2024 - 2025 Detroit Tigers Offseason

[monkeytargets39]

Btw….the start of last year had lots and lots of playing time going to folks like Gio Urshela, Carson Kelly, Javy Baez, Matt Manning, Alex Lange, Akil Baddoo, Joey Wentz, Shelby Miller, and Mark Canha.

 

Once all of those players were dealt/injured/released, we started winning.  So I wouldn’t necessarily say that we couldn’t win with the current group we have—most of them just don’t have an established track record.

[1776]

19 minutes ago, 1984Echoes said:

PS: I officially retired as of yesterday. So I joined a few of you guys...

A huge congratulations to you, seriously!

Now you can put your time & energy into getting the MTS Board members lodging set up in Lakeland for spring training visitors. 😉

[4hzglory]

1 hour ago, monkeytargets39 said:

Btw….the start of last year had lots and lots of playing time going to folks like Gio Urshela, Carson Kelly, Javy Baez, Matt Manning, Alex Lange, Akil Baddoo, Joey Wentz, Shelby Miller, and Mark Canha.

 

Once all of those players were dealt/injured/released, we started winning.  So I wouldn’t necessarily say that we couldn’t win with the current group we have—most of them just don’t have an established track record.

And a version of Meadows that wasn’t close to the Meadows when he came back up.  (And Tork to an extent).  As well as Greene and Carpenter out for extended time at the same time.

 

I don’t think we will ever see another comeback like August-September, but hopefully we don’t see performances like April-mid July either.  We finished close to the top end of where I expected going into 2024, (77-85 wins) just took a crazy way to get there.

[Sports_Freak]

1 hour ago, monkeytargets39 said:

Btw….the start of last year had lots and lots of playing time going to folks like Gio Urshela, Carson Kelly, Javy Baez, Matt Manning, Alex Lange, Akil Baddoo, Joey Wentz, Shelby Miller, and Mark Canha.

 

Once all of those players were dealt/injured/released, we started winning.  So I wouldn’t necessarily say that we couldn’t win with the current group we have—most of them just don’t have an established track record.

Yeah, we got hot after the trade deadline when we traded all the veteran players. Amazing. But we wouldn't have made the playoffs if the Twins hadn't fell off a cliff. It was a perfect storm.

[Arlington]

Twins wouldn't have needed to fall off the cliff like the Lions (sorry) had the Tigers not gone 8 under.  The May Tigers and the September Tigers just don't compare.  Just look at up the middle defense.  Sweeny was above average, Keith improved tremendously and needless to say,  Parker.  Defense after Urshela might have dropped at 3rd.  Limited action by Carpenter and Green.   Maybe the only position that didn't see an overall 2nd half improvement might have been catcher.  Dingler might have been a step down from Kelly. 

What should propel the Tigers in 2025 is pitching.  We have a possible lock down 1 and 2 in Skubal and Jobe, and then 8 more starters who could fill the other three slots.  There is a lot of pitching talent in the minors who could be part of an effective fluid staff.  And we have numerous plan Bs and probably plan Cs and Ds with the talent to accomplish them.

[1776]

I’m going to be a bit cautious on expectations for Jobe this year. There will likely be an adjustment period for him at the ML level. 
If Cobb can stay healthy (big if) I’m optimistic about his season. 
I’m on the fence as to whether or not we really need another starter. 
The infield is a concern for me. Lots of questions to answer in spring training. 
ST games are one month away. 

[romad1]

2 hours ago, 1984Echoes said:

PS: I officially retired as of yesterday. So I joined a few of you guys...

Congrats!

[gehringer_2]

7 minutes ago, 1776 said:

I’m going to be a bit cautious on expectations for Jobe this year. There will likely be an adjustment period for him at the ML level. 

Yup.  You can have all the stuff in the world, but you have to have command.

His walk rates last year were too high. Certainly something everyone assumes will fall into line, but he hasn't proven it yet.

[1984Echoes]

3 hours ago, 1776 said:

A huge congratulations to you, seriously!

Now you can put your time & energy into getting the MTS Board members lodging set up in Lakeland for spring training visitors. 😉

Working on it...!

[Tiger337]

18 hours ago, chasfh said:

I don't know, I'm just not sold on years and years of Jack Flaherty. If you take a look at his record, it reads: cup of coffee; good year; great year; crap year, injured year; crap injured year; meh year; good year. So if we were to give him, I don't know, 5/110 just to agree to long-term it in Detroit, we can be certain he'll have some injured years and meh years and long stretches of crap, and probably also a good year, or maybe even two. But I just don't see him reeling off anything like five straight years of 30+ starts with well-above average ERA+.

If we were to sign him, I would root hard for him, but we also wouldn't be able to say he himself didn't warn us.

It's reported that he might take a short-term deal, presumably to prove he's for real and get a bigger deal next year.  If that's the case, what beter place to prove himself than the combination of Comerica and Fetter?

[IdahoBert]

5 hours ago, 1984Echoes said:

PS: I officially retired as of yesterday. So I joined a few of you guys...

Cheers. Glad for you. In May I will be closing in on eight years. One of the ways to avoid getting older is to hang out with younger people, which is something I do, although nobody gets my jokes. They just don’t get my subtle cultural references, although I get to pick up theirs to a certain extent. 

[monkeytargets39]

4 hours ago, 4hzglory said:

And a version of Meadows that wasn’t close to the Meadows when he came back up.  (And Tork to an extent).  As well as Greene and Carpenter out for extended time at the same time.

 

I don’t think we will ever see another comeback like August-September, but hopefully we don’t see performances like April-mid July either.  We finished close to the top end of where I expected going into 2024, (77-85 wins) just took a crazy way to get there.

*IF* Meadows plays like he did after his call up, and Greene/Carpenter stay healthy all year, and if Vierling, Wenceel, and Gleyber can play like they did last year- then I think our offense is solid enough to contend for the division when you consider our pitching depth.

 

Also, the Twins have done nothing and the Guardians have shipped out several guys without bringing a ton back.  The Royals are now the team to beat in the division IMO

[1776]

1 hour ago, IdahoBert said:

Cheers. Glad for you. In May I will be closing in on eight years. 

Wow! This May will mark eight years for me as well. Time flies. 

[oblong]

I am also a total Lions bandwagoner.  I admit it.  But I root hard as some close friends and my old tiger season ticket partner are lifelong fans with season tickets. I asked him once “if you could pick one, Lions Super Bowl or Tigers WS?”  He claimed he couldn’t say but I think he was being polite.   
 

that game hurt and I couldn’t really find a Tiger analogy from recent times. Maybe game 4 of the 2006 WS.  Game 2 of the 2013 ALCS did too but…. Its just game 2

im sorry Lion fans.  I can’t pretend my sadness compares to yours. 

[oblong]

8 hours ago, 1984Echoes said:

PS: I officially retired as of yesterday. So I joined a few of you guys...

Congratulations. 
It’s been about a year since I started really thinking about this. Something about turning 50. 

[IdahoBert]

6 hours ago, oblong said:

I am also a total Lions bandwagoner.  I admit it.  But I root hard as some close friends and my old tiger season ticket partner are lifelong fans with season tickets. I asked him once “if you could pick one, Lions Super Bowl or Tigers WS?”  He claimed he couldn’t say but I think he was being polite.   
 

that game hurt and I couldn’t really find a Tiger analogy from recent times. Maybe game 4 of the 2006 WS.  Game 2 of the 2013 ALCS did too but…. Its just game 2

im sorry Lion fans.  I can’t pretend my sadness compares to yours. 

Yes. Identifying your own fate and sense of self with a sports team has an exclusivity to it that nurtures as much as it disables. If it can propel you to the stars, it also has to propel you into genuine misery. There’s something deeply tribal about it. 

 

[Tenacious D]

9 hours ago, oblong said:

I am also a total Lions bandwagoner.  I admit it.  But I root hard as some close friends and my old tiger season ticket partner are lifelong fans with season tickets. I asked him once “if you could pick one, Lions Super Bowl or Tigers WS?”  He claimed he couldn’t say but I think he was being polite.   
 

that game hurt and I couldn’t really find a Tiger analogy from recent times. Maybe game 4 of the 2006 WS.  Game 2 of the 2013 ALCS did too but…. Its just game 2

im sorry Lion fans.  I can’t pretend my sadness compares to yours. 

I think it’s Game 163 for me, since it was a single elimination game.

[Edman85]

10 hours ago, oblong said:

I am also a total Lions bandwagoner.  I admit it.  But I root hard as some close friends and my old tiger season ticket partner are lifelong fans with season tickets. I asked him once “if you could pick one, Lions Super Bowl or Tigers WS?”  He claimed he couldn’t say but I think he was being polite.   
 

that game hurt and I couldn’t really find a Tiger analogy from recent times. Maybe game 4 of the 2006 WS.  Game 2 of the 2013 ALCS did too but…. Its just game 2

im sorry Lion fans.  I can’t pretend my sadness compares to yours. 

[papalawrence]

27 minutes ago, Edman85 said:

Two biggest reasons why I effin hate Boston and always will

 

[Motor City Sonics]

19 hours ago, 1984Echoes said:

PS: I officially retired as of yesterday. So I joined a few of you guys...

Congrats.

 

I love my job, so right now I can't imagine retiring.  I'm 60, so I guess I will have to start thinking about it, but I don't know that I could stand it.   What would I do with myself?   I would be totally lost.    I'm very work-driven now.   My hobby and my job are basically the same.  

My dad couldn't stand it.  He went and got part time jobs moving cars around for Enterprise.  I don't even think he cared about getting paid - he just needed a goal.  

How will you fill the hours?     

[gehringer_2]

13 minutes ago, Motor City Sonics said:

I love my job, so right now I can't imagine retiring

I always felt that way too, and then when I realized I didn't any more the decision was easy.

[CMRivdogs]

Retired a while ago. Having more fun volunteering than I ever did working. The pay isn't great, but the rewards...

[Motor City Sonics]

35 minutes ago, gehringer_2 said:

I always felt that way too, and then when I realized I didn't any more the decision was easy.

I started my current job on May 9, 2023 and I have not taken 2 consecutive days off since then.    I do some work from home during the weekend.   We're pretty short staffed so I really can't.   But I have not taken a week off at all.    Even when I had Covid in Oc........sorry, ROCKtober 2023, I did not take a day off, I worked from home for 3 weeks.   Really only felt terrible for one day, the rest was like a bad cold.      I probably shouldn't do this.    I could just hit a wall.    But the thought of not having goals to reach or distractions to fill my attention is downright scary to me.    Scarier than the prospect of having my Social Security taken away.    I am a pretty depressed person and I need things to focus on.    I could happily live pretty frugally.  I don't care about having the biggest and best things.   My car is 10 years old now.  It runs fine, as cool as an electric microbus would be, I don't really need it.   It's the unfilled time that's so scary. 

 

 

  That's it - retire and then LIVE in a VW microbus and travel around, do the Major and Minor League stadium tour.    Get a sticker from every major and minor league team and put them all over the microbus.  The Baseball Bus !       

Edited 19 hours ago by Motor City Sonics

[Tigermojo]

7 minutes ago, Motor City Sonics said:

I started my current job on May 9, 2023 and I have not taken 2 consecutive days off since then.    I do some work from home during the weekend.   We're pretty short staffed so I really can't.   But I have not taken a week off at all.    Even when I had Covid in Oc........sorry, ROCKtober 2023, I did not take a day off, I worked from home for 3 weeks.   Really only felt terrible for one day, the rest was like a bad cold.      I probably shouldn't do this.    I could just hit a wall.    But the thought of not having goals to reach or distractions to fill my attention is downright scary to me.    Scarier than the prospect of having my Social Security taken away.    I am a pretty depressed person and I need things to focus on.    I could happily live pretty frugally.  I don't care about having the biggest and best things.   My car is 10 years old now.  It runs fine, as cool as an electric microbus would be, I don't really need it.   It's the unfilled time that's so scary. 

 

 

  That's it - retire and then LIVE in a VW microbus and travel around, do the Major and Minor League stadium tour.    Get a sticker from every major and minor league team and put them all over the microbus.  The Baseball Bus !       

The Daniel Norris lifestyle.

[1776]

9 minutes ago, Motor City Sonics said:

My car is 10 years old now.  It runs fine, as cool as an electric microbus would be, I don't really need it.   

On the most recent podcast of ‘Days of Roar,’ Matt Vierling said that he drives a 2012 Ford Escape with 174,000 miles and has no intention of getting another car “until the wheels fall off.”

A man after my own heart.