After having a taste of the Tigers last season, Parker Meadows is back as the full-time CFer. He has elite speed which is perfect for that large expanse of grass and his presence allowed the Tigers to move Riley Greene to LF.  A move that will help protect Greene’s health with fewer diving catches. Parker is also the team’s #2 defensive player, ranking just 1 point below Greene. However, he has struggled mightily at the plate.  Not totally unexpected given his rookie status.  He’s hitting .082/.200/.213/.413 (through Friday).  He ranks #1 in strikeouts with Greene having j ..read more

Recently, we had readers tell us which players on the roster have impressed them the most as well as which have been most disappointing so far.  Today, let’s turn our attention to those Tigers who tend to be under the radar – but shouldn’t be. Here are the candidates: MARK CANHA .259/.394/.519/.912 veteran, mentor and team leader leads team in hits and OPS SHELBY MILLER 3 wins-2 losses in 10 games 2.19 ERA and 0.811 WHIP among team leaders in least walks issued and most strikeouts GIO URSHELA .298/.310/.333/.644 slash line solidly fills long-standing hole at 3B has 1 of team’s lowes ..read more

by Holly Horning There seems to be some debate about how good the Detroit Tigers really are this year and how far they can go. Some point to the much better start this season and current record that shows the team playing above .500.  Others claim the improvement seen at the end of last year is proof of better play. On the other end, some say the AL Central standings are misleading.  Others use offensive stats to show that this team is still a work in progress. So what is the best way to evaluate the Tigers’ performance and chances for a higher finish to the 2024 season? It all has ..read more

by Holly Horning When Scott Harris was hired just a little over a year ago, he indicated that the type of players he would acquire would be different than those selected by his predecessor. He pointed first to the physical skills and the lack of plate discipline/high strikeout rate of the hitters and the inability of pitchers to throw strikes. But like his former boss, Theo Epstein, he also mentioned the intangibles that were important to consider and crucial to the makeup of the roster.  Qualities such as character and mental fortitude. And commitment.  That the Tigers wanted playe ..read more

by Holly Horning It’s tough being a Detroit Tiger fan.  It’s been almost a decade since we’ve had something to really cheer about. The world’s longest failed rebuild.  And now, a rebuild of the rebuild. The departure of fan-favorite players that crushed souls.  Watching other teams leap-frog over Detroit in rebuilding and becoming competitive. You can’t blame Tiger fans for losing their patience. You can’t blame Tiger fans for insisting that this team start performing at an acceptable level now. But sadly, there is no magic wand.  There is no formula for taking an under-pe ..read more

by Holly Horning Today, it’s about quick hits – bits of news that catch my radar during the week as well as connecting the dots re ongoing stories.  Even the quirky. So let’s get to it!  Here are the most interesting topics that hit my radar over the past week……….. The Tigers and Bally Sports Detroit may have found their best primary tv broadcasting partner for Jason Benetti.  Unfortunately, it’s not the guy they hired. Social media polls and feedback show that most fans are happy with Craig Monroe as the second half of BSD’s tv team. But there are instances when Benetti and C ..read more

Catching home run balls has become a controversial topic over the past couple years.  And recently the story about the Dodgers bullying a couple over handing over a Shohei Ohtani HR ball caught national attention. There is the debate over HRs that represent a significant moment for a hitter.  But there is also another controversy that has been gaining traction within the baseball world. And it has to do with kids. In the past, if you caught a ball – whether it was a fair or foul one – it was yours to keep.  Today, there is a lot of pressure from fans in the stands to give it up ..read more

Earlier in the week, we asked readers to tell us which positional player has been the most disappointing so far this year.  Today, let’s switch it up and go the other way. Which Tiger so far has impressed or surprised you the most for their performance? KERRY CARPENTER .292/.346/.583/.929 plus defender low strikeout rate leads team in HRs GIO URSHELA .294/.308/.333/.641 neutral defender low strikeout rate leads team in hits MATT VIERLING .310/.326/.429/.754 plus defender ranks #3 in hits highest team batting average Take Our Poll Make sure to come back and check the final results ..read more

by Holly Horning Now that Scott Harris and some of A. J. Hinch’s coaches have a year of experience with the Tigers under their belts, now is the time to start looking at this team to see if any fundamental changes have been made. Changes that are different than their previous m.o. . And yes, there are, including some noticeable ones. Without further adieu, here are the 5 most prominent and positive changes I am seeing. 1. BULLPEN -Remember when the Tigers didn’t know what a bullpen was and then believed they had one headed by a 40-year old as their closer?  Their bullpen is ranked #1 wit ..read more

by Holly Horning Today, we’re going to address some great questions our reader, Jim, sent to me. He wrote “When do we start wondering if the hitting coaches aren’t very good at their job? We rightfully praise the pitching coaches for their magic, so why not wonder if the hitting coaches are failing? Outside hitting coaches are still a thing for Tigers’ players.” Isn’t it ironic that we know so much about Chris Fetter and his staff but almost nothing about the hitting coaches? Part of that is because of the differences between hitting and pitching.  Every pitch a pitcher throws is seen, l ..read more