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You are probably on to something here. Taking a look at last year’s result for relief pitching from August 11 on, the Tigers had the lowest BABIP (.230) by over 20 points; the second highest LOB% (78.0%); and were 8th in lowest HR/FB (8.3%). All are markers of luck, which helped lead to us having by far the highest RA9-WAR (the results-based WAR) with 6.5, far ahead of Cleveland and Milwaukee, who were tied for second with a mere 4.0. That said, the Tigers were also #2 in regular WAR (the process-based WAR) with 3.3, behind only Milwaukee at 3.6. We achieved this because while we were #30 of 30 in relief pitcher strikeout rate after 8/11, we were also tops in walk rate and #7 in HR rate. This led to us being 5th in FIP, even though we were 13th in xFIP (the quality of contact FIP). TL;DR: even though we did get quite lucky with the results from our relievers after 8/11 last year, we were also very good underneath the hood. BTW: in the second half of this year, our RA9-WAR from relievers is 2.2, 6th-best in baseball, even though our regular WAR is 21st at 0.3. That’s because we’ve been 3rd in BABIP and 4th in LOB. Either we’ve been nothing but lucky in this way for two years in a row, or there’s something we have that makes this happen—maybe defense?

Good call on Dirks and Benetti. Jason may be trying to one-up Dirks to maintain his booth alpha status, who knows. I agree Bobby could trim 5% or 10% off his delivery speed, although i do think he’s better now than when he started. Sometimes when I hear him he reminds me of the one fast-talking DJ at the end of The Sky is Falling on the Songs For the Deaf album by Queens.

Maybe Kahnle just needed a garbage-time stretch to work things out. Hoping that did the trick here.

I like Bobby Scales better as a match for Benetti. They’re close enough in age to connect really well and they don’t go overboard with cultural references.

That depends. You still talking about Epstein?

Black guy with no American roots trumps everyone with the slavery bower. What a country.

Oh for the love of …

Maybe the server is going through a constant rebooting loop at the moment.

It should be 2-0 but OK, I’ll take it.

You mean this Thomas Massie?

It’s really not even a death sentence, is it? Death sentences are typically carried out in controlled circumstances like electric chairs and gas chambers and medical gurneys or even prison yards. This was more like open murder.

Just talk about it and talk about it and talk about it some more, then, when it happens, everyone's like, yeah, well, they said they would, shrug.

Next up: Nobel Peace Prize!

They are undertaking efforts to discourage EVs and move people back toward IC. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/unleashing-american-energy/ https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/trump-pushes-for-more-oil-and-gas-production-and-a-roll-back-of-climate-initiatives https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/trump-hits-brakes-electric-vehicle-growth-now-2025-07-28/ https://www.heritage.org/government-regulation/commentary/good-news-drivers-its-the-end-the-road-the-ev-mandate

I honestly, truly am starting to believe they actually discuss what is the worst thing they can do to hurt and upset the most people possible before choosing the thing.

Also, are you paying $4.99 for a dozen eggs? You are if you go to the Kroger Mariano's in Chicago. #TiredOfWinning

He'll have to pick one, I guess?

First blush would be to say what about the Brewers, but while the baseball punditry are still referring to them as a juggernaut, they have gone 7-11 in their last 18 games. It happens to everyone.

Not meaning you here, but so many people have opinions about whether it's pitching or hitting that wins games. It's not one or the other. It's both. You can't have one without the other. If a team has the best pitching in baseball, they're not going to win squat if they can't hit, and the same the other way others. It's all a big deal. A team needs to be able to at least do one at an average level if they're going to win having among the best of the other. They haven't been as good at either since the break, but the reason the Tigers have the best record in the American League is because they are 8th in run scoring and 13th in run prevention for the year. That's a pretty good combination to have when it comes to winning games, and honestly, had you told me back in August 2022 that would be where the Harris would have the Tigers in September 2025, along with the most loaded system in Baseball waiting in the wings, I would have fell out of my chair in disbelief.

TBF, Mize was the consensus 1/1 pick of that draft. None of the other players who may have been briefly considered have had much better careers, and the best careers from that draft so far are Nico Hoerner (#18 overall), Cal Raleigh (3rd round), Jeremy Pena (3rd), Steven Kwan (5th), and Jarren Duran (7th). Spencer Schwellenbach was a 34th rounder that draft, for cry eye. You just never know how someone is going to develop vis a vis their own ceiling and how they fit in the system they end up with.

I know how people here like to think Harris and Hinch butt heads, as I guess they imagine all GMs and manager do. maybe you think so, too, and maybe you don't. But I happen to think they are in lockstep as to who comes onto the team and how they get used. It would not surprise me if Hinch gets veto power over players Harris suggests they might bring onto the team. I think they make a potent combination and we will rue the day one or the other or both of them leave.

Some people can't, anyway. 😏

Elon has more money than Trump, and Trump always looks up to those people. Stephen Miller is the hardcore loyalist who will never waver following through on Trump's worst instincts, and then some. Within an army of sycophants working for Trump, Miller is the cut above that Trump values. I don't believe Christie ever worked for Trump's administration?