Robbie Grossman Lives on First Base

Does anyone remember the big to-do about the book Moneyball? It’s a fascinating recounting of how former Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane took advantage of Major League Baseball’s notions about player skillsets to assemble his roster: Beane grabbed guys who would supplement their decent-to-solid tools with an uncanny ability to get on base. It revolutionized the way modern baseball talent is judged, and for a while, teams couldn’t help but copy this blueprint for talent accumulation.

Well, don’t look now but there’s a true-blue Moneyball player taking his bases in Minnesota almost completely unnoticed. 

JaCoby Jones’ Lip’s Loss Could be Leonys Martin’s Gain

Last we checked, surprising Tigers’ outfielder JaCoby Jones was drilled right in the face with a 90+ mph fastball. 

Mike Ilitch, the Ultimate Fan

There were a lot of celebrity deaths that occurred in 2016, a lot of them that really made you stop and compose yourself: Prince, David Bowie, Gordie Howe, Alan Rickman, and Harper Lee just to name a few. Yet learning today of Mike Ilitch’s passing stopped me dead in my tracks, and I felt a pang of grief that’s usually reserved for family members.

This Mahtook Fellow

I’m not ashamed to say it: I was a fan of the Anthony Gose trade initially. I liked his speed, loved his glove, saw potential in his game. I thought he’d be a staple in Comerica’s center field for years to come… but it turns out he may be a bit of a head case and a perpetually minor leaguer because, well, nobody can steal first base. 

Alex Avila: Neither Cheaper Nor Younger

To preface the counter-arguments, yes, statistics clearly state that Alex Avila was good offensively and defensively last year. He’s a left-handed hitter in a sea of Detroit righties. He has a passing familiarity with some of the Detroit pitchers.

And yet, this deal is a definite head-scratcher.

Trade Deadline Fun w/Drew Sharp

I’ve never been the biggest Drew Sharp fan (a primarily skeptical writer for the Detroit Free Press), and in recent years I’d say I’ve become ambivalent to his Glass-Half-Empty style of journalism. Just bland enough to ignore, I guess; no hot takes. Good for him!

But today, while obsessing over the trade deadline, Tiger fans watched as Al Avila sat on tradeable commodities, and seemed to make no effort to upgrade the parts of the team that could have used an affordable (re: easily acquired) level up. And then Mr. Sharp wrote an article that can be summed up in six words: Avila did nothing, and that’s okay.

Let’s break this article down, shall we? Retorts from yours truly in bold:

If Al Avila Doesn’t Trade K-Rod He’s a Certified Lunatic

As of today, July 31st, los Tigres just swept their second straight series against two of the American League’s most competitive teams: the Boston Red Sox and the Houston Astros. The offense looked absolutely dynamic, clobbering dongs at a staggering rate. The starters looked great, as everyone from the resurgent Justin Verlander to the new-and-improved Matt Boyd tossed several strong innings each. Even the bullpen has looked pretty good, especially in situations where it would normally poop its pants.

And due to this win streak — which, again, is impressive — a lot of fans are talking themselves into postseason success for this club, even though a month ago there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth. “Buy, buy!” they cry, hoping to further dilute a farm system that had been moderately replenished last year due to savvy trade deadline transactions.

To a degree, I’m okay if the Tigers acquire a 3rd, 4th, or 5th starter – IF the price is right (hopefully a Jake Odorizzi or Matt Shoemaker don’t bankrupt the minors). Otherwise, I’m still in Camp Sell, especially when it comes to the impending Unrestricted Free Agents, including-and-most-specifically the Tigers’ dominant closer, Francisco “K-Rod” Rodriguez.

Nobody Should Be Able to Hit a Major League Pitch

Most of us have been in this position: You got to the batting cages with your buddies. You may start slow, the 40 mph cage, or you may feel like a big shot and head for the 60 mph. You’re spraying the ball all over the place, feeling good, making hard contact. Your friends hop in after you and, the trash talk starts.

Eventually, someone — maybe you, maybe a friend, maybe some random eavesdropper who wants to show everybody up — hops in the Big Boy Cage. Pitches are firing out of the machine at 70+ mph, and somebody is looking foolish. Maybe someone even shrieks when a pitch comes a bit too close for comfort, jumping back, or maybe even swinging weakly. Everyone else laughs. Who’d want to do that?

VORPcast Episode 4: Closers on the move w/Ben Raven!

Mlive Trending News reporter Ben Raven hops on to talk the massive Aroldis Chapman deal, and what that means for the rest of the league!

You can follow ol’ Benzo on Tweeter or on his side hustle, the Court of Nerds

 

VORPcast Episode 3: Fast Food on the Line w/Ryan Schuiling

Ahhhhh dude, we got Ryan Schuiling on the mic! Schu joins the VORPcast today to talk Tigers’ trade candidates, and every pick counts – there’s McChickens on the line!

If you need more Schu (and who the **** doesn’t?), you can follow him on Twitter, the Facebox, and check him out on 92.1 fm every weekday from 1-3p!