Detroit Tigers Thread aka "Won't someone rid me of this meddlesome short stop?"

[cephasjames]

I wonder about the spark thing. How much of that is on the manager and coaches motivating the players? How much of that is on the players needing to motivate themselves?

As for the pitching, look at who is currently pitching for this staff right now and then look at how good they're actually doing. The staff as a whole is, I believe, is in the top 1/3 in the AL. And the bullpen, for the most part, has performed very well. What's killing the Tiger right now is their batting and run scoring, not their pitching. That says a ton about Chris Fetter and his coaches.

[Hrycaj]

Originally Posted by cephasjames

I wonder about the spark thing. How much of that is on the manager and coaches motivating the players? How much of that is on the players needing to motivate themselves?

As for the pitching, look at who is currently pitching for this staff right now and then look at how good they're actually doing. The staff as a whole is, I believe, is in the top 1/3 in the AL. And the bullpen, for the most part, has performed very well. What's killing the Tiger right now is their batting and run scoring, not their pitching. That says a ton about Chris Fetter and his coaches.

It is a bit of the chicken and the egg argument. Do professional athletes need to motivated by coaches or are they supposed to motivate themselves? My personal take on it is that coaches do play a key role in motivating. Baseball is a game and entertainment to me but for the players it is their livelihood. It is a career path under a microscope. There is a lot of anxiety to perform well and repeat that performance against other players that are also 1%'ers. I know a common thought is that these players are all getting "paid" well for this. Are they? Of course your stars are getting more money than I can fathom but minor league guys get paid squat and the living conditions and their treatment at a basic human level is criminal. A MLB minimum salary last year was just over 570k. I'm not pretending that isn't a wonderful salary. It is, however an average major league career lasts 2.7 years. A short mlb career doesn't guarantee the player a life of luxury or anything for the rest of their lives. I think there is a general misconception there. How this relates to my overall point is this. I think under the hood, there is a lot of anxiety for the professional athlete and it is really easy to lose motivation when things aren't going well. So yes, motivation from managers and coaches is very important piece. I could be totally off base here but I have been lucky enough to know a few guys that have made it and this was the impression I was left with when I listen to them talk about their careers. I think as human beings we all need motivation at our jobs on occasion. I don't think athletes are that different in that regard.

As for the team. I agree. This team is held together with duct tape and a can of WD-40 right now and the pitching has held up. I really like Fetter, I have written before how I loved that hire. I will say though that his pitchers are still underperforming. The Tigers rank near the bottom of the league in first pitch strikes. Continually falling behind hitters will work against you at some point. The hitting. Well that has been a complete train wreck. Too many hitters hit above expectations last season and now they are hitting below expectations. It is tough to watch. Baez is doing exactly what many thought. Plays well with the glove and has zero plate discipline. He walks next to never and chases and strikes out a ton. You add that bat to a lineup that already struck out to much and you have a manager scratching his head everyday trying to cobble together something resembling a major league batting order. Tough task right now.

[Westheim]

Elvin Rodriguez (0-0, 9.39 ERA) pitches four scoreless, then out of the blue has a leg come off.

The Tigers need to find the guy on the team that ran over the litter of black kittens, and throw him into the nearest volcano, just to break that curse.

[Westheim]

Injuries & Moves: Kody Clemens recalled; Grossman on IL

"Recalled"? Was he on the major league roster before? Sure has no stats according to b-ref.

Also, you realize that the desperation has reached level 9 when they kinda made it sound like he might save the drowning franchise, but then you find out he's already 26.

Only one way to find out: tune into the game 45 minutes from now!

[cephasjames]

Originally Posted by Westheim

Injuries & Moves: Kody Clemens recalled; Grossman on IL

"Recalled"? Was he on the major league roster before? Sure has no stats according to b-ref.

I noticed that too. AP calls it his first-go-round: Kody Clemens brought up by Tigers for possible MLB debut. Although in the article they also call it a recall. Hmmm.

Detroit recalled the infielder/outfielder from Triple-A Toledo

[Westheim]

Wikipedia says he was added to the 40-man in 2021, so technically he was optioned at the start of the season, and maybe that is why...?

[CONN CHRIS]

That was a weird game yesterday. I had no idea what I was looking at, strange sight.

Oh wait, my son tells me that is called offensive production - ah yes, I remember that.

[cephasjames]

They've only scored 4 or more runs in 14 of their 47 games. They average 2.8 R/G. 7 runs in a game is crazy!!

[cephasjames]

Casey Mize moved to the 60-day IL. Makes me wonder if we're going to see him again this year.

[Hrycaj]

Originally Posted by cephasjames

Casey Mize moved to the 60-day IL. Makes me wonder if we're going to see him again this year.

I'm thinking there is zero chance he comes back. The way that they have been so secretive with this one makes me think this is really not good.

Joey Wentz had a nice outing and then boom. He leaves with a shoulder. This team really cannot catch a break. This is historically bad at this point.

[Westheim]

Daz-ling comeback!

(cough)

Over at the Raccoons, you can have that sort of, uh, wit the whole week

[Hrycaj]

4 out of 5 from the division leader was nice to see this last week.

[cephasjames]

Elvin Rodriguez, the one pitcher who shouldn't be up here pitches yet again like a pitcher who shouldn't be up here.

[CONN CHRIS]

Originally Posted by cephasjames

Elvin Rodriguez, the one pitcher who shouldn't be up here pitches yet again like a pitcher who shouldn't be up here.

It really seems like they would be better off cobbling together a bullpen day than continuing to have him in the rotation. It just isn't working and shows no sign of working any time soon.

Breiske and Feado seem like they may shape into usable starters though.

[Hrycaj]

Originally Posted by CONN CHRIS

It really seems like they would be better off cobbling together a bullpen day than continuing to have him in the rotation. It just isn't working and shows no sign of working any time soon.

Breiske and Feado seem like they may shape into usable starters though.

That would be nice. I was pretty critical a week a while back about them not being able to develop an unexpected player. I think Breiske fits that category. He throws hard and spins the ball well. There may be a sorely needed hidden player there. Hopefully he can continue to put together these nice starts and not let the lack of offense mess with his head.

[CONN CHRIS]

UCONN beat Maryland to advance to the Super Regionals so there was baseball to cheer in our house last night!

[Westheim]

That being said, how *is* a major league, professional baseball team with players, that get paid for their actions on the field, scoring under three runs a game for a string of 72 consecutive games (54 of this year and the last 18 from '21)?

If Miguel Cabrera keeps getting more senior citizen ailments and Harold Castro returns to form (90 OPS+), the 2022 Tigers might challenge the 1908 Cardinals in futility. The Cards scored 2.42 runs per game, least all-time in MLB.

[dsvitak]

Has anyone ever had more strikeouts than total bases in a season? Javy is CLOSE.

Mark Reynolds, Arizona, 2010. 211k, 216 tb

We have a winner! Drew Stubbs, Cincy, 166-164, with 544 PA's.

Rob Deer! 1991 Detroit! 175-173

There are a HELLA lot of players that are close. Way more than I thought.

OMG. Jack Cust. Jesus...This year, 87k, 74 TB, which would be the highest differential in history, for a full season. The dude is a strikeout MACHINE. 819 over 2107 at bats, or 232 per 600 at bats. He appears to be a reincarnation of Adam Dunn..tons of walks, and decent power. OPS of 120, so he does have some value.

[cephasjames]

Has the Detroit Free Press Tigers page gone completely subscription only? I can't seem to find a free article anywhere?

[CONN CHRIS]

Originally Posted by cephasjames

Has the Detroit Free Press Tigers page gone completely subscription only? I can't seem to find a free article anywhere?

It seems so. I never go there though. My son gets the Sunday Freep mailed to him here in CT so I look at what's in that print version.