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Tigers FO thread, Scott Harris Pres. of Baseball Ops,Tigers Hire Jeff Greenberg GM

https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2022/12/16/saturday-survey-58/
SATURDAY SURVEY.
Totally Tigers

New President of Baseball Operations Scott Harris officially started his job on October 6th. Since he came on board, a number of employees were fired. Scouting, drafting, training, conditioning and player development were significantly overhauled. For 2 months, he has been hiring new leaders to take over and fill these departments.

In preparation for the trading season, he ousted 16 players from the 40-man roster. And since the official start date of December 10th, Harris has claimed a number of players, a Rule 5 draft, made a trade and signed 2 starting pitchers. He was also involved in a couple free agent negotiations.

During his initial press conference, Harris indicated that the roster will not be set in stone but rather the organization will be taking a year-long approach to improving the level of talent given whatever opportunities may arise.

The Harris regime is the first real new one in over 2 decades for the Tigers.
As such, it is expected that more time will be needed in order to get up to speed as all the new people settle into their jobs. Getting a lay of the land is important but the Front Office is also expected to continue to undo/mitigate the actions and direction taken by the previous GM.

Given all of this, what is an appropriate amount of time to wait in order to gauge how effective this new Front Office may be?

Are you going to pass judgment before spring training or by Opening Day?
Are you going to wait until you see how the team performs during the actual season?

Or are you going to wait until later in the summer or at the end of the season when the final standings summarize the year?

What is an appropriate amount of time to wait in order to gauge how effective this new Front Office will be?

1. Before Spring Training.

2. By Opening Day

3. Early/first half of the season

4. Second half/end of 2023 season

VOTE
 
kalinecountry said:
https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2022/12/16/saturday-survey-58/
SATURDAY SURVEY.
Totally Tigers

New President of Baseball Operations Scott Harris officially started his job on October 6th. Since he came on board, a number of employees were fired. Scouting, drafting, training, conditioning and player development were significantly overhauled. For 2 months, he has been hiring new leaders to take over and fill these departments.

In preparation for the trading season, he ousted 16 players from the 40-man roster. And since the official start date of December 10th, Harris has claimed a number of players, a Rule 5 draft, made a trade and signed 2 starting pitchers. He was also involved in a couple free agent negotiations.

During his initial press conference, Harris indicated that the roster will not be set in stone but rather the organization will be taking a year-long approach to improving the level of talent given whatever opportunities may arise.

The Harris regime is the first real new one in over 2 decades for the Tigers.
As such, it is expected that more time will be needed in order to get up to speed as all the new people settle into their jobs. Getting a lay of the land is important but the Front Office is also expected to continue to undo/mitigate the actions and direction taken by the previous GM.

Given all of this, what is an appropriate amount of time to wait in order to gauge how effective this new Front Office may be?

Are you going to pass judgment before spring training or by Opening Day?
Are you going to wait until you see how the team performs during the actual season?

Or are you going to wait until later in the summer or at the end of the season when the final standings summarize the year?

What is an appropriate amount of time to wait in order to gauge how effective this new Front Office will be?

1. Before Spring Training.

2. By Opening Day

3. Early/first half of the season

4. Second half/end of 2023 season

VOTE
Click to expand...

Other than the front office, Harris has been doing what any other guy in charge would be doing. She keeps touting that he "ousted 16 players from the 40 man roster" in her articles. I did a little research...that number isn't out of the ordinary. Between the 2020 - 2021 season, there were 16 different players on the Tigers 40 man roster. Turnover is pretty typical in baseball.

As far as her survey...I think you always evaluate how a person is doing at their job. All 4 of those points in the season are good times to evaluate how he has been doing. My guess is we won't know how he good he really is for about 3-4 years though.
 
Last edited:
So basically this is just another rebuild sadly after the failure of the idiot before him.
 
Asked what's next on the to-do list, Scott Harris said:

"Part of the broader strategy here is to strengthen our pitching and defense while we address our offense. Reshaping our offensive identity will take time.
It has to take time to be able to achieve that goal."

"We believe that the quickest way to stabilize a team is to build a collection of starters who give you a chance to win every night and build a defense behind those starters who catch the ball every night.

"We're still working really hard to address all of our other needs throughout the offseason. There's a long way to go in the rest of the offseason."

BYBTB
 
"Hitters not flailing at pitches several feet outside the strike zone. Opposing pitchers not sitting down Tigers hitters with only 9 pitches thrown. Outfielders not misplaying balls or SSs who led all of MLB in errors."

Looks like that's not happening unless they get rid if Baez
 
When asked earlier, Harris said the dimensions were being discussed however there were vast differences between what pitchers wanted and what positional players preferred.

Harris revealed earlier that pitchers and positional players are greatly at odds about changing Comerica's dimensions. It's why nothing has been done even though the topic was on the table.

Another data point if you're trying to read the tea leaves on the Comerica dimensions issue:

Michael Lorenzen said Tigers president Scott Harris used the size of Comerica Park as a "selling point."

Mlive
 
https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2022/12/22/who-is-the-wisest/
WHO IS THE WISEST?
Totally Tigers

Over this week, we identified the 3 Wise Men of the Detroit Tigers.

The first is Chris Ilitch:
His offering? A new tv broadcast crew.

The second is Scott Harris:
His offering? Watchable games this coming year.

And the third is Ryan Garko:
His offering? The resurrection of top draft picks like Spencer Torkelson.

Out of these 3 presents, which is the one gift you want the most?

Which is the one gift you would most like to receive?

1. New tv broadcast team

2. Watchable games

3. Resurrection of top draft picks

VOTE
 
https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2022/12/26/open-mike-105/
OPEN MIKE.
Totally Tigers

During this holiday time, readers have the chance to post their thoughts about the Tigers or baseball in general. Your observations, comments and questions. Extra credit goes to those who take the time to post instead of perusing all the online post-holiday sales.

For today only, a maximum of 6 sentences please.
 
https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2022/12/26/the-fans-have-spoken-2/
THE FANS HAVE SPOKEN.
Totally Tigers

How many of you return a day or two later to check the final results of our weekly polls?

We really have an excellent cross-section of fans and historically, this group of readers almost always tend to be spot on about what they see happening with the Tigers. I am hoping that those with offices at Comerica read what the fans are saying and consider it when they are making decisions.

As background, each poll is carefully constructed, offering the full spectrum of options as well as avoiding the possibility of leading readers to a specific answer. And they are also tamper-proof. Unlike the All-Star voting, it?s 1 reader, 1 vote. The blog platform kicks out any additional votes submitted by a reader who has already voted once.

Let?s now take the time to review all of the major polls completed since mid-November. What you may find most interesting is the often-seen difference between how the overall population of fans feel compared to the published reader comments. Sometimes, the most vocal of fans are in the minority. Some of you may be surprised at what you see.

What is also fun to see is how far apart ? or how close ? fans are in voting. Of special note are a couple polls that were done in advance of moves being made.

As you peruse the questions, it may also be interesting to see how often you were in the majority ? or in the minority.

Here are the questions, with the winner listed at the top.
 
https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2022/12/27/the-payroll-poll/
THE PAYROLL POLL - Part One.
Totally Tigers

While we wait for PoBO Scott Harris to sign an actual MLB player who will be part of the Tigers? 2023 Opening Day roster, let?s turn our attention to the biggest headline grabber in baseball right now.

Payroll.

And it?s all because of Mets owner Steve Cohen.

We?re going to take a deep dive into the subject over the next couple of days. Each day, we?ll cover each of the following topics:

The radical changes being forced upon MLB teams because of Steve Cohen?s massive spending.

Whether MLB should now consider putting actual minimum and maximum payroll limits on teams.

Where should the Detroit Tigers be on the payroll spectrum?

Today, let?s start by tackling the issues created by the Mets this off-season.

Steve Cohen bought the team 2 years ago. Since then, he?s been spending more on his roster than any other team.

Especially this year.

So far, it is estimated that the Mets 2023 payroll is app. $384 mill. And that doesn?t include a potential contract with Carlos Correa which is still being addressed.

Cohen is expected to pay over $111 mill in luxury tax alone for the coming season. That assessment is more than the entire payroll of one-third of MLB teams.

Cohen is baseball?s richest owner and he is admired by Mets fans for being serious about getting this team a ring. However, there are those who aren?t thrilled that he is trying to buy a championship by vastly overspending every other team.

No other team comes close. The amount of money being spent by Cohen is beyond the realm of what anyone thought a baseball owner would spend. There are rumors that other team owners are very unhappy with him.

On the other hand, there are teams that are barely spending at all.

Is Cohen?s entrance into MLB a good thing? Will it force other teams to step up and be competitive?

Or is this excessive? Is he creating a situation where the Mets will grab all the top free agents and significantly impact how every team performs? Will some teams simply not try to compete knowing they can?t match his wallet?

What do you think?

In today?s comments, please limit your thoughts to the Mets and MLB in general. Please save your comments about payroll limits and the Tigers for Thursday?s and Friday?s polls.

Are Steve Cohen's spending habits good for MLB?

1. Yes

2. No

VOTE
 
https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2022/12/28/the-payroll-poll-2/
THE PAYROLL POLL Part Two.
Totally Tigers

Let?s continue the series of payroll polls we started yesterday. The first poll was focused on Mets owner Steve Cohen and his willingness to spend whatever it takes to win a ring. So far, it?s $384 mill and counting. And no, it doesn?t include the salary for Carlos Correa. Yet.

If you missed that poll, you can still vote today before the survey ends.

THE PAYROLL POLL.
Now let?s turn to whether or not MLB should add a hard minimum and/or maximum payroll limits. Currently, there are financial penalties for going over a payroll of $233 million. However, some teams are avoiding having to pay the tax by restructuring contracts with players over a longer length of time in order to drive down the AAV (Average Annual Value) which is used in calculating the luxury tax.

Last year, 4 teams went over the luxury tax threshold. Three additional teams spent over $200 mill but just under the luxury tax.

Seven other teams spent between the average MLB payroll ($151 mill) and under $200 mill.

Eight teams had payrolls just under baseball?s average and above $100 mill.

Six teams are listed with payrolls ranging from $50 mill to just under $100 mill. And the final 2 teams had total salaries ranging from $44 mill to $48 mill.

All 14 teams with payrolls above the MLB average are located within major cities. The remaining 16 teams with payrolls under the average all are considered secondary markets except for Washington, DC. They are currently tearing down and rebuilding.

The 4 teams paying luxury tax are spending anywhere from 5 times as much or at least double that of one-third of MLB?s teams. Overspending 10 other teams.

Through these statistics, you could say that the 30 franchises are divided into 5 different spending categories:

Spending over the suggested soft cap.
Spending just under the cap but above MLB?s average payroll.
Spending under MLB?s average payroll but over $100 mill.
Spending under $100 mill.
Hardly spending at all.

Should MLB impose some form of spending limits? A maximum? A minimum? Both?

Tell us by voting. But please remember to keep comments focused on the caps. We?ll discuss what the Tigers should do in tomorrow?s blog.

Should MLB impose actual salary caps?

1. Yes, both minimum and maximum.

2. Yes, but just a mimimum payroll.

3. Yes, but just a maximum payroll.

4. No.

VOTE
 
https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2022/12/29/the-payroll-poll-3/
THE PAYROLL POLL Part Three.
Totally Tigers

Let?s conclude the 3-part series on payroll in baseball.

The first poll was focused on Mets owner Steve Cohen and his willingness to spend whatever it takes to win a ring. Yesterday, we explored what each team was spending, especially those shelling out the most and the least. We asked the question as to whether MLB should install salary caps. If you missed that poll, you have today only to vote before that survey also ends.

Now let?s turn to the Detroit Tigers and their payroll.

For the first 13 years of owning the team, Mike Ilitch spent sparingly on the Tigers. Upon hiring Dave Dombrowski back in 2022, the Tigers increased payroll significantly almost every year. The team went from $54 mill to $212 mill during his tenure. Most of that time, the Tigers ranked within the top 5 of team payrolls. Often sitting at #2 or #3.

While that money fueled multiple division titles and October baseball, it failed the ultimate test ? a World Series trophy. The Tigers won only 1 game out of 2 WS appearances.

And despite attracting large attendance numbers, the Tigers operated in the red for the last 10 years of Dombrowski?s tenure.

Due mostly to contracts that increasingly got expensive, Opening Day payroll continued to climb for the Tigers in 2016 and 2017 while the team slid backwards in the standings. Because of those 2 factors, the Tigers were pushed into a tear down that lasted 5 years and a rebuild that has yet to take off.
They now hold the record for the team with the longest playoff drought.

Last year was the first one since 2017-18 that the Tigers grew their payroll. Chris Ilitch ranked 3rd in spending the most money for the 2022 season but it was not spent well by his former GM, Al Avila.

The Tigers sit at #18 in payroll for the 2022 season with $136 mill. They were $14 mill below the average MLB payroll.

The White Sox are over $200 mill. The Twins are just slightly ahead of the Tigers by $13 mill.

The Tigers are significantly outspending the Royals and Indians. It is way too soon to put a dollar amount on this year?s payroll.

Where should the Tigers be sitting in payroll for the near future? How much do they need in order to become competitive?

Or is a solid organization more of a factor in how successful a team becomes?

How much is enough without putting the team?s future in jeopardy and risking another tear down?

Consider all of this ? and more ? when you think about how much this organization should invest.

Tell us by voting.

What should the Tigers' payroll be for the near future?

1. $203 million (White Sox) or more.

2. Less than $200 million but more than MLB average of $151 million.

3. Within the neighborhood of MLB average $151 million.

4. Similar to current $136 million payroll.

5. Less than $136 million payroll (Royals and Indians spending significantly less).

VOTE
 
https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2022/12/30/saturday-and-sunday-survey/
SATURDAY (AND SUNDAY) SURVEY.
Totally Tigers

New PoBO Scott Harris has a reputation for working the waiver wire and picking up value. He also has a track record of resuscitating pitchers who go on to have productive seasons.

Harris has said in his press conferences that the goal is to always keep improving the Tigers. Reading between the lines, he is telling us that the roster will be churning over through the course of the year as he continues to strengthen the roster.

He has also stated that he intends to fill holes at C, 1B, 3B and the OF. But so far, he has signed only 2 pitchers to MLB contracts. They are Matthew Boyd and Michael Lorenzen.

There are still 7 weeks left to sign players before spring training starts.

But Harris has broomed 16 players and claimed 7 others off waivers. He has traded for 2 and signed 13 more to contracts. All but 2 of them are minor league contracts.

Other than Boyd and Lorenzen, only 2 of the new players have invitations to spring training.

The rest of these transactions are considered to be depth moves. Most of the new players will be reporting to Toledo.

Here are the new additions:

VIA WAIVERS

2 catchers

1 2B

1 shortstop

1 OF

2 LHP

1 RHP

VIA FREE AGENT SIGNINGS

1 catcher

1 shortstop

1 RF

2 LHP (including Boyd)

5 RHP (including Lorenzen)

VIA TRADE

1 3B

1 OF

1 LHP

After reviewing the positions acquired, what is your first impression? Is there a pattern you are seeing? What does all of the acquisitions say about how this team was built under the old regime? Does it say anything about the current roster as it stands now?

Which one of the following options stands out the most to you?

Which statement stands out the most to you?

1. The Tigers don?t feel comfortable with their current crop of catchers.

2, They have concerns about filling or maintaining defense up the middle.

3. After using 17 different starting pitchers, they need to create a new pipeline of pitching options.

VOTE
 
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