What Am I Watching?

 Am I dreaming? Who are these Tigers? We had dug ourselves into such a deep hole at the beginning of the season that it seemed like we'd never escape and now there is a glimmer of hope. We haven't had more than a 4-game win streak all year but we've had several 5-game losing streaks and one awful 7-game losing streak. There are surprises in every area of this team and they are exceeding all expectations and hopes.

 

The Veterans and the Rookies

Robbie Grossman is the best free-agent signing the Tigers have had in many years. From the beginning of the season he has been an infusion. He walks like there is no tomorrow and he is one of our home run leaders! His defense is nothing to sneeze at either. He's not overrated or flashy but he's so solid and dependable and I am just thrilled with what he's brought to this team.

Jonathan Schoop has also been a nice surprise. Despite never playing first base until joining us, he's been really good there and his bat, especially lately, has been huge in the middle of the lineup. Having these veterans, along with Cabrera (obviously), has been a major blessing for a team that is so young and inexperienced. 

When it comes to rookies, no one is more green than Akil Baddoo. Our Rule 5 pick has barely played above Low-A ball before this year but you'd never be able to tell based on how he's done this year. Yes, he's cooled off from the torrid start, but what he's doing is, frankly, insane. He's even knocked Grossman out of the lead-off spot!

Our starting rotation is now our top three rookie prospects, a guy who is starting for the first time in many years, and a bullpen guy who being stretched out to start. And yet, we are pitching amazingly well. Losing Turnbull and Boyd (for the season and a long stretch, respectively) could have dealt us a death blow but somehow they have soldiered on and you almost forget that you're missing two of your best pitchers.

Everything Is Clicking

Pitching, both starters and relievers, is humming. Defense is flashing. The bats are spraying all over the field. Our running game is a level that I don't think I've seen in 10+ years of following Tigers baseball. I was just thinking the other day about how we have been thrown out at the plate a lot more this year. You'd think you would be losing runs and I don't have hard data but I think we probably are scoring more than in the past because we are forcing the issue. We are taking the extra base more and that will mean getting thrown out more. We also have a lot of young players who are still learning the finer points of running the bases but it's been impressive to watch. 

There have been so many times over the years when it seems like our pitching is on point but the bats can't hit anything. Then our bats heat up and the pitching slumps. We never could get multiple things going at the same time but that's not been the case much this year, especially right now.

This Is Fun

Maybe this is just a fluke but maybe it isn't. May and June showed a team that had promise. We never put a huge win streak together but the signs were there that things were different. The end of the first half was a deflating loss of momentum but the break seemed to bring out the best in everyone. Whatever happens in the rest of the season, this is a really fun moment and I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts.

Merry Christmas! Alex Avila is coming back!!!!

I picked up my iPod yesterday and had a notification from my wonderful TigersXtra app: Tigers sign Alex Avila to a 1-year deal.


To give you an idea of my reaction..

After enthusiastically sharing the news with my brother, I texted my friend to share the good news. He was not so excited and I'm sure a lot of people share his opinion.

Your view on Alex Avila depends on whether you focus on his offense or defense. I will not pretend he is a great hitter (although he can be clutch). Then again, he's a CATCHER. Isn't that kind of the rule for catchers - that they don't hit? Come on, not everyone can have Salvador Perez. 

Some numbers from last year: Avila hit .213 (keeping in mind injuries). That's pretty bad. But what about his on-base percentage? Last season, it was .359. Anyone seen Moneyball? 

He gets on base.

Whatever his deficiencies at the plate, it seems well worth it for his excellence BEHIND the plate. Avila is a very, very, very good defensive catcher. He called games well for years and Jim Price (who was a catcher) would talk about this and that great things Alex was doing. Avila knows his stuff and that knowledge is born from years of experience. 

If nothing else, think of what a great thing this is for James McCann. He will get another season with Avila to pick his brain, watch him catch, and overall learn and grow. I really like McCann; he's done a great job. But remember that this will only be his third year in the pros and he'll likely be working with several pitchers almost as green as he is. Avila will be for McCann what Rodriguez is for Rondon. 

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Come on people! It's not like we signed him for a long-term contract! It's a one year deal for a lefty, backup catcher who will bring veteran experience. Chill! There would be people mad if we had signed Matt Wieters because he would have been much more expensive, I'm sure. We are trying to avoid a luxury tax here in Detroit. 

It saddens me that people complain no matter what. You can't please everyone. Al Avila and the Tigers thought that resigning Alex Avila would be the best thing for the TEAM. Alex brings experience of the game and this team as well as a veteran presence tot he clubhouse. He's here, personally I'm happy about it, and LET'S GO TIGERS!

Cameron Maybin vs. Francisco Rodriguez

For the first time in several years, we had a dependable closer. Notice I didn't say a perfect closer. Detroit fans seem to have a short memory. A lot of them seem to have forgotten the angst caused by our slew of closers over the last few years. Rodriguez brought stability to a slot that really hasn't been good since Jose Valverde's 49-49 season. (Soria was pretty good too).

Cameron Maybin injected a spark to this lineup. This was especially important when we were without J.D. Martinez and Nick Castellanos for long periods of time. Maybin was a catalyst and things happened around him. 

Both players were instrumental in the success of the 2016 Tigers. But when the offseason roles around, it's decision time. Who stays and who goes?

In a perfect world, we keep both. But in reality, keeping both guys means losing someone else; someone we potentially need more. So how do you choose?

What you're really comparing is pitching vs. hitting. (We are not going to discuss Maybin's defense for now). If 2015 taught us anything, it's how important pitching is. The 2016 season would have turned out much differently if it weren't for the young pitchers who really stepped up. Pitching is extremely important. But even if you have great starting pitching, you have a problem if you can't hold a lead. It's crazy to expect a lineup to have to constantly tack on more and more runs. Enter the bullpen. 

A dependable closer is so, so valuable. We'll probably never know, but maybe the reason the Tigers never won the World Series in their four-year reign in the Central was due to the lack of a dependable closer (for the most part). 

All this to say, I will miss Cameron Maybin and the energy he brought to the lineup, but I think the Tigers made the right decision. I am extremely grateful for everything Mabyin brought to the team and the way he played all out every day. I'd love to see him come back again one day (it's not that crazy a thought!). 

K-Rod probably won't be around long. Bruce Rondon or even Joe Jimenez will most likely be taking over the closer roll in the near future. But bringing him back gives the Tigers a little more time to mold and shape Rondon. He seemed to benefit greatly from Rodriguez's wisdom and leadership this past year. Another year under the wing of K-Rod will only be good for Rondon. In keeping Rodriguez over Maybin, Al Avila is also planning for the future - even if that is only a pleasant consequence of the actual reasons. 

Is it hard to lose Cameron Maybin? Yes. But in the end, trading him seems to be what is best for the team in the long run.