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Detroit Tigers top prospect Tarik Skubal’s dominance gives hope

Embed from Getty Images “It is only spring training, The games do not matter, That was nice but can he do it again?” Is there any other cliche phrase to throw out? Friday afternoon Tarik Skubal (pronounced Scoo ball) took to the mound and put on a show.

Tarik Skubal picked up where he left off last season, pounding the strike zone. Fastballs gave way to change ups, which gave way to curve balls mixed with some sliders. Strike after strike.

Skubal was so locked in and so dominant Detroit Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire sat in the dugout looked right at Tigers general manager Al Avila pointed at himself as if to tell Avila he wanted Skubal with him in Detroit. Avila waved his hands as if to reply not yet.

With an 18 strike on 22 pitches, Tarik Skubal struck out five of the six batters he faced. The other was a weak ground ball out. Pitching in front of the Detroit Tigers front office did not phase the young left handed pitcher.

Much like last season, and much like many of the Tigers top pitching prospects Skubal was in control and attacked the strike zone working fast, and dominating hitter after hitter.

If the pitching phenom was nervous he did not show it. “I just wanted to fill the zone and throw strikes.” Skubal told reporters after the game. His fastball sat at 95-96 mph, although he did his 99 a few times on the gun.

Like Detroit Tigers pitching prospects Casey Mize, Matt Manning, Franklin Perez and others, Tarik Skubal was composed and looked like the total package.

Going back to last season, Skubal looks like the steal on the 2018 MLB draft. Detroit drafted the lefty in the ninth round from Seattle University. Ever since that draft Skubal has dominated and shot through the Detroit Tigers minor leagues.

It is worth noting that current Tiger pitcher Matthew Boyd is mentoring the young Skubal. Skubal said Boyd reached out to him this past offseason.

Tarik Skubal, is the No. 34 ranked prospect in baseball, as ranked by Baseball America. Skubal is considered the No. 4 prospect in the Tigers organization behind Mize, Manning and outfielder Riley Greene per MLB Pipeline.

The young Tigers pitching prospects have been putting on a show during spring training. Leading many to wonder when they will arrive in Detroit. Based on performance it will not be long.

That said, the top prospects should get more developing time in the minor leagues at least to start the season. No need to rush anyone. The Detroit Tigers are not a playoff team.

They will be very soon.

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The Detroit Lions are building defense like the New England Patriots

Embed from Getty Images It does not take long to see the connections between the New England Patriots and Detroit Lions. Just look at the coaching staff, front office and roster. You can argue about plans all day. You can go back and forth on theories and philosophies and how to judge the best way forward. That way is the Matt Patricia Patriot Way, which boils down to getting players who accept his hard-driving style.

With the NFL combine set (February 23-March 2) the question is what the Detroit Lions could do with the No. 3 pick? The Detroit Lions have been linked to two players, Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah, Auburn defensive tackle Derrick Brown (No. 2). With glaring needs at both cornerback and defensive tackle.

Jeffrey Okudah, the chance for him to come in and play coverage, he is the best defensive back in this years class and it is not even close. Particia believes you work your defense back to front, fit more of the philosophy, if you are going to go by the Patriots and how they have done things and make that connection.

Much like Okudah, equally glowing things can be said about Derrick Brown, who could help replenish the Lions severely depleted interior defense following news the team plans to release Damon Harrison. Brown is the closest player to former Lion Ndamukong Suh, who everybody in Detroit knows quite well.

Brown is brutally strong and powerful. “Brown can really punch off blocks, separate, find the ball, make plays. He plays really hard. Derrick Brown is outstanding and I think if the Lions draft him they can plug him in there, talk about immediate impact, Brown would make an immediate impact on every single down as an interior player.

Even if Detroit Lions general manager Bob Quinn trades down and accumulates more draft picks, odds are he would only slide down two-four slots. Brown and Okudah could both be there. If Quinn picks up more picks and walks away with either Okudah or Brown that would be viewed as a huge win for the Detroit Lions and help a defensive unite that is being rebuilt this off season.

 

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Detroit Tigers prospect Daz Cameron ready to move forward

Embed from Getty Images Daz Cameron, who is currently ranked the Detroit  Tigers’ No. 7 prospect by Baseball America and No. 8 by MLB Pipeline said “I love baseball. To be able to get up today and be alive, it’s a blessing.” The young center fielder is coming off a season in which he struggled miserably. One thing about Daz Cameron, when he has struggled he has responded by having a big season.

In 2019, Daz Cameron played 120 games for the Triple A Toledo Mud Hens and struck out 152 times. He hit .214 with 13 home runs. As ugly as last season was, Cameron is at ease.  Daz says he learned from it, that he has gotten past it.  Judging from his ear to ear smile, as well as the way he carries himself and the confidence he exudes, it is easy to believe him.

Daz Cameron said last season he felt like he was battling  himself. It showed in what was the worst season of his professional life. But it was also the one in which he learned the most. So it was not all bad.

In 2019 Daz Cameron changed his swing three times and did not feel comfortable. Cameron kept searching for answers but couldn’t find any. Now, looking back, the lesson became obvious: Cameron vows to never make significant changes during a season.  “To not change anything, to be myself, no matter what,” he said.

Daz Cameron is smiling big now. Because he is feeling so good. The young center fielder is optimistic about the talent in the Tigers’ minor leagues, especially the pitching staff that he expects to play with at Toledo. “I think we are going to have some huge stars,” he said. “Oh man, it’s going to be ridiculous to see. It’s going to be fun.”

During the early part of spring training, Cameron is locked in and is hitting the ball well again, perhaps he can sense how close he is to Detroit. As Cameron is the future center fielder/ corner outfielder.

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Could a rash of injuries around the NHL icrease interest in Detroit Red Wings Athanasiou

Embed from Getty Images The NHL trade deadline is fast approaching. In fact it is Monday afternoon. Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman figures to be a busy man. He has players on expiring contracts and the Detroit Red Wings could use a healthy blend of draft picks and prospects.

Some key injuries around the NHL could make other general mangers anxious come Monday. Enter Detroit Red Wings forward Andreas Athanasiou. The young forward has struggled on the ice and injuries of his own this season.

On the season Athanasiou has 8 goals, 14 assists in 44 games played and an NHL worst -44, he could take off with another team. Athanasiou is a restricted free agent July 1. He is a 30 goal scorer and at 25 years old, still young by NHL standards.

The Colorado Avalanche lost forward Mikko Rantanen to a shoulder injury. Athansiou could help.

Former Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland could come calling in order to help his Edmonton Oilers, who are without star Connor McDavid. The Oilers could add speed to an already fast first line with McDavid, Leon Drasisait and Athansiou.

The Vancouver Canucks look to be buyers at the deadline as well. As well as Pittsburgh and Carolina. Steve Yerman’s phone will be ringing often very soon.

Andreas Athanasiou has shown enough flashes over the year and has elite speed. The injuries around the league could not have come at a better time for the Red Wings.

Now Yzerman can get a larger return for a young forward with upside and not a just-have-to-settle-for…….. trade.

The Red Wings do not have many good trade chips. Athansiou is attractive on many levels. One drawback is Athansiou is not consistent defensively. That will not keep teams from calling.

Steve Yzerman is a general manager who tends to get maximum value for the trades he has made as general manager. It is safe to say he will get that return for Andreas Athansiou. Should he choose to move him.

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The Michigan Wolverines baseball team jumps to No.1

Embed from Getty Images Michigan Wolverines baseball coach Erik Bakich, insisted his team was not not a top 10 team before the season started. It could have been the baseball coach was trying to light a fire under his team. It turns out the Wolverines might be better.

The Michigan Wolverines opened the 2020 college baseball season this past weekend to the tune of a 3-1 opening. They started by defeating the team that beat them in last seasons College Baseball World Series, Vanderbilt.

Baseball America released the top 25 with the Wolverines squarely at No. 1. It is the first time in the publication’s 40 years the Michigan Wolverines have been ranked in the top spot.

After the Wolverines beat Vanderbilt 4-3, behind Matt Schmidt’s two run home run, they turned around and beat Arizona State 5-0 with a combined five-hit shutout.

It was Michigan’s most impressive weekend yet. The Wolverines left a big impression of all the schools this past weekend. Michigan opened the season ranked No. 8.

Erik Bakich is in his eighth season as the Wolverines baseball coach. His take away from the weekend was one of a confidence builder for his team. Bakich does not want his team reading anything the media puts out. He prefers to have his team focused on the next team on the Wolverines schedule.

Michigan baseball hit the big time last season and looks to be a top ten mainstay for years to come. Last season during the College World Series, Bakich was asked during the game how he wants his team to look to which he famously answered “I guess I want the team to look like the U.S.A.”

By that remark, Bakich simply meant he wanted a team of kids from all different backgrounds and color to come together to work towards a greater goal. That is how Bakich recruits and coaches.

That is why the Michigan Wolverines baseball team is nationally ranked.

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Detroit Red Wings Anthony Mantha wants to be a point a game player

Embed from Getty Images Back from a seven week stint on IR (injured reserve) due to a punctured lung and the flu, Detroit Red Wings Anthony Mantha has a rather ambitious goal for the remaining seven weeks of the NHL season. The young forward has the skill set to math his goal.

For the 20-some remaining games in the Detroit Red Wings season, Anthony Mantha wants to be a point a game player. Fresh off the injury that derailed his season, Mantha is logging around 20 minutes of ice time.

At 25 years old Mantha is going to be a restricted free agent. With 5 goals in the first two games of the season, Anthony had a good start to the season. By December 21 the young forward had 12 goals and 12 assists. Until he challenged Toronto Maple Leafs defensman Jake Muzzin to a fight and punctured his lung.

In his return from injury, Anthony Mantha looks like he did to start the season.  Big strong on the puck and making life difficult for defenses around the league .The Detroit Red Wings want Mantha to know both his limits and when to and not to instigate a fight.

Mantha is an outstanding talent and player. He does more good when he is on the ice. Weather he has the puck or is making the defense play honestly, because of his skill-set.

Anthony Mantha has the ability to be a point-per-game player. If he continues to develop that part of his game he will make the young Red Wings a much better hockey team.

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The Detroit Tigers hope two coach’s can get catcher Jake Rogers better results at bat

Embed from Getty Images What is the old saying? Two is better than one, that is exactly what the Detroit Tigers are hoping in the case of catcher Jake Rogers. Tigers hitting coach Joe Vavra and renowned hitting instructor Doug Latta are trying to get the top catching prospect in all of baseball to hit better.

Jake Rogers, behind the plate, behind the catching gear is the best rated defensive catcher in the minor leagues. The only thing that is keeping him from full-time catching duties with the Detroit Tigers is Rogers does not hit that well.

Jake Rogers sought the help of Doug Latta who has helped a who’s who of college, minor and major league baseball players and has had good results. So off to Ball Yard Hitting Academy in Northridge, California Rogers went this past offseason.

Meanwhile, Tigers hitting coach Joe Vavra kept in contact with Rogers and Latta. No ego’s got in the way. The focus was getting a top prospect to perform a well rounded game.

After hitting sessions Doug Latta would send video to Joe Vavra. The two coach’s would compare notes. The end goal is to greatly reduces the big leg kick and change the posture Jake Rogers used while taking at bats. The leg kicks lead to many foul balls as well as many strike outs. Too many for the Detroit Tigers liking.

With 51 strike outs in 128 plate appearances in 112 games played, last season Rogers worked many hours with then Tigers hitting coach Lloyd McClendon. Rogers sought out advice from veteran Tigers players as well. Even talking to Detroit baseball legends Al Kaline and Willie Horton.

One problem. Jake Rogers was hearing too many voices in his head. While Rogers did say he enjoyed talking to and getting advice from multiple people, it was simply too much.

Working with Doug Latta, Rogers has changed his posture at the plate. Gone are breaking his upper body over the plate which caused a lot of swing and miss at bats.

Now Jake Rogers has a plane swing that is much more level which will allow the young catcher to swing through the strike-zone longer. The Detroit Tigers front office and Rogers teammates got a first hand look at his new swing this past week as spring training opened.

Jake Rogers was sending baseballs over the fence into the bullpen behind Joker Merchant Stadium in Lakeland Florida, long time spring training home of the Detroit Tigers.

As for Rogers he is focused on what is ahead and does not look back at last season. Time will tell. But it looks like the work of the two coach’s and Jake Rogers just may net positive results.

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ESPN analyst and former Detroit Lions quarterback Dan Orlovsky says the team is close

Embed from Getty Images Former Detroit Lions quarterback Dan Orlovsky recently said “You’re probably two really good players away from, all right, let’s have a conversation of being one of the better teams in the conference,” I think they caught a lot of bad breaks last year, just keeping it real. So if they stay healthy, they’re two good pieces away from being in the conversation of being a good, good football team. A good, solid, you-can-win-every-game football team.”

Some Detroit Lions fans have scoffed at Orlovsky’s statement. But should they? After all, the Lions could have won every game they played last season. They led in 14 of 16 games played.

The Detroit Lions being two players away seems out of place, but not completely far-fetched, either. In the NFL, you are what your record says you are Detroit was 3-12-1, bad.

That said from a talent perspective, Detroit is better than most of the other teams picking in the top 10 of the NFL draft, and it is not a stretch to think they would have doubled their win total if quarterback Matthew Stafford not missed two months with fractured bones in his back.

The Detroit Lions do not need to make a big jump to get to the next level. The offense should see 10 of last seasons 11 starters come back. While the Lions are not great offensively, they have the potential to be at least above average offense with a healthy Stafford, wide receiver Kenny Golladay and with tight end T.J. Hockenson expected to take on a bigger role next season.

The defense is where Dan Orlovsky’s “two-players-away” theory comes in to play. The Detroit Lions need pass rush help in a BIG way. They also need a starting cornerback. They have questions at safety beyond Tracy Walker. Not too mention the linebackers lack speed.

With free agency and the draft, Detroit could possibly find the two players that can help get the team over the hump. Yes, they will get more that two players. However, they need to nail the two positions of need in order to improve next season.

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Healthy going into spring training Detroit Tigers pitcher Franklin Perez is focused

Embed from Getty Images In the pitching cages, once top pitching prospect Franklin Perez fired fastballs to his catcher. Perez held back smiles as he met with a few of the Detroit Tigers beat writers. “I feel fantastic, This is one of the best moments for us as pitchers, focusing on improving our pitches instead of rehabilitating and getting back to business. It feels great to be back here.” Perez stated.

Franklin Perez was the centerpiece of the trade that sent Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander to the Houston Astros. Two and a half years have passed since Perez was the headline prospect the club of the big trade.

Perez has pitched just 27 innings in the Tigers’ organization, all out of Lakeland in either the Class A Advanced Florida State League or the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. That is because of injuries.

A right lat strain in Spring Training 2018 delayed Franklin’s debut in the Tigers’ organization. Later in 2018 Perez was shelved for the season with right shoulder inflammation.

Franklin Perez did not have surgery, he went with just a cortisone injection. What Perez did have was time to heal. The young pitcher worked in Lakeland with the Detroit Tigers athletic training and medical staffs. Aside from the rehab, Perez worked on nutrition, finding a diet to help with better healing.

If Franklin Perez has indeed moved past the injuries, and can pick up where he left off, the Detroit Tigers pitching prospects are even stronger, if you can believe that. All indications are Perez is ready for a rebound season.

It will be worth watching where the Tigers choose to place him after cam starts. No matter where that is Perez likely will not be there long. He is too talented.

 

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As spring training opens the Detroit Tigers say it is time to win

Embed from Getty Images It has been a brutal four years. The Detroit Tigers entered a full-blow rebuild. Gone were players from the glory days and the bloated payroll that accompanied them. The 2020 Detroit Tigers now take aim with a much improved minor league system to begin the crawl to respectability.

Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila, said last week the Tigers are getting away from tearing down, and the time has come to acquire some players.

The Detroit Tigers teardown took essentially three years. The build up will take roughly as long. With several of the organizations top prospects expected to start the season at Triple-A Toledo, with the Mud Hens.

Those prospects who the Tigers believe will be the heart of their next championship level team namely, starting pitchers Casey Mize, Matt Manning, Tarik Skubal and Alex Faedo along with third baseman Isaac Paredes, Al Avila said  “At some point during the season we can bring them up so they can get some experience. Then we can go into the (2021) spring training and it’s a whole different ballgame.”

All signs point towards after the 2020 season, the Tigers will dip into the free agent pools again. With Starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann’s  $50 million contract coming off the books, as well as $20 million to other clubs as compensation as part of the Justin Verlander (Houston Astros) and Prince Fielder (Texas Rangers) trades.

Detroit Tigers owner Christopher Ilitch has been taking stock of the team’s rebuilding process and has stated when the time is right the team will spend again.

The Detroit Tigers rebuild expects to gain another large piece when the team picks first in the 2020 MLB draft. Unlike 2006 when the Tigers pulled out of a rebuild, the team promises this time to hold onto young players and not trade them for veterans. In hopes to prolong winning.

At any rate, the 2020 Detroit Tigers season will be another long season. However, it will be good for the organization as top prospects get called up for a look. As the rebuild finally has a light at the end of a very long dark tunnel.