Tigers fans should take notice of front office playing long game with Charlie Morton

When the Detroit Tigers acquired veteran right-hander Charlie Morton from the Baltimore Orioles at the buzzer on the July 31 trade deadline, fan reactions were decidedly mixed.

Even with the addition of Chris Paddack from the Minnesota Twins, the Tigers could still use another starter after season-ending injuries to Jackson Jobe and Reese Olson decimated their rotation. Plenty of fans felt that president of baseball operations Scott Harris could have aimed a little higher than a 41-year-old whose wildly inconsistent performance had led to a 5.42 ERA and a 10.3% walk rate at the time of the trade.

Morton has a strong playoff pedigree, and his 3.88 ERA over his last 11 starts before the trade gave Tigers fans some reason for optimism. He has also posted a perfectly respectable 3.63 ERA over 22 1/3 innings through three starts since joining the Tigers, including Wednesday's win over the Astros.

Still, the trade didn't exactly inspire playoff confidence among Detroit fans – although, maybe it should have.

Tigers fans should take notice of front office playing long game with Charlie Morton

Morton, while admittedly past his prime, has built a reputation fas one of the most reliable postseason pitchers of his generation.

For starters, Morton has pitched in a pair of World Series and won both (2017 with the Houston Astros and 2021 with the Atlanta Braves). He was also a member of the 2020 Rays team that made a run to the Fall Classic during the shortened COVID season against the Dodgers. In 18 career postseason appearances (80 innings), he has a 7-5 record with a 3.60 ERA, 3.67 FIP, 1.25 WHIP and 92 strikeouts.

Morton also has a reputation for success in winner-take-all games, boasting an impressive 4-0 record in such contests. He's trustworthy in big-game situations, and his combination of stuff, experience and poise makes him a pitcher teams want on the mound in October.

Throughout his 18-year MLB career, Morton has faced some of the game's best hitters in the most intense environments, and he actually seems to pitch better when the stakes are higher. He's adjusted as he's aged, leaning more heavily on sequencing and precision than on pure velocity in order to maintain command.

Tigers fans should have no qualms about AJ Hinch handing Morton the ball in October (especially since his former manager already did so without hesitation back in 2017); in fact, they should be giddy about it.

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