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

https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2022/10/27/five-for-friday-49/
FIVE FOR FRIDAY.
Totally Tigers

It?s interesting to review the comments of readers who post their thoughts on social media boards, including here, about the Tigers? current changing of the guard.

While many are happy, there are those who still won?t surrender to what is perceived as good news. They remain very skeptical. Probably because they?ve heard these promises before and they haven?t worked out.

It?s a protective mechanism really. Some fans are adamant about not being fooled again. Others simply point to all of Detroit sports being cursed.

There are those who feel that the Tigers will never be able to escape their past and climb out of that historic hole. They point to all the failed leaderships from decades ago. In particular to Randy Smith, who, like Scott Harris, was young when he got the job.

But that?s where the similarities end.

Baseball has changed dramatically in the 27 years since Smith was hired by Mike Ilitch. It was a much simpler time when those in charge had no real training or business acumen/degrees and earned their way up through the organization. In Randy?s case, his father (a big mover and shaker in baseball) got him entry into the game. Ilitch hired him because he wanted someone young. And that he loved his cowboy boots. (A true story, I kid you not.)

Contrast Smith to Scott Harris who has been in baseball since college. Majored in appropriate subjects, got an MBA, interned for 2 teams and worked for the Commissioner. Went on to work for the Cubs and Giants, directly under the top 2 minds in baseball ? Theo Epstein and Farhan Zaidi......

You don?t work for these 2 people without having real chops.

The guy knows what he?s doing, folks.

Harris has been a game-changer so far and is taking this organization in a newer, more modern direction. And he?s incorporating the aspects that all of MLB?s best teams have adopted.

Scott is digging down deep unlike his predecessors. He?s addressing the foundations of this organization, because without a solid one, the team will flounder on an unstable surface.

Let?s take a look at the top 5 things he?s done so far after only 3 weeks on the job......
 
https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2022/10/28/saturday-survey-51/
SATURDAY SURVEY.
Totally Tigers

The Detroit Tigers will, once again, have to address their catching needs this off-season. Of utmost importance is someone who knows how to pace the game, handle young pitchers and call a strong game.

Offense is no longer considered to be a requirement in today?s game. It is considered only a bonus, not a requirement. It is far down the list for teams when compared to the priority placed on the strategy side of a catcher?s skills.

Tucker Barnhart had the worst defensive year of his career, costing the team -6 DFS (Defensive Runs Saved). When behind the plate, Tiger pitchers had a 4.05 ERA.

Eric Haase, while improved, doesn?t profile as an everyday catcher. He cost the team -9 DFS and pitchers had a 4.08 ERA with him behind the plate.

Jake Rogers is considered to be much stronger defensively and has handled young pitchers better than his counterparts. But he is also recovering from Tommy John and the team may not know how well he may perform until spring training.

Dillon Dingler is at least a year away from reaching Detroit.

Going into the hot stove season, there is expected to be a dearth of available catchers. But that?s not to say that Scott Harris could effect a trade for one.

What should the Tigers do for their #1 catcher next year given that handling a lot of rookies will be a requirement?

Who should be the Tigers primary catcher for 2023?

1. Tucker Barnhart

2. Eric Haase

3. Jake Rogers

4. Sign a free agent or trade for a catcher.

VOTE
 
https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2022/10/29/deeper-discussions-48/
DEEPER DISCUSSIONS.
Totally Tigers

As everyone knows, the Tigers have a serious lack of capable positional players and no real answers yet sitting in the minor leagues.

The Tigers are expected to shake up the roster over the winter. Two positions of great concern are catcher and third baseman.

Tucker Barnhart is not expected to return and that leaves Eric Haase who does not have the defensive stats to be the #1 catcher. Jake Rogers is a question mark as he is just returning from Tommy John surgery. And top prospect Dillon Dingler is at least a year away from seeing Detroit.

At third base, Jeimer Candelario is expected to be non-tendered.

Other than young prospects, the Tigers have little to offer in trade value. They may have to go the free agent route for one or both positions.

Both positions are crucial for the team and both in high demand by most organizations in MLB.

If you could pick only one, which is the most important one that the Tigers need to prioritize?

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?

Which position should the Tigers prioritize in filling?

1. Catcher

2. Third base

VOTE
 
The Detroit Tigers have named Mark Conner the club?s Director of Amateur Scouting, joining the organization after 13 seasons with the San Diego Padres.

One can assume that both A. J. Hinch and Scott Bream had recommended Connor. Both worked with him in San Diego.

Totally Tigers

https://ilitchnewshub.com/2022/10/tigers-name-mark-conner-director-of-amateur-scouting/
Tigers Name Mark Conner Director of Amateur Scouting.
IlitchNewsHub
 
Tigers hire Mark Conner as amateur scouting director

https://www.mlb.com/tigers/news/mark-conner-hired-as-tigers-amateur-scouting-director
Tigers hire Mark Conner as amateur scouting director.
Tigers official site

https://www.blessyouboys.com/2022/1...ris-mark-conner-rob-metzler-scouting-director
Tigers hire Mark Conner as new scouting director.
The long-time Padres scouting director adds to Scott Harris? collection of front office talent.
BYBTB

https://motorcitybengals.com/2022/10/30/detroit-tigers-hire-mark-conner-news/
Detroit Tigers hired Mark Conner to serve as scouting director.
MCBTB

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/10/tigers-to-hire-mark-conner-as-amateur-scouting-director.html
Tigers Hire Mark Conner As Amateur Scouting Director.
MLBTR

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/s...ark-conner-from-san-diego-padres/69603978007/
Tigers pluck amateur scouting director Mark Conner from San Diego.
Detnews

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/...outing-director-san-diego-padres/69591321007/
Detroit Tigers hire Mark Conner from San Diego Padres as new amateur scouting director.
Freep
 
The Detroit Tigers have finally parted ways with Lloyd McClendon. Just 1 more statement about the intention of moving on from the old clique and updating the organization.

Not a shock that this happened. McClendon got the job because of the sudden passing of Kimera Bartee and the need to find an emergency replacement who also knew AAA. Remember, when A. J. Hinch was hired, he didn't want Lloyd to remain on the coaching staff.

The priority of AAA is not about the # of wins but about player development. Expect Ryan Garko to hire someone with no Tiger ties. Don't be surprised if the next AAA manager is a Dodger given Garko's ties and LA's reputation as having one of the top player development systems.

Totally Tigers

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/...ndon-triple-a-toledo-wont-return/69611913007/
Triple-A Toledo manager Lloyd McClendon won't return to Detroit Tigers in 2023.
Freep
 
Last edited:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podca...oard-mark-conner/id1266543495?i=1000584522408
Woodward Tigers Short Podcast: Welcome aboard, Mark Conner. 30 minutes.

Chris and Rogelio discuss the hiring of Mark Conner who was named director of amateur scouting for the Padres in 2014, a role he held until late 2021.

In Conner?s time as scouting director in San Diego the Padres signed 24 future big-league players. That includes a pair of late-round gems who went on to be All-Stars in David Bednar (35th round, 2016) and Ty France (34th round, 2015).
 
https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2022/11/07/cats-of-a-different-stripe-2/
CATS OF A DIFFERENT STRIPE.
Totally Tigers

New President of Baseball Operations (PoBO) Scott Harris has only been on the job for 5 weeks, yet he has made more changes to the team during that time than the past 3 owners combined.

Welcome to the 21st Century, Detroit Tigers!

There is much that needs to be done but I believe it?s safe to say that we can now say ?buh bye? to the Tigers of old. You know ? the ones who were always last to adopt anything new (like analytics) or stay at the forefront (the importance of the bullpen) of the sport?s trends and strategies.

The Tigers now aren?t just simply hiring new people to take the places of the ones who are no longer there. They are creating and expanding the structural and procedural parts of the franchise and taking the Tigers where they have never been before.

In fact, it appears that they are leading the way in several categories within MLB.....
 
https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2022/11/13/monday-musings-46/
MONDAY MUSINGS.
Totally Tigers

Throughout the week, there are so many smaller stories hitting the media. They may be bite-size, but often they are just as important as the headline-grabbing news. Sometimes, even more.

And that?s what brings me to today. A way to bring them out in the open and invite conversation about some of these subjects.

And that?s the plan for Mondays. Keeping track of these mighty little bits that hit my radar throughout the week and sharing them with you today because
I know one or more will also resonate with you. So, let?s kick off this week?s musings?.
 
https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2022/11/16/getting-warmer/
GETTING WARMER.
Totally Tigers

It may be the start of the Hot Stove season, but in Detroit, they are in the middle of Hot Coach season.

I have lost count as to how many new managers and coaches have been added to the organization.

It all really started with the hiring of A. J. Hinch in advance of the 2021 season along with his coaches. We know that some of them, maybe not all, were his selections.

And toward the end of 2021, the Player Development department started to be made over with the addition of Ryan Garko and his lieutenants.

Before the start of the 2022 season, the minors started to see a facelift with the brooming of many managers and coaches. Directors who oversaw and coordinated hitting, pitching and defense were also added.

What did they all have in common? They came from top teams. Winning teams. And nary an employee came in with ties to the Tigers, Expos, Marlins or Pirates.

None of them friends or part of a tight clique. And it was a good mix of a variety of organizations, not just a couple.

But now that Scott Harris has taken over, the pedal has been put to the metal in the hiring department. In addition to Player Development, he fired David Chadd and his top Director of Scouting and replaced him with Robt Metzler.

A. J. Hinch kept only 3 of his coaches ? Bench Coach George Lombard, pitching coach Chris Fetter and his assistant, Juan Nieves. Both hitting coaches were given their walking papers and 1 of them, along with Ramon Santiago, were moved down to Lakeland. Gary Jones is staying with Hinch but in another capacity as either third base coach or defensive coordinator.

Additionally, their quality control coach was also fired. It is unclear whether or not the Tigers will continue that position or replace it with something else.

Alfredo Amezaga, who came from the Braves system and coached for Toledo last year moves up to first base coach.

And for the first time ever, Hinch confirmed that these were all his hires.
Unlike past managers, no coaches were forced upon him.

But now, for the first time, the Tigers are expanding the number of their MLB-level coaches. Instead of 2 pairs of hitting and pitching coaches, there will be 3 addressing pitching and at least 3 with hitting.

Michael Brdar is the hitting coach and comes from the Padres where both Hinch and Scott Bream would have known about him. He undoubtedly knew Mark Connor while there who is now the Tigers new Director of Scouting. He also was with the Giants where he worked for Scott Harris (and received a promotion) and played/coached for U-M where he knew Chris Fetter. It was reported that Brdar signed a multi-year contract.

Brdar will share the same title with Keith Beauregard, who came from the Dodgers. He was most probably recommended by George Lombard and some of the other Dodgers like Garko who now work for the Tigers.

James Rowson comes in as the Asst. Hitting coach, having worked for the Marlins, Twins, Yankees and Cubs. He is credited with helping the Twins set records in most major offensive categories records several years ago. When with the Cubs, he worked for Scott Harris.

There are rumors that a second assistant hitting coach will be hired. Potentially Adam Melhuse who is working with Spencer Torkelson this winter. I think they will wait to gauge the results before making a decision.

The Giants, Harris? former team, had a 13-man coaching staff. It is expected that more will added in specialized positions that the Tigers have never had.

This is clearly an indication that the Tigers are modernizing and will actually be part of a smaller elite group of teams who have re-imagined their coaching staffs.

And it?s also an indication that Chris Ilitch is serious about improving this team. He?s making a very sizable investment in coaches alone when at least half of MLB is not green lighting as many new employees as he has.

He?s not skimping. And that?s a good sign. It?s a sign of commitment and intent.

But this gets better. The Tigers are finally ? finally! ? revamping their training and conditioning department.

Kevin Rand was given his walking papers after 20+ years with the Tigers and 25- 30 years with Al Avila and Dave Dombrowski respectively. He was certified in certain training areas but did not study the concentration in college, having majored in Classics at college. Besides, that major didn?t exist when he was a student.

Doug Teter had a more solid background, having majored in sports medicine in college. But now he?s been moved down to Lakeland in an obvious demotion in a position yet to be determined. Not fired as many would have thought because he still has 2 years left on his contract.

Contrast these two with the new Head Athletic trainer, Ryne Eubanks, who comes from the Diamondbacks. He has a BA in kinesiology-exercise science and a Master?s in Athletic Training.

And I have to say, he looks every bit the part of someone who deals in keeping players at the top of their physical game.

But it?s interesting that Eubanks also shares a kinesiology link with new assistant pitching coach Robin Lund. He is a professor kinesiology with an emphasis in biomechanics. His extensive research has been focused on improving athletic performance. He?s also credited with sending 7 of his pitchers to the majors. He served as his college?s pitching coach.

The Tigers are also renovating their minor league strength and conditioning programs. (And if you read Tuesday?s blog about renovation, this is classified as a complete gut job.) They have placed ads for multiple coaches who have college degrees in the subjects and are also asking for Master?s Degrees as well. It?s interesting to note that they want some of them to be able to speak Spanish in order to effectively communicate information to players who do not have English as their primary language.

When A. J. Hinch and then Ryan Garko were hired, the Tigers had started to strengthen their minor league training and conditioning programs with the hiring of coordinators. These new people will now sync their work with their bosses in Detroit so that the same process is implemented from each farm team all the way through Detroit.

Detroit has certainly jumped light years ahead in improving their organization. They are expanding the types of positions, increasing the number and quality of people they hire and raising the bar on the experience and education required. It is no longer about who you know but about what you know.

And this is a very good thing.

I don?t think we?ve ever been able to say that the Tigers were among the trendsetters in baseball. Sadly, it?s been quite the opposite for decades.

But now we see this commitment to people and to the payroll. Let?s also remember that when you hire people with impeccable resumes and advanced degrees, they also come with much bigger salary requirements. There?s no more hiring of baseball lifers who, for the most part, were often unemployed for extended periods of time. There?s no more shopping in the bargain bins.

And that is one of the biggest differences.

They always say to put your money where your mouth is. And the Tigers have done exactly that.
 
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