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I think this is true, but it could also be true that if we did have players with very good bat-to-ball skills, we would want them to use those skills to break out of the slumps and get solid base hits and home runs, not to make outs by bunting guys to the next base.

The correlation of total runs scored to scoring zero runs in an inning is r^2=-0.95; for scoring exactly one run, it's r^2=0.47; and for scoring two or more runs, it's r^2=0.94. Not sure whether that tells us much more.

That might be kind of a tricky thing to consider because that kind of suggests that all three players are sucking so, instead of trying to break out of that like a hitter, lean into that and bunt more like a pitcher hitting. I don't think any player who has had success as a slugger would want to lean into that. If you're suggesting that Hinch should just make them do so, then he would basically have to sell these sluggers on the idea that since they suck right now, at this moment, they should be playing small ball like a pitcher hitting. That might help us win this particular inning this time, but I bet it would also create some friction over what the boss is suggesting about their abilities. I'm guessing that's a big reason sluggers don't turn to bunting and striving for productive outs when they are scuffling.

I think it raises more questions about why it's happening and can anything be done about it, then how many runs does this predict for the Tigers in 2026. Maybe it's more of an inside issue than an outside issue.

So, we have now played two games wearing those cheap-looking amateurish dark blue jerseys, and we are 0-2, getting shut out twice. Take that for what you will. Maybe it's a psychological thing where they think they're back in spring training, so their heads are all about working on process, more than playing to win. 😏

If a team has the potential to be a high-scoring offense, as we seem to have indicated with our own run-scoring rank and our percentage of innings scoring 2+ runs, does it make sense to re-make the offensive strategy entirely to focus on manufacturing a single run at a time because they fall short on scoring exactly one run in an inning? Or, if that's not what you are suggesting, when do you think it would be appropriate times to switch up strategies?

You mean for gambling purposes? Not sure. Asking for a friend? 😉 The only thing I think might be reasonable to take away is that we have the ability to be a top playoff-contending offense, but are simply not scoring consistently. Is this a development issue? A maturity issue? A luck issue? A lack of specific underlying skills issue? There's the $64 question I don't have any insight to.

I don't miss that roster, but I do miss that D on the home jersey.

In light of the two games in which we scored all our runs in a single inning and were shut out for the other eight, I did an interesting query yesterday: during 2025, where did the Tigers rank among teams in terms of percentage of innings in which they scored zero runs; in which they scored exactly one run; and in which they scored two or more runs? Here's where it shook out: No runs: Tigers 72.3% of all innings, ranked 18th (MLB average: 72.7%; Pirates ranked first with 76.7%; Yankees ranked 30th with 69.2%) One run only: Tigers 13.8%, 25th (MLB average: 148%; Diamondbacks 17.4%; Giants 13.0%) Two or more runs: Tigers 14.0%, 4th (MLB average: 12.6%; Yankees 15.3%; Pirates 9.3%) So the Tigers ranked slightly below league average in no runs scored, which is good; almost at the bottom scoring one run only, which, OK; and near the top in scoring two or more runs, which is good. This suggests that as of last season we had the potential for a very good offense overall, and did have some good results, but need to become more consistent so we can be an elite offense like the Yankees or Dodgers. This is probably in part why Harris did not blow up the offense this winter and replace lots of guys with so-called impact bats. Given how young the roster is, he's betting on a big step forward from the kids we have in house to get us to that next level. And they might yet, despite the first six games of the season.

Companies can't risk the hit to productivity in the meantime by freaking out the people they're going to fire and replace with AI, so they are bull****ting their employees into believing their jobs are secure because they will be so much better and more productive at it with AI. This way, companies can get 100% from their employees right up to the minute they push them off the cliff.

These are the times that try fans’ souls.

Man, I just have no confidence when I see Tork come up.

We have entered blowout territory.

I like this Pfaadt kid.

Hey, man, we’re getting some breaks! I forgot what that was like, too!

Oh, that’s right, Jake’s got some pop. I forgot all about that!

Too bad Chris Fetter can’t go out to the pitcher every at bat.

Yeah, there's a fair amount of blue on the card, so it won't be an actual surprise if he faceplants for good on us. I'm pretty sure he'll get at least a month of chances, unless he gives up five-or-so runs in his first two-or-so innings for the next couple or three starts.

Edman pointed out some of the internal financial calculations that likely went into the Dylan Smith decision in another thread.

Absolutely true. If we were heading into a normal winter, I would be interested in seeing what the team's approach to Tork and Riley's first arb hearing would be. I think I'd be surprised if we went both years for both.

Good question. I would say it is substantially up in blood red states, slightly flat to up in purple states, and slightly flat to down in deep blue states. Just a guess.

Market up substantially today, which is good as far as it goes, but never forget what's lingering in the background:

You probably already know that the guys who are better at controlling the zone were Harris acquisitions, and those who are worse at it were not. The roster we still have includes the best of what he inherited, and I'm pretty sure not many of those guys will be the long-term solution he has in mind for this franchise. He's had to keep them because he's always has to field a team today, but I would bet that Harris never envisioned Riley or Tork being the cornerstone of the perenniallly-contending Tigers franchise. Once the roster becomes more fully his doing, I think it will become more obvious how much better they control the zone than the team we see today.

Super easy to support when it's not your ox getting gored, I guess. Should The United States Be A Christian Nation? Support By State

Here are a few Easter maps: This map shows the possibility of a "white Easter": https://brilliantmaps.com/wp-content/uploads/WhiteChristmasUSA.jpg