The 2021 Detroit Tigers

Time to fire up the hot stove on the 2021 Tigers season--who are launching a new season under new head coaching--this time under World Series winner but controversial signaling-scandal-tarnished AJ Hinch. The only hold over name you might recognize is Ramon Santiago. Player-wise, they have an abundance of raw but unproven talent. What do think? Is the management and player skillset to finally get them moving upward?

Here is the Tigers' complete coaching staff for the 2021 season:
Manager: AJ Hinch
Bench coach: George Lombard
Hitting coach: Scott Coolbaugh
Assistant hitting coach: Jose Cruz Jr.
Pitching coach: Chris Fetter
Assistant pitching coach: Juan Nieves
First base coach: Ramon Santiago
Third base coach: Chip Hale
Quality control coach: Josh Paul

They were hurt as much as any team not having a minor league season. This rebuild is taking even longer than I expected and it has really hurt them that about the time it started is when the league basically decided they would value young, controllable talent more and not trade it for veterans. The good news is Torkelson and Greene look like they're for real and the Tigers have the 3rd pick this year and were just awarded the 2nd supplemental round pick as well so they have 3 picks in the top 37. They also have 3 very promising international players further away in Campos, De La Cruz and Reyes. 2021 will be one more year of signing one year bandage free agents and losing. In 2022 the young pitchers will have some experience, the fans will be back and it will be the year to make a splash with a couple of big name free agents and start winning, or at least play .500.

In case some of you weren't aware, MLB is basically taking over control of the minor leagues. Low A and High A have swapped locations so the Lakeland Tigers will now be low A and West Michigan will be High A. With their beautiful park and sky high attendance they deserve to see better ball. Also it was announced today Erie will remain the AA affiliate. There was talk Erie would be cut along with about 40 other teams this year.

The Tigers made an excellent decision in hiring Chris Fetter as their pitching coach. He was very successful as the pitching coach for the
Michigan team in Ann Arbor. He well understands the science and very complicated mechanics of pitching. He has a good deal of professional experience in the minor leagues. There may be hope for the 2021 Tigers.

I still wonder.....with no fans in the stands in 2020, and none in the immediate future for 2021, how the F can they pay these millionaire's salaries for some 'athletes' who probably would have a hard time finding a real job?

^ Government subsidies to the next level [[beyond the buildings they play in). They're pending to promise pay everyone else to their income level pre-COVID!

How 'bout them first place Tigers? Ha ha, there I jinxed them.

But I can have fun while it lasts, even enjoy some retro moments, like Miggie's blizzard home run followed by his diving spear of a sure-hit ground ball to force a runner at second. I always thought he was a better player when playing the field. Let him rip--until he breaks down or not.

I'm still awaiting the debut of Akil Baddoo [what a name eh?] the phenom who's never played above single A and who tore up spring training.

All in all an interesting mix of rising talent, fill-in journeymen [Robbie Grossman, Wilson Ramos, Jose Ureña] and castoffs [Julio Teheran, Derek Holland, Nomar Mazara] led by outcast manager with a World Series Championship under his belt.

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Originally Posted by Lowell

How 'bout them first place Tigers? Ha ha, there I jinxed them.

But I can have fun while it lasts, even enjoy some retro moments, like Miggie's blizzard home run followed by his diving spear of a sure-hit ground ball to force a runner at second. I always thought he was a better player when playing the field. Let him rip--until he breaks down or not.

I'm still awaiting the debut of Akil Baddoo [what a name eh?] the phenom who's never played above single A and who tore up spring training.

All in all an interesting mix of rising talent, fill-in journeymen [Robbie Grossman, Wilson Ramos, Jose Ureña] and castoffs [Julio Teheran, Derek Holland, Nomar Mazara] led by outcast manager with a World Series Championship under his belt.

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Agreed, they might be better than expected, especially if the pitching holds up. But i still wish they had more "home run pop" in their lineup.

With the "new regime" change & the focus to WIN. . . ...Bucky Farmboy, Danny-Boy Norris, & Tommy-John Fulmer should be Mudhens or lower. Not to offend, but isn't the intent to win more games with the rebuild, maybe not?

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Originally Posted by Lowell

I'm still awaiting the debut of Akil Baddoo [what a name eh?] the phenom who's never played above single A and who tore up spring training.

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Well I didn't have to wait long. He started yesterday and hit the major league pitch he saw out of the park and ended the day one for three.

The next Al Kaline or the next Chris Shelton? Time will tell.

And after game four. "poof". Back to reality.

A drubbing today but that didn’t stop rookie phenom Akil Baddoo.

Yesterday the 22 year old who’s never played above single A homered on the first major league pitch thrown to him.

Today? Ho hum. Just a grand slam home run and a single.

Do I hear a Baddoooooo.

Okay this Akil Baddoo story is just nuts.

His First Game: the 22 year old who’s never played above single A homers on the first major league pitch thrown to him.

Second Game: A grand slam home run and a single.

Third Game [Today]: Hits the game-winning walk off single in the 10th inning.

What a fairytale three game beginning to a big league career. Nothing like this, even close in Tiger history, that I know of.

Attachment 41431

Here comes Baddoo!!!!!!

Fourth Game: Baddoooo triples in a run, throws out a base runner from the outfield.

After only 7-games, toothless Tigers in AL Central last place, great. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Smirnoff

After only 7-games, toothless Tigers in AL Central last place, great. :rolleyes:

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Sounds familiar, just like the Wings, Pistons and Lions.

Baddoo-doo: 0-5 in last 2 games, nice. ��

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Originally Posted by Smirnoff

Baddoo-doo: 0-5 in last 2 games, nice. ��

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Now one for his last 15. Back to my original question, he’s looking more like Chris Shelton and less like Al Kaline. In the age of Major League analytics and quants, it doesn’t take long to figure out the holes.

This has to be some sort of team record for futility. After yet another shut out loss today, the Tigers are now hitting .199 as a team. Former triple crown hitter Miguel Cabrera is hitting .115! Phenom Akil Baddoo who tore up the first two weeks has faded to .203. Never seen a more pathetic start. This has become Lions level. Al Avila has to be on the menu.

Same ole putty tats, still losing games rather than having the confidence to win. So this season let them lose more games. By next year they will improve if some of the teams stay.

When Isaiah Thomas joined the Pistons. He was a fresh brand new small guy that can't dunk a basket. After a couple of struggling seasons. He improved along with his team. Most of them decided to stay a little longer and improve.

So did Steve Yserman and his team.

Give a while. This cast will improve. Tiger athletes will analyze the game. Then let the organization keep the young players.

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Originally Posted by Danny

Same ole putty tats, still losing games rather than having the confidence to win. So this season let them lose more games. By next year they will improve if some of the teams stay.

When Isaiah Thomas joined the Pistons. He was a fresh brand new small guy that can't dunk a basket. After a couple of struggling seasons. He improved along with his team. Most of them decided to stay a little longer and improve.

So did Steve Yserman and his team.

Give a while. This cast will improve. They them analyze the game. The let the organization keep the young players.

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I would like to refute your comments as soon as I finish banging my head on the table.

I think it’s time to fire Al Avila. Was a rebuild necessary? Yes. Should he have unlimited time to do it? No.

What's even sadder than the current roster is what lies below. Through all of Miggy's time on the disabled list the last 4-5 years, not once has his position at first base been threatened. At this point he might deserve an extension as opposed to a buy-out. :D

We're hitting worse than the 1962 Mets at the moment.

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Originally Posted by Danny

Same ole putty tats, still losing games rather than having the confidence to win. So this season let them lose more games. By next year they will improve if some of the teams stay.

When Isaiah Thomas joined the Pistons. He was a fresh brand new small guy that can't dunk a basket. After a couple of struggling seasons. He improved along with his team. Most of them decided to stay a little longer and improve.

So did Steve Yserman and his team.

Give a while. This cast will improve. They them analyze the game. The let the organization keep the young players.

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Isiah Thomas when he came into the league was an excellent point guard. He developed his outside shot a year or two into his career. As far as his dunking a basketball, I'm pretty sure he could dunk, he just didn't dunk.

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Originally Posted by ABetterDetroit

I think it’s time to fire Al Avila. Was a rebuild necessary? Yes. Should he have unlimited time to do it? No.

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I agree with you. Avila hasn't done what's necessary to field a competitive team on the field. I look at the Pistons and they are rebuilding too, but despite of all the losses they endure, they play hard and give themselves a chance to win most of the time, plus they're actually fun to watch now. Only their inexperience shows up at the end of games with turnovers or bad execution, not for a lack of hustle and uninspired play. They have a promising future at least. The Tigers on the other hand, are years away from being competitive and have none of those traits. They strike out a lot, and the lineup has no power. Pitching has been so-so as well. If they get a good outing from a pitcher, they can't give him run support. Worst team in baseball for sure.

Meanwhile Franklin Perez is on the DL again with a shoulder capsule defect, whatever that is. The Tigers have been trying for 3 years to diagnose Perez's shoulder problems and the word defect is often used medically to describe something genetic, so maybe they should have found this during the physical at the time of the trade. Oh yeah, another flop in the trade, Daz Cameron, is also back of the DL with a broken wrist. At least Verlander isn't pitching this year, that helps even it out, right?

My son's 11 and I like telling him about the Golden Age of sports around here, that lasted from 1984-2009. I've been telling him for the last year or so that all our teams are bad but that in a few years you could have three of four on top. The odd team out has gone from the Lions to the Tigers. They are five years into this rebuild and they have absolutely nothing to show for it.

Detroit Tigers' Spencer Turnbull no-hits Seattle Mariners [[detroitnews.com)

Congrats to Justin. Figures that after suffering through such lousy games all season, this would happen long after I went to bed.

Tigers are quietly 7-3 in their last 10 games. Savor it while you can!

Justin?

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Originally Posted by Bong-Man

Detroit Tigers' Spencer Turnbull no-hits Seattle Mariners [[detroitnews.com)

Congrats to Justin. Figures that after suffering through such lousy games all season, this would happen long after I went to bed.

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Originally Posted by jcole

Justin?

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lol....early morning Freudian slip ?

I wish he was back too

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Originally Posted by Bong-Man

lol....early morning Freudian slip ?

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Originally Posted by jcole

I wish he was back too

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Well you'd be paying him 33 million not to play this year. Oh I get it, it's so Miggy wouldn't feel so guilty.:p

I wouldn't be paying him anything; I just happen to think he was a great pitcher

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Originally Posted by 401don

Well you'd be paying him 33 million not to play this year. Oh I get it, it's so Miggy wouldn't feel so guilty.:p

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A no-hitter, a grand slam, and a new viable closer. Suddenly things don't look quite so bleak. Our young pitchers are stepping up and learning quickly. Trade an arm for an every day player or two, a free agent signing this Winter, and next year we may actually have a chance to be competitive. Dare I dream on a Saturday morning ?

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Originally Posted by Bong-Man

A no-hitter, a grand slam, and a new viable closer. Suddenly things don't look quite so bleak. Our young pitchers are stepping up and learning quickly. Trade an arm for an every day player or two, a free agent signing this Winter, and next year we may actually have a chance to be competitive. Dare I dream on a Saturday morning ?

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Why do I see Lucy holding the football for Charley Brown to kick when I read this?

But it is fun to watch when the young guns gun fire and the old lion, Miggy, roars like he did in the old days and takes over a game.

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Originally Posted by Bong-Man

A no-hitter, a grand slam, and a new viable closer. Suddenly things don't look quite so bleak. Our young pitchers are stepping up and learning quickly. Trade an arm for an every day player or two, a free agent signing this Winter, and next year we may actually have a chance to be competitive. Dare I dream on a Saturday morning ?

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I'm not as optimistic. Yet. For me the problem is that outside of Riley Greene and Spencer Torkleson, they don't have any noteworthy hitters to speak of in the minor system. It really seems that beyond the obvious first round players, the cupboard is still pretty bare as far as prospects. It seems like when you look at recent teams that have built from the ground up to turn into winners [[Cubs, Astros), that they get 2-4 players per draft during the years when they bottoming out. If we're getting half that, it might be good enough to get us to 70 or 75 wins per year, but I don't think they have enough of a pipeline to go beyond that. Add to that the facts that Avila is not what anyone would consider a top-tier GM and that Chris Illitch already has a reputation of being a cheapskate, and I don't see as much hope as I see with our three other professional teams that I think all have a path to things around in the next 2-3 years.

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Originally Posted by sirrealone

I'm not as optimistic. Yet. For me the problem is that outside of Riley Greene and Spencer Torkleson, they don't have any noteworthy hitters to speak of in the minor system. It really seems that beyond the obvious first round players, the cupboard is still pretty bare as far as prospects. It seems like when you look at recent teams that have built from the ground up to turn into winners [[Cubs, Astros), that they get 2-4 players per draft during the years when they bottoming out. If we're getting half that, it might be good enough to get us to 70 or 75 wins per year, but I don't think they have enough of a pipeline to go beyond that. Add to that the facts that Avila is not what anyone would consider a top-tier GM and that Chris Illitch already has a reputation of being a cheapskate, and I don't see as much hope as I see with our three other professional teams that I think all have a path to things around in the next 2-3 years.

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I generally agree. Teams are built through a combination of the draft, international signings, trades and free agent signings. Last year's draft of position players is very promising with guys like Dingler, Cabrera, Workman, etc. but previous drafts from Stewart to Parker Meadows have been complete busts. They need to hope Boyd and Fulmer don't turn into pumpkins before the break again and trade them for position players. They desperately need to sign one of the top free agent shortstops available this off-season to anchor the defense. Willi Castro looked promising but his defense has been even worse than his hitting slump. The Rays just traded former Tiger prospect, shortstop Willy Adames, for two average relievers. This is the kind of deal Avila should be making. There are some very promising int'l league players in the pipeline as well but the whole rebuild is 2-3 years behind and Avila hasn't demonstrated anything beyond the ability to draft no. 1 picks, which anyone can do.

What’s going on? A seven game win streak? Only five games under .500? An exciting team that leads the league in stolen bases? And a pipeline loaded with rising young talent. Is it too early to say tipping point?

Not at all. Too many people were over-analyzing the situation. Two years ago there was no reason to watch this team. They were as far from entertaining as a baseball team could be. Watching young pitchers with potential learning their craft is much more entertaining than suffering through Jordan Zimmerman playing out his contract. We were the Texas Rangers.

As pointed out by others, championship teams are built with pitching and defense up the middle. We're a work in progress up the middle, and that's okay for now. An abundance of young pitchers is a commodity that can be traded for other things. Patience ! This last draft might be the most important of all down the road, because hopefully we aren't going to be in that position again for a while.

I wasn't sold on our new manager when he was hired, but he's done a good job regardless of past sins. The players have bought in, and that's always the hardest part. The clubhouse is relaxed and focused. His hiring might have been Avila's best off-season move.

Some talking heads are worried that Chris Ilitch won't spend when the time comes, and I disagree with that. He won't be as free spending as Dad, but it's already proven the best business model for the Tigers and Comerica Park is to fill the seats. Put a good product on the field and we will come.

Tarik Skubal must have every GM in baseball drooling. Stay healthy young man !

RIP Bill Freehan. As far as I'm concerned one of the most under-rated players to ever wear the English D. A 15 year career with 11 All-Star appearances. My condolences to his family, as he suffered from dementia for a number of years.

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Originally Posted by Bong-Man

RIP Bill Freehan. As far as I'm concerned one of the most under-rated players to ever wear the English D. A 15 year career with 11 All-Star appearances. My condolences to his family, as he suffered from dementia for a number of years.

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One of the all-time great catchers and my 1st favorite Tiger as a kid. I just read that in 68 Freehan was 2nd to McLain in the MVP voting. I didn't know that. When else have 2 battery mates finished 1 & 2 in the voting?

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Originally Posted by 401don

One of the all-time great catchers and my 1st favorite Tiger as a kid. I just read that in 68 Freehan was 2nd to McLain in the MVP voting. I didn't know that. When else have 2 battery mates finished 1 & 2 in the voting?

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Good call. I can't remember that happening either. He was one of the best catchers of his era. Had a career B.A. of .282, went to 7 straight AS games between 66-72. He has better stats than some other catchers who are in. HOF worthy if you ask me along with Sweet Lou who also has suffered that injustice.

RIP Bill Freehan indeed. What a great quiet piece of that team. Looking up his stats I see he finished second to Denny McLain for MVP in '68. Something I never realized but certainly deserved.

As for the Tigers, I think I just saw one of the worst games they ever played followed by one of the best games they ever played. The first was Thursday's choking of a 10-2 lead in the 6th inning to a non-contender, with lazy fielding, bad management, and bullpen collapse to end up losing 13-10.

The second was last night's extra-inning win over a contender with some of the best fielding, small ball, managerial calls, and excellent bullpen closing.

The first I attribute somewhat to AJ Hinch's getting tossed, Lombard taking his place, and the team falling asleep. Nice to see them put that disaster behind them and bounce back.

You heard it hear first -

Detroit Tigers World Series bound within 5 years, if not sooner.

JV will be back next year, along with some surprising additions.

Next year is a long shot but look at what they have been able to do with a decimated lineup and barely any pitching.

2023 ---> is going to be a good time to be a Tiger fan

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Originally Posted by Baselinepunk

2023 ---> is going to be a good time to be a Tiger fan

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Let's see.....I was born in 1936, so I'm what? Eighty something? I don't even worry about what might happen at midnight, so you guys have fun in 2023 and raise a glass for me! :)

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Originally Posted by Baselinepunk

You heard it hear first -

Detroit Tigers World Series bound within 5 years, if not sooner.

JV will be back next year, along with some surprising additions.

Next year is a long shot but look at what they have been able to do with a decimated lineup and barely any pitching.

2023 ---> is going to be a good time to be a Tiger fan

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The leading rumor is a marquee free agent shortstop signing. It would solve a big problem.

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Originally Posted by Lowell

The leading rumor is a marquee free agent shortstop signing. It would solve a big problem.

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For sure. Been hearing Carlos Correa's name floating around...

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Originally Posted by Cincinnati_Kid

For sure. Been hearing Carlos Correa's name floating around...

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Hopefully not Correa. He already turned down 125 million and wants 200 million +. We don't need another albatross contract. I would rather they give Semien 3-4 years. In the meantime if another shortstop like Kreidler or Workman is ready in 2 years Semien has already shown he's willing to move to 2nd or 3rd.

" He already turned down 125 million and wants 200 million:"

I wonder when the first billion dollar contract will be signed. Fortunately, none of that money comes from me.

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Originally Posted by Ray1936

" He already turned down 125 million and wants 200 million:"

I wonder when the first billion dollar contract will be signed. Fortunately, none of that money comes from me.

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If you have cable/satellite tv or buy anything from a beer to a car that's advertised on tv or inside the ballparks then it does.