After more than 60 years as a passionate fan, I can no longer support the Detroit Tigers and the team’s inept and destructive management. We all expected the tawdry giveaway of TarikSkubal, but then, in parting with Casey Mize, the team at a stroke rendered the remainder of the season meaningless. And for what? In return, they scored a castoff from the worst farm system in baseball, nothing more than they would have gotten by keeping Mize and getting a compensatory draft pick after the season.
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Many thousands of people have already paid money to see those now meaningless games. I can no longer support a team that treats its fans with such complete contempt.
John Abdenour
New Haven
I'm 71 years old, and I'm officially done with the Detroit Tigers
Is it true that Mr. Chris Ilitch, should the LA Dodgers win the World Series, will receive a luxury viewing box and a World Series ring? After all, he managed to trade away the future. I am finally done. As far as I am concerned, the Tigers no longer exist. I have been an avid fan for my whole life, and I am 71 years old. I have tickets for the Friday, Aug. 14 game, and it will be my last. I pray to God that everyone stays away from going to games and maybe forces him to sell the club to someone who wants to win. For now, we are nothing but a glorified MLB major league farm system.
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Charles Strohauer
Rochester Hills
I'm appalled at the choices Ilitch has made
Well, it is done finally. Skubal is traded, and the return looks to be minimal at best and very Justin Verlander-like. When the key piece is a Double-A minor league pitcher, that tells you all you need to know. Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris has now surpassed Al Avila as one of the worst baseball operations managers in Tiger history. Doing a deal with the Dodgers was never going to work out well, as his skills are not in the same universe as Dodgers' president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and company. The Dodgers never trade assets that have any real value, just media-pumped names.
And congratulations to Chris Ilitch for continuing to stay ahead of John Fisher, with the Athletics, for the Charles O. Finley (who studied Connie Mack's approach) clueless cheapskate owner award. You and your coffee runner Scott Harris have now fully established the Tigers up as one of those teams that young players will leave at the first opportunity, quality players will avoid at any cost, and only bargain basement hopefuls (comprising 74% of Harris' transactions) and broken down shoulda-retired veterans (Kenta Maeda, Alex Cobb, Verlander, etc.) will sign with. Your exceptional lack of skill as a major sports team and business owner continues to shine with the Tigers, Red Wings, and Little Caesars' mediocre positions in their respective worlds.
Kenneth R. Haner
Summerfield
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Maybe everyone should just be fired
I am a longtime Tigers fan, and once again, they have thrown in the towel. Perhaps Scott Harris should be fired for not getting a good crop of front-line players. These three are not going to see the majors for a long time. And perhaps they should fire the pitching coach, as he has not been able to correct the bullpen. Look, I know the team has had injuries, but to trade their best pitcher — tell Little Caesars to fork out the money and pay Skubal, the two-time Cy Young Award winner. Don't let him go because of that.
Larry Batchelar
Almonte, Ontario
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers need to get it together. Until then, I'm out. | Letters