August 10th, 2022 at 4:37 PM ^
And there was much rejoicing. But man, being a Tigers fan is tough.
August 10th, 2022 at 5:14 PM ^
Lie-downs fans say WTF!
August 10th, 2022 at 5:34 PM ^
This may be the most exciting news since 2014! It's real disappointing when bad news is the best good news. Back to the drawing boards for another rebuild. May someone inspire long-suffering Tiger fans soon!
August 10th, 2022 at 5:58 PM ^
I said the same thing to some friends who are Mets fans. Would like something to cheer for rather than the termination of an incompetent employee.
August 10th, 2022 at 6:48 PM ^
Rockies fans say hi lol.. except we are still waiting for said termination
August 11th, 2022 at 8:43 AM ^
I was actually quite fond of the 2017 tank job they did where they were kinda hanging around for a playoff spot until they realized it was not going to happen, and then lost a ridiculous amount of games in August/September to go all the way to the 1st pick.
But yeah- hasn't been much to be excited about.
August 10th, 2022 at 4:38 PM ^
Five years too late.
August 10th, 2022 at 5:22 PM ^
Correction, 7 years too late.
August 10th, 2022 at 5:23 PM ^
What was it, 4-6 weeks ago that Chris said he was very please with the Tigers progress? I got no confidence this guy can get it right.
August 10th, 2022 at 5:31 PM ^
Coachspeak.
What do you expect Chris to say, "Al sucks", and watch attendance dive even more?
August 10th, 2022 at 6:32 PM ^
It was a news conference regarding the Detroit Red Wings. Ilitch didn't have to say anything.
August 10th, 2022 at 11:48 PM ^
Sounds akin to the dreaded "vote of confidence"
August 10th, 2022 at 4:43 PM ^
Here's a tweet from "Tigers PR" with some quotes and info from Chris Ilitch
https://twitter.com/detroittigerspr/status/1557462103711268865?s=12&t=a3HdUUbIg3I-1xVP9uM02Q
August 10th, 2022 at 4:45 PM ^
You can literally make AN ALL DECADE team of guys,Al messed up on --not just an all star team
August 10th, 2022 at 5:03 PM ^
J.D., Justin, and Nick were his only big trades, and you could argue J.D. and Justin were signing elsewhere anyway. Probably Nick too, so get what you can get, I guess.
His lack of movement in the F.A. Market is what killed him. His drafts weren’t all that bad.
Glad they’re going in another direction.
August 10th, 2022 at 5:22 PM ^
GM doesn't have much say in the draft. That's the Scouting Director's arena.
August 10th, 2022 at 5:43 PM ^
Going with a HS pitcher over a SS or some other player is still the GM's call.
August 11th, 2022 at 12:47 PM ^
Perhaps in the first round, but not much after that.
August 11th, 2022 at 2:19 PM ^
The Angels chose a pitcher with every pick last year. The scouting director can recommend which ones to pick but there is no way he has the authority to choose that strategy. I don't see GMs giving up control of one the more important jobs they have.
August 11th, 2022 at 8:50 AM ^
Brad Pitt would say different.
August 11th, 2022 at 9:41 AM ^
Lol, the gm has all the say in the world
August 11th, 2022 at 1:05 PM ^
The content in this link is a bit dated, but it's the best I could find in a brief search while "working":
https://www.espn.com/blog/the-gms-office/insider/post/_/id/185
August 11th, 2022 at 11:28 AM ^
GM = General Manager. Everyone else works for him. Everything is his "arena".
August 10th, 2022 at 4:46 PM ^
Hopefully the Tigers’ days of getting fleeced in trades is over
August 10th, 2022 at 8:22 PM ^
Paredes for Meadows, Grossman and Fulmer for a bag of baseballs and that being the only moves he made at the deadline with a team going nowhere. Drafts have been ok but trades and FA have been disasters.
August 10th, 2022 at 4:47 PM ^
AVILA FIRED!
clap clap clap-clap-clap
August 10th, 2022 at 4:47 PM ^
Thank God. Now hire Theo Epstein.
August 10th, 2022 at 5:08 PM ^
THAT will not happen. Epstein does Boston and Chicago. He ain't doing Detroit at this stage of his career.
August 10th, 2022 at 5:15 PM ^
Really depends on what Illich wants to do, the only reason Epstein left the Cubs is because ownership wanted payroll cut and they hated the luxury tax that was coming
August 10th, 2022 at 5:48 PM ^
Chris I doesn't want to spend like his daddy. Theo would have his work cut out based on ownership alone.
August 11th, 2022 at 3:59 AM ^
No. Epstein does the impossible. Yes, Detroit is a festering cesspool. That's why he'll make it work.
August 10th, 2022 at 4:52 PM ^
7 Years into Avila and the Tigers are still inline for a top 3 Draft position. What took so goddam long? He's not the only one who should be packing up their office either.
August 10th, 2022 at 4:55 PM ^
I’m curious who else you think should go?
August 10th, 2022 at 4:57 PM ^
David Chadd, for starters.
August 10th, 2022 at 5:59 PM ^
Well, the hitting is performing at an historically low clip since WW2 and haven't developed a single bat in years, it's not hard to figure out.
August 10th, 2022 at 5:20 PM ^
I don't disagree with the sentiment, but some of the people who need to pack up their offices also happen to own those offices.
August 10th, 2022 at 4:53 PM ^
Posbang?
August 10th, 2022 at 5:03 PM ^
POSBANG BABYYY
August 10th, 2022 at 5:37 PM ^
YesSir!!!
August 10th, 2022 at 4:59 PM ^
It took long enough... time for Ilitch to sell the team now
August 10th, 2022 at 5:18 PM ^
Amen to that. Avila has set this organization back several years. Let the healing begin for the Tigers.
August 10th, 2022 at 5:12 PM ^
Grief counseling available….
August 10th, 2022 at 11:34 PM ^
No kidding XM, I can't remember the last time I am more optimistic for the Lions than I am for the Tigers. That's pretty fucked up.
August 10th, 2022 at 5:23 PM ^
That's a shame. I thought they were really turning the corner.
August 10th, 2022 at 5:23 PM ^
About fuckin time!
August 10th, 2022 at 5:24 PM ^
OK, about time. (Past time really) Two BPONE thoughts come to mind:
- Does anyone trust Illitch to make a good hire?
- Will Hinch stick around?
August 10th, 2022 at 5:37 PM ^
The Tigers have some good young pieces, especially pitchers, but most the roster is a bunch of just a guys. I don't know how Avila looked at this team and saw contenders.
August 10th, 2022 at 5:45 PM ^
1. Maybe? Al Avila's hire predated Chris Ilitch's ownership, so you cannot make him wholly responsible for Avila's tenure. However, he probably gave too much time and leeway to Al Avila. I can understand that Ilitch would not want to make major changes right after his father's death, especially when the Tigers were starting a lengthy rebuild. But he stuck with Avila despite the accumulating evidence that Avila was not cutting it. On the other hand, Ilitch did hire Steve Yzerman to run the Red Wings; those early returns look pretty good. Of course, Yzerman's hire was kind of a no-brainer.
2. I hope so.
August 10th, 2022 at 5:53 PM ^
1. No
2. No
Ilitch doesn't appear to be at that "win at all costs" level like his dad. The days of the Tigers or Red Wings having the top payrolls in their respective leagues are probably in the rearview mirror while he still owns the teams.
Hinch has served his time in purgatory and rehabilitated his image. If the Tigers were smart, they would hire a GM and immediately make Hinch a strong offer and try to take him off the market. If he starts next season on the last year of his deal, he's gone next offseason.
August 10th, 2022 at 6:12 PM ^
Christmas in August. Thank you Santa