Detroit Tigers 2024 End of Season Press Conference with Scott Harris and AJ Hinch

7 comments

  1. If you don’t have 43 minutes, here are my bullet points

    (All bullet points are from Scott Harris unless noted otherwise)

    * Scott Harris thanks writers and fans. Says the fans at the playoff games where the most memorable part about the run the Tigers went on
    * Struggling with the “gut punch” on Saturday. “Breaks that didn’t go our way in Game 4 and 5”
    * Stepped back the last 48 hours and thought about goals he set in his opening press conference when coming to Detroit. Confident the team is heading in right direction and team has hit all the goals he set in opening press conference (Attain, develop and retain young players, control the strike zone, develop talent at MLB)
    * Notes pitchers are doing good job of controlling strike zone. Young hitters need to get better at not striking out, but feel they are taking good MLB AB’s
    * AJ Hinch echoe’d same stuff about fans. Roller Coaster of emotion throughout season with this team. Always wants to give this city a team to be proud of.

    Questions Start:

    * Young players CAN get better. Notes that a lot of the rookies haven’t even had a 1/2 season worth of PA’s/IP’s
    * Majority of growth has to come from within. No matter who they add, the majority of talent has to come from within the orginization. The young players are “too talented”
    * Emphazises there will be external editions, just doesn’t know what/who it will be as it’s only been 48 hours.
    * Mentions Matt Vierling, if they find an OF addition Vierling moves to IF, if the find an IF edition Vierling moves to OF. Emphazises versatility.
    * Obviously going to add pitching
    * Goal is to have a 5 man rotation, glad to know the “bulk inning” strategy is something they can go to if needed, but won’t start next year with that strategy.
    * Collective opinion on SS opinion has improved because of the addtion of Sweeney. Javy “has a role on this team”
    * Belive “hips” were an issue with Javy this year. Javy will get reps in Spring Training, no timeline for if he will be on Opening Day roster. “Fits framework of this infield”
    * “Will you have the funds to get whoever you want” YES. Doesn’t chase payroll.
    * Will persue any player that fits this Tiger team. No matter if they have to spend money or trade prospects. “Have done a lot of work to build farm system to be able to make a trade like that”
    * Rule 5 is a blessing and a curse. A lot of players they want to protect. “I don’t know yet, tough decisions”
    * Tork needs to have a good off-season. Still needs to work on becoming a ‘complete hitter’. They have confidence in Tork.
    * Believe they failed Kenta Maeda during last off-season. Will work this off-season to make sure he’s better prepared for next year. Needs to be a better strike thrower
    * Conversations with Free Agents will be easier this year because Tigers are winning. Have demostrated that Vet players can get better coming to Detroit
    * AJ Hinch says “2024 team is the floor” internal guys need to use it as motiviation. external players that come here need to know there are expectations
    * Hinch makes joke “we talk about guys that have earned the right to be at big league camp. Max, Kevin, Liranzo see you at big league camp”
    * Hinch thanks coaching staff. Believes the whole coaching staff will be back, hope teams don’t poach them
    * Harris hasn’t thought about “running it back” 100% believes in clubhouse chemistry and believes it’s part of driving the success they had this season
    * Won’t publicly comment about Skubal extension. “You saw what we did with Colt Keith, we had private discussions, announced it publicy once it was done”
    * Will have a lot of these players a long time for the nature of service time “Hopes to extend the window with some of them”
    * Hinch “a lot of firsts for all these guys” Adjustments were made all season by a lot of different players. More adjustments will need to be made next year
    * Casey Mize has best fastball he’s had in career. Needs to make adjustments with secondaries, believe he still has a high ceiling
    * Parker Meadows is a huge building block for Tigers pitching. Scott “I don’t know how he can get better, I guess get better against lefties, needs more PA’s”
    * Hinch “He can get better by properly calling off Wenceel Perez in RCF” talks about adjustments he made in ALDS against Matt Boyd from Game 2 to Game 5

    Final question about payroll and how his communication with Chris Ilitch is:

    “I need to make compelling cases for additions that will help this team improve. When I do, I know I’ll have the full support of Chris. I should note that Chris and this entire organizations commitment is not just to payroll, it’s about building a winning organization. We have invested 10’s of millions $’s on the non sexy things about an organizations. 10’s of millions into the clubhouse, a new plane, new features in Lakeland that you’ll see when you show up in February on a new Dominican Complex on an expanded coaching staff and a very expensive manager (everyone laughs) and new technology. This is what winning organizations do. We’ll keep investing in payroll and non-payroll items that make this place a compelling destination. It’s my job to make compelling cases and I know if I do I’ll have the full support…”

  2. I’m hoping at some point someone will ask AJ about getting Carpenter more AB’s against lefty’s. He wasn’t very powerful in the minors against them, but also wasn’t hitting them horrible. He’s such a good hitter, it seems odd that they have almost zero confidence in him against those pitchers.

  3. Hell yeah. Enough of this manic joyful unexpected playoff runs crap. Sharpen your pitchforks & check on your torch fuel supply, kids, cos it’s Grievance and Anger season once more!

  4. I am a simple man. Just asking for Soto and Burnes to be signed. Nothing too crazy.

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