May 9, 2021
Brandon Woodruff has quietly been one of the better pitchers in the National League since the start of the 2019 season. In 42 starts comprising 237 innings, the Milwaukee Brewers right-hander has 285 strikeouts to go with a 3.11 ERA and a 2.93 FIP. The last of those numbers is equal to Shane Bieber’s mark over the same period.
A big reason for Woodruff’s success is a repertoire adjustment he made midway through the 2018 season. As he explained in an article that ran here at FanGraphs last April, he began throwing both two- and four-seam fastballs. Neither is anything to write home about movement-wise, but paired together and sequenced well they’re a formidable combo. As Woodruff told me at the time, “It’s hard for the hitter to distinguish which one is going to be coming.”
Manager AJ Hinch wants the Detroit Tigers to make significant improvements in the coming weeks. The minor-league season started Tuesday, and Hinch has already spoken on the phone with Triple-A Toledo manager Tom Prince and Double-A Erie manager Arnie Beyeler. You d be amazed at what a five-minute conversation can do for you and for them, Hinch said Wednesday.
The Tigers (8-22) are entering the second of three games against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, nearing the conclusion of a nine-game road trip. They ve lost six in a row and 16 of their past 18 contests, to go with a league-worst .199 batting average.
Keeping close tabs on Tigers’ minor-leaguers? So is A.J. Hinch.
Updated May 06, 2021;
Posted May 06, 2021
Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Monday, April 26, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)AP
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If Detroit Tigers fans are watching the minor leagues more than usual this week, perhaps it’s because the alternative (the big-league Tigers) is too depressing.
While the start minor-league season is usually overshadowed by Major League Opening Day, the delayed start gave the kids on the farm a larger showcase.
And like the fans, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch has been watching.
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Riley Greene has been captivating Tigers fans with his big league potential for more than a year between two Spring Trainings and last year s Summer Camp. But he has been waiting to get back to Minor League ball for a while.
His first regular-season game in 20 months is going to put him just a couple developmental steps from Detroit. I m very eager, I m ready to get the season started, the Tigers No. 2 prospect said Saturday from Erie, Pa., where he ll open his first full Minor League season jumping into Double-A ball. I ve been wanting to do this for a long time now, just playing games that actually matter, under the lights, with fans. It s going to be awesome and I m excited to get going.