@MCB_johnverburg Has a chance to be their 3B if he keeps evolving.
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Mike Smith
2.2K posts
Mike Smith
@MSmithDetroit
15 years in MLB front offices. 10 years in neighborhood economic development. Happy dad, husband, Detroiter, and New London native.
Katılım Kasım 2011
80 Takip Edilen1.3K Takipçiler
Javier Osorio in Lakeland is going to be one interesting watch. Very tooled up. A ton of swing and miss and not good plate discipline. But can do damage when he hits the ball and run.
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@rogcastbaseball Does he take Carpenter’s job one day? They seem similar to me.
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Going to keep saying this, if he’s healthy and can figure if out in Erie, he will move up some lists this year. Off to a fast start
Tigers ML Report@tigersMLreport
Brett Callahan gets a 96 MPH sinker and smashes it off the scoreboard for a 2-run homer that puts Erie up 5-4. It’s his 2nd of the season.
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More on Leys' solid'ish start plus some other statcast notes (I see you Alistair Tanner!) on the game:
- Leys touched 94.1 and sat 92.5, with 17" IVB.
- He generated 29% whiffs, with his slider (50%) the best at this, which he spun to 2262 rpm.
- HELLO 19YO Alistair Tanner, who the Tigers signed from Australia. Sat 94.3, touched 96.2 with huge 20” IVB. Spun all of his cutter, slider, and curve to around 2700 rpm.
- Crazy exit velo game: McDonald 114.2, Goodman 109.2, McCarthy 108.8, Ankeney 108.5.
Tigers Torkmoil@bythewaybro
Tigers prospect LHP Caleb Leys in his organization debut: 4 IP 3 H 4 ER 2 BB 6 K
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Again, I haven't been on Torkelson at all the last two weeks except to note that he seems to be on thin ice with the org itself.
I *have* been the one beating the trade-him drum all last offseason (and I likely will all next offseason), but it's only because he's getting expensive and I think the downgrade to the next guys on hand will be relatively small.
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@MSmithDetroit @idk_anymorebru @bythewaybro @tigersslab @Tigers__Capital @BosscherBen I’m not saying that you’re saying Tork sucks either lol. Just my words with how people get on players so early in the season. The Tigers are playing OK if the bullpen doesn’t blow that lead and we get another hit we’re easily 6-2.
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It’s a 7 game sample size so yes It’s still way too soon to do anything.. but how long do we give him batting .125 while providing nothing offensively, not walking, and on a roster built to “win now?”
@bythewaybro @tigersslab @MSmithDetroit @Tigers__Capital @BosscherBen
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Here's where I get lost. I didn't think Torkelson sucked last year and I don't think we should write him off after two bad weeks - if you find where I said that, share it with me and I'll call a mea culpa.
I *do* think he's more replaceable with players on hand than a starter is after this season (any starter really, you need 10-11 a year and that's why a guy like Flaherty has more value for me than a guy like Torkelson). I also *do* think Torkelson's on thin ice with the organization itself, which is how I'm reading him batting 8th.
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@MSmithDetroit @idk_anymorebru @bythewaybro @tigersslab @Tigers__Capital @BosscherBen I think that using Flaherty stats from last year to prove that he’s not a bad player while not using the same for Tork is unfair. I didn’t think you were unfair until you did that.
It’s too early for pitchers or hitters to use this season stats and say they suck.
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Mike Smith retweetledi
Max Clark is handling matters — very well — ahead of his eventual shift to Detroit. First 2026 Tigers Minor League Report. open.substack.com/pub/tigersinte…
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@whohay99 @idk_anymorebru @bythewaybro @tigersslab @Tigers__Capital @BosscherBen What was the criticism I made specifically that you think is unfair? I haven’t called for him to be traded now (I think it’ll be more likely this coming offseason). And I only noted that I think he’s on thinner ice with the club than I had thought, shown by them batting him 8th.
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@MSmithDetroit @idk_anymorebru @bythewaybro @tigersslab @Tigers__Capital @BosscherBen I don’t think you hate him. I just think the criticism from you is unfair. Briceno is out for months with wrist surgery that’s a no go this year. You’re going to bring up a guy who’s hitting .182 in AAA to start the season? Unless we make a trade we need to stick with Tork
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@tigersMLreport Both of these guys are at least modestly interesting in the bullpen (but them being moved as interchangeable parts tells us something about what the Tigers think of them). Good for them!
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A pair of Tigers minor league transactions.
4/5 - LHP Carlos Peña transferred from Double-A Erie to Triple-A Toledo
4/5 - RHP Luke Stofel transferred from High-A West Michigan to Double-A Erie
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@tigersMLreport I imagine this takes forever to put together but it’s a great feature!
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Some local Detroit flavor on tonight's video #TMLR recap for April 4th as we look across the system.
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I don’t hate Torkelson. I just think he’s replaceable with guys on hand (and Briceño in the system) and a trade of him would help replenish the farm system’s pitching depth. They can’t do the same for Flaherty, their depth in the rotation is thin.
I find it more likely Carpenter’s traded first though.
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@MSmithDetroit @idk_anymorebru @bythewaybro @tigersslab @Tigers__Capital @BosscherBen I’m fine with Flaherty, I just want people to be consistent with their criticism of players.
You didn’t use Torks last years stats when talking about him. Hitting .240/31HR/78RBI is a good year for your 5/6 hitter all year.
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@slaphappycookie @BlueChkMark18 Good day for everybody.
*except the Cardinals and Guardians
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@MSmithDetroit @BlueChkMark18 I’m not a real religious person, but I take it all in I did purchase everything I need for my proper Easter meal today and we have the tigers on at night a national TV. Hopefully it’s a good day for everybody.
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Eight games are not very predictive but the Tigers are:
- 4th-best in runs scored per game in the AL.
- 3rd-best in runs allowed per game in the AL.
Good combo.
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@slaphappycookie @BlueChkMark18 I have as well, Steve! Happy Easter/Passover/whatever you celebrate!
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@MSmithDetroit @BlueChkMark18 Also, Mike happy Easter. I’ve enjoyed our conversations on here
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@slaphappycookie @BlueChkMark18 HAH! How many years do they get it for?
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@MSmithDetroit @BlueChkMark18 They sold them for a great regular season success but no playoff success
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@JohnFein2 Lifetime service contract! I’ll be curious if he stays in the game as a coach after he’s done playing.
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@MSmithDetroit ok so I can’t help but play gm
Odds tigers move on from
Tork and make Colt 1b next year with max anderson, hao-yu lee or jace
Jung playing the open infield spot?
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@ebajek85 Go Huskies!
(they're one of only two teams I'd root for over UofM)
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Just wanted to point out who won that 1999 Title...
Nicole Auerbach@NicoleAuerbach
The Big Ten hasn’t won a national championship in women’s basketball since 1999. It hasn’t won a national championship in men’s basketball since 2000. UCLA (women) and Michigan (men) are up to bat here in the next 48 hours.
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@DossettoGrant1 I'd take 4-4 in a "bad stretch." Hopefully better times are ahead!
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@MSmithDetroit Kind of amazing they only managed 4-4 from that. Hopefully this winds up one of the more puzzling eight game stretches of the entire season
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@JohnFein2 Forever is a long time. Maybe he'll be gone by the 2030s.
Happy Easter/Passover/whatever you celebrate!
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@MSmithDetroit Happy Easter
I am sure Javy baez will be with us forever
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@BlueChkMark18 I still want to see what they sold their souls for.
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@MSmithDetroit Cleveland is 5 - 3 with a negative 4 run differential. Make it stop. I can't take another season of their black magic.
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Lakeland is going to be the place to be this year (and much love to TMLR for this video):
- Witherspoon averaged 96.1 and touched 98.1. He got 35% whiff, and spun his cutter to 2653 rpm and curve to 2728. Also no walks!
- Rainer smoked a ball 110.6.
- Rucker and Osorio each hit one 106.3.
- Tyler Owens showed up on rehab 95-97 and got 50% whiff.
- Tigers are targeting some guys with velo from other clubs. Inohan Paniagua (age 26, signed from winter ball) touched 96 and Yendy Gomez (age 22, minor league Rule 5 pick) got to 97.
Tigers ML Report@tigersMLreport
Here’s Malachi Witherspoon’s full professional debut. youtu.be/d6m5RkHGNRQ?si…
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