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Detroit Pistons: in four season head coach Stan Van Gundy is 152-176

Embed from Getty Images THE meeting is supposed to take place this week. Detroit Pistons, owner Tom Gores and Stan Van Gundy are set to discuss the season and what lies ahead.

At 152-176 one would expect Van Gundy, has some explaining to do to his boss. After all four years ago he was brought to the Motor City to win. One playoff season simply does not cut it.

The meeting, in my opinion can go one of two ways. The first, Gores could tell Stan to make wholesale changes to his coaching staff. Perhaps new scouts could be brought in. Or second, Gores could just give Stan Van Gundy his walking papers.

That would mean Tom Gores would have to admit failure. That is a bitter pill no matter how you slice it. But, for the Pistons to move forward it may have to be swallowed.

My hope is that Gores, has asked for outside help in gathering information. That this is not a rushed or rash choice that hurts the direction of the franchise.

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Detroit Red Wings: winning a Calder Cup does not always mean a Stanley Cup is close

Embed from Getty Images The Grand Rapids Griffins, have won the Calder Cup in 2012-13 and last season. The Detroit Red Wings can not count on this being the start of something bigger.

Stanley Cup, teams are built. Drafted and developed players carry teams success or failure. It is really hard to know exactly how a prospect will perform once they transition to the NHL.

The Griffins, are currently in the Calder Cup playoffs trying to defend last seasons championship. If they do great. But it does not help the Red wings.

So I hate to be the bad news bubble popping voice of reason. But, there is no reason to raise expectations for Detroit anytime soon. Players still need to put in the time needed.

Only strong drafts and smart free agent signings can lift teams to the next level of play. So enjoy another Griffins playoff run. But stay focused.

 

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Detroit Tigers: what is fueling this team

Embed from Getty Images Picked to be one if not the worst teams in baseball the Detroit Tigers are not allowing forecasters dictate team success and or failure.

Two times this past week the Detroit tigers, put 10 or more runs on the scoreboard. But that is impossible! They were picked to be awful. It seems Ron Gardenhire’s players did not get the memo. Or they ripped it up and threw it away.

The Tigers while not a top team do have something major going for them. The 2018 Detroit Tigers are balanced. from number one to number nine in the batting order. That is extremely rare for rebuilding teams. Will it last all season? Probably not.

But, it is not going as so call experts said it would. They painted doom and gloom in Motown. Meanwhile, the Detroit minor league top prospects are all shining. They are living up to their draft billing, something else that is rare.

Tiger, scouts have done a very good job at drafting. If Christian Stewart can cut down on his strikeouts he is absolutely a guy who can lead the Detroit next wave of good teams.

The minor league pitching has been spot on the early part of this season capped of Friday night when the Tigers number two top prospect Matt Manning struck out 10 of the 12 batters he faced in Grand Rapids. Oh by the way that was his first start coming off a spring training injury and on a strict 70 pitch, pitch count.

It won’t be long before these players are strutting their stuff at Comerica Park.

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Detroit Lions: need to be at least 9-7

Embed from Getty Images Matt Patricia, was brought in because the Detroit Lions general manager Bob Quinn, wanted a coach who would push the team to a championship level. It was and is a gamble.

After former Detroit, Jim Caldwell posted back to back 9-7 records with a playoff appearance Bob Quinn demanded more.He’s in charge so it is his call to make.

Matt Patrica, the former New England Patriots defensive coordinator came to the Detroit Lions with his marks from current and former players as well as members of the New England coaching staff. The loudest praise came for Patriots head coach Bill  Belichick.

The move had better be the right one. Caldwell, had the Lions playing more consistent on the grid iron. So in order for this move to be considered justifiable or successful in his first season Matt Patricia must finish no worse than 9-7.

I know full well that is not setting the bar very high. In year one of a new coaching staff there are going to be issues as players learn a new system and new language. There will be great moments and disappointing ones to be sure.

The Detroit Lions still have huge glaring needs at defensive end, running back, tight end as well as offensive guard. That is a lot to upgrade in year one. Even if Bob Quinn and his staff draft those positions the team would be counting on rookies to deliver right away.

While I do believe Matt Patrica, will be a very good head coach. I can make the case it will not be in year one. So 9-7 is the bench mark. Otherwise Bob Quinn, will endure public wrath of fans for replace a coach that posted back to back winning seasons.

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Detroit Red Wings: built for speed

Embed from Getty Images The rebuilding Detroit Red Wings, have done a good job at drafting players who are starting to see ice time in Motown. The Red Wings, have done a very good job at drafting both skill and speed.

 

It is one thing to have a few fast players on a roster. It is another thing entirely when a minor league is full of speed. That is where Detroit, is. The NHL is a young man’s game. Soon youth will be served.

This season as year two of  the rebuild showed why the Detroit Red Wings, need faster players. Veteran players who have carried the team for a long time have slowed down. A lot.

For Detroit, speed is needed. There are plenty of good fast teams. It will be a glorious moment when the Wings, can match them player for player. Speed can not be taught so it must be drafted. Ken Holland, despite his shortcomings  has drafted well.

It is a good ideal to keep an eye on the teams minor leagues as they enter the playoffs. It will be a good look at tomorrow in Detroit.

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Detroit Tigers: they are actually watchable

Embed from Getty Images They were supposed to be bad. Really bad. While they are two games below .500 the Detroit Tigers, in the first full year of a rebuild has refused to roll over and play dead.

They are by no means a great team. They may not even be a good team. But manager Ron  Gardenhire, has Detroit playing well. Yes they got swept in Pittsburgh and Cleveland. But they were in those games.

For a team full of rookies and only a few veterans that is remarkable. It is also why Gardenhire, was brought in. Tigers fans, are being treated to a much kinder rebuild than what is going on in places like Cincinnati.

How can fans not enjoy watching young Detroit Tigers third basemen Jeimer Candelario ( who as of today is hitting .284 and leads the team in doubles and is a slick fielder? Or pitcher Matthew Boyd who despite being 0-1 has a 1.40 era?

Second basemen Dixon Machado, is another player worth watching. I’m not sure he fits into the Tigers, long range plans so he could become a valuable trade asset closer to the MLB trade deadline.

Right fielder Nicholas Castellanos has contiuned his hot bat from last season and is drawing more walks in this early 2018 Detroit Tigers, baseball season. If general manager Al Avila is unable to sign Castellanos to a long term deal. He could be traded and bring in a nice haul of prospects.

For a team that was left for dead before the season even kicked off. This team is actually fun to watch. It is certainly making the rebuild process a bit easier to handle.

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Detroit Tigers: prospect profile Kyle Funkhouser

Embed from Getty Images Other than having the best last name in the Detroit tigers, minor league system. Kyle Funkhouser. This guy can bring it. At 6′ 2″ he is actuall one of the Tigers shorter pitching propects.

Drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 2016.  Funkhouser, has blown through rookie ball and High A ball.  Kyle , fastball touches 98 mph. He has worked on his changeup and it is now a go to pitch for him. He also throws a, above average slider.

The thing the Detroit Tigers, were waiting for was his to gain more command of the strike zone. He has done that. One thing that gets him in trouble is he’ll fall in love with a pitch and then his other pitches suffer.

Kyle Funkhouser,  has started this season in Erie PA, with the Seawolves. Many scouts think he can be an outstanding No. 3 starter. He is one reason the Tigers pitching has a bright future.

In just a few seasons the Motor City Kitties, will have a nasty starting rotation. Should he have a monster season in Double A he could see time in Motown next season.

In my opinion, Detroit should allow all of the pitching prospects a full year in Double A. Development is critical for pitchers more than position players. It will be worth the wait. General manager Al Avila, knows this is at least a three year rebuild. No need to rush things.

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Detroit Lions: draft needs

Embed from Getty Images The Detroit Lions are in the best shape of all the Detroit sports teams. Yet, there is work to be done in order for the team to contend year in and year out.

 

As the 2018 NFL draft nears. Detroit Lions general manager Bob Quinn, needs to prioritize the top needs to push the Lions, to be more consistent in all phases of the game. My uneducated list is as follows.

Tight end. Eric Ebron, could not catch the ball consistently and Detroit released him and moved on. In order for the Lions offense to be better balanced a solid tight end is needed.

Defensive end. This group was woeful at best. They could not get the push needed and it hurt the rest of the defensive unit badly at times. To me this needs to be addressed in the first two round.

Running back.  Three years of Ameer Abdullah. Three years the Detroit Lions have been dead last in the entire NFL in rushing. Simply put that is unacceptable. To me this should be a first round choice. In a year of good running backs available why not get one of the best?

Offensive guard. Graham  Glasgow, suffered a sophomore slump. He still played well at times. Now it seems Detroit, is moving him to center. Travis Sawnson is oft injured and when healthy is below average and was not resigned by the team. If the team brings in a new running back how about a new guard to help open run lanes?

So there it is in no certain order. My list of Detroit Lions draft needs. We’ll see how it plays out next weekend.

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Columbus Blue Jackets: Werenski

Embed from Getty Images The Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen, has built the team from the back (goalie and defense) out. The Blueliners for the Blue Jackets, are the driving force of the team. Enter what many say will be the teams next captain Zach Werenski.

Drafted in the first round of the 2015 NHL draft out of the University of Michigan, the smooth skating tough checking Werenski, is already a fan favorite no small feat because of where he played his collage hockey.

He drives the Blue Jackets power play and is very skilled in the offensive end. Of all the Columbus Blue Jackets defensmen he is hands down the best passer on the team.

In only his second NHL season Zach, was named to the all-star team. He has outstanding vision and poise nothing rattles this kid.  Including, breaking his orbital bone in the 2017 NHL playoffs against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

His eye swollen and black and blue  Zach Werenski, came back out on the ice face shield and all and played. And just like that a kid from Michigan became an Ohio sports legend. Leaving his head coach John Tortorella, to tell the media “That kid has stones the size of this building.”

Zach, will be captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets. He was capatin of a Michigan hockey team that won a National Championship. He is a born leader. The Columbus Blue Jackets are a better team because of him.

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Star Wars: this one is personal

Embed from Getty Images Then He said “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven.” Matthew 18:3

It always takes me back to my childhood. Star Wars. I have been blessed to see every film in original format in the theater. By the way Han Solo shot first.
As a child, I really identified with Luke Skywalker. He was an orphaned boy who had big dreams and aspersions. Much like Luke, I had been orphaned and adopted. Which I am grateful. Some people do not get out of the holding cell.
Thanks to my parents, I too got to have big dreams and aspirations. As a child seeing Star Wars for the first time and before it was subtitled “A new hope” was everything a child could want. Robots, cool settings and more action than you can shake a stick at.
The lesson was clear to me. No matter what the background of a person and no matter a person’s belief we can all work together for a greater cause. Something I feel we need to get back to.
Time has flown by and now I find I’m actually more like Han Solo. Confident, a leader, yet need to rely on others to achieve success. More open to advice and options.
But Star Wars, always brings me back to 1977 when I was young and life was easy. Back to a child like faith that there is something greater out there.
That is a good place to be. May the force be with you.