Sifting through the silt in Detroit Sports over the weekend
By Ash Thompson
Here are some of the stories in Detroit sports that dropped over the weekend, just in case you missed them.
The Detroit Tigers apparently can not add. Jacob Turner was supposed to start at Minnesota Sunday, but had not met the mandatory 10 days since he was designated for assignment. Buck Farmer, possibly the best name in baseball, made his first start of the year. It was literally a situation of “what is 10 + 10?” If the Tigers season wasn’t a punchline already, it certainly is now.
The Tigers also got the first installment on the Mike fiers deal. Sidearm pitcher Nolan Blackwood, in his third minor league season joins the Tigers organization. He is a Double-A level All-Star. He is a fastball, slider, and changeup pitcher. I’m still holding my judgement until we see the complete deal, but so far I am not impressed.
The Detroit Red Wings Niklas Kronwall has said he might retire after the 2018-19 season. In a related story, the way that the sky reflects light directed from the sun still appears to human beings as the color blue. Kronwall was a part of better times in Detroit, but he is one of the terrible contracts that GM Ken Holland handed out in his desperate attempt to keep the dynasty rolling.
Kronwall is a big man whose defining characteristic was his open ice hits. Since those have been legislated out the game, he has not been nearly as effective a player. He is a Wings legend, but at this point he is a hindrance more than help.
The Detroit Lions signed safety Marcus Cromartie to replace the injured Stefan McClure Sunday. Cromartie is a four veteran journeyman with a chance to cling to a special teams based role with the team. It is not the interior defensive lineman or pass rusher that Lions fans are hoping for, but that is clearly never coming.
The Lions have disappointed in two preseason games, but this is the roster, more or less, that the team will have going into the regular season.
Next. 3 options for the Lions to replace Steve Longa. dark
The Tigers and Lions lost a bunch of games, and nobody else is actually doing anything meaningful. There is your recap of Detroit sports over the weekend.