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Disney to release Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker the digital edition early

Embed from Getty Images Many people are choosing to stay home or inside during the coronavirus outbreak. In what was supposed to be a March 17 release, Disney has announced they are releasing the digital edition of the final film in the Skywalker story early. Fans and cooped up people can begin to enjoy the film now.

The Sta Wars December release, saw director J.J. Abrams’ epic conclusion to the Skywalker saga which has already earned more than $1 billion at the worldwide box office and also has recently received three Oscar nominations including Best Original Score, Best Visual Effects and Best Sound Editing.

Despite a 51% Rotten Tomatoes rating from critics it did manage an 86%  audience score, so there’s a chance you’ll be thoroughly entertained with how this third trilogy comes to an end. I know my family was.

I really enjoyed The Rise of Skywalker. It is a very good ending. While I am looking forward to what is next for Star Wars both in streaming shows on Disney Plus as well as films, I can not help but be excited for the early release.

While the Coronavirus outbreak has brought sports to a stop (at least for now) at least there is a good movie to help pass the time with. If you would rather have a hard copy of the movie that is set for a March 31st release. Unless Disney surprises fans again.

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The Coronavirus pandemic has brought sports to a halt

Embed from Getty Images “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

-College Basketball season has ended.

-NCAA has canceled all winter and spring championships.

-MLB canceled spring training and have delayed opening day.

-NHL has suspended play.

-MLS has suspended play.

-NFL canceled spring owner meeting.

-XFL has ended it’s season.

-PGA tour has canceled several events.

People tend to have an unhealthy relationship with sports and sports teams. When something that has not been seen since 9/11 has come along and stopped all sports, the Coronavirus pandemic.

People should not be angry. Instead this should be a gut-check. Everyone should be taking the necessary steps as outlined by authorities for themselves as well as family. Perhaps, it is time to go deeper.

To check on neighbors, the elder and ask what needs to be done. Perhaps, help someone wipe down things in their house. Sports certainly have their place. But never at the expense of human life and people’s well being.

There have been strikes over the years in all of the major sports leagues. Sports have come back. They will return again at the proper time. Right now it is best to wait and see.

This is a time to dig into God. Perhaps some of you for the first time. God is unshakable. His promises are true. He is a strong tower in times such as these.

Here at The District, I will keep you informed on the sports side for sure. There will also be more Star Wars content on slow sports news days.

Be safe, be willing, be blessed

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MLB Pipeline ranks the Detroit Tigers farm system #5

Embed from Getty Images It continues  to be trending in the right direction. Not long ago the Detroit Tigers farm system was dead last in MLB. Trades as well as solid drafting has pushed the Tigers farm system not only into the top 10, but the top 5 in all of baseball.

With another bad season on deck and likely looking at another top five draft pick the Detroit Tigers are in good shape. Thanks in large part to the Tigers wave of upper level pitching prospects, not to mention the club also has a promising crop of young hitters that could move faster than originally thought. Provides a light at the end of the rebuild tunnel.

To start the 2019 MLB season the Detroit Tigers farm system was ranked #10 and moved up to #6 by the end of the season, due in large part to Tiger prospects who some of which performed well and a few took big steps forward in their development.

The Detroit farm system could see another bump in the ranking by seasons end. The organization has the first pick in this June’s amateur draft, in which many experts and myself included expect the Tigers to take a big (and badly needed) bat.

It has been a long rebuild and the on-field product has looked ugly at times. That is all by design. The quickest way to rebuild is lose a lot of games. Get good draft slots and draft for need and develop it.

This summer it is all about prospects refining their game in route to Detroit. As many as four top prospects are expected to arrive this summer. Though they will most likely be late season call ups.

Next season, the Detroit Tigers will look completely different, as top prospects will break spring training with the team and the team should begin to climb up the division.

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After the Detroit Red Wings season concludes, the rebuild is on the shoulders of Steve Yzerman

Embed from Getty Images When he took over as the Detroit Red Wings general manager, Steve Yzerman said he needed time to evaluate the roster. That is what he has been doing this season. The organization began to rebuild before Yzerman took over. When the 2019-20 season ends, the rebuild will be on the franchises former 20 year captain. That is good news.

The Detroit Red Wings are on pace for one of the worst seasons in franchise history. The only good to come from this season is the team has really good odds of winning the NHL draft lottery.

With the Red Wings a shell of their former glory, it is time for Yzerman to get to work. The shaky roster needs a lot of tweaking. from unstable goaltending, to porous defense to a team in desperate need of forwards. Steve Yzerman has a lot of work to do. Work that can not be done all at one.

Dylan Larkin, Tyler Bertuzzi, Robbie Fabbri, Anthony Mantha, Filip Zadina, Filip Hronek and 18 year old Moritz  Seider are players to build around. Bertuzzi and Mantha are restricted free agents and need, and will get new contracts. Robbie Fabbri who came over from a trade with the St. Louis Blues has resurrected his career and in my opinion should be brought back.

While Yzerman has given support to head coach Jeff Blashill, he also said they will review everything at the end of the season. With former Vegas Golden Knights head coach Gerard Gallant (also a former teammate and good friend of Yzerman’s) sitting without a job, it is worth watching.

Yzerman who by his own account is not a patient person, more than likely is chomping at the bit to get moving. He is know as a very aggressive general manager throughout the NHL.

There is a very good chance the Detroit Red Wings (except the core players already listed) will look very different next season. Also, it is likely Yzerman will place either or both Justin Abdelkader and Frans Nielsen on waivers. Both players have bad contracts and have not contributed much to the team. Both players will not be claimed. But Yzerman could send them down to the minor leagues and open roster spots for prospects who could help more than the two veterans.

As the curtain is about to come down on a very bad Detroit Red Wings season the curtain is about to go up and the spotlight will be on the former captain/ current GM Yzerman. Red Wings fans are excited to see what he does.

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With all four Detroit sports teams rebuilding, could the Detroit Tigers finish first

Embed from Getty Images In 2003 the Detroit Tigers lost 119 games, it was the key turning point in the late Tigers owner Mike Ilitch’s tenure. He was so embarrassed, he vowed to do more, just as he had when he turned the “Dead Things” the into Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings. After last seasons 114 losses, will that be the turning point of current Tigers owner Christopher Ilitch’s tenure?

The Detroit Lions lack talent in many areas of the roster, with unproven general manager Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia.  And the Detroit Pistons? Dwane Casey is a solid coach, but they finally chose the time is now to rebuild.

The Detroit Red Wings do have a proven general manager, who will return the Red Wings to the national stage, no one is doubting that. It will take time for Steve Yzerman to complete the task before him though.

Poor management, ownership in activity, bad contracts and bad luck, have defined the four Detroit sports teams. In my opinion it is the Detroit Tigers, have a head start.

First of all the Detroit Tigers have the most valuable commodity in their sport  young, promising pitching. The Tigers have four prospects in the MLB Pipeline’s Top 50, the franchise is as stocked as they have ever been, in route to a top 10 of farm system.

The Tigers also have something the Lions, Red Wings and Pistons do not currently have, the first pick in the draft at their sport. Last weekend Christopher Ilitch in an interview used the phrases “very competitive” and  “the fire is burning inside,” to let media and fans know how he feels about the Tigers, putting all doubt and fear aside.

As is if building the brand new Little Caesars headquarters next to Comerica Park did not send a strong enough signal. It is a short walk from his new office to the ballpark.

Christopher Ilitch is very analytical, much less emotional, probably a product of the corporate world he lives in much of the time. He speaks in measured tones but seems to be  more comfortable in the spotlight.

One thing seems for certain, the Detroit Tigers are closer to being a threat again in baseball, with the Red Wings not far behind. Ilitch says he is confident in delivering on that goal of the rebuild: “Be patient, be disciplined and we’re going to get there.”

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The Yzerman effect on the Detroit Red Wings

Embed from Getty Images Do not believe it. Since taking over as Detroit Red Wings general manager, Steve Yzerman has repeatedly said he can not put a time frame on rebuilding the Red Wings into a playoff contender. Do not believe because while he is not willing to publicly say, Yzerman has a time frame. That is something you can believe in.

Steve Yzerman’s first season as Detroit Red Wings general manager has been about observing the team and the minor league teams. He even delayed naming a captain and has kept the coaching staff intact throughout a woeful Red Wings season.

While Yzerman has been true to his word about acquiring more draft picks in order to speed up the rebuild while making the Red Wings a younger team, he is also know the team has contracts coming off the books that will allow him to spend on free agents at some point and time.

Much like his time in the Tampa Bay Lightning organization, Yzerman has had a busy season, he has traveled across North America and to Europe to scout players who may be able to help the Red Wings. When Yzerman has been at home, he watches Red Wings games and practices at Little Caesars Arena.

In a bad season, players know they are being judged. Much like his playing days as 20 year captain of the Detroit Red Wings, Yzerman is still holding  guys accountable. It has to be somewhat unnerving for the players, none of the current Red Wings team was drafted by Yzerman.

Steve Yzerman said before the season started he was not going to name a captain. Just last week he said he will name a captain before next season. So there is a time frame for that.

Yzerman, said something of interest last week shortly after the 2020 NHL trade deadline, he said he put this years team together knowing they would not succeed. Why would he do that, you might be asking yourself? First the team would not have to tank, they would be bad enough to finish dead last. Second, The Detroit Red Wings core players Dylan Larkin, Tyler Bertuzzi, Anthony Mantha and Filip Hornek have suffered though this season, yet it could be be design. Yzerman has said he wants players with a “high compete level.”

What better way to find compete levels, than on a team destined to fail.

Steve Yzerman has a time frame for when he wants his hockey team to be rebuilt by. Even if he is not saying right now.

 

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Detroit Tigers chairman and CEO Christopher Ilitch tells fans he will spend money

Embed from Getty Images Rebuilds are not fun, there is no two ways around it. Detroit Tigers chairman and CEO Christopher Ilitch, on his yearly visit to spring training spoke about the current state of the Detroit Tigers, the process of rebuilding the team and the future plans he has envisioned for his franchise.

First in what promises to be another long season at Comerica Park, perhaps the final long season as top prospects are preparing to take their final steps to the major leagues…….. Yes, Christopher Ilitch will spend money on free agents  when the time is right.

This was both a relaxing trip for Ilitch and a business trip rolled in one. The Detroit Tigers owner was there to check in on top prospects. Before the Tigers took on the Toronto Blue Jays, Christopher Ilitch asked Tigers general manager Al  Avila if there was a chance he could see one of the teams top  prospects, outfielder Riley Greene in the game.  Lo and behold, Greene was added to the lineup.

Christopher Ilitch is a baseball fan at heart. He grew up attending Detroit Tigers games when his father (the late Mike Ilitch) owned the team. Last season when his franchise lost 114 games it did not exactly sit well with the owner.

“You know, I get it. I understand the frustration,” Ilitch said. “Tiger fans are the greatest. We’re exceptionally grateful for the loyalty and dedication of Tiger fans. Tiger fans want to see winning teams on the field and they deserve to see winning teams on the field. And I can tell you everybody here in the Tiger organization is working exceptionally hard to deliver winning teams on the field.”

“I believe in the process. It’s not going to happen overnight, but we … will … get there,” Ilitch continued. “We know how to win. We have rebuilt the Detroit Tigers successfully before and we’re going to do it again.”

“We’re going to do whatever it takes to do it again. Having lived through it before, having lived through it in a different sport, these things are on their own timetable sometimes. A lot of factors, as you know, go into it.”

Detroit Tigers fans have often wondered out loud if Christopher Ilitch would spend money saying they thought he was too frugal and would never spend money on top free agent players like his father did.

The Tigers owner gave an answer that should put those thoughts to rest, “When I feel the time is right, Al (Avila) is going to have the resources to go out and sign the free agents he needs to add around our home-grown base and core of talent.”

“At the end of the day, for us to be competitive on a longer term basis, we are building this team the right way,” Ilitch went on. “I have absolute confidence that we are building a Tigers team that Tiger fans will be proud of, a team that will live up to the tradition of our storied franchise.”

Until the team is ready to add players to the top prospects, enjoy baseball, the time will soon come the Tigers will roar again.

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Detroit Tigers prospect Riley Greene is turning heads

Embed from Getty Images It is hard to get too excited about prospects. There are too many ‘if’s, and’s or but’s,” with many prospects. The Detroit Tigers who in recent years have bolstered their minor league system, have a prospect that I feel is worth watching. Outfielder, Riley Greene, who so far this spring is turning heads in a good way.

Riley Greene is just 19 years old. Before we get overly excited, Greene will not be in Detroit this season. He will be soon enough. Riley Greene is just getting started. The fifth overall pick in last year’s draft Greene has a bright future ahead of him in Detroit. On top of his supernatural feel for the batting, Greene is beginning to show he is pretty good with the glove. A few scouts said they did not think Riley would be able to play center field in the majors, much less at Comerica Park.

Greene made a statement on Sunday when he hauled in a line drive on the warning track in right field, then tipped his cap to the pitcher. “Wow, Riley Greene!” said one TV commentator on the opposing team’s broadcast.  “That was pretty,” said the other.

Riley Greene possesses one of the purest swings in baseball. He is also very athletic and adds a great deal of excitement to the Detroit Tigers prospect pool. Looking ahead, Green is probably two plus years from playing at Comerica Park. A mid season call up in 2022 is probably when Green will arrive in the big leagues. Sure, Riley Greene can close the gap between now and then, but these things take time and development is key.

At this moment Riley Greene is ranked the Detroit Tigers No. 3 prospect. There is little doubt when Matt Manning and or Casey Mize arrive in Detroit at some point this season Green will be No. 1.

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Detroit Lions GM Bob Quinn ends any and all speculation on quarterback Matthew Stafford

Embed from Getty Images Rumors are just that. There was a report that broke three weeks ago that the Detroit Lions were talking to teams about trading Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford. Detroit Lions general manager said one of the first things he did was call Stafford and assure him the rumors were not true.

Speaking to reporters at the NFL combine, Bob Quinn said, “I called Matthew and said listen, I haven’t had one conversation. I’m not trying- we’re not trying to trade you.”

Matthew Stafford gave the only answer Lions fans and most assuredly team management wanted to hear. “Yeah, I don’t want to go anywhere.” The rumors also stated Stafford was unhappy in Detroit. But again it was just a rumor.

Bob Quinn said that Stafford would be the Lions quarterback for the foreseeable future. “In terms of the whole rumor on Stafford, I think I’ve texted a lot of people here that it’s 100% false, if we need to add a third exclamation point we will.” Quinn concluded.

The Lions are in win-now mode. Matthew Stafford is 32 years old and still has good years in front of him. Unless the Lions trade Stafford and draft a quarterback, he is the guy. There is little to no chance of that happening. If it did then the Lions would enter a full blown rebuild.

As I wrote in a previous blog, the Lions are two good players from being a very good football team. The team has high draft picks and $50 some-odd million in salary cap space. I fully expect this to be a defensive heavy offseason for Bob Quinn as he brings in more talent to help the unit.

Until then please do not read a rumor as the gospel. In fact look at it like a mock draft, the names are right but little else.

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The Detroit Red Wings trade Mike Green and Andreas Athanasiou for draft picks

Embed from Getty Images Not to long ago Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman was asked about the prospects he had. After giving an overview Yzerman said “we need more.” Last night Steve Yzerman took a step at adding more prospects and then again this afternoon at the NHL trade deadline.

Last night Steve Yzerman sent veteran defensman Mike Green to the Edmonton Oilers for a fourth round draft pick. Not bad when you figure in that Green is in the worst season of his NHL career.

Then came this afternoon when Yzerman traded forward Andreas Athanasiou also to the Oilers. Yzerman said that several teams had inquired or expressed a serious interest in Athanasiou. The trade that was made gives the Red Wings two second round draft picks in 2020 and 2021. For the 2020 draft the Red Wings now look like this:

1- 1st round

3- 2nd round

2- 3rd round

1- fourth round

1-5th round

1-6th round

1- 7th round

It should be noted again that former Detroit Red Wings general manager who used to fill the chair that now seats Yzerman in Detroit, Ken Holland is now calling the shots in Edmonton. Holland knows both Green and Athanasiou well from his Detroit days. Yzerman said it was not intentional to make two trades to the same team. He was simply looking for the best return for players.

The fact Steve Yzerman deemed two second round picks more valuable to the Detroit Red Wings rebuild than the 25 year old Andreas Athanasiou speaks volumes as to what Yzerman likes in his players. Athanasiou has unworldly speed, and great hands. Yet, Athanasiou does not play defense well or at all at times and has lapses offensively.

Trying to add draft picks and prospects is the foundation of any rebuild. Yzerman said several NHL teams, expressed interest in Athanasiou. He has 10 goals and 14 assists and an NHL worst minus 45 rating in 46 games this season.

Was it an eye popping deadline? No, but it was part of Yzerman’s plan to rebuild the franchise he so dearly loves. Will the Red Wings hit on all of their draft picks? That is highly doubtful. However, the more picks he has the numbers increase that the Detroit Red Wings will walk away with enough talent to add to the core players and begin to turn the Red Wings into a playoff contender again.