Detroit Tigers Links: Is it too early to start the bullpen panic?

What’s defense?

In a game devoid of offense, one home run, solid starting pitching, and a cut-off single (!) got the win on Tuesday. One of those is extremely out of place of the Detroit Tigers.

I doubt J.D. Martinez makes the play that Mikie Mahtook made in the ninth inning, holding Minnesota Twins catcher Jason Castro to a single, but hopefully the days of Delmon Young bouncing balls in from the outfield are gone for good. Hooray for above average defensive plays!

Oh don’t worry, I’ll panic

Here’s a stat you may not know the exact numbers of, but are acutely aware.

New year, same story. Manager Brad Ausmus has gone from discouraging concern to ironically encouraging it. I kind of respect the move.

I understand Ausmus’ point of view. It is outrageous to be already concerned about anything seven games into the season. But after what seems like a decade of consecutive bullpen collapses, excuse us if we are already in panic mode.

18th in value, number 1 in our hearts

The Tigers clocked in at number 18 in Forbes’ MLB franchise value rankings with a valuation of $1.2 billion. That’s pretty damn good for the Ilitch family. Mike bought the team for just $82 million in 1992.

These figures are always somewhat arbitrary estimates, but the numbers that matter are the team’s payroll — ranked second in all of MLB in 2016 — and the negative $36 million operating cost last year. It’s worth reaffirming that the team salary is at unsustainable heights, but should decrease in 2018. It remains to be seen how much money Chris Ilitch will continue to commit to the payroll.

Oh my god yes

Some people frown upon Star Wars nights as unnecessary gimmicks, but those people also hate fun and are never happy. I don’t know that for sure, but it’s a fair assumption.

I am surprisingly not on this list

The USA Today came out with a list of the top 100 most influential people in baseball. It’s an interesting and enlightening look at a collection of big names and not-so-well-known personalities of baseball. That said, the actual rankings are up for serious debate. Especially Bryce Harper over Theo Epstein and Tom Ricketts.

For your free time

What if Barry Bonds played without a bat? Jon Bois is from another planet. The Cubs are absolutely going to go from lovable losers to near Yankee hatred over the next five years. Remember when Kosuke Fukudome was supposed to save the Cubs? Good job Phillies. Yoenis Cespedes went HAM last night.

Baseball is awesome