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https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2022/12/05/calculated-risk/
CALCULATED RISK.
Totally Tigers
In his introductory press conference, Scott Harris said this:
?We?re going to make a lot moves, a lot of moves with strong conviction and confidence behind them. Some of those moves are going to be calculated risks. We have to take calculated risks to narrow the gap between this organization and the other organizations we?re facing right now.?
Pay special attention to Harris? first and last lines.
It explains why the Tigers signed Matthew Boyd.
So many Tiger fans are wringing their hands over this move. So many of them believe this is something that Al Avila would have done. So many of these same fans think it?s a return to welcoming back old players.
There?s just 1 problem with that. The only thing that last year?s Tigers and the 2023 model have in common is the name.
It?s an apples and oranges comparison. There is new leadership, a new Front Office, new departments, new resources and a new way of thinking.
If Avila was still in charge, the Tigers would never have had the intell to re-sign Boyd for reasons other than familiarity. Under Harris, you can be assured that due diligence was done. That has always been his m.o. He and his new top advisors are not known for making uninformed decisions.
Harris signed Boyd when he was the Giants? GM. While Boyd never threw a pitch for San Francisco, they traded him for a nice return from the Mariners.
In Seattle, Matthew posted a 1.35 ERA w/8 BB and 13 SOs in 10 appearances. His fastball averaged 93 MPH and his slider earned a 35% swing-and-miss rate.
Boyd is exactly the type of pitcher Harris wants. Someone who controls the strike zone. Remember Scott?s #3 tenet?
Matt has a high chase rate (over 30%) and a 28% swing-and-miss rate.
He?s stingy with walks.
How did he refine and improve his pitching?
While he was on the Giant?s IL, he used the team?s pitching lab to improve.
Btw, the Tigers never had a pitching lab. Until this year, they probably had no idea what it even was.
When he was traded to Seattle, his whiff rate only went up.
Boyd is yet just another example of Harris? excellent reputation of finding pitchers coming off injury or showing promise. In his short tenure with the Giants, Scott found multiple pitchers who went on to success, including Anthony DeSclafani and Alex Wood.
Let?s also remember that Boyd was non-tendered by the Tigers because they would have had to pay him $7+ mill for a year in which he would not pitch.
It had nothing to do with his talent.
Given all of the new resources now in place, Boyd?s pitching is most likely to improve. And Harris is hoping to repeat history with him.
But let?s also look at the intangibles Boyd brings to the Tigers. He already knows Comerica. And he?s a real leader.....
CALCULATED RISK.
Totally Tigers
In his introductory press conference, Scott Harris said this:
?We?re going to make a lot moves, a lot of moves with strong conviction and confidence behind them. Some of those moves are going to be calculated risks. We have to take calculated risks to narrow the gap between this organization and the other organizations we?re facing right now.?
Pay special attention to Harris? first and last lines.
It explains why the Tigers signed Matthew Boyd.
So many Tiger fans are wringing their hands over this move. So many of them believe this is something that Al Avila would have done. So many of these same fans think it?s a return to welcoming back old players.
There?s just 1 problem with that. The only thing that last year?s Tigers and the 2023 model have in common is the name.
It?s an apples and oranges comparison. There is new leadership, a new Front Office, new departments, new resources and a new way of thinking.
If Avila was still in charge, the Tigers would never have had the intell to re-sign Boyd for reasons other than familiarity. Under Harris, you can be assured that due diligence was done. That has always been his m.o. He and his new top advisors are not known for making uninformed decisions.
Harris signed Boyd when he was the Giants? GM. While Boyd never threw a pitch for San Francisco, they traded him for a nice return from the Mariners.
In Seattle, Matthew posted a 1.35 ERA w/8 BB and 13 SOs in 10 appearances. His fastball averaged 93 MPH and his slider earned a 35% swing-and-miss rate.
Boyd is exactly the type of pitcher Harris wants. Someone who controls the strike zone. Remember Scott?s #3 tenet?
Matt has a high chase rate (over 30%) and a 28% swing-and-miss rate.
He?s stingy with walks.
How did he refine and improve his pitching?
While he was on the Giant?s IL, he used the team?s pitching lab to improve.
Btw, the Tigers never had a pitching lab. Until this year, they probably had no idea what it even was.
When he was traded to Seattle, his whiff rate only went up.
Boyd is yet just another example of Harris? excellent reputation of finding pitchers coming off injury or showing promise. In his short tenure with the Giants, Scott found multiple pitchers who went on to success, including Anthony DeSclafani and Alex Wood.
Let?s also remember that Boyd was non-tendered by the Tigers because they would have had to pay him $7+ mill for a year in which he would not pitch.
It had nothing to do with his talent.
Given all of the new resources now in place, Boyd?s pitching is most likely to improve. And Harris is hoping to repeat history with him.
But let?s also look at the intangibles Boyd brings to the Tigers. He already knows Comerica. And he?s a real leader.....
