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

https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2022/06/30/five-for-friday-32/
FIVE FOR FRIDAY.
Totally Tigers

Over the past 2 weeks, there have been a number of national articles (and radio shows) published that evaluate the Tigers? rebuild. All critical, all pointing their fingers at GM Al Avila. All of them covered here at Totally Tigers this week.

Every piece has indicated that the Tigers have barely started to fill the many holes in their roster. That the free agents have all essentially been busts, rookies have been struggling and mid-tier players are under-performing.
Some of them indicated that next year?s roster will need even more work given that the level of talent seen this year is not viable enough to stay.

In summary, they believe the Tigers will be slipping backwards in their rebuild. More positional holes will be created next year in contrast to 2022.

So the question now to ask is which of these players will actually be part of the rebuild? Which ones deserve to stay? Which ones will become the nucleus of a competitive team?

And that is today?s topic.
 
https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2022/07/09/deeper-discussions-32/
DEEPER DISCUSSIONS.
Totally Tigers

Over the past decade, baseball became more modern as a result of teams starting to hire younger managers and Front Office personnel who were schooled in the latest trends, theories and strategies.
The overwhelming majority of them came in from outside baseball and brought advanced degrees in sports economics, business and psychology with them. For the most part, these changes were successful.

But within the past 2 years, some teams have returned to hiring older, traditional baseball people. Joe Girardi was hired to manage the Phillies.
Tony La Russa returned to the White Sox as their manager. Dusty Baker was the solution to the Astros scandal and provided good will and balance to a team in turmoil.

And Dave Dombrowski was hired by the Phillies to be their first President of Baseball Operations who also has some responsibility for building the team?s roster. All of them in their 60?s and 70?s.

All but Baker have come under heavy fire, especially this year from both fans and baseball analysts. Girardi was fired from his job while many are calling for the same thing to happen to La Russa. He is being questioned for some highly questionable in-game moves that no longer jive with what is going on in the game.

Joe Maddon, one of baseball?s oldest managers, was also recently fired for his team?s under-performance.

Dombrowski is being criticized for building an old-fashioned roster that is high on one-dimensional hitters while ignoring defense and the bullpen.

Much of the criticism is based upon a perceived failure by these older traditionalists to keep up with the changes happening in baseball. And these changes are often rooted and supported by the findings of computer programs and advanced technology. Younger managers and GMs are much more comfortable using and explaining the results generated by computer reports. They also don?t have to get up to speed.

To offer some perspective, the majority of today?s managers are in their 40?s. The next largest group is in their early 50?s.

As for GMs, they skew much younger. Most are in their early 40?s while the next largest group is in their 30?s. Al Avila is MLB?s oldest GM. And if we were to include Dombrowski (who is not a GM but carries the roster-building duties), he would be the oldest of them all.

Tigers? manager, A. J. Hinch is 48. GM Al Avila is 63.

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 respond to as many other readers as you want.

TT will supply the ammunition. One thought-provoking question.
Several options provided. One hard choice to be selected. One vote.
Ready? What is your preference when it comes to hiring management?

What is your preference when it comes to hiring management?

1. Older w/lots of baseball experience.

2. Younger w/updated skills and technologically savvy.

VOTE
 
https://www.blessyouboys.com/2022/7...arting-pitching-is-below-average-grade-d-plus
Detroit Tigers half time report: Starting pitching is below average, Grade D plus.
Tigers rotation has endured wave of injuries.
BYBTB

The Tigers? rotation ranks:

27th in MLB with a 6.93 strikeout /9 ratio
14th in MLB with a resepectable 2.85 BB/9 ratio
27th in MLB with a 1.35 Home runs per 9 innings ratio
The starting rotation has just a 39 percent ground ball percentage, which is 28th in the major leagues.
They have allowed opposing hitters a batting average of .257, which is 25th in MLB.
The Tigers? starters have allowed 1.32 walks plus hits per inning (WHIP), 21st in the majors.
 
Two data pieces that teams prioritize for hitters are O-Swing % (chase rate) and BB%.
Tigers rank:
O-Swing% 36.4% 29/30
BB% 6.5% 29/30

DET built a roster that doesn't swing at strikes and doesn't walk..I'll wager that's the first thing a new GM prioritizes.

MGorosh
 
https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2022/08/18/five-for-friday-39/
FIVE FOR FRIDAY.
Totally Tigers

One week after the firing of Tigers? GM, Al Avila, I?m hoping that Chris Ilitch and his senior Front Office executives have been sitting down and compiling a list of qualities, characteristics and skills that their new GM must have.

There?s going to be a lot on their list, some items more important than others.

But do they have a list of priorities? Experience that is a must-have?

I hope so. I certainly have mine.

And it?s a long list.

But what are my top 5 qualifications that absolutely, positively must be met before anything else is considered? The initial 5 that will either qualify or disqualify potential candidates for further evaluation?

You may be surprised that my list of first hurdles is short on the tangible skills. That list comes after candidates have cleared this initial one. And it?s because it doesn?t matter how great your business skills or work experience are, if you can?t prepare the organization to succeed as a whole, then this candidate will ultimately fail. at the task.

Should this person be creative? Yes. A great trader and an expert in understanding how to scout and draft effectively? Absolutely.

But those skills come after they?ve passed the following criteria?..
 
https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2022/08/19/saturday-survey-41/
SATURDAY SURVEY.
Totally Tigers

Last week, Chris Ilitch fired GM Al Avila because he saw ?no progress at the MLB level.? Ilitch had invested $243 mill this year on free agent signings alone because his Front Office had convinced him that the Tigers were within reach of being competitive.

But now the Tigers are once again in last place and the third worst team in MLB. Through Thursday?s games, they are 25 losses away from hitting another 100-loss season. There are 42 games left in the year.

The team added 2 new starting pitchers (free agents) and 5 new positional players. Two rookies were added (positional players) but 1 ended up being sent down. A number of young pitchers saw their debuts in Detroit this year.

While their bullpen has ranked near the top for most of this year, their offensive numbers sit at the bottom of MLB and they are about to set records in fewest number of runs plated. The majority of the positional roster is showing significant performance regression.

Yet the Tigers have been besieged by an astronomical number of injuries, mostly to their pitchers. Three relievers and 3 starting pitchers have now been lost this season to surgery with some of them not expected to pitch at all next year.

The new GM will undoubtedly be taking a deep dive into the status of the Tigers and where they sit in the rebuilding process. Will he continue the rebuilding process or will he be forced to do a reset/reboot? Or, will it be determined that the Tigers have to return to square 1 and rethink the entire process?

What do you think?
What does the new Tigers' GM need to do about the rebuild?

1. Pick up where the organization left off.

2. Reboot/reset some aspects.

3. Develop an entirely new plan.

VOTE
 
Get a new GM, fire complete coaching staff. If you keep Hinch the hitting coach stays. You know why I know that? Because the hittng coach is still here. Hinch deserves blame just like Avila. He gets praise because of 60 game stretch last season.

2nd priority, get rid of the medical staff.
 
https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2022/08/23/watercooler-wednesday-51/
WATERCOOLER WEDNESDAY.
Totally Tigers

Today, another opportunity for readers to discuss the hottest topics in a forum where thoughtful dialog and a variety of opinions are welcomed.

Let?s create some running conversational threads. And for those of you still going into offices, here?s a question to take with you ? or use via Zoom ? as you talk to your co-workers.

Here is today?s topic:

The Detroit Tigers are starting their search for a new GM. Owner Chris Ilitch indicated that the team made no progress at the MLB level this year, suggesting that the team needs someone who is experienced in the rebuilding process.

However, over the weekend, national stories came out that suggested the Tigers lack an organizational cohesiveness and process in which to effectively solve problems and improve the team. This was exemplified by the story of Robbie Grossman improving almost immediately by moving to another team.

An organization that easily fixed his issues that the Tigers had been unable to solve. Several experts in baseball have suggested that the departments within the Tigers Front Office don?t communicate or work together effectively.

If you were included in the GM search, which one of these 2 job qualifications is the most important one? Would you prioritize the need for rebuilding experience or do you believe that solving the work and communications problems within the organization is the most important?

Which one would you choose?
Which skill is the priority in choosing a new GM?

1. Experience in rebuilding.

2. Enhance flow of information and work between all departments.

VOTE
 
https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2022/08/25/five-for-friday-40/
FIVE FOR FRIDAY.
Totally Tigers

There may be only 5+ weeks left in the season, but the Tigers are plenty busy despite their very disappointing year.

They are not waiting to move on issues until a new GM comes on board. Certain individuals are already guiding the direction of what needs to be done. In all cases, it?s evaluating players and situations.

A. J. Hinch revealed that he is helping Spencer Torkelson long distance with his hitting. And Sam Menzin, who is temporarily in charge, has already interviewed for the position, which is really considered a formality. But he?s also trying to make himself look as good as possible for the potential arrival of his new boss. His job is not guaranteed to survive a new regime, especially since he?s closely connected to Dave Dombrowksi and Al Avila.

So what are the 5 most important stories to follow from now until the end of the year? I?ve got my list??.

1.THE GM HUNT

2. MIGGY?S FUTURE

3. DRESS REHEARSALS

4. PROSPECT PIPELINE

5. TWEAKING TORKELSON
 
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