Tarik Skubal, maybe the steal of 2018 draft for the Detroit Tigers

Embed from Getty Images For the Detroit Tigers the 2018 MLB draft, most of the focus has been on Casey Mize, the first-overall selection. For good reason. Other players from the draft class have generated headlines and buzz: outfielder Parker Meadows (second round), second baseman Kody Clemens (third round) and outfielder Brock Deatherage (10th round).

It is starting to look like the Tigers found a gem in the ninth round.  A pitcher who keeps turning heads: Tarik Skubal, a left-handed pitcher, whose fastball touches 95 m.p.h.

Skubal has 41 strikeouts for Single-A Lakeland, that not only leads the Florida State League but ranks 10th in all of minor league baseball. Skubal was a 2015 College Baseball Freshman All American at Seattle University. Skubal redshirted in 2017 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He came back and regained his velocity, recording 106 strikeouts in 80 innings but fought and struggled with his command, walking 56. Those walks might have scared off other teams, but the Detroit Tigers scouts saw enough in the left handed pitcher and took him in the ninth round.

Since  joining the Tigers,Tarik Skubal  has had no control issues. He bounced through three levels of the minor leagues last year, dominating along the way. If Tarik continues to develop, at his current rate it will be an all out draft pick steal for the Tigers organization.

It is not often players selected ninth round turn out in the major leagues. This is different. Tarik Skubal is starting to look like the Tigers found a gem.

Steve Yzerman has hired Pat Verbeek as an assistant general manager for the Detroit Red Wings

Embed from Getty Images In  latest in what has been a series of front office shakeups that include Ken Holland accepting the general manager position in Edmonton, Detroit Red Wings executive vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman has brought his right hand man from Tampa Bay with him. In what is a very good move for the Red Wings organization.

Pat Verbeek arrives in Detroit as assistant general manager. Verbeek, 54, brings 13 years of experience to the Red Wings’ front office, he returns to Detroit after starting his post playing days as a professional scout for the Red Wings, working four seasons in the position from 2006-10.

Pat Verbeek joined the Lightning shortly after Yzerman was hired in Tampa Bay. During his time with the Lightning organization Pat was in charge of player recruiting and contract negotiations and overall support to Tampa Bay’s hockey operations department and general manager.

“Pat Verbeek is one of the brightest minds and hardest workers in the game and has been a trusted and valued resource to me throughout my management career,” said Steve Yzerman. “He played a pivotal role in helping build the Lightning into a Stanley Cup contender throughout his tenure with the organization. I’m very excited to have Pat on board in Detroit and look forward to continuing to work alongside him.”

Upon his Detroit Red Wings general manager press conference Yzerman said he like to surround himself with good strong people. This is an absolute home run hire for both Yzerman and the Detroit Red Wings. Verbeek has made a name for himself and should get a general managers job for himself very soon.

“I’m very excited to return to the Red Wings,” said Verbeek. “I want to thank the Ilitch family.” Pat said in a statement.  “I believe there is an exciting young core here in Detroit, and I’m looking forward to working with the rest of the hockey operations staff to get this team back into contention.” The statment concluded.

Pat Verbeek played 1,424 games in his NHL career, totaling 1,063 points (521 goals, 541 assists), and 2,095 penalty minutes, helping him earn the nickname “Little Ball of Hate.” His playing career included two seasons with the Red Wings, where he collected 78 points (37 goals) from 1999-2001.

 

Report: Detroit Red Wings Ken Holland to become the GM of the Edmonton Oilers

Embed from Getty Images A report broke Sunday morning that former Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland appears to be headed to the Edmonton Oilers. Promoted to senior vice president last month when the Red Wings tabbed Steve Yzerman to be their general manager. Holland leaves good and bad in Detroit.

Ken Holland could be introduced as early as Tuesday in Edmonton. Holland has spent 36 years in Detroit with the Red Wings organization. The last 22 as general manager. Ken put together three Stanley Cup Championship teams, 10 division titles and four Presidents’ Trophies during his tenure.

No one in the Red Wings or Oilers organization was available  for comment. The deal is reportedly five years at $5 million per year. Edmonton has missed the NHL playoffs 12 of the last 13 seasons. The Oilers have a generational player in Connor McDavid who is being wasted by the Oilers lack of ability to surround him with a good supporting cast.

For all the good things Ken Holland did, he also did a good amount of damage in Motown. Handing out bad contracts and driving the salary cap for an owner who demanded it.

Steve Yzerman inherits a team with a solid young core and top prospects to complete the teams rebuild. His first order of business may be to purge the Red Wings roster of older players on bad contracts while infusing young players and top free agents.

Holland, meanwhile has his work cut out for him in Edmonton. For all the flack Red Wings fans have given him, Holland did brings championships to Detroit. He played a large part in Keeping the Wings 25 year playoff streak alive. That should not be forgotten by Detroit hockey fans.

Fans who in the end get what they wanted most. Moving from one good general manager to a great general manager.

Detroit Red Wings Hall of Fame defenseman Red Kelly dies

Embed from Getty Images In February, 91 years old Detroit Red Wings legend had his number 4 raised to the rafters in Little Caesars Arena. A 1969 NHL Hall of Fame inductee Kelly spent 13 of his 20 season in Detroit. The rest would be played with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Red Kelly was the 1954 winner of the Norris Trophy as the best defensive player. Kelly was a very accomplished player and had a tremendous impact on the game of hockey.

Red Kelly became the eighth player in Red Wings history to have his number retired. Kelly was an eight time Stanley Cup champion, as well as numerous league awards.

Red Kelly joins his former teammates Sid Able, Alex Delvecchio, Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay Detroit Red Wings Stanley Cup winners in 1950, 1952, 1954 and 1955 to have their number retired. Kelly would serve as captin of the Red Wings from 1956-58.

For all of his decorated achievements Red Kelly often said his greatest joy was his family. Not the 846 games he played in or the Stanley Cup championships or the four Lady Byng trophies he won for sportsmanship in 1951, 1953, 1954 and 1961.

The hockey world mourns the loss of one of the games giants. A family mourns the loss of someone much more than a player in a game.

Michigan State’s Aaron Henry could be a rising star for the basketball team

Embed from Getty Images At 6 foot 6 Aaron Henry started 22 games as a freshman, for the Spartans averaging 6.1 points and 3.8 rebounds, and was a solid defender for the Spartans who won the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles and reached the Final Four.

“Henry is potential is soaring machine , he should flourish next to Cassius Winston and a healthy Joshua Langford next season. Aaron showed plenty during the NCAA tournament, scoring 20 in the win over LSU in the Sweet 16. His defense should continue to improve, his ceiling will be shattered by his ability to make shots, get to the rim and elevate above the defense in the open floor.

Arron Henry averaged 10.4 points and 5.2 rebounds during the NCAA Tournament while shooting 58 percent from the floor — all better than his season averages. gives the Spartans a talented core that is returning next season a core that includes the aforementioned starters Winston and Langford, as well as forwards Xavier Tillman and Kyle Ahrens, who also cracked the starting lineup at times.

The Michigan State basketball team should enter next season as both Big Ten favorites and NCAA favorites. They are deep and athletic. Yet it was Henry who ran into a very upset Tom Izzo in the Big Ten tournament. Izzo walked out on the court screaming at Henry.

After a  few defensive lapses which lead to the tongue-lashing from the Spartans head coach, Aaron Henry recovered, he did some things that you can not do as a starter on a top-5 team at the end of your freshman year. And they were effort-related. He picked up his effort.

Aaron Henry can be a very good player on a very good team. That schould scare the rest of the Big Ten conference.

Former Detroit Red Wings star Pavel Datsyuk pondering a return to the NHL

Embed from Getty Images Pavel Datsyuk, who turns 41 on July 31, left the Detroit Red Wings in 2016 with one year remaining on his contract.  agent Dan Milstein, said “He would never under any circumstances consider any other club but the Detroit Red Wings. He was very clear about that when he was leaving (Detroit) and through the conversations, it would be Detroit or nothing.”

Datsyuk, or as Detroit Red Wings fans call him “magic man.” When Datsyuk began his NHL career for the Red Wings, his mentors including Soviet stars Igor Larionov and Sergei Fedorov, as well as Detroit captain Steve Yzerman .

Pavel, was a goal and points machine as well as playing outstanding defense.  On 14 February 2016, Datsyuk became the sixth Red Wing player to reach the 900 point milestone, and the fifth Russian player to do so.

On 18 June 2016, Datsyuk announced that he was leaving the Red Wings to play in Russia, ending his 14-year career with the Detroit Red Wings. He left the Red Wings having won two Stanley Cups (In 2002 and 2008), four consecutive Lady Byng trophies (2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009), 953 games played, and 918 points. Datsyuk, upon leaving, was also the last remaining member of the Detroit Red Wings 2002 Stanley Cup Championship team.

On 8 July 2016, Datsyuk signed a two-year contract with SKA Saint Petersburg of the KHL. With that contract set to expire in July, Datsyuk is eyeing a return to both the NHL and the Detroit Red Wings. At 40 years old he is still a point per game player.

It is unclear at this time  if new Red Wings  general manager Steve Yzerman is interested, but he wouldn’t be allowed to comment publicly. With Thomas Vanek a free agent in July and a player who does not figure in the Red Wings plans, perhaps Yzerman would bring in Datsyuk on a two year deal to be the team veteran as far as the forwards go.

Pavel Datsyuk’s agent took it a step further saying “Pavel obviously respects (Yzerman) so much, “He was one of the first guys to ask me to send him a note on his behalf to congratulate him after he got the job in Detroit, but I haven’t had any business conversations since Steve took over the Detroit Red Wings.

It will be interesting to monitor this heading into the summer.

 

Predictions for the Detroit Pistons offseason

Embed from Getty Images The Detroit Pistons 2018-19 season ended in total disappointment. The Milwaukee Bucks swept them out of the first round of the NBA playoffs with  ease. The Pistons have very limited flexibility this offseason, unless they make some dramatic moves to improve the roster, next season will not be much better.

Blake Griffin’s knee injury and the glaring holes on the roster were the Detroit Pistons undoing during the playoffs. So what can the team do during the offseason? Here are a few things and a couple predictions.

Continuing player development has to be  priority No. 1. Svi Mykhailiuk , Thon Maker should be something the Detroit Pistons look to get the most of. Perhaps the team can look into trading for a star guard. Some like Mike Conley or Jrue Holiday either would fit nicely into the Pistons lineup.

With Reggie Jackson, Jon Leuer, and Langston Galloway contracts off the books after next season, the Pistons may finally have some financial wiggle room. With that said Detroit should  Pistons should stay away from taking on big contracts unless that player can take them to the next level.

Bruce Brown’s lack of  scoring ability makes him ineffective on one end of the floor. Brown simply can not stay on the Pistons let alone any NBA team playing defense only at the guard position. Andre Drummond who was the Detroit Pistons  second leading scorer needs more looks down low.

Currently the Detroit Pistons hold the No. 15 pick in the first round of the NBA draft. They need to get as much out of the 15th pick as they can.  Detroit could package a couple of players and the No. 15 pick to move up. If they do the team should look to include Langston Galloway in any possible trade.

One thing to remember is the Pistons are just one more season away from freeing up an immense amount of cap space. Reggie Jackson and Langston Galloway as well as the old Josh Smith money and the crippling Jon Leuer contract will come off the books.

So while there is no clear cut answer to the Detroit Pistons roster fix right now. After next season the Pistons will have room to improve the roster.

Detroit Tigers prospect Casey Mize wasted no time in being promoted

Embed from Getty Images The anticipation, has been met. Detroit Tigers top prospect Casey Mize needed just four starts at Single-A to show he simply did not belong. The buzz remained. Not just for Mize, but for the organization’s pitching prospects as a whole, including right-handers Matt Manning and Alex Faedo.

“Have you seen what these guys are doing in the minors?” pitching coach Rick Anderson asked the Detroit media last Wednesday afternoon. The Detroit Tigers decided  to promote Mize to Double-A Erie. Casey Mize, 21, allowed one run on seven hits in 26 innings for Class A Lakeland, posting an 0.35 ERA and 0.308 WHIP in four starts. He struck out 25 batters and walked one.

Upon doing so the Eris Seawolves now have Mize, as well as first-round draft picks Matt Manning (2016) and Alex Faedo (2017). It goes without saying Erie has one of the minor leagues’ most formidable starting rotations. “Being part of that rotation is really cool,” Casey Mize said. “I know what we could be capable of.”

The promotion of Mize leaves the possibility he could receive another by the end of the season, to Triple-A Toledo, where he will face more refined hitters, and potentially receive a September, Detroit call-up.  The Detroit Tigers,  though they made an early move, will not push the issue. Only saying they want all prospects to feel good before moving them along in the system.

It is  more likely that Mize pitches with the SeaWolves for the majority of this season, perhaps finishing up with a few starts in Toledo, which in turn could put him in line to compete for a starting rotation with the Tigers next season.

“By the time we get to next year, I think he’ll be pushing the envelope,”  Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire said. The last Detroit the last Tigers pitcher with similar age, ability, and experience  Justin Verlander skipped Toledo entirely.

While things are rough in Detroit. The Tigers minor league prospects are putting on a show. Now with three of the teams top pitching prospects in Erie PA things are looking up for the Tigers even more.

 

In a daring move the Detroit Lions drafted linebacker Jahani Tavai

Embed from Getty Images A product of the University of Hawaii, Jahani Tavai, was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the NFL draft. Lions fans were not happy with the draft pick. But upon further review Tavai is a solid pick.

Jahani Tavai, is a heavy handed linebacker who does not shy away from plays. He routinely wins reps. He plays extremely aggressive and has a high motor. At 6′ 2″ Jahani has the size needed to face NFL talent.

For his upside, as with any prospect Tavai has some downside. He lacks ideal speed and tries to make for it with athleticism which gets him into trouble at times. It leads to Tavai making hectic movements rather than playing with fluidity.

The reason Lions fans should have some optimism is a couple of things. Jahani Tavai has the size and toughness that jump out. He is an above average run stopper and is able to get pressure on the quarterback.  The overall question is can he clean his game up enough to become a consistent every down linebacker.

Given his unpopular draft status with Detroit Lions fans, Tavai needs to come into rookie camp looking to improve and begin to learn the Lions defensive playbook. Not trying to prove his draft status. If he can clean his game up this could be a very good pick for the Lions.

Detroit scouts coaches and general manager believe with work and coaching Jahani Tavai can be the player they have envisioned him to be,

The Detroit Lions select tight end T.J. Hockenson

Embed from Getty Images T.J. Hockenson is not Eric Ebron in anyway. Let’s just start right there. The former Iowa Hawkeye stand out is miles better than Ebron whom Detroit Lions general manager released two seasons ago. With the Hockenson draft pick Detroit filled a glaring need.

T.J. Hockenson is a freak. Standing 6′ 5″ he is a scheme-versatile TE who can play in-line, flexed-out or even in the backfield. His athleticism allows T.J. to be used in many different way.

Hockenson is an impact blocker in both the passing game and run game. At Iowa he routinely hooked onto defenders and moved them out of the way. He also has a high awareness and is outstanding finding the soft spots in zone and works back to the quarterback with ease.

T.J. Hockenson, is more quick than fast. He possesses a good burst away from coverage. He excels in rout running. For a TE of his size Hockenson can run the seam rout as well.

What really stands out is T.J. Hockenson has great hands and body control.  He made difficult catches look routine. Those standout qualities made it hard for Bob Quinn to pass up. Which is why he did not.

Hockenson needs to tone down being overly aggressive on blocking. He got flagged for holding a little too often for the Hawkeyes. That should come with coaching.

In an NFL draft where defense dominated the first round, T.J. Hockenson was the best TE in the draft and it was not even close. He is a game-changer at a difficult position to be one.

An unpopular pick by many Detroit Lions fans. Yet, it was the absolute right draft pick for the team moving forward. Jesse James was signed as a free agent. Now T.J. Hockenson comes in giving the Lions the ability to go two tight ends in a ball control offense.

Given team needs and the value of the NO. 8 overall first round pick, I give the Detroit Lions and A-. They drafted a player fans will enjoy for some time to come.