Freep: Believe your eyes: Tigers success is sustainable long term

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http://archive.today/2025.05.04-111839/https://www.freep.com/story/sports/columnists/jeff-seidel/2025/05/04/detroit-tigers-record-american-league-standings-aj-hinch/83431246007/
full article at Link.

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But consider this: after the Tigers come-from-behind win on Friday night, the Tigers started the 2025 season with a 21-12 record: a .636 winning clip.

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Put another way: They have basically started this season right where they left off in 2024, creating a solid three-month stretch of winning baseball, even though the Tigers have suffered an enormous run of injuries

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So, when I ask myself: Is this Detroit Tigers success sustainable at this level? Two quotes keep popping in my head. The first came from Tigers manager A.J. Hinch after the 2024 playoffs.

“As I told the players, we want this to be the floor,” Hinch said at a season-ending press conference. “We want this feeling to resonate throughout the offseason so that we can come back even more determined than ever to experience seasons like this moving forward."

…second quote and it came at that same press conference from president of baseball operations Scott Harris. “Regardless of what we do this winter, the majority of our growth has to come from within,” Harris said. “There’s just too much opportunity on this roster and that’s the beauty of building with young players. We have to help them get better.” …

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The Tigers are getting great starting pitching and have a bullpen to match. Through Saturday morning, the Tigers’ bullpen had a 2.62 ERA, the lowest relief ERA in the American League and the third-lowest mark in baseball. The Tigers had the best record in the American League (21-12), the second-best run differential behind the New York Yankees and the Tigers have arguably the best farm system in baseball.

So, they are winning in the big leagues and more talent is on the horizon.

So, let me be clear: This isn’t a mirage, people.

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And this team has a fixed identity: Be aggressive on the mound, throwing strikes; be aggressive on the bases, always taking the extra 90 feet; be smart at the plate; always do the little things right; be obsessed with the details; and refuse to give up.

It all adds up to something special.

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Nice read

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I’m an Orioles fan. I really love what the Tigers have done. They look real.

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Javy… leads the team in WAR…

Detroit Tigers Wow GIF by MLB

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:point_up::nerd_face:…ehrm…actually, he’s tied with Tarik Skubal.

But since it’s Javy, and since it’s Tarik freaking Skubal, I don’t actually care.

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Trading for Austin Riley would really help sustain this success long term.

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Still being patient.
Players BA and OPS from 22-24 vs 2025

Green
0.268, 0.768 vs 0.274, 0.808

Torqu
0.218, 0.677 vs 0.234, 0.889

Zach
0.215, 0.634 vs 0.291, 0.802

Torrez
0.262, 0.757 vs 0.291, 0.826

Baez
0.215 0.593 vs 0.309, 0.829

All of those guys going from below average to well below average to well above average in one year?

I think water will eventually find its level but dear lord.

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I think from that list the most likely to get exposed if they keep playing as often as they are;
McKinstry
Baez
Tork, but Tork, imo, was never going to be a high ba guy, obp/ops is what I’m watching there.

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IMG_4061
IMG_40611170×910 116 KB

OPS 22-25

Like how!

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Out of that Group McKinstry is the one I question long term. Always viewed him as a utility guy, now he is playing everyday and doing well. But, can he keep it up, or, perhaps better question, can Hinch keep utilizing him for maximum value.

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He is still a punch and Judy utility guy but he’s having a moment so let’s all rejoice in it maybe it’ll last all season but probably not based on his track record. Valuable guy to have hope he’s here next year but hope he’s not starting or getting any more than $250 plate appearances that

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I wagered on Tigers to win AL at +850. This is 100% sustainable and this is a great group of character players. A real TEAM.

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O/U win total.
-150 for 90+
+500 for 100+

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http://archive.today/2025.05.06-105346/https://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2025/05/05/detroit-tigers-offense-stats-american-league-standings/83459545007/
full article at Link.

The Tigers lineup, after being one of the least productive across MLB in 2024, has developed into one of the best offenses in the league in 2025, courtesy of improved performances by some Tigers mainstays.

Detroit is currently top-5 in MLB in several offensive categories, including batting average (fifth at .255), slugging percentage (fifth at .423), home runs (fifth at 47), runs (tied for fourth at 179) and FanGraphs’ wins above replacement (third at 7.6). The only AL team consistently ranking higher than the Tigers in offense is the New York Yankees, who currently have three fewer wins than the Tigers as of Monday.

Compare this season’s Tigers offense to last season, which was one of the worst in baseball. In 2024, the Tigers finished second-to-last in on-base percentage (.300), 24th in batting average (.234) and 23rd in team OPS (.685). But one could argue that this turnaround actually started in 2024.

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And it’s not just the usual suspects: Dillon Dingler, Andy Ibáñez and Jake Rogers are all sporting a respective OPS above league average, giving the Tigers more than a lineup’s worth of hitters currently outpacing a typical major leaguer. The only significant offseason lineup addition, Gleyber Torres, is also holding his own with an .826 OPS and four home runs in 22 games.

It’s as if this year’s lineup got a makeover using the same brushes from last year.

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I don’t remember which game it was, but we had 7 guys in our lineup last week with an ops over .800.

League average ops is 705

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You know what this means??

Betting Mads Mikkelsen GIF by James Bond 007

Time to go ALL IN.

Trade!!

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I remember before this 3 month hot streak it was hard to find a Tiger’s hitter batting over 0.250. Certainly nowhere near 0.300.

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For what position?
I have one definitive position spot to upgrade.
There is a second one as well but I’d rather go with current options there.
Then add a bullpen player or two.

Just as important is to extend Skubal.

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Only Tigers with a below average OPS with a decent amount of PA. (60+ PA)

Sweeny 0.672
Keith 0.661
JHM 0.618

Every one else is above average!

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