gkelly

I would say it is more being an unethical, cheating low-life...or not having any control over the clubhouse and being inept in reigning in his players. It's beyond comprehension how he didn't receive a lifetime suspension. And with the view that managers really don't have that much control over anything, what was the point of the Tigers even hiring him?

Does it baffle you how the Tigers can trade All-Stars and Future HOFers for a dumpster of trash?

Torkelson 13-70, with 5 extra base hits. Obviously I haven't seen any of his at bats but I wonder if he just needs to start from the beginning with his mechanics?

What's the difference watching him try to jog down to first base after a weakly hit ball to shortstop or watching any of the other players on the roster have horrible at bats. You really think anyone other than Greene or Baez will even be on this roster in 2 years?

He doesn't bring anything more or less than any other offensive player on the roster; outside of Baez and Greene, there isn't an offensive guy on this team that is a legit major leaguer. This team has been playing out the string since the end of May. I don't care one way or the other if Cabrera ever plays again, but what difference does it make if he or some other guy who can't hit major league pitching plays? Some posters make it sound like Cabrera is blocking some amazing guy down in the minors from getting playing time. But yea, it is much more exciting watching Badoo, Cameron, Schoop, Candelario, Clemens, Barnhardt, etc. go out there and play riveting baseball. Anyone that has shown anything in the minors would have had his chance in Detroit by now. All I am saying is maybe they could show a bit of respect for him. The 3 greatest Tigers are Cobb, Kaline, and Cabrera. Avila and Chris Ilitch made sure the last few productive years of his career were spent on garbage teams battling it out for 4th place. This team isn't going to be competitive for at least 5 years, so Cabrera hitting .260 or some other guy who wouldn't be on the big league roster of 29 other major league teams striking out and looking overmatched isn't going to make any difference at all.

The problem with having such a long stretch of pathetic baseball is that a whole generation of fans tend to lose interest in baseball. I grew up in the 90s and, although I loved to play baseball, I never followed the Tigers because what the hell was the point? They were a 3rd rate franchise always battling it out for last place in their division. Other than the home run record chase, I really didn't pay any attention to major league baseball at all until around 2010. I am near the point of not caring anymore. I might catch a game here or there. I am in a fantasy baseball league so that is really the only reason I pay attention to baseball at all. My son has no interest in watching or following the Tigers. Mike Ilitch didn't care if the franchise ever won for the first 15 years he owned them and his son has zero interest in building a winner. The Fords don't care if the Lions ever win and I only catch the highlights now to see how many dumb things Dan Campbell will do during a game. I don't care about the NBA or hockey, so I am pretty much done with pro sports. I am not saying this to get pity , but because I think a lot of people feel this way: why spend any time on a franchise if the owners don't really care and don't try to win. The owners are going to make money regardless of the level of competence of the product they put out there because of the television contracts, but they are driving away potential young fans and people like me who can certainly find better things to do with my time.

Why put Cabrera on the IL? Some people still want to watch him play before he retires. Who else does this franchise have to take his place? Willi Castro? Some other guy who hits around .200 with no power? So many options. Just let him play because this team isn't doing anything for the next 5 years.

There is no point in being mad at Avila any longer. He has already proven he can't perform at least in a below average capacity at his position. I believe he was trying to the best of his abilities and skills, he just isn't capable. Now it is all on Ilitch's shoulders; it's his fault now for allowing him to continue at his position.

A lot of those guys only made it to MLB because of injuries or pure ineptitude by the major league roster. In a more competent organization, those guys never make it to the majors. Many are there by necessity. So why yes, they came up and played on the Tigers, but what did they accomplish while they were on the roster, and what is their long term outlook? I prefer quality over quantity.

In 2027 you can post a thread about how much better those prospects are than the prospects of 2021-2022 that eventually busted out. Of course those guys look awful now because none of them did much in the majors. If they had all turned out to be at least average MLB players, you would think differently.

The St. Louis Cardinals have had 1 season under .500 this century. Their payroll is usually somewhere between 10th-15th in the league; they don't spend like the Dodgers, Yankees, Mets, etc, yet they spend their money wisely. They are a mid-size market. The don't ever rebuild but always have a pipeline of competent pitchers coming up from the minors to help keep them in games. They don't overspend on big time players but aren't afraid to sign a guy to a reasonable contract. They always have great attendance because fans know they will put a quality product on the field. St. Louis, to me, is the best run and ideal franchise in pro sports. This is what the Tigers need to shoot for.

The old timers tell me that Williams and Musial were the best players they ever saw. I think a good ballplayer in any era would find a way to be a good player in any other era. Williams was obsessed with hitting. If he had that attitude today with the proper training, nutrition, etc. he would be just fine. He was 6-3, 205 lbs in his playing day. I imagine he would lift weights, train hard, etc. He also had 20-10 eyesight which would be a huge advantage today. He ended up with a .344 average, .482 OBP, and .634 slugging percentage. He did manage to hit 521 home runs while missing 5 years in his prime years while averaging around 36 home runs a year in the years around those. Had he not missed those seasons, you are talking possibly around 700 home runs, 3500 hits, 2400 rbi, 2700 BB, 2400 runs. He won 2 MVPs and got screwed out of 3 other MVPs because he wasn't a Yankee. He would have been a contender in those missing years as well. Little doubt he would easily be considered the greatest player of all time had he not missed those years.

I seem to remember his head was removed form his body and the place where he was frozen lost power and he thawed out...

He certainly doesn't have a lot of skills left, but the FO and ownership isn't going to release him. Whether he embarrasses himself or not, he wouldn't be the first over the hill superstar who did that.

I understand that. Nowhere did I ever say he wasn't going to get paid. Cabrera has always been a loyal Detroit Tiger and the organization isn't going to embarrass him by releasing him, etc. If the Tigers had any chance of being a contender next season, maybe they ask him to retire, etc. but it really isn't going to make any difference at all because they will be fortunate to win 65-70 games, they aren't going to sign a big bat to play DH next season, and there isn't anyone in the minors that Cabrera will be blocking.

They aren't going to DFA Cabrera. This isn't the Detroit Lions who treat their franchise players with contempt. The Tigers will be lucky to win 65 games next season, so I doubt if Ilitch really cares. They will just ride with him, let him DH 110 games or so and have a nice little ceremony for him at the end of the season.

I believe some posters have selective reading ability.

I definitely think it will be an amiable parting. I don't think the organization wants conflict or drama over his retirement/leaving. Cabrera isn't going to play after his contract is over and there isn't any other team that would pick him up. He can't get around on fastballs anymore and doesn't hit the ball with any authority. But with the Tigers not being a serious playoff contender next year, maybe the FO doesn't care about his performance. At worst, I think they talk him into retiring at the All Star break if he is really struggling.

The Tigers aren't going to force him out. He seems like he enjoys playing still. Do you think Ilitch really cares? He's going to pay the guy anyway, plus throwing out a beloved icon hasn't really worked out in the past for the franchise. It's not like they are going to be contenders next year and who else do they have in their organization? He'll play out next year and when his contract is over retire, they will have Miggy day for the fans...maybe a nice retirement tour.

There are always arguments for and against anyone in the draft. Mize didn't exactly have the eye popping velocity that other pitchers do but was seen as being more MLB ready than others. There were some alternate options such as Bohm, India, or Bart. With the way the game is transitioning to starters basically being 5 or sometimes 6 inning pitchers, it might make more sense to go with the bat potential. The main argument against Torkelson is he is a 1st baseman. Everyone it seems (well except Detroit) has a decent hitting first baseman. Among starting first basemen, only Eric Hosmer was drafted really high in the draft (3rd). Naylor and Cron were the other guys drafted in the first 30 pics (both in the mid-teens). It's a bad return on investment to pick a 1st baseman that high when you can find talent later in the draft or sign international players; plus they can't transition to another position because they aren't athletic enough. I think Tork has a long road to travel, and hopefully he keeps a good attitude and work ethic. I think the Tigers should consider letting him work through his issues in the minors next season for as long as it takes. The guy is only 22, so even a full year working on stuff in the minors might even be in his best interests. I know fans want him up in the majors, but the Tigers aren't going to be contenders for a few years minimum anyway, and it's more important to get your top prospect the confidence and develop sound mechanics for the future. I'm not saying either one of them were bad choices or not the consensus pick, but there were other options.

It's fashionable to say old, desolate cities such as Detroit are glamourous now because one or two blocks have been fixed up. I guess the abandoned homes, crack houses, and packs of stray dogs roaming around the streets are trendy now.

Miggy will be back next year. What's it really going to hurt? This organization has no offensive player, absolutely no one that is a legit average or above average MLB player that is on the major league roster or close to being in the majors. But the rebuild is over. ` It's hard to get mad at Avila because he has already proven he is awful at his job, but it isn't his fault he is still employed. Ilitch isn't going to fire him and pay two people a salary.

That is a valid observation.

I'm pulling for Avila to draft a pitcher with average velocity and a penchant for arm trouble or A player who is locked into one position because he isn't athletic enough to play anywhere else.