OT: Tigers at the 1/8th point
This board was pretty negative about this team in the preseason thread, so I imagine those following along aren't too down about the 9-11 start.
Ceartainly not a great team, but if they keep this pace up and the young guys keep playing well they will be worth watching into fall camp. Last year I bailed in early May. I'm more optimistic this year.
April 22nd, 2018 at 10:57 PM ^
if the tigers are exceeding expectations come july (ie. playing near .500), that would likely mean some combination of guys like castellanos, iglesias, martin, liriano, greene and fiers are having good years. and if that's the case, they will be traded for prospects.
then the losing really starts. i will consider it a success if they win 70 games and get a few decent prospects for the guys i listed above.
Probably end up winning just over 60 games. May be a while before they are competitive for a playoff spot, may be 5 or 6 years.
April 23rd, 2018 at 12:28 PM ^
FanGraphs is projecting 68.7 wins right now. It is what it is. They gave us a wonderful decade of fun and hurt themselves for now by being too all in. But I'm going to just enjoy watching the build back up. They still have a handful of fun prospects to get behind (Manning, Burrows, Perez, Faedo, Cameron, Rogers, Paredes), a few interesting young guys on the big club (Fulmer, Norris, Boyd, Jones, Candelerio, Jimenez) and the #1 pick in the draft. It'll be awhile before they're good again, but it could be fun to watch the build back up.
what I see so far. Let a couple games get away.
Schedule has been kind so far.
Starting pitching has been solid.
Bullpen is going to be a problem. Hopefully not.
Jacoby has been laying off the breaking for the most part so left field could be solid for awhile until he's moved to center which I believe is the plan.
If Iggy and Dixon can hit consistently maybe the Tiger's Will surprise.
Like the game in game out aggression on the base paths. Haven't seen that in a long time.
Tigers have beat three teams this year and that trio is currently on pace for a 40-120 season overall. Those 3 squads (Baltimore, CWS and KC) were all the 3 teams along with the Tigers had lowest season win totals before the year.
Also of note the Tigers have played the easiest SOS at ESPN RPI ratings plus the highest differential of home/road games of any team in AL so far this year.
except for losing JD Martinez, Ian Kinsler, Alex Avila, Justin Upton, Justin Verlander and Justin Wilson and they replaced those 5 guys with Jacoby Jones, Leonys Martin, Dixon Machado, Canderio, Liriano and Fiers. Plus some mix and match bullpen guys who aren't worth much (besides Jimenez).
The Tigers won 64 games last year with Verlander and Upton on the team all the way thru August and Avila, Justin Wilson and JD Martinez thru July.
The 5 replacing that very good group are all at best replacement level type players right now in their career (except Candelrio). Liriano and Fiers both had ERA above 5.20 last year. Martin, Machado, Jones all were guys who had horrific seasons against MLB pitching and that's being nice. Candelrio could be the real deal. I'd be surprised if this was a 70 win team this year.
Think if we revisit this thread in mid-summer the tone will be much different.
April 24th, 2018 at 10:08 AM ^
with the start the Tigers have. It looks like they have just enough veterans to provide some leadership, and some of the young guys are playing well. I realize we haven't reaaly played any good teams but they are sure showing some fight. Several times they have tied or taken the lead after the 7th inning. It is going to still be a painful rebuild but nothing wrong with being encouraged so far, just stay realistic.
April 24th, 2018 at 10:19 AM ^
It seems like one time through the order he is usually good then he falls apart. Even if he does terrible, we're paying him regardless. Just have Norris take his spot. Better for the future.
As a Tribe fan I couldn't stand going up against his Twins teams, and I was not happy to see him back in the division.