Twice as nice: Tigers' Jung clubs 2 HRs at Spring Breakout.
Tigers official site

Tigers' pitcher Tarik Skubal is the bettors' favorite to be a Cy Young Award winner.
The bettors have spoken -- though its early, Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal is the most popular choice amongst FanDuel bettors to take home the 2024 American League Cy Young Award.
MCBTB

Detroit Tigers at Pittsburgh Pirates: How to follow afternoon action in Bradenton.
Freep

Detroit Tigers' Kevin McGonigle suffers hamstring strain, Tyler Mattison has elbow surgery.
Freep

Watch LIVE: Phillies, Tigers prospects square off at Spring Breakout.
MLB.com

Spring Breakout Boxscore

Offseason In Review: Detroit Tigers.
MLBTR

March 17 in Tigers and mlb history:

1871: The National Association of Professional Base Ball Players is founded, setting the stage for the future National League in 1876. The entry fee for a National Association franchise is set at $10.
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1886: The Sporting News, the weekly that will become "The Baseball Paper of the World," publishes its first issue.

1907: Tigers manager Hughie Jennings sends a telegram to the Cleveland Indians offering to trade Ty Cobb for Elmer Flick.
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1919: The Boston Red Sox, minus holdouts Carl Mays and Babe Ruth, sail from New York aboard the USS Arapahoe. The trip to spring training is stormy and most of the players will be seasick. Ruth will sign on the 21st in New York and leave that night for Florida. Mays, unsigned, will join Ruth and the Sox in Tampa.

1921: The New York Yankees, training in Shreveport, Louisiana, journey to Lake Charles to play a game against the St. Louis Cardinals, based in Orange, Texas. The game is proclaimed "Ruth-Hornsby Day," but Hornsby hits only a single while Ruth lofts a home run over the short right field fence. The Yankees win, 14 - 5.

1936: Much-heralded rookie Joe DiMaggio makes his debut with the New York Yankees, collecting four hits including a triple.

1946: In Daytona Beach, the Brooklyn Dodgers take the field against their minor-league farm team, the Montreal Royals. With Jackie Robinson in the lineup for Montreal, the game marks the first appearance of an integrated team in Organized Baseball in this century. A crowd of 3,100 attends the game at City Island Park, which will be renamed "Jackie Robinson Stadium" in 1990.

1953: Bill Veeck says that he will accept an offer of $2.475 million for his 80 percent of the St. Louis Browns stock. Baltimore Mayor Thomas D'Alesandro seeks a syndicate to buy Veeck out. The group will eventually purchase 206,250 shares at $12 per share.

1953: Milwaukee County Stadium will be available to the Boston Braves at a very reasonable rental rate.

1965: Jackie Robinson is signed as a member of the ABC-TV major league baseball broadcast team, becoming the first black broadcaster to receive a network position. ABC provides the first-ever nationwide baseball coverage with weekly Saturday broadcasts on a regional basis.

1966: Pitchers Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale play hardball when negotiating with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The duo signs movie contracts showing they are serious about retiring from baseball if their salary demands are not met.

1969: The St. Louis Cardinals trade former National League MVP Orlando Cepeda to the Atlanta Braves for catcher/first baseman Joe Torre. The trade will benefit both teams; Cepeda will help the Braves make the playoffs this year and Torre will win the MVP Award in 1971.

1971: Accomplished imposter William Street is charged w/ trying to extort $20K from Tigers' Willie Horton.

1977: U.S. Federal Judge Frank McGarr rules in favor of Bowie Kuhn, saying that the baseball commissioner acted within his authority in voiding the 1976 player sales engineered by Oakland Athletics owner Charlie Finley.

1978: For a St. Patrick's Day exhibition game, the Cincinnati Reds wear special green uniforms, rather than their traditional red, starting an annual ritual. The good luck works and the Reds beat the New York Yankees, 9 - 2. The St. Louis Cardinals, among other teams, will be next to follow suit. Although the Reds will never use the uniforms in regular season play, the green colors will become a spring training tradition for the team.
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1984: Ferguson Jenkins announces his retirement. The 1971 National League Cy Young Award winner, Jenkins posted a record of 284-226 with 3192 strikeouts and a 3.34 ERA in 4500 innings pitched in a 19-season major career. He will be elected to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers Association of America in 1991.

1986: The Tigers celebrate St. Patrick's Day with green trimmed uniforms and every player wearing number 30, because of potentially free pizza.
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1992: Pitcher Hal Newhouser and umpire Bill McGowan are elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee. "Prince Hal" won two MVP awards with the Tigers and still has the record for most wins by a pitcher before his 30th birthday with 188 and won an even 200 games with the Detroit Tigers.

2005: During more than 11 hours of hearings by the Committee on Government Reform concerning major league players' use of steroids, Mark McGwire refuses to talk about the past and does not deny taking performance enhancing drugs. Other players testifying include Curt Schilling, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro, and former big leaguer Jose Canseco, whose recent book, Juiced, prompted the congressional hearing. Palmeiro will be found guilty of steroid usage later this year.

2014: The Detroit Tigers signed Bryan Augenstein as a free agent.

2015: The Detroit Tigers signed Brendan Harris as a free agent.

2018: The Blue Jays field a line-up straight out of the 1990s in their 11 - 3 win over the Canadian junior national team. The team features an infield of Clemens, Biggio, Bichette and Guerrero, with Dwight Smith Jr. in left field and Grudzielanek at DH. They are all sons of major leaguers, except for Grudzielanek, who is Mark's nephew. Joining them by pitching a perfect 8th inning in 17-year-old Braden Halladay, son of the late Roy Halladay, who qualifies to play for the Canadians by virtue of having been born in Toronto, ON.

2022: The Detroit Tigers signed Andrew Chafin as a free agent.

2023: The Detroit Tigers signed Jose Ãlvarez as a free agent.

Tigers players and coaches birthdays:

Oscar Stanage 1909-1920, 1925, coach 1925.

Vance Wilson 2005-2006.

Tigers players who passed away:

Billy Purtell 1914.

Howard Ehmke 1916-1917, 1919-1922.

Van Fletcher 1955.

Baseball Reference

DEEPER DISCUSSIONS.
Totally Tigers

There is an ugly matter playing out with the Washington Nationals and one of their players, Stephen Strasburg, their World Series hero and MVP.
Strasburg has been unable to pitch since June 2022 with legitimate arm problems. Last year, they approached him about retirement, there was an agreement and a big farewell party planned.
Until the Nationals cancelled it all. They expected him to re-negotiate his guaranteed contract even though they pushed for his retirement in order to open up his roster spot. They still owe him 3 years of salary adding up to $105 mill.
Now there is a standoff between both sides with the Nats trying to strong-arm Strasburg by telling him to report to spring training. They are hoping to get him to concede part of his salary in a re-configuration of his contract.
In a somewhat similar vein, the Tigers still owe Javier Baez $98 mill for his guaranteed contract.
Baez has been significantly falling offensively every year since the Tigers acquired him. Last year, during a particularly bad stretch, he was benched.
The Tigers have spent 2 off-seasons working extensively with him to try to get him back on track. Baez has admitted that he has a hard time seeing fastballs.
So far this spring training, he’s had 2 hit in 12 games and 26 at-bats. He has struck out 50% of the time and is hitting .077. He is by far the worst hitter on the team.
His horrible performance is now getting the attention of the national baseball writers.
If his struggles continue at this significant rate, what should the Tigers do, esp. when they are in dire need of offense?
Should they simply cut him and pay out the rest of his full contract?
Or should they attempt to renegotiate his contract to reflect his inability to hit that would release him from the team and reduce the team’s obligations?
Is it fair for a player who can no longer perform to give back part of his salary even though it is a legal and guaranteed contract?
Should a team try to break a contract given the player’s inability to perform? Or is there a risk that it will put a black mark on the Tigers’ Front Office and create friction between the current roster of players as well as potential new ones the Tigers may want to sign?
Today’s blog addresses this question and allows readers to share their thoughts in more detail. And hopefully, to actively engage with others by responding to their posts and creating back-and-forth discussion threads. The more the merrier!
For this one blog only, you’ve got 6 sentences max to share your thoughts. Of course, you can also respond to other readers.
TT will supply the ammunition. One thought-provoking question. Several options provided. One hard choice to be selected. One vote.
Ready?
What should the Tigers do about Javier Baez’s contract if he can no longer perform at the plate?

What should the Tigers do about Javy Baez's contract if he can no longer perform at the plate?

1. Cut him and pay him the full amount of his contract.

2. Negotiate a retirement package that would restructure his contract.

VOTE

Tigers spring OPS leaders (min 30 PA)2024
Eddys Leonard 1.159
Andy Ibanez 1.053
Riley Greene 1.021

2023 Parker Meadows 1.134
Andrew Knapp 1.099
Nick Maton 1.067

2022 Akil Baddoo .992
Willi Castro .943
Miguel Cabrera .938

2021 Baddoo 1.210
Castro .917
Robbie Grossman .846

Ibáñez's willingness, prep work build his value with Tigers.
Tigers official site.

2024 Detroit Tigers’ payroll, options and roster information.
Nine of the ten highest paid and most experienced players from the 2023 opening day roster are gone.
BYBTB

Tigers top prospect hits not one, but two home runs in MLB Spring Breakout game.
MCBTB

Who’s left in Tigers’ camp and what’s their path to an Opening Day roster spot?
Mlive

March 18 in Tigers and mlb history:

1909: In an exhibition between St. Louis College and the Tigers in San Antonio, engineering major Mark Gallia strikes out Ty Cobb.
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1926: Ty Cobb returns from eye surgery wearing protective sunglasses.
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1930: The Philadelphia Athletics selected Spence Harris off waivers from the Detroit Tigers.

1942: Two black players, Jackie Robinson and Nate Moreland, request a tryout with the Chicago White Sox during spring training in Pasadena, California. Sox manager Jimmie Dykes allows the two to work out but later dismisses them. Robinson will have to wait five years before making his major league debut.

1943: Due to wartime travel restrictions, spring training camps begin opening in northern locations. Some of the locales include Bear Mountain, New York (Brooklyn Dodgers), French Lick Springs, Indiana (Cubs and White Sox), Asbury Park, New Jersey (Yankees), Medford, Massachusetts (Boston Red Sox) and Wallingford, Connecticut (Boston Braves).

1953: The Milwaukee Braves become the first franchise to move since 1903, when the Baltimore Orioles became the New York Highlanders. The Braves have been in Boston, MA for 77 years. In a related move, the minor league Milwaukee Brewers move to Toledo, Ohio, where they become the latest incarnation of the Toledo Mud Hens.
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1957: In what is believed to be the largest offer for a player to date, Cleveland Indians general manager Hank Greenberg reject a million-dollar offer for left-handed pitcher Herb Score from Boston Red Sox GM Joe Cronin. Greenberg refuses, saying that Cleveland is interested in building for the future, not in selling its premier ballplayers. Score won 20 games in 1956 and led the American League with 263 strikeouts. Unfortunately, six weeks later,
Score will be struck in the eye by a batted ball by Gil McDougald and will win only 19 more games over the rest of his career.

1963: The Washington Senators purchased Ron Kline from the Detroit Tigers.

1964: The Chicago White Sox purchased Don Mossi from the Detroit Tigers.

1970: The Cleveland Indians and Seattle Pilots play an exhibition game with the experimental X-5 ball, which is reported to be five per cent livelier than a regulation ball. The Pilots beat the Indians, 19 - 14. One week later, Commissioner Bowie Kuhn orders the livelier ball to be discontinued.

1974: At Pompano Beach training camp, country singer Charley Pride plays for the Texas Rangers against pitcher Jim Palmer and the Baltimore Orioles. A former Negro League player, Pride grounds out and singles in two at-bats, as the Orioles coast, 14 - 2.

1981: All-Star catcher Carlton Fisk leaves the Boston Red Sox to sign a free agent contract with the Chicago White Sox. The five-year pact will pay Fisk $2.9 million.

1984: Charlie Lau, renowned batting instructor, dies in Key Colony Beach, FL, at age 50 after a long bout with cancer. Lau, whose major league career batting average was .255, earned his fame as the Kansas City Royals batting coach from 1971 to 1978, where his star pupil was George Brett. Lau also served as a batting coach for the Baltimore Orioles, Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox and wrote a book called "The Art of Hitting .300".

1985: Commissioner Peter Ueberroth reinstates Hall of Fame members Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle, who had been banned from association with organized baseball by former commissioner Bowie Kuhn due to their employment by Atlantic City casinos. Ueberroth's ruling will allow both men to pursue employment with major league teams.
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1986: The Detroit Tigers released Doug Flynn.

1990: Major league players and owners reach a new collective bargaining agreement that will end the 32-day lockout of spring training camps. Highlights of the deal include increasing the clubs' contributions to the players' pension fund, raising the major league minimum salary to $100,000, and a compromise on salary arbitration that leaves 17 percent of players with between two and three years of major league experience eligible.

2009: The Chicago Cubs announce that they will retire number 31 on May 3rd in honor of Ferguson Jenkins and Greg Maddux.

2021: The Detroit Tigers signed Mark Leiter Jr. as a free agent.

2021: On the first day of spring training games, delayed over three weeks by the recently concluded lockout, free agent signings continue to be announced. SS Carlos Correa signs a three-year deal with the Twins, who have been among the busiest teams in the majors over the past week, worth $105 million; P Kenley Jansen leaves the Dodgers after 12 seasons, signing a one-year contract with the Braves for $16 million; and OF Nick Castellanos comes to an agreement with the Phillies for 5 years and $100 million.

Tigers players, coaches, announcers, and writers birthdays:

Wiley Taylor Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More | Baseball-Reference.com
Wiley Taylor 1911.

Al Benton 1938-1942, 1945-1948.

Hal White 1941-1943, 1946-1952.

Eddie Lake 1946-1950.

Dick Littlefield 1952.

Fred Hatfield 1952-1956, coach 1957-1958.

George Plimpton - Wikipedia
George Plimpton, author.

Dwayne Murphy 1988.

Geronimo Berroa 1998.

Fernando Rodney 2002-2003, 2005-2009.

Mario Impemba - Wikipedia
@mario_impemba Mario Impemba TV broadcaster 2002-2018.

Tigers players who passed away:

Frosty Thomas 1905.

Herbert Jackson 1905.

Gene Bearden 1951.

Charlie Lau 1956, 1958-1959.

Charlie Metro 1943-1944, minor league manager 1953-1956, 1960-1961, scout 1972-1973.

Baseball Reference

MONDAY MUSINGS.
Totally Tigers

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………..

Few players wore the Detroit ball club's uniform as regally as Al Kaline!!

Tigers excited about top two 2023 Draft picks in Spring Training.
Tigers official site

Jason Foley's arsenal ticking up after time off in Grapefruit League.
Ryan Kreidler goes deep vs. Orioles; Kenta Maeda's splitter-slider combo plays well.
Tigers official site

Andy Ibáñez's willingness, prep work build his value with Tigers.
Tigers official site

Detroit Tigers may switch-up lineup with hopes of helping veteran shortstop.
As the 2024 season draws near, talk of the regular season lineup is starting to show. Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Báez may find himself in the bottom third of the order.
MCBTB