Detroit Tigers 2013-14 Off-season thread

[RandyTiger]

Porcello looked a LOT sharper in the 2nd.. but what the hell was that knuckleball from hell doing in there?

[RandyTiger]

Cats come back with another one. Castellanos really drove the ball to the wall.

[RandyTiger]

Originally Posted by RchW

You'll drive yourself crazy if you try to rationalize the money in "normal" terms. Scherzer is one of the early good FA heading into the new money from all the TV deals etc. The available money has quadrupled since 2011-12. Scherzer would be an idiot to limit his choices given this market. He still may take less to stay in Detroit but it will be within the new market value even if it seems crazy to you and me. Just guessing here that the 8 year term might have been the first try in spreading dollars over time. If he can't get term then the dollars will go up.

Why do you think teams were in a rush to tie up prospective FA with seemingly outrageous numbers recently? When Fielder signed in 2012 I bet we all thought it was an untradeable millstone, but if you compare it to what is coming it will look reasonable (loosely defined).

I don't know what you do for a living but I think anyone faced with a sudden uptick in the market for their services would take the money when it is available. If your skills and talents are in short supply (relative to the market) and the working conditions are known to be good, what should stop you?

I hope this doesn't come across as a lecture. Not intended. I have limited style.

It doesn't come across as a lecture - it's always good to have different ideas for the sake of good discussion., as long as it stays mature, civil, and without insults and disrespect of others.

Just because all this money exists doesn't mean you have to spend it - that's a stupid way to live. Sure, people will want more money for their jobs, and there's always someone who will pay more, but uncontrolled spending is a moronic way of doing business, or living, for that matter.

These media deals will not last forever, because they require advertising revenue, which depend upon the number of viewers.

What happens when people stop watching because they can no longer afford the prices the networks (and cable/satellite companies) charge? More and more people are cutting the "cable cord" (or whatever they pay for) because it's simply gotten too expensive. Where do the networks get their money then?

The gravy train will end at some point, and it's all the more reason for clubs to exercise fiscal responsibility and restraint by keeping a lid on contracts. If those who run baseball clubs don't realize that, then why are they running the club?

Unfortunately, for every Oakland, there's 10 NY/LA clubs who spend money like there's no tomorrow - and for players who aren't much better in some cases.

[CONN CHRIS]

Originally Posted by RandyTiger

Porcello looked a LOT sharper in the 2nd.. but what the hell was that knuckleball from hell doing in there?

Really has settled in!

[RandyTiger]

Cats leave bases loaded in the bottom of the 5th, trailing by 1.

Dangnabbit.

Collins replaced Davis in LF after 3 innings. Not sure if that was the plan or not.

The donkelly expects to be back by the end of the week from his hamstring.

[CONN CHRIS]

Originally Posted by RandyTiger

The donkelly expects to be back by the end of the week from his hamstring.

Season saved.

[RandyTiger]

I was sipping some lemonade when I read that comment, Chris.

Thanks.

Ow...

[RandyTiger]

The Cats have had chance after chance to even up the ball game - bases loaded in the 5th, 2 runners on in the 6th, and more... and failed to capitalize on those opportunities.

Trailing 6-2 now.

[RandyTiger]

And Krol self-destructs.

Braves 10, Tigers 2, bottom 7th.

[RandyTiger]

Holy cow, this is like watching a Tiger team from the early 90's. :|

[CONN CHRIS]

All that's missing is Rob Deer swinging from his shoelaces.

[RandyTiger]

Originally Posted by CONN CHRIS

All that's missing is Rob Deer swinging from his shoelaces.

Please don't give the Tigers any ideas - they just might try to find him and bring him back - as a SS.

[RandyTiger]

Braves 12, Tigers 3. [Boxscore]

Summary: Tigers sloppy in a lopsided loss.

Pitching: This is one game that should have been rained out - none of the Tigers pitchers, save a minor league prospect who wasn't on the 40-man or NRI list, were able to keep the Braves off the basepaths. Thankfully, this is just Spring Training, not the regular season.

Porcello started the game, and boy, did he struggle from the get go, giving up 3 runs in the first inning on 5 hits (2 doubles). He improved from that point, yielding just 2 singles and a walk while whiffing 5 in the 2nd to 4th innings, even striking out three in a row after giving up a lead-off single in the 3rd.

And then in the 6th, he tired and gave up a 2-run HR and a solo-shot HR.

His final line was 6 IP, 10 Hits (2 doubles, 2 HR), 1 BB, 5 K's.

ST line: 1-2, 7.85 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, with 15/2 K/BB in 18.1 IP. (Hope he doesn't pitch like this in the regular season...)

Krol followed, and... I'm not even sure how to describe the chaos he unleashed in tossing the 7th inning. He gave up 4 hits (3 singles and a triple), a walk, HBP, and 4 runs to go with a strikeout.

ST line: 2-0, 7.56 ERA, 1.80 WHIP, with 7/4 K/BB in 8.1 IP.

Marinez took the hill for the 8th, and... to be honest, he was overmatched and ineffective as he gave up 2 runs on 2 doubles and 2 walks. His sole saving grace was a strikeout.

ST line: 0-2, 9.95 ERA, 2.53 WHIP, with 6/7 K/BB in 6.1 IP.

Cory Knebel, the aforementioned minor leaguer and one of the Tiger's hottest prospects, pitched a terrific 9th - flyout, groundout, and a swinging K to end the massacre.

ST line: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, with 2/2 K/BB in 3 IP.

Offense: While the Boys were not ineffective, it was frustrating to watch them as they had numerous chances to score, including a bases-loaded situation in the 5th. They collectively had 10 hits, 4 walks, and a HBP, stranding 9 on 0-8 hitting with RISP.

Here's the list:

Hunter: 1-2 (.326), BB (5), HBP (1), RS (6).
- Single and RS in the 1st; Walk in the 5th; HBP in the 7th.

Collins: 0-3 (.239), GIDP (3).
- GIDP in the 5th.

Miggy: 2-4 (.378), GIDP (2).
- Single in the 1st; Single in the 5th; GIDP in the 7th.

Martinez: 0-3 (.278), BB (4), RBI (9).
- Ground-out RBI in the 1st; Walk in the 5th.

Romine: 1-1 (.206), RS (5).
- Single and RS in the 8th.

Jackson: 1-4 (.440), 2B (5), RBI (13).
- RBI double in the 8th, caught in a rundown between 2B and 3B.

Avila: 2-3 (.295), 2B (3), RS (8).
- Single and RS in the 2nd; Double in the 4th;

Castellanos: 2-3 (.389), 2 2B (9).
- Double in the 2nd; Double in the 6th.

Gonzalez: 1-2 (.433), BB (3), RBI (7).
- Ground-out RBI in the 2nd; Single in the 5th; Walk in the 6th.

Powell (minor leaguer): 0-0 (.000), BB (1).
- Walk in the 9th.

Defense: None.

Next game: Wednesday, March 26, Tigers (12-12) @ Phillies (8-15), 1:05 Eastern.

Projected pitchers: Verlander (1-0, 0.00 ERA in 13.2 IP) vs. C. Lee (1-1, 2.75 ERA in 19.2 IP).

- Detroit radio: WXYT 1270.
- Philadelphia TV: TCN.
- Subscription TV: MLBN (delay).

Note: Davis left the game in the third inning, but he's fine. The plan was to play him just a few innings to see how the hamstring reacted. Turned out fine.

[RandyTiger]

Guess who just put Jose Valverde on their 40-man roster and slated him to be the 8th inning set-up guy?

The Mets.

Well, they got cojones, I'll say that much. Or desperation. Or both.

In case you're interested, here are his ST stats:

0-1, 1/1 SV/Opps, 3.00 ERA, 0.089 WHIP, 7/1 K/BB in 9 IP.

[CONN CHRIS]

Well, I don't want to wish ill on him. I am sure that he didn't want to be as horrible as he was in Detroit. With that said though,

HaaaaaaaaaHaaaaaaaaaHaaaaaaaa!!!

Good luck Metropolitans.

[RandyTiger]

He just might do better in NY, considering how toxic the fans were towards him on and off the field. That has a way of screwing with player's minds.

I wish him the best - and I hope the Mets fans aren't as harsh as the ones in Detroit. Given NY's "style"... oi vey. They're tougher critics than the fans in Detroit.

Hard as that is to imagine...

[RandyTiger]

Oh, some great news out of Tigertown for a change:

Verlander threw 6+ innings today (came on for the 7th, didn't finish) and extended his ST scoreless streak to 20 innings.

I'd say he's definitely healed from his surgery. Wonder if this is a good portent for a stellar season from him?

[TribeFanInNC]

Originally Posted by RandyTiger

Oh, some great news out of Tigertown for a change:

Verlander threw 6+ innings today (came on for the 7th, didn't finish) and extended his ST scoreless streak to 20 innings.

I'd say he's definitely healed from his surgery. Wonder if this is a good portent for a stellar season from him?

His spring stats are meaningless. The only real factor in play is...whether I draft him on my fantasy team this weekend. Last year was the only time I've ever owned him. Bad year from Verlander, 6th place finish for my fantasy team, bad karma all around.

(I'll try to stay away from him for your sakes...)

[RandyTiger]

Tigertown thanks you very much from the bottom of their hearts.

[RandyTiger]

Tigers 1, Phillies 0. [Boxscore]

Summary: Pitching staff brilliant in win.

Pitching: Brilliant, I say, absolutely brilliant, with just 2 hits and 3 walks given up. The Cats needed that after Tuesday's train wreck.

Verlander spun a magnificent gem, surrendering just 1 hit and a walk in a 7-strikeout, 6.1 IP game, his final tune-up of ST. He finishes with 20 consecutive scoreless innings.

(Conventional wisdom says his stats mean nothing, but to me (unconventional as always), it says that he's more than ready for the Opener, he's healthy, and his command is on-target where it wasn't last year.)

ST line: 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.65 WHIP, with 17/5 K/BB in 20 IP.

Coke relieved JV, and issued a walk and punched-out one in 2/3 of an inning stint.

He told Jason Beck that he's "borrowed Chamberlain's breaking ball grip, which has paid off with a better pitch." Ausmus described it as "more sliderish than slurvish."

Perhaps he'll have a better performance this season as a result, the jury is out on that one.

ST line: 1-0, 3.72 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, with 9/3 K/BB in 9.2 IP.

Alburquerque took over in the 8th, and yielded the Phillies' only other hit while striking out 2.

ST line: 0-0, 1.13 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, with 14/3 K/BB in 8.0 IP.

Hardy tossed the final frame, giving up a walk and nothing else for his 1st save of ST.

ST line: 1-0, 1/2 SV/Opps, 2.19 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, with 7/6 K/BB in 12.1 IP.

Offense: Well, 1 run on 10 hits and a walk isn't going to win you very many games - but in this one, it was all they needed. They stranded 7 on 1-6 hitting with RISP.

Here's who did what:

Davis: 1-3 (.361).
- Single in the 3rd.

Kinsler: 1-3 (.278), 3B (1), GIDP (1), RS (13).
- Triple and RS in the 1st; GIDP in the 3rd.

Jared Reaves (minor leaguer): 1-1 (1.000), 2B (1).
- Double in the 8th.

Miggy, 0-3 (.354), RBI (9).
- Ground-out RBI in the 1st.

Lance Durham (minor leaguer): 1-1 (1.000).
- Single in the 8th.

Martinez: 1-3 (.281).
- Single in the 1st.

Gonzalez: 0-1 (.419), GIDP (1).
- GIDP in the 8th.

Hunter: 2-3 (.348), 2B (5), 2 CS (4).
- Double, PO/CS in the 4th; Single and CS in the 6th.

Avila: 1-2 (.304), BB (7).
- Single in the 2nd; BB in the 4th.

Castellanos: 0-3 (.356).
- Reached on E-5 in the 7th.

Collins: 1-4 (.240).
- Reached on E-3 in the 2nd; Single in the 7th.

Romine: 1-3 (.216), GIDP (3).
- GIDP in the 2nd; Single in the 5th.

Defense: Nothing to report.

Next game: Thursday, March 27, Braves @ Tigers, 1:05 Eastern.

Projected starter: Unknown vs. Scherzer (3-2, 4.05 ERA in 20.0 IP)

Atlanta TV: SPSO. Radio: WFOM 1230, WIFN 1340.
Detroit TV: FS-D. Radio: 97.1 The Ticket.

Fun Note: This was the first time Ben and Justin Verlander have played together in a MLB game. Ben went 0-1 with a fly-out to RF.