The Pirates have claimed left-hander Joey Wentz off waivers from the Tigers, according to announcements from both clubs. The Tigers had designated him for assignment in recent days. The Pirates had an open 40-man spot but will need to open an active roster spot once Wentz reports to the team since he is out of options.
Wentz, now 26, was once a notable prospect. He was selected 40th overall by Atlanta in the 2016 draft and posted some good numbers in the minors before being flipped to the Tigers in the July 2019 trade that sent Shane Greene the other way. Unfortunately, Wentz required Tommy John surgery in March of 2020, putting him on the shelf for that year and part of 2021. The Tigers nonetheless believed in his future, adding him to their 40-man roster in November of 2020 to keep him out of the Rule 5 draft.
Since coming back from his surgery absence, he has generally posted solid numbers in the minors but not in the majors. Over the 2021-23 seasons, he tossed 154 innings on the farm, allowing 3.97 earned runs per nine innings. His 11.4% walk rate in that time was a bit high but he struck out 26.7% of batters faced. But he had a 5.99 ERA in 138 1/3 major league innings during that same time frame, striking out just 19.9% of batters faced in the big leagues.
He exhausted his option years in that stretch and has been out of options here in 2024. The Tigers kept him in their bullpen for the first few months of the season with some mixed results. He was able to provide them with a multi-inning relief arm, soaking up 55 1/3 frames over 38 outings, but with a 5.37 ERA. His 23.6% strikeout rate and 10.6% walk rate are close to average but his .333 batting average on balls in play and 69.8% strand rate have both been a bit on the unlucky side. His 4.52 FIP and 3.97 SIERA both suggest he deserved better results than he got this year.
Perhaps that is what the Pirates will be banking on, in addition to Wentz’s previous prospect pedigree. They will have to keep him on their active roster due to his out-of-options status but that should be doable with just a few weeks left in the season and the club now out of contention. If they manage to keep Wentz on their roster, he can be retained well into the future. He will finish this season with under two years of service time, meaning he can be retained for five seasons after this one.
Pirates have quite the bandwagon fanbase
No they don’t. 1.5 million people show up no matter what garbage they put on the field. An additional 700 800 thousand will show up when they are winning. Pretty standard results with winning increase. The floor though is crazy. They put out some awful teams. Guaranteed to lose 100 games. No stars. No rookies. No hope. 20 years in a row without a winning record.
They’re not losing 100 games.
They had winning records in ‘15 & ‘16.
they lost 100 games in 2021 and 2022
GM- The Pirates are not losing 100 games and had winning seasons in 2013,14,15,and 18.
Yo surely do not know your history of one of your supposed favorite teams.
That’s long ago. The Ben Cherington regime hasn’t had a winning season or really come close. I’d be thrilled if they even performed as the Royals have this year.
My hope was for them to be in contention for the playoffs by the final week of the season. Anything more would be a bonus but alas here we are again.
That’s not what you said Einstein, you wrote that like they’re losing 100 this year.
Einstein? You don’t even know who said it and you’re responding to holecamels35 instead
Paul-Pillow was responding to Dream GM,he is in the same column as you and I.
Hole- It was factually incorrect.
The Pirates had the second best record in baseball for a three year period and,yes,it was a while ago,and not important to today’s situation,but important to long time Pirate fans nonetheless.
he may have been responding to Dream, he didn’t specify that, Mendoza
People like us, we address others by their names
Einstein? The only potential Einstein here is hole who actually was capable and reading and comprehensive. And Hannibal who just read the main 1st comment and didn’t waste time with the rest if it.
Pillow 100 percent thought hole was dream lol. Gets all snarky and cute with the Einstein when such a dum dum they replied to someone else instead of me! Lol
And Mendoza thought pillow was replying to me! Lol. “That’s not what you said Einstein” How could that be talking to me? That’s a correction. I only made 1 comment!!!!!!! There’s nothing to correct!
Theman3 showed a elementary level education by being able to originally figure out who the comment was intended for. But like a child flip flopped when someone told him he was wrong.
“you wrote that like they’re losing 100 this year.” No you Einstein’s just can’t read. Other than hole. Here’s a hint for you Einstein’s. Take the Pirates number of loses. Add the remaining number of games. Get a educated friend to help you do this. The numbers won’t make it to 100. It’s mathematical impossible. Clearly anyone smarter that a 5th grader could figure out I was talking about the history of losing. But that proves that Pirates fans aren’t bandwagon fans. Let’s celebrate they aren’t losing 100 games this year! Build a Cherington statue! They don’t have a history of losing! They won 82 games in 2018! That’s recent! A whole 82 games! Wow! Impressive! Will never forget that legendary team that won all those 82 games! They haven’t won a division in 32 years. Haven’t won a playoff series in 45 years. But for 3 whole years they won wild cards! It was a decade ago but who cares! The won! Just win baby!
Sorry,GM,wrong again.
Your diatribe was irrelevant.
Or make that two.
Pillow responded to you the first time and the second time.
You,and the Pirates,are underperforming.
speaking of reading comprehension issues, no one flip flopped, your narcissism allows you to write many words without saying anything reality driven
a long paragraph to say nothing coherent
Paul- The main problem was his term “guaranteed to lose 100 games”Easy to presume that this year,although GM is right,mathematically impossible.
But then when?Next year? 2026? 2036?
Hole refers to BC tenure,and of course that is by far the most relevant.But GM said twenty years of losing.He gives no credit for the peak three years of excellence.
And pillow clearly referred to GM post.
GM has become enamored with all of his posts,and it is quite difficult to always discern what he says.
Really good posters do not have to advertise themselves consistently.
Us geezers must just see things differently.Shame on us.
As a side note,in reading about the Cardinals on this site,the only three year period when they did not make the playoffs this century was the three years after the Pirates finished second each year to them.If only………!
“Pillow was responding to Dream” Definitive strong statement. Clear as can be he responded to me.
“he may have been responding to Dream” flipped to a weak statement. Leaves doubt. Who knows who they replied to. Everyone but Mendoza knows! Heck even you knew.
There’s zero may have. Pillow already responded to me 1st comment. End of conversation until I replied again. I didn’t reply again. Hole did. Pillow thought it was me moving the goalposts. I never said they would lose 100 this year. Unlike you guys I watched sesame street and can figure out it’s impossible for them to lose 100 games this year. Honest mistake. Just don’t get snarky and be wrong or you will look like a idiot.
There was no problem with my statement. Impossible to lose 100 games this year. Case closed right there. Context was 1.5 million show up no matter what. Already over that number and blowing by it.
“They put out some awful teams. (Teams multiple so not this year) Guaranteed to lose 100 games. (Impossible this year) No stars.(Skenes is a star, Cutch star in Pittsburgh proven to sell tickets increasing attendance, Cruz if not a star a budding star, after that it’s debatable, Reynolds Jones Bednar prior to August Chapman) No rookies. (Skenes Jones and people want to see Yorke Cook Bubba Ashcraft) No hope. (Keller Skenes Jones Ortiz Falter Bubba and half a dozen others TJ Connor another high draft pick) 20 years in a row without a winning record.(is
year 20 of years in a row losing?)”
Not a single thing I said applies to the present 2024 season. But by all means keep yapping. It’s impossible to lose 100 games this year and impossible for you to look anymore foolish so just keep running your mouth, you have nothing left to lose.
“he may have been responding to Dream, he didn’t specify that, Mendoza”
No need to specify it.
“That’s not what you said Einstein, you wrote that like they’re losing 100 this year.”
I’m the only one who said 100 games. Only person he would be replying to as no one else said that. Expect the Einstein replied to Hole lol.
“your narcissism allows you to write many words without saying anything reality driven
a long paragraph to say nothing coherent”
After seeing your reading and comprehension skills you are right. I need to work on keeping it really short and really simple moving forward. Will do my best.
I could be wrong. Well half wrong. And only because I didn’t see this comment below untill now. Certainly obvious pillow wasn’t replying to me. But he could have been replying to theman3 instead of hole.
“they lost 100 games in 2021 and 2022”
“That’s not what you said Einstein, you wrote that like they’re losing 100 this year.”
All Paul’s fault!
Here’s how I think it went down.
Paul replied to pillow. Pillow replied to paul thinking it was me. Einstein Paul (im kidding, honest mistake) thought pillow was replying to hole. Einstein Mendoza (not kidding) thought for some reason pillow was replying to me. I saw Paul say “Einstein? You don’t even know who said it and you’re responding to holecamels35 instead” And Einstein me never bothered to read Pauls comment that is most likely what pillow replied to and not holes.
And for some reason some people thought I was talking about a lose total for this season that isn’t possible to achieve.
All cleared up. That’s why I am YourDreamGM
And in fairness my auto correct is trash. Always changing words when I don’t want it to. Just noticed a few now like expect instead of except.
If you simply said the Pirates aren’t losing 100 games this year. I would have jokingly replied. Agree as it’s not possible! I was talking about in past years where you look at the roster and say yeah this is triple digit loses or close to it, yet 1.5m attendance.
But you had to add this unnecessary part.
“Yo surely do not know your history of one of your supposed favorite teams.”
If you want to be snarky that’s fine. But when you are snarky and wrong I am going to give it right back. The Einstein comment wasn’t necessary.
I should and would apologize to Paul. He knew I wasn’t talking about this year. He knew pillow replied to someone thinking it was me. He called him out on the calling me Einstein when he couldn’t even figure out who he was replying for. He was just being nice to you well he could have been replying to dream i guess. I think so highly of Paul I was disappointed he didn’t stand his ground. I apologize though for having unreal expectations. Should have left Paul out of this. But it came from the heart. I didn’t want him to feel left out of the roast.
Paul knew what was what. The rest of you I have to improve my communication skills I guess. If I can master a combination of Elmo and Tom Selleck I think I can successfully communicate.
3 playoff years out of 32 years! No World series! No pennant! No division! You’re dang right I am not going to celebrate it. It’s awful. I demand more. Much more.
Mendoza, Pillow referred his response to “ Einstein “, not GM and the latter isn’t even close to having Einstein’s intellect
4 paragraph on 4 separate comments and they all say the same thing
Only a narcissist would feel the need to explain this so many times
I already need a drink
I think you two should just date already
yeah because 2 people can’t engage in conversations unless they’re dating
and your immature response sounds like
blah blah blah blah blah blah
Sorry about that.
Paul- Regarding your Einstein post,yes,pillow may have been addressing Einstein but I assumed that he knew that the smart Einstein died in 1955.
Perhaps he has connections to the Hereafter.
I do now think that GM is actually a lawyer who gets paid by the word.
Paul-Regarding your drinking post,hopefully it was warm milk to enable you to get to sleep quickly.
GM-Your ignorance of the word guaranteed is what started this whole problem.
I don’t mind the snark but when you get into one of your rants expect to be called on it.
This reminds me of a Shemp Stooges quote-
She was bred in Ol Kentucky,but she’s just a crumb up here.
I haven’t had a drink since 1992
being paid by the word could explain why his paragraphs are 3 days long
You have no reason to apologize, Pillow
Sorry DreamGM: but i think you meant to write ” or you will like AN idiot.”
Again … sorry.
Wow!! Congrats my friend. I’m currently in a HOME for the worst collection of brain dead fools you would never want to HAVE to meet.
My sisters would both say I’m here because I got WAY too into Weed. Nope. I know what dragged my sorry ass down. That was another drug that started with the letter “W.”
But it twern’t weed, that laid me low. It was Whiskey.. I’m a Seagram’s Vo man, muhself.
Nothing too be sorry about as its intentional. Glad to entertain you.
I’d say quite the opposite, anyone who’s still here after decades of futility are the truest of true fans. I was born in 1987, my first baseball memories were once they began their 20+ years of under .500, if that didn’t chase me away nothing will. At least my dad got to see them win championships.
All of you guys need to take a breath and eat a Snickers.
I prefer Mounds
He has good stuff but can’t seem to put it together. Good luck Joey!!!
a braves sold high on all those pitching prospects
it’s that time of the year again for the Pirates management
To get potential relievers for free?
the team needs offense too, they can’t keep counting on the same players to produce runs
Will have to trade pitching prospects for it because they ain’t developing it.
The seasons over for pirates
They’re just simulating the rest of the games
if it’s over why do they need more pitching this season?
My guess, Cherington is doing his best to save his job hoping that they finish strong
This guy or any reliever isn’t saving anyone’s job. Cherington is probably safe unfortunately.
again you misconstrued what I said but it’s not worth having to explain further
Saving some arms from workload
Cherington isn’t even close to hot seat.
This season was a massive success.
Next season will need to make playoffs tho or seat will heat up.
Pretty excited for next season tho.
Full year of Skenes, full year of IKF, Cruz not having to take 4 months to shake off the rust/stink at SS, hopefully Bednar isn’t completely awful again. Endy back. Not losing anyone besides maybe Chapman or Cutch.
2025 looking bright overall
Goku-It seems to me that massive success was written tongue in cheek.
Next year may be looking bright but only if Nutting makes some major changes to some of the personnel working for him.
I truly believe that if they finish strong, the underachieving management team, unfortunately will return for next season
that’s why I have previously said that diehard fans are in a Catch 22 situation. We want them to win but not with the expectations of bringing back the current management structure
We want them gone for next season
Cherington needs fired. Shelton Haines should have been gone. Haines last year. Cherington hired them. Refuses to fire them. Fired international scouting that should have been fired years ago.
Cherington can win. Already has the starting pitching. Just need to get a few bats. He can get this team into the playoffs. What can’t do though is hire the right people. Recognize when it’s time to fire them. Develop prospects. Maybe a new gm can improve upon these. Nothing to lose. But could be something to gain.
Yes, Cherington can win but not with the field manager and his coaching staff
If everyone returns next year, we’ll be having the same conversation at this time in September of 2025
When this team wins, they do it in spite of Shelton and Haines
by the way they are still on pace to break the franchise strike out totals for a season
Not a Pirates fan. But Cherington doesn’t seem to be the problem. It’s Nutting. He should be forced out as owner.
That’s pretty much what im alluding to.
Ben has done solid job with very limited budget.
Literally had to dump Perez to bring in IKF at the deadline.
Not sure if the Pirates are truly awful at developing batters recently or if they’re just hyper dependent on certain guys succeeding under a microscope because there’s no plan B available
Davis seems to be a bad pick, but overall drafting has been solid, and they knew Davis was taken there to afford Bubba Chandler, White and Anthony Solometo in that class
Davis is unproven and the Pirates are bad at developing hitters since they have not developed any.
Perez era was 5.40 and they have been very good at developing pitchers.Not just the young ones but Falter and Ortiz and the two relievers too.
Ben does not know when to fire people and that is a real weakness.His trades for young players have not worked out either because they have not been developed or he overvalued them in the first place.
Nutting is who he is and he will not change but will spend to $110-120 M commensurate with how good the team is and how well it is managed.
He understands the economics of small market baseball better than anyone.
if the meaning of success is measured by having the second lowest batting average in the league as a team, or on pace to set the all time franchise record in strikeouts, or being no hit against like they were in last night’s game, then yes, it’s been a success
Cherington should be on the hot seat, he’s failed to develop any of his position player draft picks, he’s allowed the worst hitting coach in the league to continue being employed and is too involved in game management since he is the one who writes the lineup and not the manager
This is year 5 of his regime as General Manager and has yet to have a team who is competitive or finish at .500
Ben could have brought Carlos Santana back, and in fact, Santana wanted to return, but Ben chose to save $2 million dollars by signing Rowdy Tellez
Santana has 20 homers, 60 rbi, 24 doubles and has drawn 53 walks, which would be second best on this team
Ben can’t even be given credit for bringing back Cutch as a free agent signing since Cutch called Nutting directly
IKF was hardly worth trading for, his average has dropped by 20 points since arriving and is not the same player as he was with Toronto
The only aspect he can be given credit to is his drafting of pitchers but his player development system has been poor. He recently fired the International development system because they have failed to bring draft picks to the level of major league hitting yet he should be looking in the mirror, the entire player development system has failed
If the Pirates were owned by stockholders, Nutting could be forced out, but he’s the sole owner and because we live in a free market society, we have no leverage
He buy the other owners out? He used to be called chairman. Either way he would really have to mess up to be removed.
He’s done just ok with pitchers. Simply because he drafted so many, so high, for so much $. Skenes #1. Jones 2nd rd. Barco 2nd rd. Harrington 2nd rd. Solometo 2nd rd. Meuth 2nd rd cb Sterling 1st rd cb Mlod 1st rd cb and made a reliever before even MLB debut.
1st round picks or begining of the 2nd rd because they lose so many games every year. “They didn’t lose many games in 13 14 15! They won 3 out of 32 years!” Many highschool kids so they bribe them with millions so they won’t go to college but forces them to draft cheaper aka lesser talented players later.
2 biggest success stories other than winning the lottery and getting the best or 2nd best pitching prospect in draft history. Jones wasn’t nearly the pitcher he is now. Did pirates coaching drastically improve him? No. Harrington taught him a different grip for his fastball and it went from 15 inches of break to 21 inches. Just random luck. If they never drafted Harrington or Jones never became close friends with him Jones would just be a guy possibly. Bubba was a mid 1st round talent. Only by saving so much $ on Davis they wwre able to bribe him. But if Davis doesn’t get developed it washes out.
Ben took the right players but they were easy to identify and take. Won’t have that luxury if they ever start winning. A knowledgeable fan can draft well if they never drafted lower than 9 and had two #1 overall picks.
Cherington should be fired. It’s well past hot seat. Every player who improved at hitting didn’t give credit to Haines. Yet he is still employed. Should have been fired last year. Shelton should have been fired after August. Said international scout stunk. Took him 5 years to see this. Anyone looking at the lack of international talent in prospect rankings knew this for years.
again with the misconstruing of my comment, Dream. Is it delusional or just ignorance?
My comment was a hypothetical if the franchise was publicly owned and the comparison between a privately owned franchise and a free market society
Other than Skenes and Jones, no other pitcher who were drafted by Ben can be considered A+ until they face major league offenses
I meant he had to dump Perez to add any salary because of the cheapskate owner
I didn’t mean perez was good.
I’m just not sure what else can be expected from such a low payroll
If they truly can’t develop hitters then what’s behind Cruz and Nick Gonzales?
I’d say it’s that they’re actually good and we’re developed properly, and can’t magically develop bad players like Conor Joe or Jack Suwinski into good hitters
Speaking of things looking brighter, I’m a lifelong Detroit Tigers fan. They’ve pretty much sucked for years now, but I’m actually marginally optimistic about next season.
Been a while since I could say that.
Speaking of finishing at .500 or better, I’m pretty just PAYRING for the Tigers to finished the year at or better than .500.
Seems like it’s been a while.
2 names is all you have? Gonzales taught himself to hit so 1 name is all you have after 5 years. And his ops is only 40 points higher than 2022. Previous gm acquired him from another organization. That’s your 1 guy huh. Yeah there development is so so good.
Now trophies for above 500. Only worse draft picks.
Willie Stargell being co MVP in 1979 is still one of MLBs greatest mysteries. His numbers didn’t even deserve a top 5 finish. Keith Hernandez was unjustly robbed and forced to share the title with someone who didn’t even lead the league in any single offensive category.
let’s see, did the Cardinals win the WS in 1979?
NOPE
Back then, the MVP award was given to the player that contributed the most to his team and where that team finished at
Stargell’s share was worthy of his contributions and leadership to a team that won the WS
In 1966, Clemente didn’t lead the league in any offensive category but still won the MVP award
New-I attended the doubleheader with the Dodgers the series before the Giants.The Pirates lost both games against Koufax and Drysdale,and were mathematically eliminated.They could not beat Koufax.
On the other hand,they were the only team with a winning record against Drysdale.
That was the year that Maz,Gene Alley,and Donn Clendenon set the ML record for double plays.Pete Mikkelson had one great year as a closer,and that was it.He got a lot of grounders and that was not a good thing thing to do against that Pirates team.
actually, Clemente hit 29 homers, drove in 119 runs, scored 105 runs, 202 hits, 31 doubles and 11 triples
much like 1978’s stats which Dave Parker won the MVP award, except that he won the batting title
Wow, what a narrow view of what makes players valuable. Stargell’s impact was far broader than numbers, it was what he did for the team and the players on the team.
Still. Terry Pendleton MVP?
Barry Bonds should have been the MVP in 1991, not Pendleton
Slider-Stargell led the best team in baseball that year.
His numbers were fine.
He was also MVP in the playoffs and WS,a rare trifecta.
Try again.
plus, his leadership off of the field with the other players was unmatched: He rewarded players with stars on their hats for performing above and beyond
Stargell was the quintessential example of a real leader
Nope. Should have gone to Winfield
Five years into this fkn teardown,rebuild,stumble nut, how much better is this organization? I say marginally and thats being kind.
Historically speaking this is the norm for the Pirates. While not knowing exactly where they will finish this season in the previous 142 years of the franchise they have only made the post season 17 times. They have finished 4th place or worse 85 times (soon to be 86)
Wow, after a twenty plus year losing streak that’s still more postseason appearances than the Phillies and the Reds
3 playoff appearances under the current ownership in 27 years
This includes two consecutive 100 loss seasons
Oh how proud the fans are of this embarrassing franchise ( not)
Not sure why we should settle for sucking, “historically” or not. Lets move on and up from sucking, it can be done.
it can’t be accomplished by the fans, only by ownership opening up his wallet and a GM that knows what he’s doing
Tonybagadontz: Anybody remember Vinnie Badadonlutz from that movie (sorry: i forget the name of that film.)?
Rsox-This has been the norm for the Pirates for the last 45 years.
How does it rank compared to the Red Sox and 86 years?
In 123 years prior to this season the Sox have made the postseason 26 times while finishing 4th or lower 59 times.
The twenty-first century has been very good to the Red Sox.
The twentieth-not so much.
That is absolutely true. Same could be said for the Cubs, Indians/Guardians and White Sox and Astros. Interestingly, the reverse is true for the Yankees, Reds, Athletics and Blue Jays. No century has been kind to the Mariners, Padres and Rockies thus far…
Only 2 teams made playoffs. And Yankees Cardinals had the most $. There was no draft. Then only 4 teams. So any team that has been good often the past 30 years will boost their numbers with more playoff spots. Pirates haven’t won a division in 32 years. But got 3 wild cards. If you ignore everything after 1992 they done well. Awful ownership prevents winning. Once Nutting got them financially stable they had a chance at least. Only problem is he keeps his management years after it’s clear they aren’t up to the job. Pirates could be one of the best teams in baseball for the next decade if they fire Cherington now and get just a marginally better gm. I don’t get the feeling they will though.
They won’t fire Cherington because he is doing his job; keep building the farm while finding cheap MLB filler. The Pirates could be an interesting team next season but i wonder if Shelton may be fired to try to get the team to the next level
The farm system you believe he’s rebuilt is ranked 27th in all of baseball
His player development system for position players is horrible but pitching prospects has overwhelming improved
Rebuild was fast though. Only took 2 years. Usually takes 5 or 6.
the rebuilding effort wasn’t that good because they still suck
They will be doing another one soon unless they fire Cherington or his development drastically improves.
of course, it’s almost time for yet another rebuild. It wouldn’t be normal if it didn’t happen sooner than later
I still have a problem with the term rebuild.
They got rid of their veterans after about three years and then they went from terrible to below mediocre and have stayed that way this year,
It took 2-3 years just to find out who was good enough to find out just how good they can become.
Some of these guys are still in the development stage,as it takes several years for many young pitchers and hitters to reach their potential.
I think that the rebuild should have lasted five years but it will be six.At that time we will know just how good this team can be projected to be.
That is why management changes need to be made now so that bad managing and coaching cannot be blamed for holding players back.
A+ Shouldn’t have made it this far. Nice get.
if this far means last place then yes it should be graded A+
“Do ya like beans? Do ya like Joey Wentz? Do ya like eating beans with Joey Wentz?”
I’m surprised he made it passed the White Sox.
A 26 year old left handed pitcher with a former 1st round pedigree. That has to be the most coveted player type that could possibly exist.
Being blinded by prospect pedigree is a hell of a thing. This guy stinks but there’s always a team who thinks they can fix them. Seen crazier things happen but I’m not optimistic.
We had high hope for Joey, all we can say now is “no deposit-no return!” Good Luck Joey, be your best with the Pirates.
There will never be another ’70s-like era in MLB, when small market teams won 8 of the 10 WS in the decade: Oak (3), Pitt (2), Cinc (2), Balt (1).
Wentz may be one of those “change of scenery” guys who suddenly picks it up with another team.
84- A wiser statement of the future has never been uttered on this site.
That 2016 1st round was pretty rough.
Don’t understand why we don’t trade young pitching for young hitters? Oh I forgot we have nobody that has a clue to judge talent? Jesus this has been going on since 79. Completely stupid! 21 or 22 years of below 500? They set a modern day record. What ever happened to the lumber company? There know excuses. Unbelievable. Back to liquor cabinet I guess,that’s only way I can understand.
the lumber company of the 70’s has this year become at times “ the slumper company “
As a Tigers fan, I wish Joey Wentz well. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he had a decent season in 2025.
You have to be the angriest and dumbest poster in history
I’m not the one who gets this angry and resorts to name-calling over a game. Seek help.
Last night’s no hitter against the Bucs was the third time this has happened under Shelton’s and Haines’ tenure
THREE TIMES
I am puzzled why Shelton’s use of Tellez as a relief pitcher in a blowout game bothers you. The Pirate offense was dead. They had zero chance of scoring eleven runs in the ninth. Why would you not use a position player to pitch a meaningless inning? Why would you waste a relief pitcher? They’re already struggling enough.
Why would Nutting fire Shelton? Isn’t that Cherington s job? Hopefully at the end of the season, Nutting does a debriefing with each member of front offense and the coaching staff to get their input on what they think went seriously wrong. Then he either asks Cherington how he plans to fix the problems or he fires Cherington and finds someone who has an idea to fix the problems. (Could do both if Cherington has no realistic solutions in mind, which I suspect he doesn’t.). Cherington or his replacement should fire Shelton, who I believe has repeatedly demonstrated that he cannot do the job.
Nutting fired Hurdle after he canned Huntington so why wouldn’t he take the same approach?
The bullpen is struggling because Shelton and in a sense Cherington misuses the pitchers
With only a few dozen games left or so, what harm would it have done to promote one of the prized prospects just to pitch this game instead of using the over the hill German and against a potent lineup ?
It’s not just an embarrassment that the Cubs combined for a no hitter, but to use a position player to pitch for the third time in 8 games shows how inept and incompetent this management team is
@theman, your memory is slipping. Hurdle was fired first by Huntington. At that time, Nutting said Huntington was staying. Short time later, Nutting fired Huntington. That was the sequence.
Unlike the late George Steinbrenner, Nutting is not a baseball man and doesn’t micromanage. He appears to use a more conservative business model of trying to hire competent people and giving them time to prove or disprove that they are competent. Personally, I don’t think Shelton has proven himself competent and should have been replaced after last season. Also, for a general manager, I believe they deserve a slightly longer time period to prove themselves as systemic improvements are more difficult and require more time to bear fruit. I think Cherington’s time period to prove himself is up. First, he failed to correct the manager problem after last year. Second and more importantly, after five years we should have seen improvements in the player development system and we have not.
you’re going to argue about my memory? Who cares
Every single person in management needs to go and it was Nutting himself that said that he expected the team to be competitive this year and Cherington has failed bigly
Nutting might not be involved in baseball operations but he can read
He lives in Wheeling West Virginia, about 50 miles from PNC Park
He knows this team’s offense is horrible, he knows that they are in last place and I am sure he knows they were no hit for the 3rd time during Shelton’s tenure as manager
He attends every home game and probably speaks with many of local sports reporters
And he knows that Cherington just fired the International scouts because they weren’t developing any of the players they drafted
Cherington is in charge of player development and Nutting knows it
He could be nicked up a little. He took a ball off his left finger and one off the knee, in his last Tigers appearance.