Detroit Tigers: There is renewed purpose in the Motor City

Akil Baddoo rips a round-tripper off Blue Jays stalwart Hyun-Jin Ryu on a beautiful Friday afternoon giving another sign the multi-year rebuild phase for the Detroit Tigers is drawing to a close. It’s time to acknowledge the renewed purpose of winning in the Motor City.

There seems to be an energy among the players, the media, and the fans. Another wildcard slot is available and the Tigers seem on the upswing to make a run at a spot. New talent is bubbling up from the now viable farm system and management did commit the fourth highest amount of money of any club in this off-season.

Does the front office in Detroit share the optimism? Again, they did spend. They addressed needs. But they also tapped the brakes at a time where opportunities looked abundant immediately after the lockout. Is Chris Ilitch ready to win? Let’s also point out Forbes Magazine’s news of the Tigers making a tidy $31M profit in 2021.

There is no guarantee when a rebuild effort actually ends but there can be a definite read on when a team should attempt to shed the cloak of losing they’ve been hiding under. The Tigers, despite coming out of the lockout with only a whisper of talent acquisition during a hyper period of MLB moves, are now positioned to try to win.

The manager to lead them, AJ Hinch, is solidly in place with both hands on the wheel. Hinch has an air of leadership and intelligence around him that seems to permeate the organization. The days of some belittling him, allowing the trash can shenanigans to take place in Houston, seem well behind him.