In baseball, and in life, actions speak louder than words.
When someone says they are going to do something, it just doesn’t carry the same weight or importance as actually doing it.
Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch believes in the power of doing instead of saying.
While most teams wait until much closer to the season to name their Opening Day starter, Hinch decided to do it now, sending a powerful message to young left-hander Tarik Skubal.
“Tarik Skubal is the Opening Day starter, A.J. Hinch announces,” Tigers insider Evan Petzold tweeted.
Tarik Skubal is the Opening Day starter, A.J. Hinch announces. #Tigers
— Evan Petzold (@EvanPetzold) March 1, 2024
With this decision, Hinch is basically saying to Skubal that he is the ace of the staff, in a group that includes respected veterans like Kenta Maeda and Jack Flaherty and some excellent young pitchers.
Hinch decided to give the Opening Day gig to his best pitcher, the one who has the best chance to outperform his peers in the 2024 season.
Skubal fits the description: he is young (27), healthy, and coming off a fantastic performance in 2023, even if it was in abbreviated action.
Last year, the southpaw posted a 2.80 ERA and a 1.99 Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) in 80.1 innings, with just 14 walks and a whopping 102 strikeouts.
Skubal is yet to pitch 150 innings in a single season, but if he can manage to do that for the first time, the Tigers could sneak into the playoffs against all odds.
They need best-case scenarios all around the roster, but if their ace combines effectiveness with availability, only good things can happen.
The post Tigers Manager Reveals 2024 Opening Day Starter appeared first on The Cold Wire.