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Tigers named Ryan Garko as the club’s Vice President of Player Development and Assistant GM

https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2023/12/15/saturday-survey-107/
SATURDAY SURVEY.
Totally Tigers

Over the past couple of days, we?ve taken a look at where the Tigers stand compared to other teams. We also identified 5 of team?s biggest concerns that need to be addressed for the 2024 season.

If you didn?t catch those blogs ? or need a refresher ? here they are:

Based upon these 2 blogs, last year?s results and what you?ve seen since the Tigers changed their Front Office, when do you believe Detroit will truly become competitive and reach the October playoffs?

Here are the qualifiers that define this playoff milestone and should be included in your decision:

? Must have greater than a .500 record

? Must have enough talent to win at least 1 playoff game and not be swept.

? Must have enough wins to rank in the top half of MLB.

Simply winning the weak AL Central is not enough of a qualifier.

Given all of these markers, the information shared in the above 2 blogs ? and assuming that the Tigers are building a viable product ? in what year do you believe they will be legitimate contenders for a playoff spot?

In what year will the Tigers make the playoffs?

1. 2024

2. 2025

3. 2026

4. 2027 or beyond

VOTE
 
https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2023/12/24/merry-christmas-2/
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Totally Tigers

Happy Holidays (or Happy Holly Daze as we say around here) to all of our dear readers!

Whether it?s Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or another holiday you celebrate during the month of December, we send our very best wishes to all of you during this special time.

And every one of you who read TT?s blogs are the gifts that keep on giving for us. It doesn?t matter if you comment regularly, sporadically or lurk silently in the background, TT loves you all and appreciates your loyalty. We look forward to keeping this blog fresh throughout 2024.

Here?s hoping that your holidays are merry and bright. And during this time (and with huge apologies to Clement Clarke Moore), may we dream that:

(sic) ?Twas the night before Christmas, when all through Comerica Park
Front Office execs were stirring, building a roster that not yet included Max Clark.
In hopes that top prospects will soon would be there;
The fans were nestled all snug in their beds;
While visions of new second- and third- basemen danced in their heads.
 
The Angels fired Buddy Carlyle and Dylan Axelrod. They went to the Rays and Tigers in PD roles.

The Detroit Tigers have hired former pitcher Dylan Axelrod as their new Pitching Performance and Integration Coordinator.

The newest Tigers coordinator Dylan Axelrod was the assistant pitching coordinator with Ryan Garko when Garko was the replay coordinator for the Angels back in 2020.

https://www.blessyouboys.com/2023/1...tching-coordinator-coaches-los-angeles-angels
Tigers hire Dylan Axelrod as Pitching Performance and Integration Coordinator.
The former Red and White Sox pitcher was most recently the Angels pitching coordinator.
BYBTB
 
https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2024/01/10/headed-in-the-right-direction/
HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
Totally Tigers

We?re starting to witness proof positive that the changes made to the Detroit Tigers? organization are starting to pay off. Specifically as it pertains to player development.

For the first time in decades, the Tigers? farm system is no longer a laughing joke. Even Keith Law has good things to say about them.

But what is funny is the credit that some fans are giving Al Avila for the rise in prospect rankings and the farm system.

Their rationale?

That Avila drafted most of these players.

To quote Cher from the movie Clueless??.?As if.?

To give the former GM the credit is to believe that once a player is drafted, his skill level is already formed. That he?s not going to improve, regress or further develop his skills.

Or to even credit Avila with the player selection. The Tigers picked #1 and #2 for years under the old Front Office. It?s not like they were actually making the hard decisions about which players to draft. The official prospect rankings essentially took care of that.

To see the measurable progress being made, let?s compare the previous and current Front Offices in their farm system development. (And for the record, I?m not using farm system rankings that assign ?gimme points? solely based upon where the player was drafted, which also unfairly rewards the teams with the highest draft picks. I use the systems that base their evaluations on talent only.)

And to do this, we need to review the rankings during each year. (Please note that many evaluation systems rank 2-3 times every year ? beginning of the season, mid-season/post-draft and end of year.)
 
https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2024/01/18/five-for-friday-100/
FIVE FOR FRIDAY.
Totally Tigers

Several weeks ago, we covered how baseball has been changing statistically over the past decade. How the old traditional stats have given way to those that tell a more accurate picture. How Front Offices, analysts and everyone one in this industry has been using these new(er) stats for awhile now.

And how fans must adjust as well. We have to remain updated and aware of these now standard ways of analyzing the game. If we don?t, we will no longer really understand what is going on in the game, why some players are considered better than others and why some are retained, while others are not.

The first blog covered the new offensive stats which have taken over the game. If you didn?t catch it the first time ? or need a refresher ? here it is:

Today, let?s cover the top 5 stats for pitching. The ones you need to know and use.

Like the newer offensive numbers, today?s pitching stats are much more accurate than their ancestors. Most importantly, statisticians have figured out to present numbers that tell the truest story about a pitcher without the influence of their teams, other players and defensive factors ? all of which impact his stats.

These are the numbers used by every Front Office to determine the real value of their pitchers and other hurlers they are thinking about acquiring.

A number of fans were puzzled at some of the Tigers? recent signings because they were looking at win-loss records and ERA. But if they were focused on the more accurate stats like Harris and Co. were doing, they?d see why they were signed.

The next time you look at a pitcher?s stats, you?ll want to skim over the win-loss record and ERA in favor of the stats that eliminate outside factors and tell a much more accurate story about his real skills.

So what should you be looking at? Here are the top 5 stats:
 
https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2024/01/24/let-the-pressure-begin/
LET THE PRESSURE BEGIN.
Totally Tigers

The Detroit Tigers are going into their 2nd year under the new regime. New people have now had the chance to work together, the problems created and/or ignored by the former Front Office have been been discovered and changes have started to be implemented.

So what should our expectations be throughout the 2024 season?

We sat on our hands throughout last year, understanding that it was Scott Harris? first season in charge and that naturally, it was going to take some time for him to assess the organization. And as a result, many small moves were made last year as the organization readjusted.

But this year?

We can?t be as patient. Especially because we sat through the unmitigated years of disaster from 2015 through 2022. We need to start seeing bigger signs of hope and progress.

Chris Ilitch does, too. The Tigers have lost just too many fans. Studies show that fans start departing for good after 5 years of witnessing bad sports. It?s been over 6 now for the Tigers. Ilitch can?t afford another year where the Tigers remain uncompetitive.

The franchise lost app. $30 mill in revenue for the 2022 season. Only 5 other MLB teams lost more. (The figures for 2023 aren?t out yet.) This doesn?t even include the big question mark surrounding broadcasting rights ($60 mill/year) which are likely to expire at some point within the year due to the bankruptcy issues tied to Bally Sports. Currently, who will pay for what and how much is still up in the air and won?t be resolved for several months at least.

All of this means that the honeymoon for Scott Harris is officially over at the beginning of April. The pressure is on.

He?s got to start showing bigger and better results this year.

Multiple small moves will no longer cut it. It?s time for bolder moves.

But we need to understand that it?s going to take a month or two for what will eventually be the current roster to settle in. If we don?t include any pitchers, there will be at least 5 new positional players making their debuts. The Front Office needs to see how well they adjust before making any changes.

I wrote last week about just how many holes the Tigers have. One can deduce that the team is still a good distance away from being seen as an October player.

Positionally, the outfield is fairly well-settled. There is actually a surplus of players both current and expected to make their debuts later in the season.

The bullpen is also looking pretty good.

It?s the starting pitching and infield that are of real concern and will require the most work. And that?s what Harris must address and significantly improve this year.

Today, let?s focus on the latter group ? the positional players. First, by reviewing where the holes and question marks are that Harris must address.

And there are a lot of them.....

More in the link.
 
https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2024/01/26/saturday-survey-113/
SATURDAY SURVEY.
Totally Tigers

After overcoming an injury, Jackson Jobe started to turn heads in the 2nd half of last season.

Only 21, he was the Tigers? #1 draft pick out of high school back in 2021. Last year, he rocketed through 4 levels of the minor leagues.

He is currently ranked as the #54 prospect in MLB and the top 10 in pitching. Out of those 10, he is routinely ranked as the #2 RHP. With the Tigers, he is their #3 prospect.

Jobe has developed 3 solid pitches and his slider is believed to be one of the best, if not the best. His control is excellent and he strikes out 1 batter per inning. In the Arizona Fall League, he was striking out app. 1.5 batters per inning.

Given his rough start to 2023, he still finished with a 2.81 ERA and an amazing .984 WHIP. He routinely throws in the mid-upper 90?s.

Jobe has been invited to his first spring training this year. While promising, he?s not expected to make the Opening Day roster. He has yet to pitch at the AAA level.

But how soon could he make the starting rotation?

What year will Jackson Jobe make the starting rotation?

1. Sometime later in 2024.

2. Not until 2025.

VOTE
 
https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2024/01/27/deeper-discussions-103/
DEEPER DISCUSSIONS.
Totally Tigers

During the off-season, PoBO Scott Harris has emphasized a number of times that a team can?t have too many pitchers. And since the 2023 season ended, the Tigers have been very busy dropping and acquiring pitchers more than any other type of player.

So far, they have eliminated 21 pitchers through an opt out, DFA, free agency and trades. A few of those players have chosen to come back. Most of those leaving were on the minor league rosters.

On the other end, the Tigers have acquired 8 new pitchers. Half of them are expected to be on this year?s roster.

Harris has also said he?ll be looking for new pitchers throughout the season.

What do you believe is the single biggest reason for such a significant change in the organization?s pitching prospects?

Today?s blog addresses this dilemma and allows readers to share their thoughts in more detail. And hopefully, to actively engage with others by responding to their posts and creating back-and-forth discussion threads. The more the merrier!

For this one blog only, you?ve got 6 sentences max to share your thoughts. Of course, you can also respond to other readers.

TT will supply the ammunition. One thought-provoking question. Several options provided. One hard choice to be selected. One vote.

Ready?

What is the biggest reason for such a high turnover in the Tigers' pitching?

1. The new player development system has determined they have leveled out in their development.

2. The new Front Office is placing more focus on pitchers who control the strike zone, have a higher SO ratio and keep runners off the bases.

VOTE
 
The Tigers have the #5 farm system in baseball.

They loaded up on hitters, but they also have one of the best pitching prospects in baseball in RHP Jackson Jobe.

Despite the tanking to get top draft picks, the Detroit Tigers under Al Avila, Dave Littlefield and Scott Pleis never rose very far in the rankings. At the beginning of 2022, Avila's last year, the Tigers ranked #27 in farm systems.

After the hiring of Ryan Garko, the Tigers started to rise in the rankings. Under the new Front Office, they've gone from #17 to #7 to #5 in just 1 full year.

Totally Tigers
 
totallytigers.wordpress.com

MOVIN’ ON UP

by Holly Horning Remember the days when Brian Kenny regularly gave the Tigers a regular beat down for their farm system? Fans despised him for speaking the truth.  But you know what? Kenny wa…
totallytigers.wordpress.com totallytigers.wordpress.com
MOVIN’ ON UP.
Totally Tigers
 
totallytigers.wordpress.com

DEEPER DISCUSSIONS

What is the best way to assemble a competitive team? For years, the Tigers went out and signed older free agents to long-term expensive contracts. It never got them what they wanted. Now, the…
totallytigers.wordpress.com totallytigers.wordpress.com
DEEPER DISCUSSIONS.
Totally Tigers

What is the best way to assemble a competitive team?
For years, the Tigers went out and signed older free agents to long-term expensive contracts. It never got them what they wanted.
Now, they have adopted the newest trend in baseball of signing their prospects to long-term contracts at a fraction of the price experienced players would command.
The latter strategy also has the ability to keep payroll under control and add flexibility to the Front Office’s ability to sign additional players.
But it doesn’t come without risks.
The prospects they sign don’t have an MLB track record yet. And of course, they aren’t going to start significantly producing for what is likely to be at least 2 years once they make the roster.
If you were the GM, which method do you prefer over the other? (This is meant to be challenging so you can’t pick a combination of both answers.)
Today’s blog addresses this dilemma and allows readers to share their thoughts in more detail. And hopefully, to actively engage with others by responding to their posts and creating back-and-forth discussion threads. The more the merrier!
For this one blog only, you’ve got 6 sentences max to share your thoughts. Of course, you can also respond to other readers.
TT will supply the ammunition. One thought-provoking question. Several options provided. One hard choice to be selected.
If you were the GM, which 1 strategy do you prefer? Signing young players with a short track record or older players with established track records to long term contracts?
You can argue only one side.
Ready?
 
totallytigers.wordpress.com

HOW TO DO A REBUILD

by Holly Horning The Baltimore Orioles serve as the template for how to quickly rebuild a team. They accomplished it in less than 5 years. Needless to say, they did it in great contrast to ho…
totallytigers.wordpress.com totallytigers.wordpress.com
HOW TO DO A REBUILD.
Totally Tigers
 
totallytigers.wordpress.com

THE FOLLY OF FORTUNE TELLERS

by Holly Horning It’s that time of year again. The time when all of baseball’s fortune tellers take out their crystal balls and make their predictions about each MLB team’s …
totallytigers.wordpress.com totallytigers.wordpress.com
THE FOLLY OF FORTUNE TELLERS.
Totally Tigers
 
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