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Former Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland makes the Hall of Fame

Embed from Getty Images  Jimmy Devellano, three years into his job as general manager of the Detroit Red Wings, called Ken Holland and offered him a job as scout. Holland would become the Red Wings GM and build a 3 time Stanley Cup Championship team. Yesterday, the former Red Wings and current Edmonton Oilers general manager got the call. Ken Holland is going into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Ken Holland oversaw the Detroit Red Wings longest run of success. He was Detroit Red Wings GM from 1997-2019. Holland’s Red Wings teams won 3 Stanley Cups and reached the playoffs 19 seasons in a row, which extended Detroit’s playoff run to 25 year.

Last year Ken Holland left the Red Wings organization when owner Christopher Ilitch brought Steve Yzerman in to be general manager. Holland has many reasons for being in the Hall of Fame.

Ken Holland saw his Red Wings teams win four President’s Trophies (2002, 2004, 2006, 2008) the Wings won more regular season and playoff games with a combined 1,044 more than any other NHL team.

In a statement released Ken Holland said: “I am incredibly humbled by this honor, I am in this game because I loved it as a young man and I am happy to have been able to stay in the game.”

Ken Holland caught flak from Red Wings fans as he did hand out bad contracts and sign some iffy free agents. That should not be. Ken Holland’s work speaks for it’s self. Very few general manager have the resume Holland has.

I for one am happy for Ken Holland and all he accomplished while in Detroit. His Hall of Fame nod is the icing on the cake for a job well done. As Detroit Red Wings fans wait while current GM Steve Yzerman rebuilds the team (which he will do) it is nice that the man before him gets the recognition he deserves.

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With the 2020 NHL Draft Lottery Friday the Detroit Red Wings look to speed up the rebuild

Embed from Getty Images The Detroit Tigers rebuild took a big step forward following the pick of #1 overall mega player Spencer Torkelson. On Friday the Detroit Red Wings will anxiously wait to see what the ping-pong ball brings them during the draft lottery.

Alexis Lafreniere is the clear cut #1 player in this years NHL draft class. To put it another way, perhaps a bit more fresh Lafreniere is the Spencer Torkelson of the 2020 NHL Draft.

Torkelson was the best player by a long shot in the MLB draft and ended up being selected first overall by the Tigers. The same is being said about Alexis Lafreniere. He is the best player by a large margin. What would it mean for the rebuilding Detroit Red Wings?

Lafrenière,  6 foot 1, and a gifted left wing who had 35 goals and 77 assists in 52 games this season with Rimouski Océanic of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, a 2.15 points per game average that led the Canadian Hockey League. The 18 year old  Lafrenière starred for Canada at the World Juniors, taking home a gold medal and MVP honors on the strength of four goals and six assists in five games.

Alexis Lafrenière combines elite decision making skills and plays with a with a physical edge, fearlessly challenging opponents and finishing checks. He makes plays and scores, and has drawn praise for his willingness to go to dirty areas. Lafrenière projects as a game changer. Along the line of a generational talent.

The NHL Draft Lottery can be cruel. Just because a team may be the worst in the league that team can draft anywhere from from first to fourth depending which logo the ping-pang ball displays.

Should the Detroit Red Wings win the prized first overall draft pick, the choice will be as easy as the draft pick the Detroit Tigers made. Not only the unanimous best player, but again a generational player who can quickly make a rebuild a thing of the past and bright days ahead.

If the Red Wings are fortunate enough to land Alexis Lafrenière, fans will go crazy. Much like they did when the Detroit Tigers announced their top pick.

 

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Father’s Day 2020

Embed from Getty Images Father’s Day is a day to count your blessings. Of having a father and then the transition to being a father. There are lessons to be learned both the easy and hard way. What I have learned along my path to and through fatherhood is to take time to reflect on what me dad did in a like situation.

The first thing that I learned is it is always time to do the right thing. This is a lesson that I have shared with my children. I am blessed by God to say my children do the right thing. Even when the wrong way seems like a good idea.

Another thing that I learned along the way is there is a time to be quiet and a time to speak and yes, even a time to yell. This has been by far the hardest for my to apply. Yet, while I am still a work-in-progress I have started to get this right more than wrong. Again all glory to God for changing my heart.

Also, I believe this to be the most important attribute to being a father,  I treat my wife with respect and love. My children see this daily. To me this is the greatest gift I can leave. I know my children are watching. I know this because at different times each one of our three children has commented on the way I treat my wife.

Another thing I took away from my childhood is the value of doing a job right the first time. This was a lesson that took time. However, after cleaning toys up for a lot longer than it should have taken it began to sink in. Also after halfheartedly raking or mowing the yard and having to go back out it molded me into the person I am.

I am a server. That is the job God has given me. I know my children will do the same when they have a family of their own. It is all part of the handing down process and allowing them to make it they’re own and pass it on to they’re children.

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The Detroit Tigers must resist temptation

Embed from Getty Images Casey Mize, Matt Manning, Tarik Skubal, Isaac Paredes and other Detroit Tigers top prospects have had the luxury of having time in the minor leagues in order to be fully developed before making their way to Detroit. With the nationally praised 2020 MLB draft class the Tigers just brought in, the new prospects must be afforded the same developmental time.

The Detroit Tigers drafted five big bats a week ago. Bats that will pay off in a big way, down the line. That is the key. No matter the players ranking and playing grades, there must be a developmental time frame.

Many baseball experts are saying first overall draft pick Spencer Torkelson could very well make his way to Comerica Park as early as next summer. While that could certainly happen, Torkelson needs time in pro ball first. All the good ones do, or at least the bulk of them do.

The still rebuilding Detroit Tigers must resist the temptation to bring players up until they are fully ready. Some will excel and be called up sooner than others. While others may falter and need more seasoning before getting their shot in the show.

While there is currently turmoil in MLB between owners and players that leaves the already shortened season in jeopardy, that should not impact the Tigers. Whenever baseball starts back up, new prospects will need to be assigned to minor league teams and levels.

That said I feel it is pretty realistic that none of the Tigers prized prospects will see MLB action until 2022. The reason I feel good about that as a sort of timeline is two factors.

  1. The aforementioned strife between owners and players. Meaning either a players strike or lockout until a deal can be reached.
  2. COVID-19, by 2022 there should be a vaccine allowing players and fans to play and enjoy the national past time  again.                                                                                                                                                              There is now a light at the end of the rebuild tunnel in Detroit. Just a short time more and the Tigers will contend for postseason play once again. Until then development must take center stage.
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The Detroit Tigers farm system climbs in the latest rankings

Embed from Getty Images As the 2020 MLB draft came and went, baseball experts are weighing in and have proclaimed the Detroit Tigers won this years draft. What does it mean for the Tigers farm system? It means it is on the rise. MLB Pipeline, has the Tigers prospect pool rated #5. While Bleacher Report has Detroit #6. That is where the others have the Tigers #5 or #6.

The Detroit Tigers have had a leg up on pitching. Casey Mize, Matt Manning and Tarik Skubal are the biggest reason for optimism in Detroit. Once that group of pitchers arrives at the major league level, alongside Matthew Boyd and high floor prospect Alex Faedo in the starting rotation, the Tigers could quickly climb back toward relevance.

(P) Casey Mize, (3B) Spencer Torkelson (2020 draft pick),  (P)Matt Manning,  (OF) Riley Greene and (P) Tarik Skubal are tier 1 rated prospects. These are the players Detroit general manager Al Avila will build around.

Tire 2 prospects include, (3B/SS)  Isaac Paredes, (P) Alex Faedo, (SS) Willi Castro, (OF) Daz Cameron and pitcher Franklin Perez. With the Detroit Tigers being the winner of this years draft, there will be new names to add to the tier’s.

Detroit took all hitters in this years draft. They really had no other choice. The Tigers farm system is overloaded with top pitching prospects. There were plenty of arms in this years draft. What was a pleasant surprise was the fact big time hitters continued to fall into Detroit’s lap during the draft.

Detroit Tigers GM Avila said “we wanted to add a pitcher, but we simply could not turn away the premium hitters that kept coming our way.” (C) Dillon Dingler ,(OF)  Danny Cabrera, (SS) Trei Cruz, (3B) Gage Workman and (3B) Colt Keith provide a class of draftees many (4) of which have a high hit ceiling.

The Tigers do not only appear to be pitching heavy (which has evened out a bit because of this draft.) But the organization appears crowded at third base. That does not concern me as some of the players can play other positions like outfield.

The Detroit Tigers took a big step forward and a nice climb up the prospect rankings. Giving Detroit a brighter future.

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In the aftermath of the 2020 MLB Draft, the Detroit Tigers put a charge into the rebuild

Embed from Getty Images Al Avila did it! The Detroit Tigers general manager nailed the 2020 MLB Draft. For the first time in years the Tigers did not draft pitching. Pitching is not a organization problem. No the Tigers drafted bats. Hitters, thumpers were the order. In do so Avila has sped the Tigers rebuild up and the future now looks much clearer.

If there is one word to describe the Detroit Tigers 2020 draft class it is “impact.” Sometimes in sports you have to be lucky. Luck was on the Tigers side from the first pick to the last. Talent after talent fell into Detroit’s lap.

The Tigers started the draft as many thought they would by taking the player head and shoulders above every other player in the draft. Spencer Torkelson who should arrive in Motown as early as next season. It gets better.

The Tigers who have struggled to find a catcher then turned their focus to Ohio State product Dillon Dingler. Dingler was  first round talent on many boards (the Tigers got him in round 2), rare athleticism behind the plate with a 70 arm,  his catch and throw is excellent, Dingler has projectile power and he has been constantly coming on with the bat.

The Tigers then nabbed LSU OF Daniel Cabrera.  One talent evaluator felt Cabrera was the best college bat available at that spot, and by a clear margin. While not blessed with super high-end upside, Cabrera is widely viewed as an everyday player and will hit a lot. Not bad value for being a competitive balance round B draft pick.

In the third round Detroit took Trei Cruz. Who plays short stop and can also handle 2B and 3B as well. Cruz can hit and has some pop in his bat. Cruz is a very solid player who has a good feel for hitting, adding more offensive firepower to the Tigers system.

The Tigers got an absolute steal in the fourth round when Arizona State’s (and teammate of Spence Torkelson) Gage Workman fell into Detroit’s lap. Workman plays 3B and was viewed by nearly every scout as first round talent. Workman is a player with both a high offensive and defensive ceiling.

After the four college players Detroit went for a high school player. Colt Keith 3B, Keith can also pitch.

The talk around baseball is the Detroit Tigers won the draft. The team was wise to not draft pitching and there was temping pitching talent in this draft class. But the team went for bats.

While prospects are a gamble. Detroit made smart choices and luck was on their side. Detroit’s rebuild just sped up.

 

 

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Day 2 of the 2020 MLB draft provides solid talent for the Detroit Tigers

Embed from Getty Images The Detroit Tigers filled a huge organizational need when they took Arizona State 1B Spencer Torkelson with the first pick in the 2020 MLB draft. Tigers general manager Al Avila can now focus on day two with needs still to fill.

The Detroit Tigers drafted pitchers in the first round throughout four consecutive drafts from 2015 to 2018. The organization has stockpiled some big arms. That may not stop them from adding another with the teams second round draft pick.

If the Tigers do invest in another arm, Mississippi State right handed pitcher JT Ginn could be a name to watch. During his freshman year in 2019, JT made 17 starts and had a strong year, posting a 3.13 ERA while throwing 86.1 innings with 19 walks, just one home run allowed, and he struck out 105 batters. His 1.05 WHIP really stands out.

While COVID-19 shut many things down, it was an injury Ginn sustained that shutdown his 2020 season. The talented pitcher had Tommy John surgery in early March and will  miss any baseball that takes place this year as he rehabs. Ginn still has very good upside.

The Tigers could choose to add another position and play of need in catcher. Ohio State product, Dillon Dingler is a player to watch. Dingler is a big, solid defensive catcher who gets good marks for his arm and athleticism. Dillion’s bat is the question.

The question Detroit would have is hitting .244/.332/.369 as a freshman, to an  improved to .291/.392/.424 as a sophomore, and was off to a .340/.404/.760 start in 13 games this year before things were called enough to take him high in round two? There are scouts who believe Dingler is a late bloomer and can hit at the MLB level.

One more player who could interest the rebuilding Tigers is LSU-OF Daniel Cabrera. During Cabrera’s sophomore season in 2019, the outfielder had a slash line of .284/.359/.516 with 12 home runs and 50 RBIs. He was tied for the team lead in home runs and third in RBIs. However he will need to clean up the 54 strikeouts.

Many believe he will cut down on the strikeouts and scouts agree, Cabrera is equipped to hit for average and power. He has a smooth left handed swing and does not try to do too much at the plate, letting his bat speed and the loft in his stroke create natural pop.

There could be other names the Tigers are looking at. For a team looking to speed the rebuild up. The Detroit Tigers could do worse than one of the three names mentioned.

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With the first pick in the MLB draft the Detroit Tigers have one option

Embed from Getty Images As players and owners try to hammer out a new collective bargin agreement and we wait for the delayed 2020 MLB season to start whatever it looks like, the 2020 MLB draft takes center stage tonight with the first round. The Detroit Tigers still bound by a rebuild have the first pick. There is one clear-cut player Tigers general manager Al Avila needs to add to the organization.

Arizona State 1B- Spencer Torkelson who is on a tier by himself. The Detroit  Tigers are said to have been zeroed in on Torkelson since the the start of this year’s draft process, it is no wonder after Spencer launched 48 home runs and showed an extremely advanced approach during his first two years at Arizona State.

By adding Torkelson’s power bat to a pitching rich farm system would go a long way for the Detroit Tigers the ongoing rebuild. The Tigers taking Torkelson is close to a slam dunk at this point.

Spencer Torkelson’s scouting numbers are impressive. With 60-HIT, 65-POWER, 50- ARM, 50- FIELD with a 40- RUN for an overall grade of 60.  Torkelson draws fair comparisons to Andrew Vaughn, the University Cal standout 1B who was the No. 3 pick in the 2019 Draft.

Torkelson has scouts drooling with the way he is able to drive the ball from foul pole to foul pole and Tork (a nickname his teammates gave him) uses the middle of the field when he is at his best. Spencer is able to hit the ball out to all fields, with tremendous  power to his pull side.

With a a 16.6% strikeout rate, on the surface does not seem bad. It actually is pretty high. And while because of COVID-19 Tork only had 82 plate appearances in the 2020 season, Spencer Torkelson struck out in 18.3% of his trips to the plate.

For all his power and ability to hit to all fields, the swing-and-miss is a bit of a concern, something the Detroit Tigers will need to help him clean up. That said Spencer Torkelson has to much upside to overlook. The fact he is above average in the field makes this an easy pick for the rebuilding Tigers.

Torkelson should not take much prep work in the minor leagues, that will help speed things up in Motown.

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Draw close to Jesus

Embed from Getty Images I am not a bible scholar, I am a follower of Jesus. I have a firm understanding of His word because my wife, children and myself are consistent in reading our bible’s. Why? It is a mirror for ones self. It is also a look into the future.

In my opinion, We are living in the days before the Son of Man returns to the earth. Many things both nationally (in the United States) and globally have taken place since January 1, 2020. Let us now take a look and you can judge for yourself.

Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.- Luke 21:10

By now everyone knows the protests and riots taking place because an African American man was killed. Racial tensions have reached the boiling point and now we have nation against nation. The other words spoken by Jesus are sure to follow.

And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. Matthew 24:11

As events have unfolded from COVID-19, murder hornets, racial tensions, other things have been brought up. Such as a mutant tick in Russia.  One problem, in doing a little digging around, The Daily Mail is a tabloid. Allowing the outlet to fall under the false prophet category. There have been other as well. Just as Jesus said there would be.

Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. Matthew 24:12

There is no way to sugar coat this. There is a lot of wickedness in the world today. From politicians, state officials, police officers, to neighbors. It is only going to increase as we move forward.

It goes on and on and on. It will continue. It needs to. Once God, a prophet or Jesus spoke it into being there was no going or getting around it. There is no fairy tale ending to this venture.

Jesus will take His church off of the earth and the Holy Spirit and all hell will break loose. At this point the only thing 2020 could offer that to God’s people would be no surprise, the anti -christ to be revealed.

This is where we appear to be today. It is time for God’s church to be active! To be working for Him and not sitting on the sidelines being lukewarm.

Praise God, for Jesus the only way to escape death and destruction. Repent, join the living with the King of Kings and Lord or Lords.

 

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Columbus Ohio is home

Embed from Getty Images As a person who was born in Columbus Ohio but grew up in East Grand Rapids Michigan, I was fighting myself. For decades, that is no joke. When my family moved back to Columbus Ohio in the late 1980’s I fought it. I dug my heels in and put up a wall. Michigan was home because, Michigan was safe.

Being adopted out of a child abuse background and an unstable family life, I moved to Michigan before the age of five. Living in Michigan allowed me to heal from the pain I suffered. I was able to leave the past behind and start a new. It was glorious.

Time and circumstance gave way to a move back to the state I did not want to be in let alone then city I most definitely did not want to be back in. Yet, God is funny, and although it has taken me a very long time I now accept that the Lord wants me to be in Columbus Ohio.

It is a getting out of the water moment for sure. To take the Lords hand and be grateful for all He has brought me through in my life. The least I can do is be thankful for His plans for me.

I am not a fan of Ohio State at all. I am a rather large fan of the Columbus Blue Jackets. But hockey is my favorite sport. More on that as this blog site will sift to Columbus and a steady diet of Blue Jackets content.

Columbus has a lot to offer families even during the current pandemic the Ohio economy not to mention the Columbus economy is in better shape than many states.

Through the loving of a very patient and talented wife (Erin I love you!!) as well as my children growing up and loving Columbus, not to mention a big conversation with Almighty God, I am finally at peace.

Columbus Ohio is home. It feels good to finally be able to say that and actually mean it.