2025 Detroit Tigers: We sure do love bargain bin pitchers!

[Hrycaj]

Originally Posted by cephasjames

Tigers demote No. 1 pick Spencer Torkelson to Toledo

I fully support this. Based on how he's done this year, it appears that he wasn't quite ready to be up yet. He'll figure it out and I think he'll be a very good batter in the future but he's not there yet.

Yea. This is the scenario the team really wanted to avoid but at some point you just have to get him off the big stage and let him fix a few thing down in AAA. Defensively he has been very good but let's be honest here. He wasn't brought up to bail out Javy Baez every night defensively. (For anyone thinking I'm taking a cheap shot at Baez look up his defensive numbers this year. It is not pretty). Anyway, I'm still really hopeful for Torkelson. He has been hindered by the pandemic and has not really had a chance to play much in the minors. This step back may be the best thing for him mentally.

[Hrycaj]

Any thoughts on the draft last night? I have not been as critical of Avila's drafts as others have. When you draft at the top most years the industry (media) for the most part makes the picks for you. At 12 though, you have to do some work. The choice isn't as clear. Without any evidence I think they were really hoping the scenario played out where the C Parada would continue to fall to them. The Mets put an end to that so they went Jung. Everyone in the industry says he can hit (even with his unorthodox setup). To me the hit tool is the most important. I like hit over power guys because I feel power develops a bit later as kids put on weight and gain experience. So I'm cool there. I'm worried about the athleticism though. The game is going to ban the shift relatively soon. I still feel athleticism up the middle is important. 12 is too high a pick to pick a one tool guy unless that tool is completely off the charts. I haven't seen Jung play enough to know if it is or not. Scouts seem to believe it can be so I will be optimistic. I would have loved to be in the room on draft night. They went SS in the 2nd round which makes me think why they didn't try to get Neto in the 1st round if they wanted a SS. (Neto went to the Angels soon after). Neto also has a good hit tool and is very athletic. Did they think Jung was had a better hit tool than Neto to overlook the defensive shortcomings? Or was it that SS was just best available on the board in the 2nd round when they came up? It would have been cool to listen to those conversations. Anyway, apparently Peyton Graham (SS Oklahoma) was projected to maybe be a late 1st round or Comp A pick. So maybe the Tigers just saw an opportunity too rich to pass up. I'm excited to see who they get today when they start picking again.

[CONN CHRIS]

I think there was an article linked on Blessyouboys about Jung being the hoped-for first-rounder prior to the draft.

Does anyone know what is happening with Manning? He was supposed to start a minor league rehab a month ago.

[Cod]

Originally Posted by Hrycaj

Any thoughts on the draft last night? I have not been as critical of Avila's drafts as others have. When you draft at the top most years the industry (media) for the most part makes the picks for you. At 12 though, you have to do some work. The choice isn't as clear. Without any evidence I think they were really hoping the scenario played out where the C Parada would continue to fall to them. The Mets put an end to that so they went Jung. Everyone in the industry says he can hit (even with his unorthodox setup). To me the hit tool is the most important. I like hit over power guys because I feel power develops a bit later as kids put on weight and gain experience. So I'm cool there. I'm worried about the athleticism though. The game is going to ban the shift relatively soon. I still feel athleticism up the middle is important. 12 is too high a pick to pick a one tool guy unless that tool is completely off the charts. I haven't seen Jung play enough to know if it is or not. Scouts seem to believe it can be so I will be optimistic. I would have loved to be in the room on draft night. They went SS in the 2nd round which makes me think why they didn't try to get Neto in the 1st round if they wanted a SS. (Neto went to the Angels soon after). Neto also has a good hit tool and is very athletic. Did they think Jung was had a better hit tool than Neto to overlook the defensive shortcomings? Or was it that SS was just best available on the board in the 2nd round when they came up? It would have been cool to listen to those conversations. Anyway, apparently Peyton Graham (SS Oklahoma) was projected to maybe be a late 1st round or Comp A pick. So maybe the Tigers just saw an opportunity too rich to pass up. I'm excited to see who they get today when they start picking again.

Living in Texas and being an amateur baseball junkie, I can tell you with 100% certainty that Jace Jung can absolutely rake. I've seen the guy hit balls hard that are way out front and others that he hit inches from the catches mitt. The guy tracks pitches deep and keeps is bat in the zone longer than many college players I've seen previously (he's brother is a little better). His overall zone discipline is probably the best in college baseball.

Unfortunately, his fielding needs work. He has a above-average to plus arm, but his lateral movement and first step is below average. I've heard reports his arm and lack of movement makes him a great candidate for moving to 3B.

Overall, I like the pick since the Tigers have proven inept at creating hitters...so why not draft a guy who can naturally do it? I just hope they don't try to tweak his "weirdness" with the "cookie cutter" approaches and ruin him.

[Hrycaj]

Originally Posted by Cod

Living in Texas and being an amateur baseball junkie, I can tell you with 100% certainty that Jace Jung can absolutely rake. I've seen the guy hit balls hard that are way out front and others that he hit inches from the catches mitt. The guy tracks pitches deep and keeps is bat in the zone longer than many college players I've seen previously (he's brother is a little better). His overall zone discipline is probably the best in college baseball.

Unfortunately, his fielding needs work. He has a above-average to plus arm, but his lateral movement and first step is below average. I've heard reports his arm and lack of movement makes him a great candidate for moving to 3B.

Overall, I like the pick since the Tigers have proven inept at creating hitters...so why not draft a guy who can naturally do it? I just hope they don't try to tweak his "weirdness" with the "cookie cutter" approaches and ruin him.

I agree. They can't develop hitters. Better to draft one that knows how to do it. This is good to hear.

[jcard]

Originally Posted by cephasjames

Tigers demote No. 1 pick Spencer Torkelson to Toledo

I fully support this. Based on how he's done this year, it appears that he wasn't quite ready to be up yet. He'll figure it out and I think he'll be a very good batter in the future but he's not there yet.

So does he have to give the first base glove back to Cabrera in some sort of symbolic passing back of the torch?

[cephasjames]

Well the season is unofficially halfway over. This is not where I thought they'd be. It's been a disappointing season so far because of so much underachieving. But I'll take bad season because of underachieving over a bad season simply because we don't even have the talent to have a good season. Underachievement means better is possible. My hope is the Tigers finish the season strong and then find some better pieces to improve this team.

[CONN CHRIS]

Pineda pulled with an injury last. ERod finally connected with the Tigers and is apparently on a throwing program now; no updates that I've seen on Manning. Going to be a long stretch with Skubal, junk, and minor leaguers on the mound.

[cephasjames]

And Rony Garcia leaves the game due to injury. How are so many Tigers' pitchers getting injured? Does the training staff need to be replaced?

Baez is also day-to-day with a forearm contusion.

[CONN CHRIS]

It is bizarre to see the staff so utterly decimated.

[Cod]

If I was a Detroit fan, dealing Tarik Skubal would make me unhappy: https://theathletic.com/3450781/2022...-tarik-skubal/. This line from the article scares me, The Tigers “gave us a blanket that just about everyone is available,” one official said.. I mean, I understand trying to take advantage of a down pitching market at the deadline, but you can't be in rebuild mode forever...especially paying out 7yr / $250M contracts.

[CONN CHRIS]

My son shared that with me just now. I am going to be the angriest that I have ever been with this team if they trade any of the young talent or the recent big-ticket FA signings. I have watched this re-build, and been hopeful and happy with it all the way along. This year, they have been visited with the injury fairy like nothing I have ever seen. Wait another year and see if this group that we have watched them skillfully assemble can be what we all hoped it could be.

If they can get a few scraps for Barnhart or the older arms in the pen and crap / emergecy starter corp, fine. Other than that, I'll be demoralized. And furious.

[Westheim]

Originally Posted by CONN CHRIS

My son shared that with me just now. I am going to be the angriest that I have ever been with this team if they trade any of the young talent or the recent big-ticket FA signings.

At least I don't think there's much of a risk that Javy Baez will be brutally ripped out of your arms any time soon

[CONN CHRIS]

Manning had a hopeful rehab start with Toledo last night

https://www.blessyouboys.com/2022/7/...en-josh-crouch

[dsvitak]

I like Detroit. I would like for them to do well. They were one of my favorite teams in the late '60...Lolich, McClain, "Gates" Brown, Horton, Norm Cash, Bill Freehan.

But...what the HELL where they thinking when they signed Javier Baez?

His OBP is .259. His OPS is .632. He has 85 strikeouts in 85 games, and his strikeout:walk ratio is 5.3:1. Terrible player...making 120 MORE million after this year. This will cripple Detroit.

[CONN CHRIS]

Manning and Peralta are to be activated tomorrow. Hope they both make it through their first starts.

[CONN CHRIS]

Grossman to Atlanta for a bucket of balls. I can live with that. We'll see more of what Baddoo and Reyes may have with Grossman moved.

Skubal was pulled after the fifth with a low pitch count which was worrisome as it could have meant he was about to be dealt. Nope, he was hurt.

[Westheim]

Originally Posted by CONN CHRIS

Skubal was pulled after the fifth with a low pitch count which was worrisome as it could have meant he was about to be dealt. Nope, he was hurt.

(scratches temple with tip of old-English D emblazoned foam finger) Yey?

I think someone should raise this issue with the UN Secretary-General. It can't go on like this, the Tigers playing games in the middle of a minefield.....

[David Watts]

Originally Posted by CONN CHRIS

Grossman to Atlanta for a bucket of balls. I can live with that. We'll see more of what Baddoo and Reyes may have with Grossman moved.

Skubal was pulled after the fifth with a low pitch count which was worrisome as it could have meant he was about to be dealt. Nope, he was hurt.

Really glad to see Grossman gone. He really pissed me off earlier when he started whining about the Comerica's dimensions. We don't need a replacement player filling Torkelson and Green full of reasons to leave town as soon as they can.

[cephasjames]

Michael Fulmer walks to other side of stadium after Tigers trade him to Twins