mtutiger Posted January 13 Posted January 13 (edited) 21 hours ago, holygoat said: Do other fan bases hang onto their aging stars the way Detroit sports fans do? If Harris/Hinch thought Verlander would help the team more than Cobb would, he'd be a Tiger. I want my FO making decisions based on what they think makes the team better as opposed to feel-good fan service. 100% spot on.... I love JV for what he did in a Tigers uniform, but while I think there's an argument that there are ways that he could improve the 2025 team, the fact that they went in a different direction isn't worthy of all of the attention and energy it has generated in the Tiger zeitgeist. Edited January 13 by mtutiger 1 Quote
papalawrence Posted January 13 Posted January 13 3 hours ago, mtutiger said: 100% spot on.... I love JV for what he did in a Tigers uniform, but while I think there's an argument that there are ways that he could improve the 2025 team, the fact that they went in a different direction isn't worthy of all of the attention and energy it has generated in the Tiger zeitgeist. I'm only allowed to use the word zeitgeist twice a year. I can use asymptote once every 4 years. I still refrain from the word pillage Quote
mtutiger Posted January 13 Posted January 13 The Tiger Territory episode is kinda what I'm getting at.... I get that it's the offseason and there isn't a ton to talk about, but they spent damn near half the episode talking about Justin Verlander. When it's not even clear that the front office was ever even considering bringing him in or that JV was interested in coming back. 1 Quote
RandyMarsh Posted January 13 Posted January 13 I'm sure some fans were clamoring for somebody like Verlander due solely to nostalgia reasons but many people wanted him back because they thought he could still be a good pitcher. He is just a season removed from posting a low 3s ERA and even last year his peripherals pointed towards him being in the high 3s which is more than serviceable for a back end starter. Quote
mtutiger Posted January 13 Posted January 13 16 minutes ago, RandyMarsh said: I'm sure some fans were clamoring for somebody like Verlander due solely to nostalgia reasons but many people wanted him back because they thought he could still be a good pitcher. He is just a season removed from posting a low 3s ERA and even last year his peripherals pointed towards him being in the high 3s which is more than serviceable for a back end starter. He had an xFIP of 5.13 in 2024, so not all the peripherals paint a rosy picture. Quote
romad1 Posted January 13 Posted January 13 Thinking about Reese Olson's rosacea it got me to thinking that Spencer Torkelson also has this condition. Maybe if we were better at international scouting... Just kidding there is nothing wrong with always looking embarrassed. Quote
RandyMarsh Posted January 13 Posted January 13 (edited) 11 minutes ago, mtutiger said: He had an xFIP of 5.13 in 2024, so not all the peripherals paint a rosy picture. xFIP hurts him due to his flyball rate and HRs allowed but the numbers show he was unlucky with his HR number. His expected number was 12 vs. the actual 15, that doesn't seem like a huge difference but given he only pitched 90 innings that is enough to make a noticeable difference in stats like that. Also his expected HR numbers would be alot lower if he played in Detroit, his HR rate would've dropped in half at Comerica vs. Minute Maid Park. Edited January 13 by RandyMarsh Quote
Tigermojo Posted January 13 Posted January 13 Come on Harris, swoop in there and steal Sasaki. Rangers, Diamondbacks, Mets, Yankees, SF are out. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/roki-sasaki-reportedly-informs-yankees-they-are-out-of-running.html Quote
4hzglory Posted January 13 Posted January 13 28 minutes ago, Tigermojo said: Come on Harris, swoop in there and steal Sasaki. Rangers, Diamondbacks, Mets, Yankees, SF are out. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/roki-sasaki-reportedly-informs-yankees-they-are-out-of-running.html Or swoop in and sign some of the Dodgers or Padres International FA's like the Pirates did. 1 1 Quote
IdahoBert Posted January 13 Posted January 13 5 hours ago, Tiger337 said: Yes, especially now when they have a legitimate chance to make the playoffs with a couple of acquisitions. This. It’s not only good advice, it’s grounded in reality. I think this is how the organization is approaching things and they haven’t really done anything this off-season at variance with this statement. When Chris looked like a dancing leprechaun being sprayed with beer in the locker room, he had to be thinking “what we did worked.” I think the Tigers will stick with what’s worked and they will stray from this path only occasionally. Quote
papalawrence Posted January 13 Posted January 13 JV was injured early last year (neck?) and admitted he rushed back. Maybe because he wanted to hit the vesting innings quota? Who knows. He's 41, but I don't count him out. Nobody prepares harder than JV. That said, I too think this is new era, and JV would have mostly been a distraction. Quote
ICroupier Posted January 13 Posted January 13 49 minutes ago, Tigermojo said: Come on Harris, swoop in there and steal Sasaki. Rangers, Diamondbacks, Mets, Yankees, SF are out. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/roki-sasaki-reportedly-informs-yankees-they-are-out-of-running.html He's going to the Padres or Dodgers. Quote
Tigermojo Posted January 13 Posted January 13 2 hours ago, Tigermojo said: Come on Harris, swoop in there and steal Sasaki. Rangers, Diamondbacks, Mets, Yankees, SF are out. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/roki-sasaki-reportedly-informs-yankees-they-are-out-of-running.html Dodgers, Padres and Blue Jays are finalists. Private jet watch to Toronto in effect. Quote
gehringer_2 Posted January 14 Posted January 14 38 minutes ago, Tiger337 said: Torkelson was at 3rd base...... 1 1 Quote
Edman85 Posted January 14 Posted January 14 2 hours ago, 4hzglory said: Or swoop in and sign some of the Dodgers or Padres International FA's like the Pirates did. This, or try to get another prospect or two for some spare bonus pool money. Quote
romad1 Posted January 14 Posted January 14 30 minutes ago, gehringer_2 said: Torkelson was at 3rd base...... I had some riff about Rogers being swept away by the Prussian grippe because he was exposed to the harsh elements but in light of 2020 etc., i'll just meta that joke. Quote
monkeytargets39 Posted January 14 Posted January 14 I always chuckle when Toronto ends up being reported as an option for a big name free agent. Nothing against Toronto as a city or even anything against franchise as a whole or the fans—-but outside of just the money and differences in taxes from the USA—-what is the motivation for a star player to want to be there? Youre in a division with the Yankees and Red Sox—who are always going to spend more to be more competitive than Toronto will be able to. Add to that now the Orioles and their system loaded with tons of young top prospects and the Rays top talent development. You’re playing in the Rogers Centre, while nice, is a 36 year old ballpark. They don’t have especially well regarded management or coaching/training staffs—compared to say Detroit, who has a World Series Winning Manager* and arguably the top pitching coach in the league. The odds that you’d sign there, be a part of a half-assed rebuild and then get traded somewhere else when they realize the window has closed again is very high…. Both of their other young stars will be free agents after this year—and it’s highly unlikely both re-sign…..especially if Toronto is out of it by the trade deadline this year (which they will be regardless of Sasaki) Not saying I want to see him go to SD or LA, but…..bro, give some other organizations a better look. Quote
Edman85 Posted January 14 Posted January 14 4 minutes ago, monkeytargets39 said: I always chuckle when Toronto ends up being reported as an option for a big name free agent. Nothing against Toronto as a city or even anything against franchise as a whole or the fans—-but outside of just the money and differences in taxes from the USA—-what is the motivation for a star player to want to be there? Youre in a division with the Yankees and Red Sox—who are always going to spend more to be more competitive than Toronto will be able to. Add to that now the Orioles and their system loaded with tons of young top prospects and the Rays top talent development. You’re playing in the Rogers Centre, while nice, is a 36 year old ballpark. They don’t have especially well regarded management or coaching/training staffs—compared to say Detroit, who has a World Series Winning Manager* and arguably the top pitching coach in the league. The odds that you’d sign there, be a part of a half-assed rebuild and then get traded somewhere else when they realize the window has closed again is very high…. Both of their other young stars will be free agents after this year—and it’s highly unlikely both re-sign…..especially if Toronto is out of it by the trade deadline this year (which they will be regardless of Sasaki) Not saying I want to see him go to SD or LA, but…..bro, give some other organizations a better look. I honestly don't know if Toronto actually is in the running for all these guys or that they just leak that they are. Quote
monkeytargets39 Posted January 14 Posted January 14 3 minutes ago, Edman85 said: I honestly don't know if Toronto actually is in the running for all these guys or that they just leak that they are. That’s what I was thinking too. Which isn’t a horrible strategy except after a while you’d think fans would get annoyed that they’re always rumored to be in on guys they never get. Quote
1776 Posted January 14 Posted January 14 For those that are few and far between that might be interested in hearing Verlander’s take on the signing, start at the 1:30 mark above. I’m impressed with how candid he is about where he is in his career and how he sees his current situation. He addresses several of concerns that have been raised on this board about him. Quote
1776 Posted January 14 Posted January 14 22 hours ago, chasfh said: If I had to guess what one big consideration would be, based on everything I’ve read about JV over the years, it’s that Harris would not want a player like him coming into and acting like a huge ****ing prima donna in our carefully-constructed young clubhouse—especially a guy who’s old, hurt, and not pitching even halfway decently. I don’t know what you’ve read over the years regarding JV’s character, but I do know two HOF managers would vouch for his character all day long, Jim Leyland and Dusty Baker. Truth is, the Tigers just weren’t interested. So be it. I think this was a mistake but obviously I’m in the minority here. For me, it’s not all about nostalgia. It’s about getting a guy with tremendous upside (he’s healthy as per the Giants physical results) and he wants to prove he’s still got it. I would bet $15 million on the guy. His work ethic is top shelf. It’s not about getting the band back together, so to speak. I think Verlander in the rotation would be a plus for the Tigers. As far as the “carefully-constructed young clubhouse” is concerned, I couldn’t help but envision a sign above the clubhouse door reading, “SAFE SPACE” 😉 Quote
chasfh Posted January 14 Posted January 14 21 hours ago, Tiger337 said: Yes, especially now when they have a legitimate chance to make the playoffs with a couple of acquisitions. We actually won a playoff series last year not only without making any acquisitions, but by selling off a reliable pitcher in the middle of a great year. Was that super lucky and we could never do it that way again? Maybe. But I’m encouraged that we have numerous players still on the upswing and should improve this year, some perhaps dramatically, instead of over-the-hill veterans having one last hurrah. I’m OK if Harris doesn’t sign Bregman or Santander or Alonso. I don’t think he needs to spend this offseason as though the money is burning a hole in his pocket. Although I could be talked into a couple years of Nick Pivetta. 1 Quote
chasfh Posted January 14 Posted January 14 17 hours ago, mtutiger said: The Tiger Territory episode is kinda what I'm getting at.... I get that it's the offseason and there isn't a ton to talk about, but they spent damn near half the episode talking about Justin Verlander. When it's not even clear that the front office was ever even considering bringing him in or that JV was interested in coming back. Hey, man, they have to keep listeners engaged satisfy advertisers. 😏 Quote
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