Detroit Tigers - From Worst to First

[WarningTrakPower]

Welcome to the Detroit Tigers Rebuild!!

In 2019, the Detroit Tigers were a MLB worst 47-114 (tied for 16th worst since 1900 based on win percentage).

So I am going to re-sim the 2019 season and see how much more competitive I can make the Tigers and rebuild them going forward.

I should mention, I am going to be GM only, but I will use "player strategy" to force starts at certain positions (especially for promising prospects).

I am using challenge mode and here are few of the "game settings" I like to use.
-I set scouting reports monthly
-I set rating>max to yes
-I set potential -I keep all the box scores and game logs
-I keep all the news, injuries and transactions
-Turn on "show personalities on profile page
-Turn off suspensions (personal preference)
-Talent change randomness to 125 (for added difficulty)
-I keep all career L/R split, fielding stats and postseason stats
-AI lineup selection to "Sabermetric"
-"Trading of recently drafted players" to "Next offseason"
-AI trading frequency to Low
-I turned off expansion/relocation/team changes for 2019, but will turn on prior to start of 2020 season
-Turned off Rainout (personal preference)
-Set international amateur free agents to "few" (even though in 2019 it will generate over 300 players regardless
-Turn off internation scouting discoveries (personal preference)
-Set international establishes free agents to "few"

Thanks for clicking on the thread! If you like what I am doing please leave a comment and I'll keep posting.

Next post will be an update of the team before I start the sim.

[WarningTrakPower]

So after reviewing the team I went hunting for early upgrades and below are the initial few moves I made.

[WarningTrakPower]

So here is the lineups/pitching before I start the simulation. When I start, I keep an eye on waiver wire and trading block as I go day by day. I will update at the end of April.

[WarningTrakPower]

Almost forgot, here is a quick snapshot of some of the prospects I will be keeping an eye on. I used a combination of my scout, OSA and the top prospects listing to build this group. They are split it to batters and pitchers.

After the draft, I add picks that receive a bonus to this list to follow their progression. It helps to have them on a "player shortlist" so they show up in all caps on the rosters & transactions page.

[WarningTrakPower]

Here is a quick look at the full minor league system. You can see some all caps for prospect I am keeping an eye on.

Also, you will see some players with the red position for players I have forced a game strategy for their position.

[WarningTrakPower]

The preseason prediction has been released and the Tigers are projected at last in the AL Central. My goal will be to finish ahead of Royals and White Sox for 2019.

[WarningTrakPower]

Late April and Matt Boyd has gone down with a triceps injury (expected to miss 6-7 weeks).
Promoted Tyson Ross from AAA after 3 good starts in Toledo.

[WarningTrakPower]

Tyson Ross pitches in to the 8th in his first start (vs Boston) ... then goes down injured.
Herniated disc (neck) and he is out 6-7 weeks also.
Calling up Matt Hall, who has had 3 good starts in AAA after a poor first outing.

[WarningTrakPower]

Below is a few of the player developments from the update report.

[WarningTrakPower]

Small sample size aside, below are the stats after a 15-15 March/April
Rough start for Castellanos, Candelario and Gurriel Jr.
Pitching has carried the Tigers to an excellent start to the season!

[WarningTrakPower]

Thought this was worth sharing. Routed the divisional foes by a 27-3 score!

[WarningTrakPower]

Another solid month for the Tigers! Now sitting at 28-29!!
The AL player of the month award belongs to Spencer Turnbull!

Below is the player development update on a few guys.

Will post updated player stats when we get to the draft!

[WarningTrakPower]

After good starts to their seasons in AA, both Rogers (C) and Alcantara (SS) have been promoted to AAA.
Bobby Wilson (C) and Pete Kozma (SS) have been released opposed to demoted.

[WarningTrakPower]

Pitching has stayed unbelievably steady!
Need to make some changes for the hitters, might send down Candelario for a little bit

Also, the draft is today! Will make a separate post for possible choices at pick #5!

[WarningTrakPower]

Wasn't sure why Gardenhire wouldn't use Tim Hill (faced 6 batters in 2+ months) so I decided to try a different lefty for a bit.
Atlanta will pay all of the remaining salary for Dan Jennings too.

[WarningTrakPower]

So... the Orioles took "Daniel Espino" (SP) with 1st overall pick (he went 24th overall in real life).

I think the Tigers would be crazy not to take Adley Rutschman who is surprisingly still available at #5 (since their pick in real life went 4th), but I will review other potential options obviously.

Rutschman wants almost $5million bonus, so that might pinch us in the later rounds.

[WarningTrakPower]

It is too difficult to pass up on Adley at 5, but with the 2nd round pick there is a few very good options. I will post the 4 players I am debating below.

I like the look of the Nick Neal, but I am leaning towards pitching in this round (he also might end up as a DH if he can't play LF since he has no infield skills).

Initially I was leaning to Fitterer, but I don't like the low work ethic and at almost 19 he could be a many year project to get to MLB (barring injuries).
It also might explain his HS stats a bit, as he didn't really dominate until he was an older senior.

OSA is very high on Feole (4.5 star), but he is listed as a reliever and I think he should get a look as a starter.
He could be a quick riser with his age and current skills (Sept. call-up 2020 maybe?).

OSA has Sabouri at a 50 for stamina, so that doesn't scare me off entirely (they also have him with a bit more hitting skills).

Does anyone have any insights on who they think I should take?

[ayaghmour2]

In my standard saves I usually grab Feole but my scouts generally like him a lot more then yours. He also tends to fall to at least the 3rd round. Adley is a great pick regardless of how much he's going to cost you.

[WarningTrakPower]

Below are the players taken in the first 5 rounds of the 2019 MLB draft!!

Does anyone have a suggestion on whether or not to try Baylor as a 2-way player? OSA has his pitching potential higher than our scout, but he only has the two pitches.

The ratings for Watson are OSA and I didn't really know who else I would take in the 5th round. I think he could maybe play some OF if it doesn't work out at 2B.

If I find any other interesting players worth sharing I will post again before simming until July 1!

[WarningTrakPower]

Below are a few late round finds.
Some ratings are OSA and others the Tigers scout.

I will make another post with three other late late round "lottery tickets"!!