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Tigers vs Guardians Game 162 October 1 2023

Tigers shortstop Javier Baez is coming off perhaps the worst season of his career in 2023, having slashed a brutal .222/.267/.325 in 547 trips to the plate this year. That was the second-worst offensive performance from a qualified regular in baseball last year by measure of wRC+; Baez?s 61 figure, which was 39% worse than league average, clocked in just barely ahead of former White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson?s 60 wRC+.

Brutal as the 2023 season was for Baez, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press relays that Baez is planning to spend much of his offseason stateside this winter rather than return to his home in Puerto Rico, as he typically does after the season comes to an end. During his time stateside, Petzold indicates that Baez plans to focus on strengthening his back and core muscles to recapture the athleticism that allowed him to connect for 86 home runs from 2017-2019, the fourth highest figure among qualified shortstops during that time span.

If Baez, 31 next month, can successfully combat father time and recapture the power that carried his offensive profile in his youth, that would provide a massive boost to a Tigers team that finished bottom four in the majors with a team-wide wRC+ of just 89 in 2023.

MLBTR
 
Carson Kelly, who will return to the Tigers in the 2024 season, has 'fallen in love with the process' of making adjustments this offseason

On Kelly's $3.5 million club option and his commitment to bat speed, clean swing mechanics and a one-knee setup:
 
https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2023/11/23/no-turkey-involved/
NO TURKEY INVOLVED.
Totally Tigers

Did y?all survive the Thanksgiving holiday? Did you require a digestive intervention? Did the turkey put you into a coma?

Have the relatives left yet?

We?ve got the perfect antidote to help speed your recovery.

It requires no food, no conversation and not having to leave your comfy sofa.

We?ve got 1 question for you to answer today.

What are you most grateful for after the 2023 baseball season?

Tell us just one thing.

It can be about the Tigers or MLB in general.

And if you are in agreement with someone who posted, make sure to like their comment. Let?s see which readers? gratitude comments resonate with most fans.

So, what are you most grateful to see from the 2023 season?
 
https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2023/12/01/saturday-survey-105/
SATURDAY SURVEY.
Totally Tigers

Earlier this week, the Tigers added starting pitcher Kenta Maeda to their rotation. It is believed that the team wants to add another starting pitcher along with a couple bullpen arms.

But Scott Harris said this:

?You?ll never hear me say that we have enough pitching. I don?t even believe that that?s possible, to have enough pitching. So we?re going to continue to try to add pitching and see what?s available and if we can find more ways to make our staff deeper and better overall.?

Last year, the Tigers went through 17 different starting pitchers. There were 13 pitchers (both starters and relievers) who went on extended IL stints.

Out of all their starting pitching, 4 are no longer on the 26-man roster. They lost Matthew Boyd to surgery and his contract with the team recently ended. Eduardo Rodriguez exercised his opt out clause and Michael Lorenzen was traded.

Spencer Turnbull, who was once part of the starting rotation, was non-tendered by the team.

Currently, the starting rotation projects to have Maeda, another starter, Matt Manning, Casey Mize, Reese Olson and Tarik Skubal. Of all of them, Mize is the biggest question mark not having pitched in almost 2 years.

Is adding just 1 more starter going to be enough? Should the Tigers sign yet another SP for the rotation given all the injuries and bullpen days of the past?

Or should they keep the focus on using their younger players and building up their arms and experience?

Should the Tigers sign more than 2 new starting pitchers?

1. Yes, because of the injury factor.

2. No, the youngsters need to pitch and gain experience.

VOTE
 
https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2023/12/14/five-for-friday-95/
FIVE FOR FRIDAY.
Totally Tigers

Yesterday, I used the MLB team leader boards to show exactly where the Tigers currently sit compared to the other 29 organizations.

The influx of top prospects who are still largely untested, combined with the weak AL Central can often skew perception and make real progress appear to be closer than it actually is.

The bottom line is that Detroit lost 6 more games than they won in MLB?s worst division last year. And that they hover in the lower third of offense, average in defense and with mixed results in pitching.

Today, let?s tackle the most pressing issues Scott Harris and Co. have to address this year. Concerns that are currently or potentially slowing this team down as they try to advance to a reasonably competitive stage.

Here are my top 5 priorities for the Tigers to solve this season???
 
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/2023/12/19/watercooler-wednesday-115/
WATERCOOLER WEDNESDAY.
Totally Tigers

Jake Rogers, acquired in the infamous Justin Verlander trade, is going into just his 2nd full year as a catcher. He had 2 partial seasons followed by a year out of the game because of Tommy John surgery.

He is in his first year of salary arbitration and a free agent in 3 years. He will be 29 this season.

Rogers is a neutral defender, neither really saving or costing the Tigers runs defensively. He is considered to be a ?defense first? catcher and works well with his pitchers. In today?s game, the defensive talents of a catcher greatly outweigh their offensive skills.

Offensively is where he struggles. While he has slugging power, there are issues with too many strikeouts, too few walks and trouble getting on base. Both he and Javier Baez get on base the least out of all the regular lineup players.

His career offensive totals are .205/.277/.417 which are below average.

In the meantime, the Tigers have created and accelerated a catcher development program. Signing multiple catchers for development and depth while creating a program to speed their development. New coaches who specialize in working with them have been brought in to assist.

Historically, the Tigers have been unable to develop solid catchers in their system. Currently, Dillon Dingler is the closest to reaching Detroit but he, too, is struggling at the plate which has delayed his debut.

The Tigers were also rumored to have received the Dodgers? top-ranked catching prospect if the Eduardo Rodriguez trade had gone through.

All of this info has hinted that the Tigers want something more from their #1 catcher.

But what does this mean for Rogers? future? What do you think?

What is Jake Rogers' future with the Tigers?

1. He is the long-term solution to catcher.

2. It is still too early to say.

3. He is the short-term solution to catcher.

VOTE
 
https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2023/12/21/five-for-friday-96/
FIVE FOR FRIDAY.
Totally Tigers

As we enter the long Christmas/New Year?s holiday period, many of us will have a little down time to relax. What better way to spend it than having a little baseball fun?

In honor of this time of year, here is my list of recent baseball books and documentaries I?ve seen or read. All are worth the time investment.
 
From 6/1 to end of the season:

Andy Ibanez -- 7.5% BB%, 18.0% K%, .293/.345/.474, .352 wOBA, 124 wRC+

Matt Chapman -- 11.3% BB%, 30.3% K%, .206/.306/.379, .302 wOBA, 92 wRC+
 
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