Detroit Tigers: the injustice of Lou Whitaker
Embed from Getty Images As Detroit Tiger greats Alan Trammell and Jack Morris take their place in Cooperstown this weekend. One member of the Detroit Tigers will be in the crowd. That is simply highway robbery.
Injustice is a very kind word to use when talking about Lou Whitaker. This goes beyond Detroit Tigers fandom. Statistics do not lie. Sweet Lou, is more than deserving of a Hall of Fame nod.
21 second basemen are in the Hall of Fame. That is all. Of the 21 second base hall members, Lou Whitaker’s number place him as the fourth best second basemen in MLB history. Yet, he did not get the call.
One would think that in a 19 year career that 2,369 hits, 244 home runs, 1,084 RBIs and 1,386 runs scored in 2,390 games played would be more than enough. And I have not even mentioned in 1978 Detroit Tigers, Lou Whitaker was named rookie of the year.
A 3 time Gold Glove winner and four time Silver Slugger award winner. Not to mention he teamed with Tigers shortstop Alan Trammell to form one of statistically speaking the best double play combos in MLB history.
Trammell in. Whitaker not? It is a joke of epic proportion. His former teammates have been very vocal about the injustice. Alan Trammell, said he always thought they would enter the Hall together. They should have.
I have no doubt the Hall of Fame board of operations and Hall of Fame members will get an ear full from Trammell and former Detroit Tigers ace pitcher Jack Morris during their acceptance speeches.
My enjoyment of the Detroit Tigers aside. Lou Whitaker, has been and still is Hall worthy. For all that baseball gets right they miss on a lot of obvious things. To ignore what Whitaker did is a missed opportunity and that is a shame.
MLB please do the right thing. Enshrine Lou Whitaker.
Detroit Tigers: need to release Victor Martinez
Embed from Getty Images He started his career with a bang and developed into a very good teetering on feared hitters. For all he has accomplished, injuries and father time have caught up with Victor Martinez. The Detroit Tigers, need to release him.
Christian Stewart is having a great season in Toledo with the Mud Hens. In fact Stewart was a Triple-A all star. One problem. Christian should be in Detroit.
Victor Martinez, is a decorated MLB veteran. He has earned the right to finish what is likely his final season. The Detroit Tigers, in a rebuild that demands to know what prospects can bring to the parent team need to make a difficult decision and cut ties with Martinez.
I am not one to favor cutting a player who struggles or goes through a dry spell during the season. However, when there is a prospect who should be playing in the majors and is stuck behind a veteran who has seen their play drop so far they have been benched. The choice should be easy.
There is no easy way out of this. The Detroit Tigers, seem to be fine with Victor Martinez playing out the season or riding the bench for the rest of the season. Releasing him would not be the way to send him out.
Christian Stewart, who hits for both average and power is stuck in Triple A until a roster spot opens up. I am really not sure what the Tigers front office is thinking on this subject.
With half of the season done. The Tigers have fallen out of playoff contention (not that they were a threat to make the playoffs this season) should make what amounts to the right direction.
Youth and talent over aged and declining talent. Perhaps, Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila, can ask Martinez if he would like to retire. Players do that from time to time during the season so it is not that far fetched.
The bottom line is it is time to go with youth. It is time to change the old guard to the new. No matter personal investment.
Detroit Tigers: the kids are alright
Embed from Getty Images As the Detroit Tigers, have come down to earth. 9 losses in a row will do that. There is good news. Detroit, has moved several top prospects around in the minor leagues.
Having one of the worst minor league systems in all baseball last season. This seasons the Detroit Tigers, systems has gone from being ranked #30 to being ranked #9 this season. Not to shabby.
In a full rebuild, the Tigers had a great 2018 draft. One that will speed up the rebuild. It gets better. This week the Tigers, have promoted many of the teams top prospects. All of them needed to be bumped up. They earned it.
Pitcher Matt Manning, went from A-ball West Michigan Whitecaps, to High- A Lakeland Flying Tigers. He should make around six starts before being moved to the Erie Seawolves Double-A team.
Pitcher Alex Faedo, moved from Lakeland to Erie. In 66 innings pitched Faedo has 58 strikeouts on the season. He was far too good to be in Lakeland and was never going to be there long.
Outfielder Daz Cameron, Also started the season with the Flying Tigers. Last week Cameron, was named Double-A player of the week. He should arrive in Toledo with the Mud Hens, before the season ends.
Pitcher Tyler Alexander, was promoted from Erie to Toledo. He will be a welcome arm in the Detroit bullpen at some point this season.
Outfielder Jacob Robson, also went from the Seawolves, to the Mud Hens. Robson should get a September call up when the MLB rosters are expanded.
Al Avila, and the Detroit front office and coaches are trying to figure out where the prized new draft picks will be placed. All of them including top pick Casey Mize will be putting in work this Summer.
While the Tigers, begin to fade in the standings. The top prospects are being moved up in the system. This is great news going forward.
Detroit Red Wings: draft should mimic the Detroit Tigers
Embed from Getty Images The Detroit Red Wings, need to get better in a few key areas. Much like the Detroit Tigers, the Wings can use the plethora of early draft picks to begin aiding those areas.
Fresh off the 2018 MLB draft. The Detroit Tigers did a masterful job of hitting all the team needs. Pitchers. Check. Infielders. Check. Bats. Check. Left handed hitters. Check.
Red Wings general manager Ken Holland, would be wise in using the same sort of checklist in the June 22-23 NHL draft. Because of past trades Detroit, is in prime position. Two first round picks, one second, four third, two fourth. The Detroit Red Wings can do well.
Ken Holland, has returned to his roots. Once a great NHL scout before he took over as Red Wings general manager. Holland, himself has set out to view talent. This is a good thing for the organization.
The team has needs at forward, defense and special teams. This years draft is deep with talent. Many scouts and general managers say there is NHL ready talent through the first three rounds. Because the NHL is a young mans game this is good news for rebuilding teams.
Still Ken Holland, should follow the Detroit Tigers and Tigers general manager Al Avila’s blueprint. He should identify exactly the needs of his team and throw “best player on the board” out the window.
When a team has needs that is what must be addressed. Only playoff teams (because they select in the bottom half of the draft) should take the best player available.
Much like the Detroit Tigers, who picked first throughout the 2018 MLB draft. The Detroit Red Wings, will pick near the top in all rounds of the 2018 NHL draft. This is where the Red Wings can take a big step forward in the rebuilding process.
Detroit Tigers: draft pick Kody Clemens
Embed from Getty Images Needing a dependable second baseman. The Detroit Tigers, got a gift when the son of MLB legend Roger Clemens fell to them in the third round. He projects as a very good middle infielder.
Kody Clemens, from the Texas Longhorns, began his college playing days at third base. Late in the 2016 season he under went Tommy John surgery. Texas moved him to second base. As they say the rest is history.
Due to a loss in arm strength after surgery Clemens, took off at second base. More comfortable Kody’s offense took off. He was named Big12 player of the year.
He is lacks range but that should not hurt him. He projects as an everyday second baseman. He plays with great energy. He can pull the ball or go the other way.
For a second baseman he has pop. He projects as a 20 homerun player. Al Avila, really nailed this draft for the Detroit Tigers. He went for game changing players. He found them.
This has been the best Tigers draft in years. The first five players taken by the team all project as future all-stars. Suddenly, the Detroit rebuild is not all that bad. There is a bright light at the end of the tunnel.
Detroit Tigers: draft pick Parker Meadows
Embed from Getty Images The Detroit Tigers, needing to add another bat to the prospect pool went back to high school. Drafting 6′ 4″ outfielder Parker Meadows. A pick being applauded by MLB experts.
Meadows, is the brother of current Pittsburgh Pirates centerfielder Austin Meadows. He has plus raw power. Not too mention for a big player he has a nice compact swing. He generates a lot of contact at the plate.
Parker Meadows, is blessed with outstanding speed. Like his brother Parker figures to be roaming center field. Detroit Tigers, fans should be happy it will be at Comerica Park.
He has an outstanding arm and plays excellent defense. This is a player who much like his new teammate and Tigers, first round pick Casey Mize will speed up Detroit’s rebuild.
Detroit Tigers, fans and I’m sure front office can smile as they can picture an outfield of Daz Cameron, Parker Meadows, and depending on what choices are made either Christian Stewart or Nicholas Castellanos.
Detroit general manager Al Avail has done a masterful job during the 2018 MLB draft. Getting players that despite age are MLB ready. Speeding up the rebuild while setting a new blueprint for other teams to follow.
Detroit Tigers: select Casey Mize
Embed from Getty Images The Detroit Tigers, already with a good group of pipeline pitchers added the best pitcher in the first round of the 2018 MLB draft. University of Auburn pitcher Casey Mize.
His 2.95 ERA is good. However, what pops off the stat sheet is 151 strikeouts while only walking 12 batters. Casey Mize has pinpoint contol. That is very good news.
Mize, was widely viewed as the best player in the draft. The Detroit Tigers already stockpiled with pitching prospects added an absolute gem. A four pitch (three of them plus) Casey’s bread and butter is his split finger fastball.
What is impressive is that Mize does not rely on one pitch. He throws them all. Now he has the makeup and charater to take his place along former Detroit pitchers Mickey Lolich, 2018 MLB all of Fame inductee Jack Morris and Justin Verlander.
Tiger fans should not think Casey Mize is Verlander 2.0. He is Casey Mize 1.0. That should be beyond good enough. As soon as 2020 the Tigers starting rotaion should be:
Casey Mize
Franklin Perez
Beau Burrows
Matt Manning
Alex Faedo
That is a fantastic group of pitchers all of whom sport plus pitches. By drafting Mize the Detroit Tigers have now sped up the rebuild. Mize very well could be in Motown at some point next season.
Detroit Tigers: need to trade Michael Fulmer
Embed from Getty Images He is a very good, very young pitcher. The Detroit Tigers, need to trade the former American League rookie of the year. Never mind that he is only 25 years old and he is under control for four more years. Michael Fulmer, can speed up the Tigers rebuild.
This is a hot debate for Detroit Tigers fans. Fulmer, is an outstanding pitcher. He is young and under team control for four more years until he can hit the open market as a free agent.
It is no secret the New York Yankees, are interested. That is a good place to start for Tigers general manager Al Avila. The Yankees have a top three rated farm system. It will take a lot to pry a talent like Fulmer away.
The Yankees, who have a history of getting players they need for a championship run are likely to bite. That would speed up the Detroit rebuild. The Yankees contacted the Tigers last winter in hoping to reach a deal. They currently have two starting pitcher injured.
While the organization has several prospects that are about ready to make the jump to the majors it would help them grow together and learn to win together. That can not be over stated.
As much as Michael Fulmer, brings to the mound and as difficult as it would be parting with him. The temporary pain of loss as well as temporary pain of the team taking a step back will be soon forgotten when the top prospects begin to land at Comerica Park.
For me it is a no-brainer. Trading Michael Fulmer, needs to happen. For the big picture. Detroit, will be able to knock two years off the rebuild by trading him. They will be able to return to competitive baseball in 3-4 years.
Detroit Tigers: This is a rebuild?
Embed from Getty Images The Orioles, Royals, White Sox, Rangers, Marlins, Reds, Dodgers and Padres eight major league baseball teams are all on pace for 100 losses. In year one of a full blown rebuild the Detroit Tigers are not.
Picked to be the worst team in MLB this season the Detroit Tigers, are defying the laws of rebuilding. They stand just 1.5 games out of first place. While the Dodgers, who many picked to return to the World Series are only three games better than the Cincinnati Reds. The worst team in baseball.
The Tigers are a scrappy bunch who compete. No really they compete from first inning to ninth. Even with a suspect bullpen. In the words of former Detroit Red Wing Tomas Tatar, “are you not entertained?”
This team lead by manager Ron Gardenhire, has been an absolute delight to watch. They are a rag-tag bunch made up of nearly an entire Triple-A roster. The best part for both the organization and fans is that none of the top prospects have played in Motown.
Yet, through it all we can start to see the players that will be part of the Detroit Tigers, next title run. Relief pitcher Joe Jimenez, figures to be the closer as he has been great this season. Outfielder JaCoby Jones who has become a fan favorite with his all-out play will be there.
There are a few others. The Tigers, seem to have thrown the “rebuilding teams must lose a lot of games” method from their plans. They are winning fans over in the Motor City.
Enjoy the rest of the baseball season. No matter what it brings. Remember Detroit, will only get better when top prospects put of the Old English “D.”
