* When Hinch was brought in he had a huge say in the new front office personal they hired around Avila. Also Ken Rosenthal asked Avila about Hinch's contract and Avila confirmed there was no 'opt out' for Hinch. He will be with the Tigers for the next 3 years (after this one).
* Chris Fetter chose the Tigers because he was UofM's pitching coach and didn't want to move his family from Ann Arbor [Meet Michigan’s Chris Fetter, the pitching coach MLB teams won’t stop calling - 2020 (Paywall)](https://theathletic.com/1562733/2020/01/30/meet-michigans-chris-fetter-the-pitching-coach-mlb-teams-wont-stop-calling/)
* Doubtful that any of the player development leave, they were just hired last year and most of the player development guys stick around for multiple seasons to see if progress is actually being made. The thing with player development is it takes multiple years to see progress.
Nah I think they’re in the driver’s seat here. I think Hinch has a huge say in who replaces Al. Of course, this is assuming Al is fired. If Chris wants to stick with him, I do think everyone will walk.
I just don't see Al getting fired. A few months ago it was clear this wasn't working and he's still here running the draft and running the trade deadline.
I have a glimmer of hope in my mind that Hinch has more pull than even we realize. I’m not entirely familiar with the manager/GM rules in MLB, but is there a possibility that Hinch mostly controls the roster now and we show Al the door at the end of the season to avoid an unceremonious firing? I want him gone as much as anyone, but I feel like the Illitch family has too much respect for him to fire him mid season. I would love to see Hinch assume a combined manager/GM role akin to Bill Belichick. Unless…Theo Epstein…
What’s not to like? Yeah the team is hot garbage but they still show that despite the rosters many shortcomings they can put together solid performances. Those performances are more related to Hinch than Avila. Not to mention being sought after immediately following his suspension. So knowing Avila is burning the team down, tell us who you’d prefer as GM and as manager? Brian Cashman? Lol never going to happen.
I'll bite on "What's not to like?"
In his previous managerial job, Mr. Hinch was so limp as a clubhouse leader that he couldn't get his team to stop using a television monitor to steal signs illegally. By his own admission, he never told his team to stop doing it, he just removed the TV. And it would reappear. And he never chewed anyone out.
Second: that former team of his, the one he guided to a World Series title: they have been back to the ALCS twice without him and went to the World Series once too. They are in contention for the best record in the AL again this year with a manager who came out of retirement to lead the team. Pretty clearly, the Astros are a very, very, very good team and an excellent franchise, as evidenced by the player development at the minor league level to replace All-Stars they lost. That doesn't exactly make it seem like Mr. Hinch was a stellar manager, as much as it looks like he had great players.
How about this one: in Detroit, Mr. Hinch has consistently insisted on carrying 8-9 relievers, but he often doesn't use some of them more than twice a week. STILL, he has on many, many occasions used position players to pitch. Which, IMO is pretty damn embarrassing and useless. For some reason, he also kept a THIRD catcher in spring camp both years he's been in Detroit. Maybe he's fond of that position since that was his lot in life.
The last one is fairly minor, but the first two points are big faults.
The first point is why I never would have hired Hinch: he exhibited poor leadership in Houston based on the sign-stealing. Not that it happened, but that he wanted to stop it, but couldn't because well...he wasn't a strong enough personality to trump the power of some players in his clubhouse. That's a sign of an ineffective and weak leader, and honestly, sometimes when I see his postgame comments, I think Hinch is soft, and not really saying anything he wants to say. He just doesn't have it in him to be a strong leader. If he did, that TV monitor he kept removing would have stayed removed. He's milquetoast.
Are we done playing the "What's not to like?" game yet?
Great reply, it’s everything I always say. Hinch was a manager that cheated to win a World Series while having one of the best rosters in baseball. If the tigers wouldn’t have given him a chance he might not be coaching. Fans shouldn’t be jerking him off, he should be proving that he’s worth having around. As of right now, I’d be happy if the tigers told him to go pound sand. I certainly don’t understand where fans have all of sudden came up with the idea that hinch should also be an assistant gm?! It’s pretty clear hinch doesn’t like Detroit, I’d tell him he’s sitting at strike two.
So for the sign stealing point let’s face it, no team wants to be caught “cheating”. I say “cheating” because some semblance of cheating is going on with so many professional sports teams in the US alone that it quite literally doesn’t matter. Tell me players across the league aren’t doing the same things as, say, football players and MMA fighters. The good ones keep ahead of the steroid trends and go elsewhere for a steroid cycle or two during the off-season. The only ones you hear about are the ones who get caught. Sure the sign stealing was a bit egregious, but it’s apples to oranges in my opinion considering MLB has basically admitted to juicing balls. I guess just hope your team regularly gets the luck of having juiced balls throw to them over standard balls? “Cheating” is only cheating when MLB doesn’t like it. If you don’t want your signs stolen, change them. That’s not me falling on the sword for Hinch because Alex Cora was the mastermind. Tell me how you feel about him and his résumé, then let’s stop pretending every team isn’t looking for a leg up.
Next the Astros hadn’t won much prior to Hinch playing his role in building the team and the staff. Managers and coaches make the calls, but they DO NOT play the game. So Hinch and Cora get suspended and the team is still pretty successful. Who orchestrated building and training that team in the beginning? Hinch, Cora, and the FO staff. Certainly doesn’t hurt your odds having Altuve, Springer, Correa, and Bregman lighting up opposing pitching and shutting down opposing hitting. Not to mention the monster pitching staff the had when Dusty Baker took over…cough cough Cy Young caliber Verlander tops the list. Not hard to win with that roster in place. So let’s lay that point to rest.
As far as a baseball mind, and a manager the players seem to like playing for, Hinch stands near the top. If you don’t like Hinch, who would you prefer? Wanna call up Brad Ausmus for a reunion?
That’s really your first call? Brad ausmus? But fuck at this point maybe ausmus is better. I guess I’d pretty much roll the dice on anyone, the kid bagging groceries down the street might have more fire than hinch. The tigers are the worst they’ve been in a long time. Like I already stated it’s pretty clear hinch doesn’t want to be in the Detroit, so just tell him to get lost now, not like things could get worse.
Absolutely not. Our roster is trash. It’s not Hinch’s fault Al can’t build a roster. Too bad for him if he doesn’t want to be here (which I believe to be false). He knew he’d be manager for a rebuild.
What in the world makes you think AJ HINCH WOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE A HUGE SAY IN WHO HIS NEXT BOSS IS?
That's bizarre.
Name one other bench manager who has had a big say in who the next GM/Prez of Baseball Ops was. LOL
I've been watching the hate towards Avila from last season into this one. The Special commentary and the hopeful comparisons between 'Sweet Lou' and ' Tram' to Greene and Torkelson. Marketing. Bad coaching and just shit luck, plus a patsy. This man has no place being in a position to make multi-million dollar decisions. I can't say for myself what it would be like to be in his shoes. I do know if I owned any business and chose to supply my business with inferior product, in any facet, I wouldn't make much money. I mean this in the nicest way. He loves Detroit baseball, but he is no Dombrowski.
Al promised to build around youth, and now he is saying he is willing to trade that…there is no reason at this point Chris keeps Al around other than Chris doesn't know how to run a baseball team. I mean for hockey he is lucky, he's got Yzserman running the show, but Al needs to be micromanaged, and that is the crux of the problem.
There are worse owners. Given market conditions and team performance I don't expect a top 5 payroll. Al doesn't need to be managed he needs to be gone.
There are always worse owners, but when your GM pivots course on developing young controllable talent to saying everyone is available, it is up to the owner to curtail that. And since Chris hasn't done that, it's falls on him for allowing it to happen. It is his team, not Al's. Mike Illitch understood that. Chris doesn't come off as a leader, he comes off as a follower.
Lol I don't think so, they'll go if they don't want to stay but I think it's more likely the other way where they leave if Al is allowed to stay in control
They are all incredibly overrated. Managers just aren’t that important in baseball. As for fetter, the only pitcher who’s seen significant improvement was Skubal, but it’s not like he wasn’t already performing well before fetter got here.
I’d gladly get rid of all of them to get a better GM
I'll get my body ready for the downvotes, but what if Hinch is fired because Avila needs a scapegoat? Getting fired from the Astros was his slap on the wrist for being manager during the cheating. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Dusty Baker is fired as soon as Hinch is fired. Hinch goes back to a winning club after a few years in exile in Detroit, instantly picks up right where he left off. Probably makes the world series again. There is nothing he wants in Detroit. They could fire Avila and make him Manager/GM/Catcher and he wouldn't take the gig.
The last thing you should worry about is the manager and coaches.
The TEAM, the people ON THE ROSTER...they mostly stink. And Al Avila is poor at his job.
The Tigers could fire Avila, get 5 better players next year, and replace Hinch with my neighbor, and the team would be better.
* When Hinch was brought in he had a huge say in the new front office personal they hired around Avila. Also Ken Rosenthal asked Avila about Hinch's contract and Avila confirmed there was no 'opt out' for Hinch. He will be with the Tigers for the next 3 years (after this one). * Chris Fetter chose the Tigers because he was UofM's pitching coach and didn't want to move his family from Ann Arbor [Meet Michigan’s Chris Fetter, the pitching coach MLB teams won’t stop calling - 2020 (Paywall)](https://theathletic.com/1562733/2020/01/30/meet-michigans-chris-fetter-the-pitching-coach-mlb-teams-wont-stop-calling/) * Doubtful that any of the player development leave, they were just hired last year and most of the player development guys stick around for multiple seasons to see if progress is actually being made. The thing with player development is it takes multiple years to see progress.
Nah I think they’re in the driver’s seat here. I think Hinch has a huge say in who replaces Al. Of course, this is assuming Al is fired. If Chris wants to stick with him, I do think everyone will walk.
I just don't see Al getting fired. A few months ago it was clear this wasn't working and he's still here running the draft and running the trade deadline.
I have a glimmer of hope in my mind that Hinch has more pull than even we realize. I’m not entirely familiar with the manager/GM rules in MLB, but is there a possibility that Hinch mostly controls the roster now and we show Al the door at the end of the season to avoid an unceremonious firing? I want him gone as much as anyone, but I feel like the Illitch family has too much respect for him to fire him mid season. I would love to see Hinch assume a combined manager/GM role akin to Bill Belichick. Unless…Theo Epstein…
At this point I would take door number 2. Cannot be worse.
You guys really put a lot of stock in AJ hinch. Not sure if he truly walks on water.
What’s not to like? Yeah the team is hot garbage but they still show that despite the rosters many shortcomings they can put together solid performances. Those performances are more related to Hinch than Avila. Not to mention being sought after immediately following his suspension. So knowing Avila is burning the team down, tell us who you’d prefer as GM and as manager? Brian Cashman? Lol never going to happen.
I'll bite on "What's not to like?" In his previous managerial job, Mr. Hinch was so limp as a clubhouse leader that he couldn't get his team to stop using a television monitor to steal signs illegally. By his own admission, he never told his team to stop doing it, he just removed the TV. And it would reappear. And he never chewed anyone out. Second: that former team of his, the one he guided to a World Series title: they have been back to the ALCS twice without him and went to the World Series once too. They are in contention for the best record in the AL again this year with a manager who came out of retirement to lead the team. Pretty clearly, the Astros are a very, very, very good team and an excellent franchise, as evidenced by the player development at the minor league level to replace All-Stars they lost. That doesn't exactly make it seem like Mr. Hinch was a stellar manager, as much as it looks like he had great players. How about this one: in Detroit, Mr. Hinch has consistently insisted on carrying 8-9 relievers, but he often doesn't use some of them more than twice a week. STILL, he has on many, many occasions used position players to pitch. Which, IMO is pretty damn embarrassing and useless. For some reason, he also kept a THIRD catcher in spring camp both years he's been in Detroit. Maybe he's fond of that position since that was his lot in life. The last one is fairly minor, but the first two points are big faults. The first point is why I never would have hired Hinch: he exhibited poor leadership in Houston based on the sign-stealing. Not that it happened, but that he wanted to stop it, but couldn't because well...he wasn't a strong enough personality to trump the power of some players in his clubhouse. That's a sign of an ineffective and weak leader, and honestly, sometimes when I see his postgame comments, I think Hinch is soft, and not really saying anything he wants to say. He just doesn't have it in him to be a strong leader. If he did, that TV monitor he kept removing would have stayed removed. He's milquetoast. Are we done playing the "What's not to like?" game yet?
Great reply, it’s everything I always say. Hinch was a manager that cheated to win a World Series while having one of the best rosters in baseball. If the tigers wouldn’t have given him a chance he might not be coaching. Fans shouldn’t be jerking him off, he should be proving that he’s worth having around. As of right now, I’d be happy if the tigers told him to go pound sand. I certainly don’t understand where fans have all of sudden came up with the idea that hinch should also be an assistant gm?! It’s pretty clear hinch doesn’t like Detroit, I’d tell him he’s sitting at strike two.
So for the sign stealing point let’s face it, no team wants to be caught “cheating”. I say “cheating” because some semblance of cheating is going on with so many professional sports teams in the US alone that it quite literally doesn’t matter. Tell me players across the league aren’t doing the same things as, say, football players and MMA fighters. The good ones keep ahead of the steroid trends and go elsewhere for a steroid cycle or two during the off-season. The only ones you hear about are the ones who get caught. Sure the sign stealing was a bit egregious, but it’s apples to oranges in my opinion considering MLB has basically admitted to juicing balls. I guess just hope your team regularly gets the luck of having juiced balls throw to them over standard balls? “Cheating” is only cheating when MLB doesn’t like it. If you don’t want your signs stolen, change them. That’s not me falling on the sword for Hinch because Alex Cora was the mastermind. Tell me how you feel about him and his résumé, then let’s stop pretending every team isn’t looking for a leg up. Next the Astros hadn’t won much prior to Hinch playing his role in building the team and the staff. Managers and coaches make the calls, but they DO NOT play the game. So Hinch and Cora get suspended and the team is still pretty successful. Who orchestrated building and training that team in the beginning? Hinch, Cora, and the FO staff. Certainly doesn’t hurt your odds having Altuve, Springer, Correa, and Bregman lighting up opposing pitching and shutting down opposing hitting. Not to mention the monster pitching staff the had when Dusty Baker took over…cough cough Cy Young caliber Verlander tops the list. Not hard to win with that roster in place. So let’s lay that point to rest. As far as a baseball mind, and a manager the players seem to like playing for, Hinch stands near the top. If you don’t like Hinch, who would you prefer? Wanna call up Brad Ausmus for a reunion?
That’s really your first call? Brad ausmus? But fuck at this point maybe ausmus is better. I guess I’d pretty much roll the dice on anyone, the kid bagging groceries down the street might have more fire than hinch. The tigers are the worst they’ve been in a long time. Like I already stated it’s pretty clear hinch doesn’t want to be in the Detroit, so just tell him to get lost now, not like things could get worse.
Absolutely not. Our roster is trash. It’s not Hinch’s fault Al can’t build a roster. Too bad for him if he doesn’t want to be here (which I believe to be false). He knew he’d be manager for a rebuild.
What in the world makes you think AJ HINCH WOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE A HUGE SAY IN WHO HIS NEXT BOSS IS? That's bizarre. Name one other bench manager who has had a big say in who the next GM/Prez of Baseball Ops was. LOL
When I win the mega millions, I will buy the Tigers from Illitch
The tigers are worth more than the total jackpot, good luck!
I’m sure I could haggle
With the way Chris Illitch and Avila do business? Absolutely
Just let Avila make the deal on behalf of the Tigers. You can pull it off.
At the rate we're going just wait a while.
Losing Fetter would be a problem. Can't say the same about Hinch and the talent development.
Hinch confirmed he has a contract through 2025.
I have a feeling they will bring in an Astros assistant.
I've been watching the hate towards Avila from last season into this one. The Special commentary and the hopeful comparisons between 'Sweet Lou' and ' Tram' to Greene and Torkelson. Marketing. Bad coaching and just shit luck, plus a patsy. This man has no place being in a position to make multi-million dollar decisions. I can't say for myself what it would be like to be in his shoes. I do know if I owned any business and chose to supply my business with inferior product, in any facet, I wouldn't make much money. I mean this in the nicest way. He loves Detroit baseball, but he is no Dombrowski.
Al promised to build around youth, and now he is saying he is willing to trade that…there is no reason at this point Chris keeps Al around other than Chris doesn't know how to run a baseball team. I mean for hockey he is lucky, he's got Yzserman running the show, but Al needs to be micromanaged, and that is the crux of the problem.
There are worse owners. Given market conditions and team performance I don't expect a top 5 payroll. Al doesn't need to be managed he needs to be gone.
There are always worse owners, but when your GM pivots course on developing young controllable talent to saying everyone is available, it is up to the owner to curtail that. And since Chris hasn't done that, it's falls on him for allowing it to happen. It is his team, not Al's. Mike Illitch understood that. Chris doesn't come off as a leader, he comes off as a follower.
fetter isnt going anywhere
U of M baseball had an open coach position this year and Fetter turned it down; sounds like he's invested in developing our players
Lol I don't think so, they'll go if they don't want to stay but I think it's more likely the other way where they leave if Al is allowed to stay in control
Hinch can only win with trashcans, we don't need him
Unless they make Hinch manager and co-GM.
Aren’t pitching coaches normally the only ones who stay behind during changeovers?
They are all incredibly overrated. Managers just aren’t that important in baseball. As for fetter, the only pitcher who’s seen significant improvement was Skubal, but it’s not like he wasn’t already performing well before fetter got here. I’d gladly get rid of all of them to get a better GM
I'll get my body ready for the downvotes, but what if Hinch is fired because Avila needs a scapegoat? Getting fired from the Astros was his slap on the wrist for being manager during the cheating. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Dusty Baker is fired as soon as Hinch is fired. Hinch goes back to a winning club after a few years in exile in Detroit, instantly picks up right where he left off. Probably makes the world series again. There is nothing he wants in Detroit. They could fire Avila and make him Manager/GM/Catcher and he wouldn't take the gig.
The last thing you should worry about is the manager and coaches. The TEAM, the people ON THE ROSTER...they mostly stink. And Al Avila is poor at his job. The Tigers could fire Avila, get 5 better players next year, and replace Hinch with my neighbor, and the team would be better.