 971 interview. He loves all the late game pinch hitting. It’s a bit of a make work but he can show his genius.