2025 Detroit Tigers Spring Training

[TigerNation]

16 minutes ago, RandyMarsh said:

Not to sound cold hearted but if the Tigers felt that his condition was effecting the quality of his performance I think it's fair game for them to make this call. 

 

Correct. And he was not good in the booth. They can have him hang around and come in as a third guy for a couple of innings every now and then, or be involved in post game stuff. 

[Tenacious D]

Ironic, coming from Shep.  At least Gibby can point to his Parkinson’s diagnosis and treatment contributing to his difficulties in the booth.  Shep just flat out sucked.

[Shinzaki]

Or if you want to appeal to people who really love Tork bombs...Carlos Pena.

 

[romad1]

53 minutes ago, RandyMarsh said:

Not to sound cold hearted but if the Tigers felt that his condition was effecting the quality of his performance I think it's fair game for them to make this call. 

 

Shep, Craig Monroe and Rod Allen should get together and do shadow broadcasts.

[oblong]

I don't know if I believe it was on the Tigers.  If it were why did they announce what they did a few weeks ago?

I'm not yet buying into anything cynical about this.

 

[Tenacious D]

38 minutes ago, oblong said:

I don't know if I believe it was on the Tigers.  If it were why did they announce what they did a few weeks ago?

I'm not yet buying into anything cynical about this.

 

Shep is a bitter turd.  Gibby went along with the press release announcement.  Why embarrass him now?

[chasfh]

2 hours ago, Tigeraholic1 said:

Interesting if there is any truth to what Shep is saying.

 

 

[chasfh]

On 3/16/2025 at 9:04 AM, casimir said:

Yes.  I think this, and the other position player versatility moves, and the pitching chaos that we saw last season, I think this all gets back to Hinch not only managing a season by breaking things down to a game by game level, he’s also breaking the season down to a bit more of a granular level within the game.  I wouldn’t expect to see Torkelson logging whole games in the OF.  I’m not so sure we’d see that with Malloy, save for blowout games or injury / bench strength dictates it.  But this experiment with Torkelson is probably more for in game moves, using him as a pinch hitter, or maybe there’s another move made where he goes from 1B to OF as a result of the other move, or maybe he starts in OF vs LHP and is replaced later in the game.

2024: Pitching chaos = playoff appearance

2025: Position player chaos = ???

[IdahoBert]

Sorry to hear about Gibby. I have no more insight into this than anyone else. It’s painful to watch the slow decline of a Detroit icon. I at least know that.

[romad1]

36 minutes ago, chasfh said:

 

downgraded for twitter content

[1776]

Gibby was in the park when we were in Sarasota to see the Tigers/Orioles game in February. The photo below was taken pregame. Not surprisingly his mobility was somewhat challenged but all things considered, very understandable. 
I stated this prior, he really didn’t need to be there (he should not have been there). He sat in the very hot sun off to our right for the first half of the game and moved up to sit in the shaded concourse after that. If he had anyone with him we never saw them. I honestly felt for the guy. 
Gibby leaving the booth is very unfortunate because of the reasons he’s having to do so. I enjoyed his contributions in the booth. I hope he doesn’t become invisible from this point on. 

[Shinzaki]

In my 20s I had a lot of people tell me I looked like Gibby.  It's tough to see him struggling because he was my doppelganger of sorts.

In my late 30's people started telling me I looked like David Wells.  That was wake up call to drop a few...dozen..pounds

[oblong]

Reading up on this again in the News has me ticked off even more at the Shepard tweet.  Guess the dude has to get his podcast going.  He’s starting **** that doesn’t need starting. 

[Tigermojo]

18 minutes ago, oblong said:

Reading up on this again in the News has me ticked off even more at the Shepard tweet.  Guess the dude has to get his podcast going.  He’s starting **** that doesn’t need starting. 

I don't think it's up to him to let the world know this info. Maybe Gibby didn't want people to know and he's very capable of speaking up for himself.

[monkeytargets39]

It’s definitely time for Gibby to hang up the microphone, unfortunately.  I enjoyed him in the booth, but the typical viewer is going to find him tough to listen to.  Wish him nothing but the best.

 

Hopefully the Tigers find ways to keep him involved- occasional tv guest, honorary assistant coach, etc.  Baseball is something he loves and taking that type of thing away from an aging and sick person can be devastating.  He’s done more than enough good for all of us and the organization to still have some type of regular role.

[Motor City Sonics]

Those broadcasts are very long days.   A lot of people think they show up 30 minutes before the game and just talk about baseball.   Not if you are serious about your work and Gibby never half-assed anything.   He was probably at the park before noon and probably didn't leave until an hour after the game is over.     All that while dealing with the effects of Parkinson's AND the side effects of the Parkinson's meds.  Those meds make people exhausted and then the Parky makes it hard to get real sleep.  It's a Catch-22.    My guess is the Tigers probably went to Gibby and said "Do you really want to put yourself through this so much?" and he probably agreed it was too much.  Tough to see a spirited guy get so slowly cut down like this, but he did not sound good last year and I am not angry about that, because his insights were still pretty spot-on, but it made me sad to hear him struggle like that.    He'll still be connected in some way.  

[oblong]

But they could have had those conversations 3 weeks ago.  That’s why sheps tweet is bull****.  2 weeks ago everyone was ok with his “limited” schedule. Now we are to believe the Tigers weren’t?  

[oblong]

Following up… if he cares so much about Gibby why would he air his dirty laundry and jeopardize what he’s trying to do with his foundation? Are we to believe Gibby or someone close to him griped and Shep found out?  Crappy friends if true.  Everyone knows how vindictive the Ilitch family can be.  That’s why I think he’s lying. Those around him wouldn’t do that. But Shep has to play “look what I know and you don’t” in his search for relevance.  

[HeyAbbott]

This roster is starting to look like one horribly ****ed up disaster

[romad1]

Jason Benetti is calling the game in Japan.

[romad1]

6 hours ago, HeyAbbott said:

This roster is starting to look like one horribly ****ed up disaster

They will go as Riley Greene goes. 

[Edman85]

1 hour ago, romad1 said:

Jason Benetti is calling the game in Japan.

Remotely...

[romad1]

1 minute ago, Edman85 said:

Remotely...

ahh...

[Tenacious D]

4 hours ago, romad1 said:

Jason Benetti is calling the game in Japan.

Much more tame with the National audience. Maybe he’s better working overnight?

[Motor City Sonics]

Let's say it wasn't Gibby's choice to leave. 

You know what?   I'm fine with that.   There comes a time when all of us won't be able to keep up anymore.  For most of us it will be age.   Most people avoid this by retiring when they get the chance, but for those of us who love what we do, there will be a time where we just can't do it anymore and when that happens, the ones who don't recognize it will be asked to leave.   It sucks for Gibby, but it was pretty clear last year that he was really struggling.    Doesn't make the Tigers the bad guys here.  They didn't do it for personal reasons, they likely didn't do it to save money, they did it because it was painfully clear.    Parkinsons' Sucks.