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Christin Stewart out to show he is part of the Detroit Tigers future

Embed from Getty Images When the Detroit Tigers opened their 2020 spring training, Tigers outfielder Christin Stewart struggled. That may be a bit of an understatement. Stewart struggled to the tune of four hits in 30 plate appearances. When COVID-19 chutdown spring training, Detroit Tigers hitting coach Joe Vavra pulled Stewart aside.

Vavra, saw some mechanical adjustments that could help Christin Stewart’s hitting. Stewart headed back to his home in Nashville Tennessee and worked on making the adjustments with the thought it would pay off.

Christin Stewart hit 98 home runs in five minor league seasons. Last season was Stewart’s first in Detroit. In Stewart’s  first full season with the Tigers 104 games he hit 10 in 416 plate appearances with 103 strikeouts.

The lack of plate production, coupled with Stewart’s deficiencies  defensively namely range and arm strength, suddenly Christin Stewart was no sure thing to make the Detroit Tigers roster coming out of spring training and beyond.

Stewart got to work. Not only did he work on making adjustments at the plate, but the young outfielder also worked on better footwork  in the outfield and really worked hard at getting throws to the cutoff man.

The Detroit Tigers front office and coaching staff know that Stewart can mash the ball. If Stewart can find consistency he could be a very valuable piece for the Tigers as Stewart is left handed power guy. So if he has worked the kinks out Stewart could become a valuable part in Detroit’s offense both now and in the future.

Thursday the Tigers played an inetersquad game. A new and improved Christin Stewart stepped to the plate, he would deliver three hits in the game. In what was a sight for sore eyes, Stewart  had worked extremely hard on his fitness. In the time off he committed to a regimen of agility drills and plyometrics, Stewart is now leaner and more flexible than he was last season.

In talking with the media Christin Stewart had this to say,

“I know I belong,” he said. “I know my abilities. I know my strengths and I know what I can do. At the end of the day, all you can control is your actions and effort. I’m just giving it everything I got. I just have a hunger every time I am out there to do the best I can.

“I’m really focused and excited about this year.”

 

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Tyler Bertuzzi is set to take off for the Detroit Red Wings

Embed from Getty Images During the 2019- COVID-19 shortened NHL season Tyler Bertuzzi did a thing. Bertuzzi  led the Detroit Red Wings in goals and amassed a career high in assists and points. Bertuzzi has emerged as a rebuilding block and a player who has done nothing but improve every year of his professional career.

March 12, 2020 the day the NHL shutdown due to COVID-19, Tyler Bertuzzi had 21 goals and 27 assists in 71 games along with 48 points good for second place on the team next to Dylan Larkin (53), matching his goal output from 2018-19, which was Bertuzzi’s first full NHL season.

Tyler Bertuzzi paid his dues in a little over two years in the minors with the Grand Rapids Griffins. Bertuzzi was named playoff MVP in the Griffins 2017 Calder Cup championship.

A four game stretch was the longest Tyler Bertuzzi would go without a point in 2019. When the Red Wings Christmas break roll around,  Bertuzzi was Detroit’s best player in the first half, which saw him accumulate 14 goals and 16 assists in 38 games.

Tyler Bertuzzi is a smart player, he also enjoys getting under the skin of opponent’s. Bertuzzi is a restricted free agent who has been right around 50 points in both of his seasons in Detroit. That should help his cause in a new contract.

Projections for next season (could be January if COVID-19 pushes the start of the season back) has Bertuzzi looking at 25 goals and around 55 points in an 82 game season.

Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman has said he is looking to improve the team and have some salary cap money freed up to begin to shape the Red Wings. If Yzerman can find a puck moving defenseman and a backup goalie that would greatly help.

The Red Wings need more forwards as well. If Yzerman can do the things he wants Tyler Bertuzzi could his the 30 goal mark. No matter how you slice it Tyler Bertuzzi is a very important player in Detroit both during the rebuilding stage and after.

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With much attention on the 2020 draft class, do not sleep on Detroit Tigers Riley Greene

Embed from Getty Images 3B Spencer Torkelson, C Dillon Dingler, OF Daniel Cabrera, SS Trei Cruz, 3B Gage Workman and 3B Colt Keith the much hyped 2020 Detroit Tigers MLB Draft Class. Hyped for good reason. This group of players can hit. Four of them were projected first round picks who fell throughout the draft into Detroit’s lap. But there is another hitter in the Detroit Tigers organization. Riley Greene who was selected number five overall last season.

After signing his rookie contract last year, outfield prospect Riley Greene. Greene, he of a smooth swing from the left side also has some power. Along with Greene’s sweet swing comes somewhat of an uppercut in the swing, Riley gets good carry and his line drives seem to create a lot of spin.

Riley Greene was drafted out of high school in Oviedo, Florida by the Detroit Tigers last June. Watching the way he carries himself, interacts with teammates and goes about his baseball business it is hard to believe that Greene is just 19 years old.

Between rookie ball, Class A Connecticut and West Michigan, he hit .271 with five home runs and 28 RBIs last summer. Greene seemed a sure bet to be placed in Class A Lakeland this season with the Flying Tigers. Due to COVID-19 Greene instead received a ticket into the Tigers’ 60 man player pool.

While there is very little question Greene and the Class of 2020 will not see any major league action this summer. Development time is much more critical to long term success. That must be the Tigers mind set, even in a 60 game shortened season.

Greene and the other Detroit top prospects will head to Toledo and play intersquad games. Still with all of the new highly touted talent in the Detroit Tigers pipeline fans should not forget about Riley Greene. Greene is a big part of Detroit’s future. He looks to be a middle of the order hitter. Embed from Getty Images

 

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The future looks brighter for the Detroit Tigers

Embed from Getty Images Summer camp has started. The Detroit Tigers players and coach’s are practicing for the shortened 60 game MLB season at Comerica Park. Baseball is back, at least for now. That is a good thing. A better thing for the Detroit Tigers and the fan base is top prospects are on the way and they look good.

Projection in baseball is fool’s business. For scouts and baseball insiders it is a very necessary business. The Detroit Tigers prospects have sent a buzz throughout the city of Detroit and state of Michigan.

For the Tigers they have had some rather promising pitching prospects for a couple of years now. Last years and this years MLB draft the Detroit Tigers have shifted focus to bring hitters into the prospect pool.

Having added hitters to the already nationally rated and ranked (#1 overall) pitching prospects the accumulation of talent is why the farm system now ranks among the best in baseball, or near the top depending on who is ranking.

Under normal circumstances, most of the prospects would not step onto the field at Comerica Park for another year or so. But the COVID-19 pandemic got them to Detroit sooner.

The Tigers top prospects including 2020 first round draft pick Spencer Torkelson have all be added to the taxi squad. The prospects will play intrasquad scrimmages in Toledo. The Tigers will be able to bring them up for a look as needed.

Matt Manning one of Detroit’s prized pitching prospects said “It’s gonna be fun to see this team take shape.” The Tigers have some serious young talent. That will soon enough take center stage at Comerica Park as one unit.

Still the key is to remember these guys are prospects timing is critical in their development that will play a large factor in when they are called up.  For the first time in a while, there is real hope for the Detroit Tigers future. A future that is looking better and brighter that is a reason for Tigers fans to cautiously celebrate.

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When the Detroit Red Wings next play there is a good chance Moritz Seider will be in the lineup

Embed from Getty Images The 2019 first round draft pick of the Detroit Red Wings has shown much promise in his development. So much so, there is a very good chance when the Detroit Red Wings play their next regular season game, Moritz Seider very well could be in the lineup.

Moritz Seider spent the 2019-20 with the Grand Rapids Griffins, posting two goals and 20 assists in 49 games. The 6 foot 4, 207-pound defenseman. The young defenseman showed maturity and a well rounded game.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, the Red Wings were planning on giving Seider an opportunity to play in a handful of games in Detroit. Now Seider’s shot will have to come at training camp.

Seider, who will turn 20 in April, projects as a key player in the Detroit Red Wings rebuild. Seider is a good puck mover who shoots right handed, and as a player is someone who can run a power play unit. His 22 points and .45 points per game average ranked second among Griffins defensemen.

Moritz Seider averaged about 23 minutes of ice time per game, and Seider also showed improvement in puck handling, as well as getting shots through to the net, and overall assertiveness.

Seider would add skill and size to the Red Wings defense corps, potentially fitting into the top four next season with Filip Hronek  a second-round pick from 2016  and veterans Danny DeKeyser and Patrik Nemeth. That would enable pairings of offensive defensemen who shoot right  Hronek and Seider with defensive defensemen who shoot left.

Moritz Seider would make the Detroit defense stronger and more athletic. Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman said of Seider  “He will get an opportunity, whenever our season kicks off. He will get an opportunity to show he is ready to play. If he is ready to go, he will play. If not, he will spend a little more time in the American Hockey League (AHL). But he had a very good year and it’s encouraging to see the things that he did in his development.”

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The Detroit Tigers have signed all of the newest draft picks

Embed from Getty Images The Detroit Tigers added to the organizations prospect pool by signing all 2020 draftees. It is nice to get the players signed and begin workouts for the 2020, 60 game season.

The Detroit Tigers won the 2020 draft by a landslide a couple weeks ago. The Tigers got the draft going by selecting Arizona State 1B Spencer Torkelson. Torkelson was widely viewed as the best player in the draft.

The Detroit Tigers announced the Torkelson signing late Tuesday afternoon.  Torkelson’s signing bonus was $8,416,300, according to MLB.com’s Jim Callis, which counts as the largest signing bonus under the current draft format. The slot value for the No. 1 overall pick is $8,415,300 — Torkelson signed for $1,000 more.

Torkelson took to social media to confirm the deal. A picture of Spencer Torkelson in a Tigers uniform holding a bat was captioned with “It’s official… Go Tigers.”

The Detroit Tigers are set to open training camp 2.0 in Toledo at the home of the organizations Triple A affiliate Toledo Mud Hens. Unless something unforetold happens Torkelson will not be in the mix for a roster spot in Detroit this summer.

Instead, having Torkelson in the player pool will allow him to spend the season working out with other inactive players at the Tigers at Fifth Third Field in Toledo.

On the evening of the 2020 MLB draft he Detroit Tigers announced Torkelson as a third baseman. Getting the future Tiger signed on time was wise as Detroit works on getting Torkelson acclimated to third base following three seasons as Arizona State’s first baseman.

Scouts have praised Spencer Torkelson as being one of the most polished hitters they have  seen in the draft for quite some time, showing plus-plus power and excellent plate discipline.

The future looks a bit brighter these days in Detroit.

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The Detroit Red Wings will pick fourth in the 2020 NHL Draft

Embed from Getty Images Let’s get this out of the way, the NHL lottery is flawed. The Detroit Red Wings who were the worst team in the COVID-19 shortened NHL regular season are picking #4 while a playoff team will have the first pick in the draft it boarders on a joke. That said in a very deep, very talented the Detroit Red Wings are in position to get a player who can help the rebuild.

Detroit Red Wings general manager said that he and his scouting department are not looking at one key area on the team. Yzerman said he wants a player who will “move the needle.”

The Detroit hockey team is in need of scoring. With young defensive players moving up in the minors, offense would be an area the Red Wings could look at with the teams top five draft pick. So who could that player be?

Right Wing-Lucas Raymond is a player who both should be there when Detroit picks and a player who can help quickly. Raymond  who is 5-11, 170  plays a strong two way game with excellent vision, intensity and a good wrist shot. The 18 year old is regarded as having a nose for the net and has shown himself to be a tremendous asset on the power play and the penalty kill. Raymond is an An explosive winger who is equally dangerous with his shot or pass. Lucas moves with quickness and handles the puck at a high level even at top speed. His puck skills are fluid, controlled and capable of embarrassing defensive players.

Another player who should be there is Center/ Left Wings, Cole Perfetti. The Red Wings need offense Perfetti could be their guy. Not only is he a deadly shooter, but he also uses his smarts to dish off when the opportunity arises. Perfetti is an excellent puck handler with great puck skills, vision and execution are on another level. Perfetti is elusive and can turn on a dime, evading checks and giving himself time and space to utilize his offensive arsenal. He has incredible hockey IQ and a feel for the game, can slow the play down to his pace, draw the attention of every defender and finds a pass no one else in the arena sees coming.

Either Raymond or Perfetti will be there when Detroit picks. For an organization in need of offense, I look to one of these guys as a strong possibility to wear a Winged Wheel after the first round of the 2020 NHL Darft.

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Former Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland makes the Hall of Fame

Embed from Getty Images  Jimmy Devellano, three years into his job as general manager of the Detroit Red Wings, called Ken Holland and offered him a job as scout. Holland would become the Red Wings GM and build a 3 time Stanley Cup Championship team. Yesterday, the former Red Wings and current Edmonton Oilers general manager got the call. Ken Holland is going into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Ken Holland oversaw the Detroit Red Wings longest run of success. He was Detroit Red Wings GM from 1997-2019. Holland’s Red Wings teams won 3 Stanley Cups and reached the playoffs 19 seasons in a row, which extended Detroit’s playoff run to 25 year.

Last year Ken Holland left the Red Wings organization when owner Christopher Ilitch brought Steve Yzerman in to be general manager. Holland has many reasons for being in the Hall of Fame.

Ken Holland saw his Red Wings teams win four President’s Trophies (2002, 2004, 2006, 2008) the Wings won more regular season and playoff games with a combined 1,044 more than any other NHL team.

In a statement released Ken Holland said: “I am incredibly humbled by this honor, I am in this game because I loved it as a young man and I am happy to have been able to stay in the game.”

Ken Holland caught flak from Red Wings fans as he did hand out bad contracts and sign some iffy free agents. That should not be. Ken Holland’s work speaks for it’s self. Very few general manager have the resume Holland has.

I for one am happy for Ken Holland and all he accomplished while in Detroit. His Hall of Fame nod is the icing on the cake for a job well done. As Detroit Red Wings fans wait while current GM Steve Yzerman rebuilds the team (which he will do) it is nice that the man before him gets the recognition he deserves.

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With the 2020 NHL Draft Lottery Friday the Detroit Red Wings look to speed up the rebuild

Embed from Getty Images The Detroit Tigers rebuild took a big step forward following the pick of #1 overall mega player Spencer Torkelson. On Friday the Detroit Red Wings will anxiously wait to see what the ping-pong ball brings them during the draft lottery.

Alexis Lafreniere is the clear cut #1 player in this years NHL draft class. To put it another way, perhaps a bit more fresh Lafreniere is the Spencer Torkelson of the 2020 NHL Draft.

Torkelson was the best player by a long shot in the MLB draft and ended up being selected first overall by the Tigers. The same is being said about Alexis Lafreniere. He is the best player by a large margin. What would it mean for the rebuilding Detroit Red Wings?

Lafrenière,  6 foot 1, and a gifted left wing who had 35 goals and 77 assists in 52 games this season with Rimouski Océanic of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, a 2.15 points per game average that led the Canadian Hockey League. The 18 year old  Lafrenière starred for Canada at the World Juniors, taking home a gold medal and MVP honors on the strength of four goals and six assists in five games.

Alexis Lafrenière combines elite decision making skills and plays with a with a physical edge, fearlessly challenging opponents and finishing checks. He makes plays and scores, and has drawn praise for his willingness to go to dirty areas. Lafrenière projects as a game changer. Along the line of a generational talent.

The NHL Draft Lottery can be cruel. Just because a team may be the worst in the league that team can draft anywhere from from first to fourth depending which logo the ping-pang ball displays.

Should the Detroit Red Wings win the prized first overall draft pick, the choice will be as easy as the draft pick the Detroit Tigers made. Not only the unanimous best player, but again a generational player who can quickly make a rebuild a thing of the past and bright days ahead.

If the Red Wings are fortunate enough to land Alexis Lafrenière, fans will go crazy. Much like they did when the Detroit Tigers announced their top pick.

 

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Father’s Day 2020

Embed from Getty Images Father’s Day is a day to count your blessings. Of having a father and then the transition to being a father. There are lessons to be learned both the easy and hard way. What I have learned along my path to and through fatherhood is to take time to reflect on what me dad did in a like situation.

The first thing that I learned is it is always time to do the right thing. This is a lesson that I have shared with my children. I am blessed by God to say my children do the right thing. Even when the wrong way seems like a good idea.

Another thing that I learned along the way is there is a time to be quiet and a time to speak and yes, even a time to yell. This has been by far the hardest for my to apply. Yet, while I am still a work-in-progress I have started to get this right more than wrong. Again all glory to God for changing my heart.

Also, I believe this to be the most important attribute to being a father,  I treat my wife with respect and love. My children see this daily. To me this is the greatest gift I can leave. I know my children are watching. I know this because at different times each one of our three children has commented on the way I treat my wife.

Another thing I took away from my childhood is the value of doing a job right the first time. This was a lesson that took time. However, after cleaning toys up for a lot longer than it should have taken it began to sink in. Also after halfheartedly raking or mowing the yard and having to go back out it molded me into the person I am.

I am a server. That is the job God has given me. I know my children will do the same when they have a family of their own. It is all part of the handing down process and allowing them to make it they’re own and pass it on to they’re children.