6d ago
With the Winter Meetings in the books, Evan Petzold and Chris Brown break down on "Days of Roar" the Detroit Tigers' bullpen upgrades, signing Kyle Finnegan to a two-year contract and Kenley Jansen to a one-year contract with a club option. Can both veteran relievers maintain their past success in the 2026 season? There are reasons for confidence — and reasons for concerns. We also add context to the Drew Anderson signing, then debate the next player to lose a spot on the 40-man roster: Justyn-Henry Malloy or Bailey Horn? Baseball America prospects writer Geoff Pontes joins the show to analyze the Tigers' farm system, including the loss of RJ Petit in the Rule 5 draft, the acquisition of Johan Simon from the Toronto Blue Jays in the Chase Lee trade and the Tigers' updated top-10 prospect rankings, featuring Kevin McGonigle, Max Clark, Hao-Yu Lee and Max Anderson, among others — but not Thayron Liranzo. To wrap up, Petzold and Brown evaluate the starting rotation, including the trade rumors surrounding Tarik Skubal and whether the Tigers are making a mistake by not pursuing frontline starters. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Dec 12
In this special "Days of Roar" bonus episode, Evan Petzold welcomes USA TODAY Sports MLB columnist and insider Bob Nightengale to recap MLB's Winter Meetings in Orlando. Evan and Bob discuss the biggest storyline of the 2025-26 offseason: Will the Detroit Tigers trade Tarik Skubal, and if not, where will the back-to-back American League Cy Young winner sign after the 2026 season — with 10 years, $450 million as the expectation? Do the Tigers have a chance to sign Alex Bregman if his market collapses again, or is he destined to return to the Boston Red Sox, even on another short-term contract? At the Winter Meetings, Kyle Schwarber signed with the Philadelphia Phillies, Edwin Díaz signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Pete Alonso signed with the Baltimore Orioles. What happens to free-agent position players such as Kyle Tucker, Cody Bellinger, Bo Bichette, and what about free-agent pitchers like Framber Valdez, Tatsuya Imai and Ranger Suarez? For more on the Tigers, Evan and Bob discuss the chances of the Tigers winning the AL Central in 2026 — and what moves the Tigers need to have a chance to win the World Series. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Dec 8
The Winter Meetings are underway in Orlando, and the Detroit Tigers arrive with several storylines to follow. On "Days of Roar," Evan Petzold and Chris Brown discuss the signing of right-hander Drew Anderson to a one-year contract. He will show up to spring training as a starter, but will he ultimately become a reliever? We break down what to watch with the Tigers at the Winter Meetings, including big updates on Alex Bregman's free agency and Tarik Skubal's trade situation. Other topics about the Tigers include the pursuit of another starter for the rotation and the remaining high-leverage relievers to upgrade the bullpen. Boston Red Sox radio voice Will Flemming joins the show to discuss Bregman's market, his impact in Boston's clubhouse in 2025 and whether a reunion with the Red Sox is the most likely outcome. He also endorses an all-in Skubal trade for the Red Sox, even though Skubal is set to become a free agent after the 2026 season. To wrap up, Evan and Chris provide — and break down — mock trades for Skubal with the Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Dec 2
On "Days of Roar," Evan Petzold and Chris Brown evaluate the Detroit Tigers with one week until MLB's Winter Meetings. Right-hander Dylan Cease kicked off free agency this offseason with a seven-year, $210 million contract from the Toronto Blue Jays, raising questions about left-hander Tarik Skubal's market next offseason. We break down agent Scott Boras' latest comments about third baseman Alex Bregman — and whether the Tigers truly need his leadership. We dig into the Tigers' interest in right-hander Michael King in free agency, then break down how president of baseball operations Scott Harris should spend his remaining $35 million (if the payroll target is $175 million). Greg Jewett, a bullpen expert, joins the show to analyze the relievers on the free agent and trade markets, including the best fits for the Tigers. He discusses everything from top-tier options to under-the-radar candidates, plus he reacts to the breaking news of right-handed reliever Devin Williams signing with the New York Mets. To wrap up, Brown digs into a bigger-picture organizational question: Do the Tigers have a pitching problem? Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Nov 25
The Detroit Tigers continue shaping their roster for the 2026 season, headlined by Gleyber Torres accepting the one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer. On "Days of Roar," Evan Petzold and Chris Brown break down how Torres' return impacts the offseason plan, what the infield looks like with him locked in at second base and where top prospect Kevin McGonigle fits into the picture. Rogelio Castillo from "Tigers Minor League Report" joins to discuss the five prospects protected by the Tigers from the Rule 5 draft: Trei Cruz, Hao-Yu Lee, Jake Miller, Thayron Liranzo and Eduardo Valencia. Those five players are the newest members of the 40-man roster. We also discuss the Tigers' decision to non-tender Andy Ibáñez while tendering contracts to the other 11 arbitration-eligible players, including avoiding arbitration with guaranteed contracts for Matt Vierling, Jake Rogers and Beau Brieske. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Nov 18
On "Days of Roar," Evan Petzold and Chris Brown recap a busy week of offseason news for the Detroit Tigers and look ahead to some big decisions, including Tarik Skubal winning the 2025 American League Cy Young Award (becoming the first AL back-to-back winner in the 21st century) and Gleyber Torres preparing to decide whether to accept or decline the one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer. We focus on the latest information about Skubal's future, plus we unpack everything we learned from general manager Jeff Greenberg about the Tigers' plan for free agency and trades. New Tigers reliever Dugan Darnell — a Michigan native — joins the show to discuss being claimed off waivers, his journey from Adrian College, his memorable MLB debut with the Colorado Rockies and his recovery timeline after hip surgery. We also analyze top prospect Kevin McGonigle after he won the Arizona Fall League MVP. The No. 1 question: Will McGonigle make the 2026 Opening Day roster? Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Nov 11
The Detroit Tigers are gearing up to make moves in the 2025-26 offseason as the general manager meetings get underway in Las Vegas. On "Days of Roar," Evan Petzold and Chris Brown break down whether Gleyber Torres will accept or decline the qualifying offer, the biggest needs to improve the roster, the shopping list in free agency and the projected payroll, including how much money the Tigers could spend. Later, former MLB general manager Jim Duquette joins the show to discuss the biggest story in baseball: Tarik Skubal. What should the Tigers do: extend him, trade him, keep him? Duquette offers insight into dealing with agent Scott Boras, Skubal's potential free-agent value, Jack Flaherty's decision to accept his $20 million player option, Torres' qualifying offer and the Alex Bregman saga. Evan and Chris also look ahead to the 2026 season, picking three pitchers and three position players they're most confident in — and the three pitchers and three position players they're least confident in. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Nov 6
The Detroit Tigers' offseason is officially in motion after the Los Angeles Dodgers won the 2025 World Series. On "Days of Roar," Evan Petzold and Chris Brown ("Tigers Minor League Report") react to coaching staff changes, Jack Flaherty's decision to accept his $20 million player option and Dillon Dingler becoming the Tigers' first Gold Glove winner since 2016. Lance Parrish — an eight-time All-Star, six-time Silver Slugger and three-time Gold Glove winner — joins the show to discuss several topics, including the direction of the Tigers, Dingler becoming the No. 1 catcher, the origin of his "Big Wheel" nickname and Lou Whitaker not being in the Hall of Fame. We also analyze if the Tigers will extend the qualifying offer to Gleyber Torres, and if so, will Torres accept? Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Oct 28
The 2025 season is in the books for the Detroit Tigers, but the 2025-26 offseason is about to get underway. On "Days of Roar," Evan Petzold and Chris Brown ("Tigers Minor League Report") share their final grades for the Tigers – breaking down pitching, hitting, defense and coaching. We also share three key lessons from 2025, along with what those lessons mean for 2026. Dan Dickerson – the radio voice of the Tigers – joins the show to recap the season, talk about Tarik Skubal's future and outline the offseason plan to build a World Series champion. Dickerson also provides his evaluations of several key players, including Riley Greene, Dillon Dingler and Troy Melton. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Oct 21
The Detroit Tigers are officially in offseason mode with big questions looming. On "Days of Roar," Evan Petzold and Chris Brown ("Tigers Minor League Report") dive into two of the biggest questions: Are the Tigers and Tarik Skubal really $250 million apart in contract talks? Will the Tigers try to sign Alex Bregman again in free agency? Later, Mike Ferrin, co-host of "Power Alley" on MLB Network Radio, joins the show to preview the World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays, along with sharing all of his thoughts on the Tigers. We also take a look at the Tigers' free agents, the upcoming Jack Flaherty and Gleyber Torres decisions, and what manager A.J. Hinch meant when he said the Tigers won't "just run it back" in 2026. Could the Tigers trade one of their core players? Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Oct 14
The 2025 season is over for the Detroit Tigers after a heartbreaking 15-inning loss to the Seattle Mariners in Game 5 of the ALDS, which eliminated the Tigers from the MLB postseason. The Tigers have been knocked out of the playoffs in Game 5 of the ALDS in each of the past two seasons. On "Days of Roar," Evan Petzold and Chris Brown ("Tigers Minor League Report") share takeaways from the Tigers' postseason run and discuss the big offseason topic. What happened to the Tigers in Game 5 of the ALDS? Should the Tigers trade Tarik Skubal this offseason? We also react to what president of baseball operations Scott Harris and manager A.J. Hinch outlined during the end-of-season press conference, with Harris putting the blame on the offense. If the offense is the problem, then what's the plan to fix the offense ahead of the 2026 season? We look into Hinch's contract extension, plus what the Tigers need most in the offseason. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Oct 6
The Detroit Tigers are still playing postseason baseball — and they're finally home. The Tigers split the first two games of the ALDS against the Seattle Mariners after taking down the Cleveland Guardians in the AL wild-card series. On "Days of Roar," Evan Petzold and Chris Brown ("Tigers Minor League Report") discuss overcoming the Guardians, the better ALCS matchup for the Tigers (Toronto Blue Jays or New York Yankees), the offense with runners in scoring position and the bullpen needing to be lights out without run support. To help break down the ALDS, Ryan Divish — the Mariners beat writer for the Seattle Times — provides insight into the Mariners, including AL MVP candidate Cal Raleigh. For Game 3 of the ALDS, the Tigers selected Jack Flaherty as their starting pitcher. Should it have been Casey Mize? Colt Keith returned for the ALDS after missing two weeks with an injury. When will we see injured players Matt Vierling and Reese Olson join the Tigers? Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Sep 30
The Detroit Tigers punched their ticket to the postseason with an 87-75 record in the regular season, earning the third and final American League wild-card spot and setting up a best-of-three wild-card series against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. On "Days of Roar," Evan Petzold and Chris Brown ("Tigers Minor League Report") evaluate if the end-of-season struggles will impact the Tigers heading into October. We debate whether the Tigers should have pushed to win the AL Central in the final game, preview the Tarik Skubal vs. Gavin Williams matchup in Game 1, discuss X factors, who should start Game 2 for the Tigers and share the latest on Colt Keith's injury. Plus, Tigers radio analyst Bobby Scales joins the show. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Sep 22
The Detroit Tigers lost all six games on their final homestand of the 2025 season, dropping their lead in the American League Central to one game. On "Days of Roar," Evan Petzold and Chris Brown ("Tigers Minor League Report") answer the big-picture question: Who deserves blame for this collapse — owner Christopher Ilitch, president of baseball operations Scott Harris, manager A.J. Hinch or the players? We also preview the upcoming three-game series against the Cleveland Guardians in a battle for the AL Central with postseason implications, including insight from Guardians beat writer Paul Hoynes. We dive into Colt Keith's injury, the decision to cut Charlie Morton and what playoff scenarios could await the Tigers. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Sep 15
The Detroit Tigers turned in a 3-3 record on their six-game road trip against the New York Yankees and Miami Marlins, but the focus has already shifted to an important stretch: six games in 10 days against the Cleveland Guardians with the American League Central on the line. On "Days of Roar," Evan Petzold and Chris Brown (from "Tigers Minor League Report") share what they need to see from the Tigers in the upcoming games against the Guardians. To break down the matchup, Guardians beat writer Paul Hoynes joins the show to talk about the starting rotation, bullpen and offense in Cleveland, led by superstar José Ramírez. We dive into the seven prospects the Tigers are sending to the Arizona Fall League, plus our expectations as Paul Sewald prepares to join the Tigers' bullpen. We also give injury updates on Kyle Finnegan, Matt Vierling and Brant Hurter. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Sep 8
The Detroit Tigers lost four of six games on their homestand, dropping back-to-back series to the New York Mets and Chicago White Sox. On "Days of Roar," Evan Petzold and Chris Brown (from "Tigers Minor League Report") evaluate how the postseason panic meter is trending with the Tigers all but officially locked in for October. The Big 2: How does the bullpen hold up without Kyle Finnegan, and do the Tigers need the pre-All-Star Game version of Gleyber Torres to be successful? Nick Pollack, the founder of "Pitcher List," joins the show to talk Tarik Skubal vs. Garrett Crochet in the 2025 American League Cy Young race, the Tigers' pitching situation and individual trends for pitchers. We also discuss Chris Paddack's move to the bullpen, rank our trust in the non-Skubal starters and provide injury updates on several players, including Paul Sewald and Reese Olson. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Sep 2
The Detroit Tigers hit a rough stretch on their six-game road trip, including a three-game sweep against the Athletics in West Sacramento. On "Days of Roar," Evan Petzold and Chris Brown (from "Tigers Minor League Report") discuss where the Tigers stand in the postseason picture and evaluate if 96 wins is possible. The Big 2: Do the September call-ups really matter with all the roster shuffling, and is it time to worry about the Tigers' starting rotation beyond Tarik Skubal? Kansas City Royals beat writer Jaylon Thompson joins the show to talk about the Royals, including their hunt for the third and final wild-card spot in the American League. We dive into Kyle Finnegan, Tommy Kahnle and the concern about the lack of left-handed specialists in the bullpen. We also touch on injury updates, including Parker Meadows and Paul Sewald. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Aug 25
The Detroit Tigers completed a 5-1 record during their six-game homestand at Comerica Park, highlighted by a three-game sweep of the Houston Astros and Riley Greene's 30th home run in a clutch moment against the Kansas City Royals. On this "Days of Roar" episode, Evan Petzold is joined by Chris Brown of "Tigers Minor League Report." We dig into the Big 2: How did the Tigers bounce back from their 1-12 slump in July, and what could the bullpen look like with rehabbing pitchers Alex Cobb and José Urquidy in new roles? Later, Baseball America prospect writer Geoff Pontes joins the show for a deep dive into Tigers No. 1 prospect Kevin McGonigle, whom he compares to Jose Altuve. As for the Tigers in the big leagues, Petzold and Brown tackle more bullpen questions, injury updates on Parker Meadows, Matt Vierling and Paul Sewald, and a 2026 conversation about Vierling. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Aug 18
The Detroit Tigers turned in a 5-2 record this week, winning series against the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins, with three of the five victories coming by just one run. On "Days of Roar," Evan Petzold and guest co-host Chris Brown from "Tigers Minor League Report" break down what the seven-game road trip means for the American League Central, plus where the Tigers stand in the postseason picture. The Big 2: Should the Tigers promote top prospect Kevin McGonigle in 2025? How are the Tigers managing their below-average bullpen with a series-by-series approach? Dan Hayes, the Twins beat writer for The Athletic, joins the show to discuss the fire sale at the trade deadline, the ownership situation and the long-term outlook. We also take a closer look at the minor leaguers who could help the Tigers down the stretch, including left-handed reliever Drew Sommers, and we evaluate the upside for Troy Melton. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Aug 11
On "Days of Roar," Evan Petzold is joined by Chris Castellani from "Chris and Company" to recap the good and the bad from the Detroit Tigers in their recent six-game homestand, finishing with a 3-3 record. Petzold and Castellani evaluate the starting rotation and the bullpen, along with the continued success of Kerry Carpenter and American League Central race as the Cleveland Guardians close the gap on the Tigers. Erie SeaWolves broadcaster Greg Gania — the part-time radio voice of the Tigers — joins the show to discuss a variety of topics, including his journey from Erie to Detroit as a play-by-play broadcaster. He also talks about top prospects Kevin McGonigle, Max Clark and Josue Briceño at the Double-A level, provides an updated scouting report on fellow top prospect Thayron Liranzo and shares his favorite memories of current Tigers players (including Tarik Skubal) from their SeaWolves days. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Aug 4
The Detroit Tigers had a 4-2 record this week, sweeping the Arizona Diamondbacks and dropping a series to the Philadelphia Phillies — but the biggest news came off the field: Reese Olson is out for the regular season (and possibly the postseason) with a shoulder injury. Evan Petzold — joined by "Locked On Tigers" host Scott Bentley — take a deep dive into the trade deadline: Did Scott Harris make the right call by prioritizing quantity over quality? And is he making a mistake by not capitalizing on the Tarik Skubal window? Washington Nationals beat writer Andrew Golden, who works for the Washington Post, joins "Days of Roar" to introduce Tigers fans to new reliever Kyle Finnegan, whom the Tigers acquired from the Nationals at the trade deadline. After talking to Golden, Petzold and Bentley debate: Who gets the ball in the biggest moment — Finnegan, Will Vest or Tommy Kahnle? We also discuss Reese Olson's injury history and Troy Melton's move to the bullpen. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Aug 1
Detroit Tigers beat writer Evan Petzold recaps the 2025 MLB trade deadline, including audio from the post-trade press conference with Tigers president of baseball of baseball operations Scott Harris. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Jul 28
The Detroit Tigers snapped another six-game losing streak with a 10-4 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on July 27, thanks to a three-run home run by Gleyber Torres. The Tigers have lost 12 of their last 14 games, but they still have an eight-game lead in the American League Central. Tigers beat writer Evan Petzold evaluates the losing stretch on Days of Roar, joined by Chris Castellani of Chris and Company. Petzold and Castellani discuss their panic meter, both for winning the AL Central and the World Series. They are also looking ahead to the trade deadline, scheduled for 6 p.m. July 31. What is the No. 1 priority for the Tigers? How can the Tigers acquire slugger Eugenio Suárez? How much help does the bullpen really need? Bullpen expert Greg Jewett joins Days of Roar to dig deeper into the reliever market at the trade deadline. He believes the Tigers could acquire popular closers David Bednar (Pittsburgh Pirates), Ryan Helsley (St. Louis Cardinals) and Raisel Iglesias (Atlanta Braves), but he also mentions several under-the-radar trade candidates for the Tigers within the next few days. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Jul 21
The Detroit Tigers finally snapped their season-worst six-game losing streak with a 2-1 win over the Texas Rangers on July 20, powered by Tarik Skubal, Matt Vierling and Will Vest. Despite the skid, the Tigers became the first MLB team to reach 60 wins, with a 60-40 record. Tigers beat writer Evan Petzold breaks it all down on Days of Roar, including what happened at the All-Star Game, the latest on Kerry Carpenter's injury and why prospect Troy Melton is coming soon. We have two guests on this week's pod: former MLB general manager Jim Duquette from MLB Network Radio and MLB draft expert Tyler Jennings from Just Baseball. Duquette joins to assess the Tigers with 10 days until the July 31 trade deadline, including bullpen upgrades, Eugenio Suárez trade rumors, whether the front office should part with a top-100 prospect and what to do about the ticking Tarik Skubal clock. Meanwhile, Jennings analyzes the Tigers' Day 2 picks from Rounds 4-20 in the 2025 MLB Draft, including high school pitcher River Hamilton. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Jul 14
The Detroit Tigers enter the All-Star break with MLB's best record — but a bullpen problem looms large. On this week's episode of Days of Roar, Tigers beat writer Evan Petzold breaks down Detroit's first-half performance, including a season-worse sweep by the Seattle Mariners. If the Tigers want to win the World Series, adding an elite swing-and-miss reliever is essential. We discuss the big names on the trade market. We also take a deep dive into the Tigers' high-risk, high-upside picks on Day 1 of the 2025 MLB Draft with draft expert Tyler Jennings from Just Baseball. Scott Bentley, the host of the Locked On Tigers podcast, returns to Days of Roar to discuss the top four draft picks, as well as Zach McKinstry and Casey Mize joining the All-Star Game as replacement players. Plus: Is Riley Greene already the third-best position player in the American League? Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Jul 7
Detroit Tigers beat writer Evan Petzold is joined by Locked On Tigers host Scott Bentley and Tigers radio analyst Bobby Scales in this week's episode of Days of Roar — as the Tigers are less than one week away from the All-Star break, with four players headed to Truist Park in Atlanta to compete in the All-Star Game. We discuss Tarik Skubal's case to repeat as the American League Cy Young winner and Riley Greene's emergence as a star, along with Gleyber Torres' presence. Plus: The Tigers have a 13.5-game lead in the AL Central, so with approximately 45% of the season remaining, is the division race already over? If so, should the Tigers go all-in at the July 31 trade deadline to maximize their World Series opportunity in 2025, even if that means parting with top prospects? We also discuss Javier Báez's surprising comeback season, Kerry Carpenter's latest injury, and Reese Olson's return from injury. Additionally, three of the top four prospects in the Tigers' farm system were promoted from High-A West Michigan to Double-A Erie: Kevin McGonigle, Max Clark and Josue Briceno. Check out what all of them did at the High-A level and learn why the Double-A level is key to forecasting their MLB impact. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Jun 30
On this week's episode of Days of Roar, Evan Petzold flies solo — sharing an update about the show and his personal life. We break down Tarik Skubal's dominant Sunday Night Baseball performance, reminding everyone that he is the best pitcher in the world. We also make the case for — and against — a contract extension for Gleyber Torres, who is set to become a free agent after the 2025 season. Chris Castellani of Chris and Company joins the show to talk about the Tigers' success as the best team in the American League, what he wants president of baseball operations Scott Harris to do at the July 31 trade deadline, and what it's like being a fan (and a content creator) of a World Series-caliber team. We also discuss the journey of Dietrich Enns, the Matt Vierling and Trey Sweeney roster moves, the plan for Reese Olson's return from injury and the potential All-Star Game starters for the Tigers. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Jun 23
Mike Ferrin, co-host of Power Alley on MLB Network Radio, joins the Days of Roar podcast to discuss a variety of topics, including the College World Series, upcoming MLB draft, manager A.J. Hinch and what the Detroit Tigers could do at the July 31 trade deadline. Could Alex Bregman be a deadline target? Ferrin weighs in. Also on this show: Is Riley Greene a true franchise player — and should the Tigers pay him like one? Plus, we play "Concerned or Not Concerned" with Jack Flaherty, Kerry Carpenter, Spencer Torkelson, Tyler Holton and more. And finally, when can Tigers fans expect Reese Olson to return? Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Jun 16
The Detroit Tigers had a 3-3 record this past week, going 2-1 against the Baltimore Orioles and 1-2 against the Cincinnati Reds. But the Tigers still have a 46-27 record — best in the American League Central by nine games, best in the AL by 2.5 games and best in MLB by 0.5 games. Tigers ace Tarik Skubal appeared on the Barstool podcast, "Pardon My Take," and said he would sign for 10 years, $425 million when he becomes a free agent after the 2026 season. Is he worth that contract? Also: We explain why Skubal's status with the Tigers is ultimately up to owner Christopher Ilitch. As for the team, the Tigers have a 17-12 record in the last 30 days, since May 16. The offense ranks 20th in MLB a 96 wRC+, the starting rotation ranks first with a 2.53 ERA and the bullpen ranks 25th with a 4.68 ERA. What problems are just part of the ebbs and flows of the season, and what needs to be addressed before it's too late? The trade deadline is still more than a month away, scheduled for 6 p.m. July 31, but it's never too early to look at options for the Tigers, needing a high-leverage reliever and a position player for the left side of the infield. Other topics include All-Star Game voting and injury updates about Reese Olson and Matt Vierling. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Jun 10
The Detroit Tigers won two of three games against the Chicago Cubs in a potential World Series preview between the American League's best team and the National League's best team. To break it all down, ESPN reporter Jesse Rogers — who covers the Cubs and White Sox — joins the Days of Roar podcast. He shares his thoughts on how the Tigers became the best team in baseball, Javier Báez's resurgence, the Cubs' rise in the NL, and big news surrounding White Sox ownership. Evan Petzold and Mark Gorosh dive into the Tigers' offense — which has fallen from top five in the first 44 games to bottom five over the last 23 games. They also talk about other key topics, including Colt Keith at third base, Riley Greene's strikeout issues, Kerry Carpenter's hamstring, the latest injury report, and a season-ending injury to top prospect Bryce Rainer. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Jun 2
Tarik Skubal is the ace of the Detroit Tigers — so should manager A.J. Hinch allow him to pitch deeper into games, even in late May? After throwing a complete game shutout on 94 pitches, Skubal was pulled at 90 pitches after seven scoreless innings and replaced by reliever Beau Brieske. By the eighth inning, the Tigers were trailing and ultimately lost, 1-0, to the Kansas City Royals in a key American League Central matchup. Hear from Hinch and former Tigers ace Justin Verlander about Skubal's workload, including why Hinch made the decision to pull him from the game. Also on this episode: Parker Meadows returns from the injured list to make his 2025 season debut, with Justyn-Henry Malloy optioned to Triple-A Toledo; West Michigan Whitecaps broadcaster Dan Hasty talks about top prospects Kevin McGonigle, Max Clark, Josue Briceño, plus a bounce-back season for Izaac Pacheco; injury updates on Jackson Jobe, Matt Vierling, Reese Olson and Sawyer Gipson-Long; the Spencer Torkelson-Riley Greene show continues. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
May 27
The Detroit Tigers have a 35-20 record after 55 games in the 2025 season. After one-third of the schedule, the Days of Roar podcast breaks down several important topics: What expectations do we have for the Tigers moving forward? Are there any reasons to be concerned? What players will step up in the next 54 games? Can another American League Central team create trouble for the Tigers? We also talk about the greatness of Tarik Skubal, specifically the first complete game shutout of his career against the Cleveland Guardians. It may have been the most dominant single-game performance in Tigers history, even greater than Justin Verlander's no-hitters. Also: Dillon Dingler, who worked behind the plate for Skubal's masterpiece, has emerged as the No. 1 catcher for the Tigers, surpassing Jake Rogers. To wrap up, we provide injury updates on Parker Meadows, Reese Olson, Wenceel Pérez and Sawyer Gipson-Long. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
May 19
The Detroit Tigers continue to thrive as the first MLB team to reach 30 wins in the 2025 season — a milestone that's contributed to the campaign nickname "Year of Javy," courtesy of Tigers TV voice Jason Benetti. But the Days of Roar podcast is ready to add a new theme: "Summer of Tork." Javier Báez continues to shine, single-handedly winning two key games against the Red Sox and Blue Jays, while Spencer Torkelson is on pace for 41 home runs and 131 RBIs, looking like 2022 Pete Alonso. Despite Detroit's hot start, the American League Central remains competitive, with the Twins, Guardians and Royals all already achieving 25 wins. Bobby Nightengale Jr., the Twins beat writer for the Minneapolis Star Tribune, joins the show fresh off Minnesota's 13-game winning streak. Looking ahead to the July 31 trade deadline, could a right-handed hitting third baseman like Nolan Arenado be the upgrade the Tigers need to win their first World Series since 1984? Plus, the Tigers are getting Jake Rogers, Matt Vierling and Casey Mize back from their injuries this week, with Parker Meadows expected to return next month. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
May 12
Former Detroit Tigers player Curtis Granderson, a three-time All-Star over 16 MLB seasons, joins the "Days of Roar" podcast to discuss the Tigers, drawing comparisons between the 2006 Tigers and 2025 Tigers. He shared insight into the Tigers' run to the World Series in 2006 as a 25-year-old player, as well as his view of the Tigers' success in 2025 as a 44-year-old national TV analyst. Additionally, Evan and Mark discuss the difficult upcoming schedule, the dominance of ace Tarik Skubal and how the roster will change in the near future with Casey Mize's injury and Matt Vierling's rehab assignment. Skubal is the first player in MLB history to have a six-start stretch with at least 50 strikeouts, no more than one walk and an ERA below 1.00, but is he entering Justin Verlander territory? We explain what that means, and why it's happening now. Evan and Mark also evaluate Jack Flaherty's fastball and provide an update on Parker Meadows' injury. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
May 5
As Evan Petzold returns from paternity leave, the Detroit Tigers hold the best record in the American League (22-13) and lead MLB with a plus-63 run differential through 35 games in the 2025 season. They've also launched a league-leading 20 home runs since April 28, doing so in the first seven games of their 10-game road trip. What has stood out most over the first 35 games? And what should we expect from Javier Báez moving forward? Tigers radio analyst Bobby Scales joins the Days of Roar podcast to break down Detroit's early success, hitting coach Michael Brdar's game planning, and how opposing pitchers are adjusting to Spencer Torkelson, plus he shares his take on Báez's resurgence.To close the show, Evan and Mark Gorosh analyze the Tigers' decision to cut struggling pitcher Kenta Maeda, share injury updates and debate a key question: Which former No. 1 overall pick inspires more confidence — Spencer Torkelson or Casey Mize? Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Apr 28
After a series loss to the Milwaukee Brewers last week, the Tigers went on to clinch series wins against the Kansas City Royals, San Diego Padres, and sweep the Baltimore Orioles. With Evan still away handling baby Petzold duties, Mark brings back Freep high school sports reporter and current pinch Tigers beat reporter Jared Ramsey to help discuss what factors are leading to the Tigers’ strong start to the 2025 season. Beyond valuable pitching from both starters and the bullpen, the guys hone in on the noteworthy month Zach McKinstry is having, as well as the impact Dillon Dingler is making with his bat and behind the plate. Mark and Jared also discuss the continued positive contributions of Javier Báez and Spencer Torkelson. The guys also offer updates on the rehab timelines for Matt Vierling, Parker Meadows, and check in on the minor leaguers including Bryce Rainer.
Apr 21
With Evan still out on the PL (paternity leave), Mark brings in Detroit Free Press high school sports reporter Jared Ramsey, who’s been covering the Tigers for the past week. The guys talk the team’s series loss to the Milwaukee Brewers and series win over the Kansas City Royals. Jared and Mark cover the strong starts from Casey Mike, Jackson Jobe and how Spencer Torkelson is continuing to hit this season. While the vibes overall for the team remain good, not all is well for the Tigers as Riley Greene’s slump continues to linger. The guys take a deep dive into what’s looking different so far for the star outfielder. Later in the show, Mark and Jared preview the upcoming matchups against the San Diego Padres and Baltimore Orioles. The guys also offer updates on player injuries at both the major and minor leagues, plus Mark proposes a dark horse free agent candidate the team could pursue for bullpen help that fans should recognize.
Apr 14
With a 4-2 week, the Detroit Tigers have remained competitive while missing some key pieces due to injuries. With Evan still away, Mark brings on a cavalcade of content creators that cover the organization at the major and minor league levels. To start off the show, manager of Bless You Boys Brandon Day helps Mark summarize what factors aid the team in winning series. After the break, along with Brandon, Mark welcomes to the show Rogelio Castillo and Chris Brown of The Detroit Tigers Minor League Report to share injury updates on two of the Tigers’ vital prospects. Scott Bentley of Locked on Tigers shares his general impressions with the team so far into this season and helps preview the matchup Milwaukee Brewers. Plus, friend of the pod Mike Sicilia shares insights into what to do with prospect Max Clark and Spencer Torkelson’s impressive start to the 2025 season.
Apr 7
With Evan away with this week, Mark brings in pinch co-host Bobby Scales to help break down a strong week for the Detroit Tigers. The guys recap the team’s series win against the Seattle Mariners and the homestead sweep of the Chicago White Sox. Mark and Bobby analyze the continuation of the team’s 2024 grind culture and highlight the noteworthy contributions from Spencer Torkelson, Riley Greene, and Kerry Carpenter. The guys also talk what they’ve seen from Jackson Jobe in his past two starts and how position player chaos has been working out to start the season. Later in the show, Mark and Bobby preview the upcoming series against the New York Yankees and the Minnesota Twins. With the Yankees coming to town, the guys also cover the buzz surrounding the torpedo bats and why they may be more of a fad rather than a game changer.
Mar 31
The Detroit Tigers lost all three games to the Los Angeles Dodgers, but there's more to the story. Evan Petzold and Mark Gorosh dive into the team's culture, Spencer Torkelson's resurgence and other key takeaways from the first series of the 2025 season. They also preview the upcoming matchups against the Seattle Mariners and Chicago White Sox, including Jackson Jobe's first MLB start. Tigers radio analyst Bobby Scales — a former MLB player and executive — joins the "Days of Roar" podcast to discuss Ryan Kreidler in center field, Kerry Carpenter's usage against left-handed pitchers, and how Torkelson rediscovered the best version of himself at the plate. With the Tigers on the West Coast, Evan took a trip to Triple-A Toledo to talk with Jason Foley, Jace Jung and Justyn-Henry Malloy. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Mar 27
Opening Day has arrived! The Detroit Tigers play the Los Angeles Dodgers at 7:10 p.m. Thursday at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, beginning the 2025 season. Evan and Mark discuss the final roster moves (Spencer Torkelson in, Justyn-Henry Malloy out), another outfield injury (Wenceel Pérez), Ryan Kreidler as the primary center fielder and a flurry of predictions in this special "Days of Roar" bonus episode. Stay tuned every Monday for regularly scheduled episodes. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Mar 24
With Opening Day just three days away, the Detroit Tigers still have tough decisions to make to finalize their 26-man roster before facing the Dodgers in Los Angeles. Three position players — Spencer Torkelson, Justyn-Henry Malloy and Jahmai Jones — are vying for one spot, while relievers Andrew Chafin, Brenan Hanifee and Brant Hurter are battling for a role in the bullpen. The roster battle became more complex after the Tigers signed outfielder Manuel Margot to a one-year contract, helping to cover the absence of center fielder Parker Meadows for at least another four weeks. The starting rotation is also set with five pitchers, and a pitcher making $10 million was sent to the bullpen. After the break, Dodgers beat writer Jack Harris joins the "Days of Roar" podcast to preview the Tigers' opening series against the star-studded Dodgers, discussing Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and how the Dodgers built a model franchise. After talking to Jack, Evan and Mark tackle an intriguing question: Would Gleyber Torres consider moving off second base for this culture-driven Tigers team? Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Mar 17
Producer's note: After recording, the Detroit Tigers optioned Jace Jung to Triple-A Toledo, which means he won't make the Tigers' Opening Day roster. Keep that in mind as you listen to this episode. With 10 days until Opening Day, the position battles for the Tigers in spring training have heated up to the max. The Tigers have 10 of 13 position players locked in, three of five starting pitchers locked in, and seven of eight relief pitchers locked in. A lot could happen in the final week of camp, but the Opening Day roster is coming into focus with clear frontrunners in those competitions. Still, the Tigers have a lot of questions to answer as the regular season approaches. Center fielder Parker Meadows has been ruled out for Opening Day with an upper arm nerve issue, so how long will Wenceel Pérez be relied upon as the primary center fielder? Without Jace Jung, is a platoon of Zach McKinstry and Andy Ibáñez good enough at third base? Most notably, should the Tigers have just put Jung on the roster because of his long-term upside on offense? Other topics include Javier Báez and Spencer Torkelson testing out new positions, Riley Greene in center field, the Spring Breakout prospect game (Bryce Rainer!), and what we saw from Andrew Navigato. Another thing: Did Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris do enough this offseason to prepare the Tigers for success this season? Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Mar 10
Jason Benetti — the TV voice of the Detroit Tigers and Michigan Sportscaster of the Year — joins the "Days of Roar" podcast to discuss a variety of topics, including his 2025 preview and 2024 reflections, both for the broadcast team and the baseball team. Benetti breaks down his iconic call during the 2024 postseason run: "A city that doesn't care about the odds has a baseball team to match." He also shares insight into the A.J. Hinch effect and what he's looking for out of Tarik Skubal, Riley Greene and Jackson Jobe in 2025. In addition to Benetti, Evan and Mark recap the past week of spring training games, share an injury update on Parker Meadows and evaluate the signing of José Urquidy. Two important questions are addressed: Which player is most crucial to the Tigers' success in 2025? And how good can the starting rotation become, especially if Casey Mize continues his strong performances? Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Mar 3
The Detroit Tigers have wrapped up their first week of spring training games, with just 24 days left until Opening Day on March 27 against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. Tigers TV analyst Andy Dirks joins the "Days of Roar" podcast to break down the upcoming season, both for the team and the broadcast booth. He answers these key questions, among other things: What's it like working with Jason Benetti and Dan Dickerson? How does it feel as a player to be in a roster battle? Should Jace Jung be the everyday third baseman? Meanwhile, the Tigers face some key injury concerns, with Matt Vierling and Parker Meadows sidelined. Those injuries leave questions about center field and the Opening Day roster. On the pitching side, Jackson Jobe is making a strong case for a rotation spot after two starts this spring. Other topics include roster predictions, Andrew Chafin's minor league deal and the upcoming first round of cuts. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Feb 24
The first two weeks of spring training are in the books, and the Detroit Tigers are off to an undefeated start with a 2-0 record in the Grapefruit League. As roster battles heat up, key storylines emerge, including Jace Jung’s push for the third base job, Trey Sweeney’s situation at shortstop, and Justyn-Henry Malloy’s power bat. The Tigers are hoping Jung can lock down third base for the 2025 Opening Day roster, but will his spring performance be enough to secure the spot? Bobby Scales, the Tigers’ radio analyst, joins the "Days of Roar" podcast to discuss his experience reporting to spring training both as a player and as an executive. He shares his insights on the offseason additions, Jung’s opportunity to win the job at third base, the expectations for young players, and how to assess spring training performances. With Alex Cobb’s injury creating an opening in the starting rotation, a Kenta Maeda vs. Casey Mize competition for the fifth spot is underway. What have we learned about Kenta Maeda’s early camp performance? Plus, updates on Colt Keith and Justyn-Henry Malloy at first base, thoughts on the automated ball-strike challenge system, and when we can expect Javier Báez to make his spring debut. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Feb 17
Spring training is underway for the Detroit Tigers in Lakeland, Florida. There were many takeaways in the first five days of camp, including Riley Greene's diet, Spencer Torkelson's comments, Casey Mize's sliders and Jace Jung's opportunity, among other things. Most notably, the Tigers have a businesslike vibe behind the scenes without letting their emotions get too high or too low. The same was true for the Tigers during their 31-11 run to the postseason in the 2024 season. The culture has translated into the 2025 season. Evan and Mark share their evaluations of the Tigers in the 2024-25 offseason, featuring five external additions: Alex Cobb, Gleyber Torres, Tommy Kahnle, Jack Flaherty and John Brebbia. Who were the best additions, and who could've been left on the free-agent market? As for Cobb, the veteran suffered a right hip injury and won't be ready for Opening Day. How will the Tigers replace Cobb in the starting rotation? It could be a competition between Maeda and Mize. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Feb 13
The Boston Red Sox signed third baseman Alex Bregman to a three-year, $120 million contract with an opt-out clause after the 2025 and 2026 seasons. Meanwhile, the Detroit Tigers offered six years, $171.5 million with an opt-out clause after the 2026 season. But Bregman turned down a long-term contract from the Tigers in favor of a short-term contract from the Red Sox, giving him $40 million per season and the option to return to the free-agent market as soon as the upcoming offseason. What's next for the Tigers at third base? Could a Nolan Arenado trade happen? Is Matt Vierling the everyday third baseman? What about prospect Jace Jung? This breaking news episode of the "Days of Roar" podcast examines every possibility for the Tigers with 2025 spring training underway. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Feb 10
Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal — the 2024 American League Cy Young winner — joins the "Days of Roar" podcast as pitchers and catchers report to spring training in Lakeland, Florida. Skubal talks about his 2024 season, the development of his pitches, and his expectations for the 2025 season, along with discussing fatherhood, lessons learned from former teammate Jordan Zimmermann, joining the MLB Players Association executive subcommittee, what he thinks about free agency, and the make of his new SUV. Marquee Sports Network player development analyst Lance Brozdowski also joins "Days of Roar" to evaluate all of the starting pitchers on the Tigers' 40-man roster, including his thoughts on Jackson Jobe's new pitch. Evan and Mark also break down the most important storyline for the Tigers in spring training. (Hint: It's third base.) Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Feb 3
The countdown is on: Detroit Tigers pitchers and catchers report in nine days to spring training in Lakeland, Florida. This past week, the Tigers signed starting pitcher Jack Flaherty to a two-year, $35 million contract and relief pitcher Tommy Kahnle to a one-year, $7.75 million contract, but third baseman Alex Bregman remains a free agent. The Tigers are still interested in signing Bregman, even after signing Flaherty, but what are the odds the Tigers will land him? After Bregman talk, Evan and Mark discuss the player they're most excited to watch throughout spring training. Evan selected a player who needs to hit for more power; Mark selected a potential MVP candidate. For our guest, LaMond Pope — the Chicago White Sox beat writer for the Chicago Tribune — joins "Days of Roar" to explain the latest happenings on the South Side, from covering the worst team in modern MLB history last season to a new manager in Will Venable this season. Pope also discusses the Garrett Crochet trade, several big-name prospects in the White Sox farm system and the general direction of the organization under general manager Chris Getz. To wrap up, Evan and Mark talk more about Jack Flaherty signing with the Tigers. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Feb 3
The Detroit Tigers signed right-hander Jack Flaherty to a two-year, $35 million contract with an opt-out clause after the first season. He pitched for the Tigers last season, posting a 2.95 ERA in 18 starts, before the Tigers traded him to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the 2024 trade deadline for two prospects. Evan and Mark break down the Flaherty reunion, how president of baseball operations Scott Harris structured the contract, the current state of the Tigers' starting rotation and how the Flaherty signing impacts the Alex Bregman sweepstakes — all in this special "Days of Roar" breaking news episode. Check back every Monday for regularly scheduled episodes. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Jan 29
Producer note: This podcast has been updated with comments from president of baseball operations Scott Harris. The Detroit Tigers signed right-handed reliever Tommy Kahnle to a 1-year, $7.75 million contract. Evan and Mark break down the signing, discuss the current state of the Tigers' bullpen and explain how the Kahnle signing impacts the Alex Bregman sweepstakes in this special "Days of Roar" bonus episode. Stay tuned every Monday for regularly scheduled episodes. You can find this week's earlier episode wherever you listen to podcasts including: Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music YouTube
Jan 27
In this episode of "Days of Roar," Detroit Tigers top prospect Jackson Jobe joins the show to discuss his 2024 MLB debut, offseason adjustments for two-strike counts, pitch development and personal/team goals for the 2025 season, among many other things. As one of MLB's top five prospects, Jobe is projected to join the Tigers' Opening Day starting rotation in 2025. Evan and Mark also dive into the Alex Bregman saga with new insight from Houston Astros beat writer Chandler Rome of The Athletic. The Astros re-entered the race to re-sign Bregman, putting their old six-year, $156 million offer on the table again. Could the Tigers counter with a more lucrative offer to bring him to the team? Hear how Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal's endorsement might sway the Bregman decision. Aside from Bregman, is there any hope for a reunion with Jack Flaherty? Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Jan 21
Former Detroit Tigers player Carlos Guillén — a three-time All-Star who played 14 MLB seasons — joins the "Days of Roar" podcast to discuss teammate Ichiro Suzuki joining the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Guillén also talks about three other names in the Hall of Fame conversation: C.C. Sabathia, Alex Rodriguez and Carlos Beltran. Does A-Rod deserve to be in the Hall of Fame despite being suspended for performance-enhancing drugs? Guillén has an opinion about that. After the Hall of Fame talk, Guillén breaks down his eight-year career with the Tigers, which included playing for Hall of Fame manager Jim Leyland, getting to the World Series in 2006 and hitting a legendary home run off Jered Weaver. In other segments of the show, Evan and Mark provide the latest update on the Alex Bregman situation, check out the available relievers on the free-agent market, evaluate Roki Sasaki's decision not to meet with the Tigers and consider what it means if the Tigers are done adding to the 2025 roster. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Jan 13
This episode of "Days of Roar" features two special guests: Detroit Tigers third baseman/outfielder Matt Vierling and Baseball America prospect insider Ben Badler. To start the show, Evan and Mark discuss Tigers legend Justin Verlander signing a one-year, $15 million contract with the San Francisco Giants. Interestingly, this is the same deal — in terms of years and money — that Alex Cobb secured from the Tigers. Should the Tigers have signed Verlander instead of Cobb? The answer depends on balancing business and baseball considerations. Ben Badler provides insight into 16-year-old Dominican outfielder Cris Rodriguez, who is signing with the Tigers as part of the international signing period. Rodriguez is the highest-ranked international prospect the Tigers have ever signed, at No. 4 on Baseball America's list. Meanwhile, Matt Vierling dives into a variety of topics, including team culture, personal leadership, developing pull-side power as a hitter, game planning for pitchers, and even his 2012 Ford Escape. To finish the show, Evan and Mark revisit the chances of Tarik Skubal signing a long-term extension after agreeing to a $10.15 million salary in his second of three arbitration-eligible years before free agency. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Jan 6
The New Year is underway, and with it, Evan and Mark have New Year's resolutions for the Detroit Tigers in the 2025 calendar year. The resolutions include Tarik Skubal, Kevin McGonigle, the American League Central and making a big splash via trade or free agency. What does all that mean? Listen to find out. After the break, Robert Ford, the radio voice of the Houston Astros, joins "Days of Roar" to share insider insight about Tigers target Alex Bregman. Topics include Bregman's relationship with Tigers manager A.J. Hinch, his leadership behind the scenes, his on-field performance and more. Evan and Mark also tackle the big question surrounding the 2024-25 offseason: Is it Bregman or bust for the Tigers? To wrap up, we take a look at the Tigers' bullpen. Jason Foley, Tyler Holton, Beau Brieske and Will Vest are the only relievers guaranteed to make the Opening Day roster. Do the Tigers need to add externally to their bullpen? The guys talk which free agents the team could consider. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Jan 2
Happy New Year, from the "Days of Roar" podcast! In the first episode of 2025, Evan and Mark break down the Detroit Tigers signing Gleyber Torres to a one-year, $15 million contract, including his on-field performance, his $500,000 assignment bonus, and his goal of getting more than $100 million in free agency next offseason. After signing Torres, the Tigers still need another right-handed hitter to balance the lineup. Where do things stand with Alex Bregman? The Tigers have strong interest in signing Bregman to play third base, and Bregman has interest in the Tigers, but there remains a gap in value with 41 days until pitchers and catchers report to spring training. After the break, Pete Caldera, the Yankees beat writer for The Bergen Record, joins the show to share everything there is to know about Torres, who spent his entire seven-year MLB career with the Yankees. After that, Evan and Mark discuss Colt Keith's move from second base to first base, as well as what that means for first baseman Spencer Torkelson. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Dec 24, 2024
In a Christmas edition, Evan and Mark discuss what Santa needs to bring the Detroit Tigers. The wish list includes the health of star players, some luck, a lot of player development and a right-handed hitter — namely Alex Bregman. Numerous first basemen have been traded or signed in free agency, but the Tigers haven't been involved in those moves. What does that mean for Spencer Torkelson? FanGraphs senior writer Dan Szymborski, who developed the ZiPS projection system, joins Days of Roar for the first time to share 2025 projections for the Tigers, covering the entire team as well as individual players. After discussing the Tigers' roster, Szymborski explains how his projection model produced player comparisons for top prospects Kevin McGonigle (compared to Alex Bregman) and Max Clark (compared to Johnny Damon). To wrap up, Evan and Mark explore the likelihood of Alex Bregman signing with the Tigers, especially since it's now confirmed that Bregman won't be returning to the Houston Astros. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Dec 17, 2024
The Detroit Tigers signed right-hander Alex Cobb to a one-year, $15 million contract, adding the 37-year-old veteran to their starting rotation alongside Tarik Skubal, Reese Olson and Jackson Jobe. But is Cobb the right move? Evan and Mark explore the pros and cons of the Cobb signing, along with the Tigers' need to upgrade at third base or first base to contend for the American League Central in 2025. Could free agents like Alex Bregman and Paul Goldschmidt or trade candidates like Yandy Díaz fill the gaps? Things are trending in the right direction with Bregman. The guys break down the potential competition for Spencer Torkelson as Colt Keith and Justyn-Henry Malloy take ground balls at first base this offseason. Evan also shares his 2025 Opening Day roster prediction 1.0, highlighting concerns at third base, first base, shortstop, the bench and the bullpen. Additionally, how do the Max Fried and Blake Snell contracts impact Tarik Skubal's value, both now and in the future? Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Dec 13, 2024
In this special "Days of Roar" bonus episode, Evan Petzold welcomes USA TODAY Sports MLB columnist and insider Bob Nightengale to recap MLB's Winter Meetings in Dallas. Evan and Bob break down the biggest news from the past week, including outfielder Juan Soto signing a 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets. Do the Detroit Tigers have a chance to sign third baseman Alex Bregman? If not, should the Tigers consider trading for third baseman Nolan Arenado? Why did the Boston Red Sox trade for left-hander Garrett Crochet? How is Buster Posey different from Farhan Zaidi as the president of baseball operations for the San Francisco Giants? Why did the Cleveland Guardians trade Gold Glove-winning second baseman Andrés Giménez? What is the free-agent market like for shortstop Ha-Seong Kim? Is Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki already a lock to the Los Angeles Dodgers? For more on the Tigers, Evan and Bob discuss 2024 American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal and the chances of a contract extension before he becomes a free agent after the 2026 season. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Dec 9, 2024
The Winter Meetings will take place from Dec. 9-11 in Dallas. So far, the Tigers haven't made any offseason trades or signings, but that doesn't mean they're inactive. The Tigers have taken a patient approach to the free-agent and trade markets, as we reported coming out of the general manager meetings in early November. However, the Tigers are still targeting at least one starting pitcher and at least one right-handed hitter. Starting pitcher Walker Buehler is one free agent the Tigers have shown interest in. To explore further, Nick Pollack of Pitcher List breaks down Buehler's career, the importance of his fastball and how the Tigers' pitching department could help him improve. Later on, JJ Cooper of Baseball America joins to discuss the top 10 prospects in the Tigers' organization, led by Jackson Jobe. Pollack also discusses Tarik Skubal winning the Cy Young Award, while Cooper shares insights into how the Tigers have evolved as an organization in recent years. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Dec 2, 2024
The Detroit Tigers are one week away from the winter meetings in Dallas. Evan and Mark evaluate right-handed hitters for the Tigers to acquire in free agency and trade this offseason, including new information about free-agent infielder Ha-Seong Kim. The guys also try to make sense of what Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris said about Wenceel Pérez and Justyn-Henry Malloy. Can Pérez add infield positions to his profile on defense? Will the Tigers try to move Malloy to first base? Later, Right-handed reliever Tyler Mattison, whom the Tigers recently added to the 40-man roster, joins the "Days of Roar" podcast to chat about being protected from the Rule 5 draft, transitioning from starter to reliever and his ongoing rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Nov 25, 2024
Detroit Tigers catcher Jake Rogers joins the "Days of Roar" podcast to chat with Evan and Mark about Tarik Skubal winning the 2024 American League Cy Young Award. Rogers also talks about calling pitches and making in-game adjustments, his relationship with manager A.J. Hinch, being named a Gold Glove finalist, why "pitching chaos" worked in 2024 and his excitement for the 2025 season. Aside from Rogers, Evan and Mark tip their cap to Hinch for finishing third in AL Manager of the Year Award voting and break down the roster moves made by the Tigers, which included pitching prospect Tyler Mattison. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Nov 18, 2024
Evan and Mark are still waiting for the Detroit Tigers to make their first moves of the 2024-25 offseason. We break down Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki with help from Marquee Sports Network player development analyst Lance Brozdowski, who explains Sasaki's pitch mix and reveals if the Tigers have a chance to sign him. After that, Evan and Mark share how the Tigers can benefit in the short term and long term from signing another pitcher to a one-year contract, such as Walker Buehler or Frankie Montas. Ben Verlander, an analyst for FOX Sports and the brother of Justin Verlander, joins the podcast to talk about the Jack Flaherty trade, watching the Tigers advance to the postseason, hitting a home run off his brother in 2016 spring training and much more. To wrap up, Evan and Mark discuss a potential Javier Báez-Trey Sweeney platoon at shortstop and the prospects the Tigers could protect from the Rule 5 draft. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Nov 11, 2024
The general manager meetings took place last week in San Antoino, giving Evan and Mark plenty of topics to discuss. Evan recaps what he learned about the Detroit Tigers at the GM meetings, including an update on free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman. If not Bregman, should the Tigers trade for Miami Marlins slugger Jake Burger? Burger, a right-handed hitter, blends contact and power on offense and plays third base and first base on defense. Most importantly, the former No. 11 overall draft pick is under team control through the 2028 season. After that, Evan and Mark project the pitching plan for the Tigers in 2025, as well as an early look at the starting rotation. To wrap up, Evan and Mark praise prospect Thayron Liranzo for his game-winning home run in the Arizona Fall League and talk about veteran Justin Verlander in free agency. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Nov 4, 2024
Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch joins the "Days of Roar" podcast to chat with Evan and Mark. Hinch talks about the fans in Detroit, building a culture for the team over the past four seasons, players buying into team philosophies, the opener-bulk reliever pitching strategy after the trade deadline, the postseason run, and how the 2025 Tigers could look different than the 2024 Tigers. Before Hinch, the guys discuss the projected Opening Day payroll and how much money the Tigers can add to the books before the 2025 season, plus if the Tigers should trade for Toronto Blue Jays superstar Vladimir Guerrero Jr. After Hinch, Mark and Evan break down three other trade ideas for the Tigers to upgrade at first base. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Oct 28, 2024
A star-studded episode begins with Dan Dickerson — the radio voice of the Detroit Tigers — joining Evan Petzold and Mark Gorosh to break down the 2024 season. Dickerson discusses A.J. Hinch's genius, Tarik Skubal's Cy Young campaign, Spencer Torkelson's continued struggles and many more topics about the Tigers. He also shares insight into his broadcasting career after celebrating his 25th anniversary on the job, and he even provides his offseason expectations for the Tigers ahead of the 2025 season. Geoff Pontes, prospect writer for Baseball America, joins the show, too. Pontes evaluates Tigers prospects Josue Briceño, Thayron Liranzo and Rayner Castillo in the Arizona Fall League, sharing his projected MLB debuts for Briceño and Liranzo. Aside from guests, Evan and Mark debate about Torkelson, Casey Mize and the chances of reuniting with Jack Flaherty in free agency. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Oct 22, 2024
Let the offseason begin as Evan Petzold returns from his honeymoon to join Mark Gorosh for a full episode. Evan and Mark break down the performance of the 2024 Detroit Tigers, with grades for hitting, pitching, defense and coaching. Kerry Carpenter has been one of the best hitters against right-handed pitchers in his career, but is he underrated? Mike Ferrin, co-host of Power Alley on MLB Network Radio, joins to talk about how the Tigers advanced to the postseason, what the Tigers should do in the offseason and the World Series matchup between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers. When asked to pick one of three free agents, Ferrin selected third baseman Alex Bregman over first baseman Christian Walker and outfielder Anthony Santander. To wrap up, Evan and Mark shared their free-agent preference. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Oct 16, 2024
With Evan still away on his honeymoon, Mark once again enlists the help of Tigers radio analyst and friend of the pod Bobby Scales to co-host the show. Mark and Bobby break down the nearly unprecedented season for the 2024 Tigers and begin looking at how the team’s playoff run could impact the 2025 season. With greater expectations now formed for the young ball club, how might Scott Harris and A.J. Hinch bolster this seemingly new era of Tigers baseball? The guys attempt to parse the tea leaves for answers from the Tigers’ season ending press conference. After Bobby exits the show, we find that you can take the baseball beat writer out of Detroit but you can’t take the baseball beat out of the writer as Evan joins AGAIN while still on his honeymoon with additional analysis from the press conference. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Oct 6, 2024
With Evan away on his honeymoon, Mark brings in Tigers radio analyst and friend of the pod Bobby Scales to pinch-hit as co-host. To open the show, the guys recap the Tigers’ dominant performance against the Houston Astros. Afterwards, Bobby helps break down what went wrong for the Tigers in game one of the ALDS and how the team can best bounce back against the Guardians’ standout bullpen. The duo also talk the Monday’s Tarik Skubal vs. Matt Boyd pitching matchup, Jackson Jobe’s confidence and more. To close out the show and because he’s just too dedicated to his beat, Evan joins remotely for some additional analysis. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Sep 30, 2024
The Detroit Tigers are ready to play against the Houston Astros in the American League wild-card series, a best-of-three matchup with all three games at Minute Maid Park in Houston. To preview the series, Astros beat writer Chandler Rome of The Athletic joins to discuss A.J. Hinch, Justin Verlander, Yordan Alvarez and many other topics. We also share the keys to the wild-card series and try to explain how the Tigers went on their 31-11 run to advance to the postseason. To wrap up, we provide our predictions for Tigers vs. Astros in the 2024 MLB playoffs. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Sep 28, 2024
The Detroit Tigers won 4-1 over the Chicago White Sox on Friday night at Comerica Park, clinching a spot in the postseason for the first time since 2014. Mark and Evan record a special episode to break down the historic win, share their favorite memories from the celebration and briefly look ahead to the playoffs. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Sep 23, 2024
The Detroit Tigers have passed the Minnesota Twins to claim the third and final spot in the American League wild-card race, with six games remaining. To get there, the Tigers posted a 27-11 record in their last 38 games, all while the Twins and Kansas City Royals have fallen apart. The postseason odds went from 0.2% on Aug. 11 to 70.7% on Sept. 23. Andy Dirks, former Tigers player and current TV analyst, joins to discuss the hottest team in baseball, as well as what to expect in the final six games. Everyone on the roster deserves credit, but which players have contributed the most to the sustained success? Another thing: Do the Tigers already have a core in place for the 2025 season? Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Sep 16, 2024
The Detroit Tigers won four of six games on their latest homestand against the Colorado Rockies and Baltimore Orioles, giving them 22 wins in their last 32 games. The Tigers trail the Minnesota Twins by 2.5 games — which is 3.5 games considering the tiebreaker — in the race for the third and final spot in the American League wild card, with 12 games remaining. Can the Tigers actually catch the Twins? Turns out, the Twins have lost 17 of their last 26 games. We check in with Bobby Nightengale Jr., the Twins beat writer for the Minnesota Star Tribune, to find out what's happening to the Twins, from three young starters struggling to two veteran hitters returning from injuries. We also discuss the Tigers' near-perfect bullpen since Aug. 11, dominant pitching performances from Keider Montero and Brant Hurter, the return of Reese Olson from the injured list, and Jackson Jobe's Triple-A Toledo debut. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Sep 10, 2024
The Detroit Tigers traveled to the West Coast and won three of six games against the San Diego Padres and Oakland Athletics. The chase for the postseason continues, as the Tigers are 3½ games behind the Minnesota Twins for the third and final spot in the American League wild-card. However, the Tigers actually sit even further behind the Twins in the wild-card race because of the new tiebreaker rule, which has been in place since 2022 when the playoffs expanded from 10 teams to 12 teams. After talking playoffs, Tigers radio analyst Bobby L. Scales II joins to discuss the high-quality plate appearances, the young core emerging on offense and the clutch gene of Parker Meadows. To wrap up, Mark and Evan provide updates on Reese Olson (right shoulder strain) and Wenceel Pérez (left oblique strain) on their rehab assignments with Triple-A Toledo. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Sep 3, 2024
The Detroit Tigers continue their winnings ways, clinching 15 of their last 21 games. Coming out of Labor Day, the Tigers are five games out of the third and final wild-card spot in the American League, looking up at the Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins. What will it take for the Tigers to surpass one of those teams? Regardless, does the wild-card race change anything about how the Tigers plan to approach the offseason? To get to this point, the Tigers utilized their pitching depth to win games in August despite having just two traditional starters, thanks to the strategy created by president of baseball operations Scott Harris. Manager A.J. Hinch explains the role of the bulk reliever, as well as how it helps the Tigers win games. As for one of the starters, Tarik Skubal is running away with the AL Cy Young Award, but how dominant has he been compared to pitchers of the past? (Hint: It's one of the best seasons in nearly 60 years.) Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Aug 26, 2024
The Detroit Tigers beat up the White Sox in Chicago as part of a seven-game road trip to the Windy City against the Cubs and White Sox. Are the White Sox the worst team we've ever seen? It's quite possible. More importantly, can the Tigers exceed a .500 record in the 2024 season? The lineup features three new regular players in Dillon Dingler, Jace Jung and Trey Sweeney. How do those newcomers fit with mainstays like Riley Greene, Kerry Carpenter and Colt Keith? Also, is Spencer Torkelson ever going to stay hot? After the break, Nick Pollack, the founder of PitcherList, joins the Days of Roar podcast to discuss the Cy Young-caliber season of Tarik Skubal, who ranks first in ERA (2.58), first in wins (15) and tied for first in strikeouts (193) among MLB pitchers. His best pitch is the changeup, but it's a seam-shifted wake changeup. Pollack explains exactly what that is. He also discusses other topics about the Tigers' pitching department, including Keider Montero, Reese Olson, Casey Mize, Matt Manning and players to target in upcoming free agency. To wrap up, we discuss the MLB debut of Ty Madden and if injured shortstop Javier Báez has played his final game with the Tigers. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Aug 19, 2024
The Detroit Tigers are playing their best baseball in a long time, winning six of seven games. This week, the Tigers swept the Seattle Mariners and won two of three against the New York Yankees, including a fun 3-2 win in extra innings in the Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Do the final six weeks — for anyone — factor into the plans for 2025? The Tigers called up Jace Jung and Trey Sweeney for their MLB debuts, plus the Tigers recalled Spencer Torkelson. Also, Kerry Carpenter and Riley Greene returned from the injured list, all while Parker Meadows continues to be a game-changer on offense and defense. What are the expectations for Torkelson after 58 games in Triple-A Toledo? To wrap up, Mark and Evan try to answer an important question: How close are the Tigers to competing in the American League Central? Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Aug 12, 2024
The Detroit Tigers completed a six-game West Coast trip with a 3-3 record, winning two of three games in Seattle and losing two of three in San Francisco. The Tigers aren't in postseason contention with 43 games remaining, so how much value should we place in what happens over the final six weeks of the season? A few injured players are coming back soon, including Kerry Carpenter, but Parker Meadows seems to be the No. 1 player to watch down the stretch because of his potential impact for years to come. Also, what could the starting rotation and bullpen look like on 2025 Opening Day? After that, Nate Schwartz, a writer for PitcherList, joins to discuss Process+, a new all-encompassing hitting stat that provides a comprehensive understanding of a hitter's process at the plate. He explains which Tigers have good processes and which Tigers have bad processes, solely based Process+ in the 2024 season. To wrap up, we discuss the injury to Wenceel Pérez and provide an update on Spencer Torkelson. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Aug 6, 2024
The Detroit Tigers continue to struggle on the field, but there's still a lot to track in the final two months of the 2024 season. Can Colt Keith make a late push for American League Rookie of the Year? Can Tarik Skubal finish strong in his AL Cy Young campaign? Does Parker Meadows prove himself as the everyday center fielder of the future? Along with those topics, the Tigers have a player with MLB experience hitting in Triple-A Toledo. Is it time to recall Spencer Torkelson? After that, Jaylon Thompson, the Royals beat writer for The Kansas City Star, joins to discuss how the Royals — led by general manager J.J. Picollo — went from a 56-106 record in 2023 to postseason contenders in 2024. To wrap up, we discuss what we like about newcomers Dillon Dingler and Brant Hurter, and the latest on the Casey Mize situation. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Jul 31, 2024
The Detroit Tigers traded right-hander Jack Flaherty to the Los Angeles Dodgers for catcher/first baseman Thayron Liranzo and shortstop Trey Sweeney. The Tigers also traded catcher Carson Kelly, left-handed reliever Andrew Chafin and outfielder Mark Canha before Tuesday's 6 p.m. deadline. The Chafin trade netted the Tigers another notable prospect in right-hander Joseph Montalvo. We discuss everything about the Tigers at the trade deadline, from Flaherty's back injury to the return in the Dodgers deal. Also, Chris Clegg, founder of The Dynasty Dugout, joins to break down the new players joining the Tigers. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Jul 29, 2024
Surprise! The Detroit Tigers completed a trade during the production of this week's episode, so Mark and Evan dive right into the trade of catcher Carson Kelly to the Texas Rangers for two minor leaguers. To open the show, Mark and Evan discuss the Tigers on the trade block ahead of Tuesday's 6 p.m. trade deadline. We provide the latest information about Jack Flaherty, including the high asking prices, qualifying offer and back issues. Also, what are the chances of a Tarik Skubal trade? Mark examines mock trades created by Evan in which the Tigers trade Flaherty and Skubal to the Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Dodgers. To wrap up, we break down Riley Greene's injury and other important trade talk. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here
Jul 22, 2024
The Detroit Tigers continue to play winning baseball coming out of the All-Star break, taking two of three games against the Blue Jays in Toronto. Mark and Evan discuss the Tarik Skubal and Riley Greene at the All-Star Game, the upcoming trade deadline headlined by Jack Flaherty and the lack of starting pitchers in the Tigers' rotation after more pitching injuries. Is top prospect Jackson Jobe — currently in Double-A Erie — the solution to the shortage? After that, Mark and Evan chat about manager Jim Leyland's induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame, along with the promotions of prospects Max Clark and Kevin McGonigle to High-A West Michigan. To wrap up, the guys break down an important stretch of games against American League Central rivals. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Jul 15, 2024
The Detroit Tigers selected high school shortstop Bryce Rainer with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2024 MLB draft, followed by high school pitchers Owen Hall and Ethan Schiefelbein at Nos. 49 and 72, respectively. Tyler Jennings, the director of draft content at Prospects Live, joins the podcast to share his evaluation of the three players. After that, Mark and Evan discuss the Tigers' red-hot offense entering the All-Star break and how president of baseball operations Scott Harris should approach the July 30 trade deadline. They also take a look at Jack Flaherty's return from his back injury and Kenta Maeda's transition to the bullpen. To wrap up, Mark and Evan share what stands out about the way the Tigers have approached the MLB draft with Harris, assistant general manager Rob Metzler and scouting director Mark Conner running the show in the last two drafts. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Jul 8, 2024
First-time All-Star selections Tarik Skubal and Riley Greene will represent the Detroit Tigers on July 16 at the 2024 MLB All-Star Game. Mark and Evan break down the All-Star picks coming off the Tigers' first series sweep since the season-opening series, along with discussing Jack Flaherty's trade value after another injection to treat his lower back injury. After that, Perfect Game's Vinnie Cervino joins the podcast to preview the 2024 MLB Draft, which begins July 14. The Tigers have the No. 11 overall pick in this year's draft. To wrap up, Mark and Evan discuss the injuries to Casey Mize and Parker Meadows and if the Tigers need to call on Andrew Chafin as their new closer. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Jul 1, 2024
Mark and Evan break down another week of losing from the Detroit Tigers, then examine the six players added by president of baseball operations Scott Harris in the offseason, including Jack Flaherty for $14 million and Mark Canha for $11.5 million. After that, Mike Ferrin, co-host of MLB Network Radio's "Power Alley," joins the podcast. He says the 2024 season "feels like a missed opportunity" by the Tigers because they didn't do enough to improve the offense in the offseason. To wrap up, Mark and Evan look ahead to some of the storylines in the second half of the season. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Jun 25, 2024
Mark and Evan recap another week of feast or famine type run production for the Detroit Tigers. In the shadow of an offense not built to withstand demotions, injuries and underperformance, the guys talk the upside of Colt Keith's mental tenacity. The guys discuss how the rookie has managed to consistently adjust his play at every level and the promise this shows for his future. Mark and Evan also talk Riley Greene. Has the outfielder swung his way into deserving more recognition and All-Star votes? Later in the pod, "Days of Roar" covers the upcoming trade deadline and what's at stake for the team, POBO Scott Harris and pitcher Tarik Skubal. Would waiting to trade the Cy Young contending starter after the season ends make more sense than at the deadline? What kind of haul should the team expect for pitcher Jack Flaherty? The guys dive into these questions plus they cover a player's season ending injury, the roster nuances of bringing Parker Meadows backup, and player health updates. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Jun 17, 2024
Another week of fair to disappointing baseball has led Mark and Evan to seek outside expertise on the Tigers' woes. To help out, the guys welcome back Tigers radio analyst and former MLB player Bobby L. Scales II to the show. The trio try to make sense of the team's wildly inconsistent run production. After the break, the show focuses in on the expectations surrounding Riley Greene. What can we learn about Greene's potential from his walk rate? The trio also discuss Colt Keith's struggles and if the second baseman is finally starting adjust to the major leagues. Later in the pod, Mark and Evan cover health updates on Javier Báez, Kerry Carpenter, and Jackson Jobe's upcoming rehab start. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Jun 10, 2024
Another 3-3 week for the Detroit Tigers has the "Days of Roar" crew contemplating some tough questions for the ball club. After discussing how the team looks without Kerry Carpenter, Mark and Evan focus in on comments made by president of baseball operations Scott Harris on the MLB Network. How far away are the Tigers from having an established core and what does that timeline even look like? After the break, the guys also examine Scott Harris' comments on Javier Báez. Although the conversation on Baez's diminished hitting seems all but exhausted, Evan has some potentially intriguing data on the struggling shortstop's swing. Later in the pod, the guys cover Kirk Gibson's recent call with 97.1 The Ticket. Are we all being a bit too negative on a team that's only a few games out of a wildcard spot? Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Jun 3, 2024
Mark and Evan discuss the fallout of Spencer Torkelson's demotion to Triple-A Toledo . As the ballclub hovers around the .500 mark, the guys have a tough conversation on the options available to the team and their future competitiveness. Later in the pod, the guys are thrilled to welcome on to the pod former Detroit Tigers pitcher and current Bally Sports Detroit studio analyst Dan Petry. The guys get Petry's perspective on pitching, Torkelson's move, Tarik Skubal's Cy Young campaign, the 1984 World Series Championship team, and the nickname "Peaches." Also in the pod, Mark and Evan talk Kerry Carpenter's injury and Justyn-Henry Malloy's call up. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
May 28, 2024
This week, Mark and Evan recap the Tigers' disastrous matchup against the Kansas City Royals and the unexpected series win against the Toronto Blue Jays. Later, the guys focus on Matt Vierling's hitting. Has Vierling turned things around offensively or should we remain skeptical? Then the guys try to make sense of the state of the bullpen. Is there any option to relieve the relief pitching? The guys also talk about Matt Manning being sent down to Toledo, Maeda's return, Colt Keith's hitting adjustments, a hat tip to Reese Olson's impressive pitching and more. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
May 20, 2024
After a disappointing series against the Marlins, the Detroit Tigers' offense snapped their 20 inning scoreless streak and exploded against the Diamondbacks. Mark and Evan preview the team's big upcoming series against the Royals and if the offense can continue to hold on the road. The guys also cover Jack Flaherty's recent resurgence in pitching excellence. Is this the best he's looked since 2019? Later in the show, Mark proposes a trade idea that flabbergasts Evan. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
May 13, 2024
After taking a moment to recognize Justin Verlander's recent return to Comerica Park, Mark and Evan size up the state of the Detroit Tigers with nearly a quarter of the 2024 season now complete. How do the guys feel about the team's chances for clinching that AL Central now? The guys also talk Parker Meadows demotion to AAA, Kenta Maeda's illness, and who could be getting called up soon. After the break, Mark and Evan welcome on to the pod Paul Hoynes, Cleveland Guardians beat writer for Cleveland.com . Paul walks the guys through the surprising hot start of the Guardians, how things are playing out with rookie manager Stephen Vogt, the impact of Steven Kwan's absence and more. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
May 6, 2024
It's a packed show today as Mark and Evan welcome on to the podcast Ryan Garko, Detroit Tigers' vice president of player development. Before the guy's get to the interview, Mark and Evan cover the impressive play of Riley Greene. Could the outfielder swing his way into the MVP discussion? The "Days of Roar" crew also continue to monitor Spencer Torkelson's lack of quality performance and they note recent comments made by A. J. Hinch on the matter. Later in the pod, Evan interviews Max Clark and delves into how the young player is progressing in the minor leagues. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Apr 29, 2024
After giving the city of Detroit and the Lions a well deserved hat tip for an unprecedented NFL draft weekend, the guys get right to business addressing the must-see TV pitching of Tarik Skubal. The guys thought the ace could seriously contend for a Cy Young Award at the start of the season, how do his numbers add up against his peers and where is he at in the conversation so far? After covering Skubal's heat, the guys shift to a much colder subject and focus in on the team's puzzling offense. While an immediate answer eludes both the front office and the "Days of Roar" crew, the guys focus in on the offensive issues of Parker Meadows and Colt Keith. Could either benefit from a stint in AAA? Mark and Evan also continue to scratch their heads at a drastically underperforming Spencer Torkleson. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Apr 22, 2024
Mark and Evan talk the Detroit Tigers' 3rd spot in the AL Central this week. The guys note the improved approach on offense and how the team is drawing more walks. They also cover the recent lapses in defense and highlight the stellar performance of the bullpen so far. The guys also tip their hats to Kerry Carpenter and focus in on Spencer Torkelson's struggles. After the break, "Days of Roar" is pleased to welcome to the show Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Royals beat writer for The Kansas City Star. Jaylon offers insights on the seemingly unexpected hot start for the Royals and what's clicking right for the team. Later in the pod, Mark and Evan zoom in on the Tigers' starting pitching rotation and Casey Mize's bulldog tenacity in his last outing against the Twins. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Apr 15, 2024
The continuing offensive problems hounding the Detroit Tigers are directly at the center of Mark and Evan's minds. In this week's pod, the guys consider if the lackluster batting is the type of hitting we'll see all season long. They also zoom in on the struggles of Parker Meadows, Spencer Torkelson, and Matt Manning's pitching limbo situation. After the break, Evan welcomes Detroit Tigers General Manager Jeff Greenberg onto the podcast. Tune in to Evan's interview to learn insights into Greenberg's background, what kind of foundation is being built for the team, and the front office's perspective on the hitting issue. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Apr 8, 2024
After a 3-3 week, questions continue to percolate around the hitting prowess of the Detroit Tigers. Mark and Evan dive into the offensive concerns and break down if stronger bats should have been acquired in the off-season. Based on what they've seen so far, have the guys' thoughts on this season changed? After the break, the "Days of Roar" crew continues evaluating the offense and welcomes back Tigers radio analyst Bobby L. Scales II to the show. The trio talks about what they've seen in the nine matchups played, how cold temperatures influence the game, player development, the nuances of timing in hitting and more! Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Apr 1, 2024
After the first weekend of real baseball for 2024, the Detroit Tigers are 3-0 for the first time since 2016. With the caveat that the White Sox will most likely struggle this season, Mark and Evan discuss major takeaways from the series. The guys break down A. J. Hinch's masterful coaching maneuvers and Andy Ibáñez's clutch pinch-hit. The "Days of Roar" duo also discuss team culture and how the pitching staff can help ease the workload of a talented but young hitting core. While vibes may be great at the moment overall, the guys also cover the struggles of pitchers Kenta Maeda and Alex Lange. Later, the guys preview the upcoming series against the New York Mets and the home opener against the Oakland A's. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Mar 25, 2024
Opening day is finally here this week! With the 2024 regular season just days away, Mark and Evan catch us up on the final pitching starting rotation spots now filled by Reese Olson and Casey Mize. What do the guys make of Matt Manning being sent down to AAA? Later, the guys discuss the poor slow April performances that have plagued the Tigers the last few seasons and game out if the ball club could have a hotter start this year. After the break, the "Days of Roar" crew welcome Star Tribune's Minnesota Twins reporter Bobby Nightengale on to the show. The trio discuss the Twins' cost-cutting off-season moves and how they'll compete for the AL central this season. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Mar 18, 2024
Opening Day is just 10 (!!!) days away, and things are heating up down in Florida with plenty of interesting storylines. Mark and Evan open the show by discussing the Tigers' strong pitching performances this week and then get into a realistic time frame for Jackson Jobe to make his MLB debut after his exhilarating appearance last week. The guys also discuss Evan's final roster predictions, the continued concerns surrounding Javier Báez, who is winning the race to be the starting third baseman, plus a whole lot more. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Mar 11, 2024
Mark and Evan continue our spring training coverage this week. With two weeks worth of spring games already in the books, the guys start the show by analyzing how things are shaping up with hitting so far. Later, the guys talk how Matt Manning, Casey Mize, and Reese Olsen are competing for the two remaining spots on the pitching rotation. After the break, the "Days of Roar" crew welcomes play-by-play announcer Jason Benetti on to discuss his approach to broadcasting, his perspective on the organization, and if the Tigers could with the AL Central in 2024. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Mar 4, 2024
The spring training grind continues with Evan remotely joining Mark this week from Florida. After an offseason full of discussion and speculation on what Javier Báez needs to adjust in his batting approach, the guys finally have a small sample size of at bats to review. While the "Days of Roar" crew don't think it's quite time to hit the panic button just yet, tune in to hear what one co-host finds concerning about Báez's hitting. Later in the pod, the guys walk us through the team's impressive pitching heat, Tarik Skubal's ace mentality, and more. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Feb 26, 2024
Our coverage of spring training continues with Evan still reporting from Lakeland. Evan joins Mark remotely to discuss the recent signing of Gio Urshela. The guys break down if Urshela is likely to be the everyday third baseman, analyze how the deal could benefit the Tigers, and bring up some questions on his health history. The "Days of Roar" crew also go over Evan's roster prediction 3.0 . Later, the guys discuss the upsides to this lineup, the possibility of Báez hitting left-handed, how Casey Mize has looked so far and more. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Feb 19, 2024
With the first week now behind us, Evan and Mark help us focus on which players should have our attention this spring training. The guys also discuss the open DH spot, what Scott Harris and A.J. Hinch expect for the 2024 season, recent player signings, the heat Jackson Jobe has been throwing and even more coverage from Detroit Tigers' 2024 spring training. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Feb 13, 2024
Evan joins Mark remotely from Florida as spring training is nearly upon us . The "Days of Roar" duo analyze how the Detroit Tigers might sort out their starting pitching for the year. Find out how the team might employ a five-man rotation with six starting pitchers. Later in the pod, the guys contemplate if there are any additional free agents the front office should have gone after in the offseason. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Feb 5, 2024
With spring training just around the corner, Mark and Evan are looking closely at how this year's Detroit Tigers roster could shape up. The guys talk what the plan could be for third base and if Jim Leyland's Hall of Fame plaque will feature a team logo. Later in the pod, Evan sits down with recently acquired outfielder Mark Canha. In their conversation, Evan asks about Canha's spot in the batting order, realistic goals for 2024, and the youth on the team. Also, in a shocking turn of events, Mark has complimentary things to say about the Al Avila administration. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Jan 29, 2024
Mark and Evan break down the contract extension of Colt Keith and which other players may be next to sign. Evan also talks with former catcher Alex Avila to get his perspective on the candidates entering into Cooperstown this year. Alex shares memories of playing under Jim Leyland and his thoughts on the Detroit Tigers' upcoming season. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Jan 22, 2024
It's a guest-filled episode of "Days of Roar" this week. First Mark and Evan welcome Sports Business Reporter Dan Kaplan to discuss the partnership deal between Diamond Sports and Amazon. Find out how the deal could affect the way Detroit Tigers fans watch games. Later in the pod, the guys welcome Rogelio Castillo and Chris Brown of "The Detroit Tigers Minor League Report Podcast" to the show. The group take a deep dive on the Tigers' prospects and who might be getting called up this year. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Jan 16, 2024
Mark and Evan start the show by trying to answer a simple question: Are the Detroit Tigers a fun team as currently constructed? After a good-natured debate on the topic, the guys then discuss the Tigers heading to arbitration with former No. 1 overall pick Casey Mize over $25K. What happened and will it have long-term ramifications? Then, Mark and Evan talk about what the Tigers' Opening Day roster may look like after some more offseason moves and whether they will have enough good players to make the playoffs. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Jan 8, 2024
This week, Mark and Evan talk some of Evan's predictions for the Tigers in 2024. Find out which players might be giving Evan the side eye come spring training. The guys also talk if there are any remaining free agent moves left for the team this off-season. Later in the pod, the "Days of Roar" crew welcome Senior Fantasy Analyst for Pitcher List Scott Chu to the pod. The trio discuss all things hitting, including Scott's list of top 200 hitters for 2024, how Colt Keith may perform at the major league level and how Mark Canha could make an impact on the younger members of the team. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Jan 2, 2024
The Days of Roar crew is welcoming in the new year by discussing their resolutions for the Tigers in 2024. Evan and Mark talk about how the Tigers can take the next step, some potential offseason targets for next year, what they'd like to see Scott Harris do, and the players who are already in the organization who can help the Tigers get back to the postseason. Then, towards the end of the show, Evan offers an idea for a star player the Tigers could target down the line that had Mark so excited, he offered to kiss him. For all that and a lot more, catch the latest episode of Days of Roar. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Dec 27, 2023
For the final 2023 episode of "Days of Roar," Mark and Evan try to figure out which pieces of the team need to step up in 2024. The guys also talk recently-signed free agent pitcher Shelby Miller and the issues Evan sees in Scott Harris' plans for pitcher Jack Flaherty. Later in the pod, Mark and Evan are pleased to welcome Tigers radio analyst and former player Bobby L. Scales II to the show. Highlights of the conversation include a player's perspective on the importance of timing as a batter and which current Tigers need to see if they can thrive at the major league level. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Dec 18, 2023
This week, Mark and Evan continue to review the Detroit Tigers' offseason moves. The guys talk the signing of Jack Flaherty and how his pitching mechanics may be concerning. Later, the guys welcome Free Press Sports Columnist Carlos Monarrez to the pod to discuss the contract extension of A.J. Hinch and the peculiar nature of how that news broke from the Tigers organization. The guys also talk takeaways from pitcher Andrew Chafin's news conference and more. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Dec 11, 2023
This week, Mark and Evan sort through the wake of news made post-MLB winter meetings. The guys talk Detroit Tigers manager A. J. Hinch's contract extension and walk through why Andrew Chafin's return to the ball club is ideal for both parties. Later in the pod, the "Days of Roar" duo analyze the upside in the Tigers' roster and how the team would have to perform in order to open deep spending from ownership. The guys also touch on Shohei Ohtani's historic deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Dec 8, 2023
In this special "Days of Roar" listener bonus episode, Evan is pleased to welcome USA TODAY Sports MLB columnist and insider Bob Nightengale. With the MLB winter meetings in the rearview mirror, the two talk the flurry of news from this past week. How did San Diego fair in their deal that sent Juan Soto to the New York Yankees? How much does Eduardo Rodriguez's signing to the Arizona Diamondbacks bolster their rotation? With leaks being kept to a relative minimum, which team is most likely to nab Shohei Ohtani this offseason? Evan walks through these questions with Bob and more.
Dec 4, 2023
Evan joins Mark from Nashville this week as the MLB Winter Meetings are about to begin. The guys break down the continuing coaching changes for the off-season and also note former Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland's election into the Baseball Hall of Fame. The guys also break down Evan's piece on the roster construction so far, the Tigers organization making a push to recruit more players from Asia and Mark's trade idea. Find out why Evan considers Mark's proposal "dancing with the devil." Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Nov 27, 2023
Mark and Evan this week break down the signing of starting pitcher Kenta Maeda. The guys talk if Maeda is a good fit for the team and how valuable the deal may be for the organization. Later, the "Days of Roar" duo welcome Nick Pollack of pitcherlist.com to help evaluate the Maeda signing and the starting rotation. The trio talk if Tarik Skubal is a 2024 Cy Young contender, what to expect from Casey Mize's return and more. With the winter GM meetings set for this week, Mark and Evan also speculate on some hypothetical trade deals. Is the team in need of Javier Báez insurance? Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Nov 20, 2023
Mark and Evan have a slew of changes to the roster to cover this week. Are there any surprises as to who was kept or let go? Later in the pod, the guys review Evan's piece on Javier Báez's offseason training plans . What's different about this offseason and what new options are available to help the shortstop fix his swing? To close the pod, the guys answer some listener mail-bag questions including one that catches Evan completely by surprise. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Nov 13, 2023
Mark and Evan have a news-packed week to catch us up, on including minor league free agents, Scott Harris at the GM meetings, coaching staff changes and more. The guys also dive into the conversation on available arms for this off-season. Later in the pod, the "Days of Roar" duo are joined by Chris Castellani of Barstool Sports. The trio talk Javier Báez, the new hire of broadcaster Jason Benetti, and what may be on the horizon for the team in 2024. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Nov 6, 2023
Evan joins Mark from Arizona this week. The guys talk about the recent acquisition of Mark Canha and where he fits in with the 2024 Detroit Tigers roster. The guys also talk where this may leave some other players in the pipeline. Mark and Evan also cover Eduardo Rodriguez executing his opt-out clause, the Arizona Fall League, and preview what could be on the horizon with the upcoming GM meetings. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Oct 30, 2023
This week, the guys have coaching staff changes to review along with Evan's piece on pitcher Sawyer Gipson-Long. Later in the pod, Mark and Evan are thrilled to bring back Mike Ferrin, co-host of MLB Network Radio's "Power Alley", to the pod. Ferrin shares why this World Series may be memorable and which players he's looking forward to seeing at the Arizona Fall League. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Oct 23, 2023
This week, the guys continue the conversation around Javier Báez's need for an offensive adjustment and discuss Zach McKinstry's Gold Glove award nomination. Later, Mark and Evan are joined by broadcaster Dan Dickerson of the Detroit Tigers Radio Network to analyze the team. What's Dan overall impression of Scott Harris' first year? What about the rule changes for this year? How useful are advanced metrics in the broadcast booth? The guys go over these questions and more in this special "Days of Roar" interview. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Oct 16, 2023
This week, Mark and Evan forgo "The Big 2" format and instead opt to have an episode-spanning discussion on the makeup of the team's 40-man roster. While it's clear certain players are guaranteed locks or departures, the guys also look at some positional redundancies and analyze what to do with pieces lacking minor league options. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Oct 9, 2023
With the so-called non-game season here for the Detroit Tigers, Mark and Evan have a spirited debate over the team's payroll and future. Is it time to bring back J.D. Martinez? Later in the pod, the guys briefly talk A.J. Hinch's future with the team, Matt Shepherd's dismissal from the Tigers' broadcasting booth and Evan's stock watch article on which players have earned their roster spot for 2024. Happy Birthday, Evan! Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Oct 3, 2023
This week, Mark and Evan go over the movie-esque conclusion to Miguel Cabrera's professional playing career. Later, the guys review what was learned from the end-of-year press conference held by Detroit Tigers' management. With the 2023 regular season now over, the guys also start looking fully towards next year and what lingering questions remain on the roster. Will we see Austin Meadows or Spencer Turnbull return? Will E-Rod opt out? Has Carson Kelly secured his backup catcher role? Mark and Evan parse the tea leaves to game out these answers and more. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Sep 25, 2023
Mark and Evan discuss how newly hired general manager Jeff Greenberg fits into the Scott Harris front office and break down the culture shift the 2023 Detroit Tigers have witnessed under A.J. Hinch. The guys also catch us up on Riley Greene's health and highlight the continued impressiveness of Tarik Skubal. Last but certainly not least, the "Days of Roar" crew take the time to mark the end of an era as Miguel Cabrera's professional playing career concludes. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Sep 18, 2023
This week, Mark welcomes Evan back and the duo summarize the highlights of the pitching staff. Later, the guys take some time for a draft-based game of "What If?". Mark and Evan also talk possible candidates to fill the general manager role, Riley Greene's health and Matt Vierling. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Sep 11, 2023
With Evan away this week (congratulations Evan and Savannah!), Mark brings on "Locked On Tigers" host Scott Bentley to talk Detroit Tigers injuries and more. Mark and Scott break down what aspect of Javier Báez's swing needs work during the offseason. Later, the duo discuss what Scott Harris should have his eyes on as we look towards the 2024 season. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Sep 5, 2023
With the waning weeks of the regular season upon us, Mark and Evan spend some time reflecting on Miguel Cabrera's career, his recent role as clubhouse leader, and talk Riley Greene's elbow injury. Later, the duo analyze where the Detroit Tigers have improved this year and where they fall short against teams outside of the AL Central. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Aug 28, 2023
Mark & Evan open the show by discussing another frustrating home series raining on a productive road trip, but find some positives in the play of the recently-promoted Parker Meadows. Then the guys talk about the historic moment shared between Justin Verlander and Miguel Cabrera and close the show by discussing some of the current Tigers at risk of losing their roster spots to younger guys in the minors.
Aug 21, 2023
This week, Mark & Evan talk the changes being implemented on the roster. With Haase being DFA'd, Meadows being called up and the team signing Carson Kelly, what other moves are we likely to see in the waning weeks of the regular season?
Aug 14, 2023
This week, Evan's feeling a little "The Godfather Part III" as the Detroit Tigers manage to pull him back in after last week's rant and Mark is surprised by his defense of the front office on a certain lack of moves. Later in the pod, the guys take a deep dive on Matt Manning and pitching. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Aug 7, 2023
As the struggles continue to pile on for the 2023 Detroit Tigers, Mark and Evan break down the frustrating rebuild and uncertain future for the franchise. It's not all doom and gloom though as the guys also note the silver linings of the organization. Tarik Skubal's continues to grow in the right direction and Jake Rogers is showing the kind of caliber the team has long been searching for in a catcher. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Aug 3, 2023
Mark and Evan return with a special post-trade deadline update. The duo discuss the events leading up and the fallout from Detroit Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris' failed deal to send E-Rod to the LA Dodgers. Later, the guys cover Michael Lorenzen's trade to the Philadelphia Phillies and the prospect the Tigers received in return. Follow Mark on Twitter here. Follow Evan on Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Jul 31, 2023
On today's pod, Mark & Evan talk the Detroit Tigers struggles last week, Miguel Cabrera's farewell to the Miami Marlins and the looming MLB trade deadline. Later in the show, the guys are joined by Mike Ferrin, co-host of "Power Alley" on MLB Network Radio, for additional trade deadline analysis. The trio go over the state of the Tigers rebuild, which prospects stand out and why E-Rod's opt-out clause may be complicating his trade value. Follow Mark on Twitter here. Follow Evan on Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Jul 25, 2023
This week, Mark and Evan break down Tarik Skubal's fiery pitching performances. Could the Detroit Tigers lefty be a future Cy Young Award contender? Later, with the Aug. 1 trade deadline fast approaching, the guys evaluate who needs to be moved and what the team needs in return. We also take the time to send kudos to Jenna Malinowski for stepping up and filling-in for Evan's writing duties during his recent vacation. Nice work and well done, Jenna. Follow Mark on Twitter here. Follow Evan on Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Jul 17, 2023
This week, Mark and Evan talk the offensive woes hounding Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Báez. Later, the guys draw attention to some pitching prospects and game out when we might see Casey Mize back on the mound. Your "Days of Roar" crew also review the return of Beau Brieske and Nick Maton.
Jul 10, 2023
As the Detroit Tigers reach the halfway point of the season, Mark and Evan take stock of the team. Beyond looking ahead to the trade deadline and the rest of the year, the guys also break down the bats recently drafted. Follow Mark on Twitter here. Follow Evan on Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Jul 3, 2023
Mark and Evan have a 4-3 week of Tigers baseball to cover. With the team holding on, what could be next as key players begin to return from the IL? The guys also talk who's heading to the All-Star game and contend with which player evaluations they got wrong. Later, the "Days of Roar" crew welcomes back National Crosschecker Brian Sakowski of Perfect Game USA to preview next week's MLB draft and how Dylan Crews could be Detroit's pick. Follow Mark on Twitter here. Follow Evan on Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Jun 26, 2023
The tantalizing prospect of taking first place in the AL Central still eludes the Detroit Tigers and that has Mark & Evan discussing the legitimacy of this team. As the baseball club attempts to claw its way up, the guys breakdown a recent demotion and who we expect to return to the mound this week. Follow Mark on Twitter here. Follow Evan on Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Jun 20, 2023
This week, Mark and Evan take some time to review Scott Harris' surprise press conference. Is this team going to compete for the AL Central? What does Harris see in player development? The guys go over his responses and more. Later, we have another question round of "The Big Two". What's the likelihood this team could actually win their division and are there specific dates we can look towards for the return of Matt Manning and Tarik Skubal? The guys also go over who's starting to heat up offensively and which bullpen arms might need a tweak in their mechanics. Follow Mark on Twitter here. Follow Evan on Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Jun 14, 2023
It's a packed episode of "Days of Roar." This week, beyond their regular wrap up of the recent week in Detroit Tigers' baseball, the guys have on MLB draft expert Brian Sakowski to talk which potential eligible players we should be keeping our eyes on. Later, Mark and Evan go over an interview with Colt Keith, who has been making impressive moves in minor league ball. Follow Mark on Twitter here. Follow Evan on Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Jun 6, 2023
In the shadow of recent injuries and losses that have the team taking a step back overall, Mark & Evan contemplate if Scott Harris will take any action. What kind of grading scale should Harris be judged on based on the choices made in the offseason? Follow Mark on Twitter here. Follow Evan on Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Jun 1, 2023
With both Eduardo Rodriguez and Riley Greene heading to the injured list, the Free Press talked to two orthopedic surgeons to learn more about their injuries. How long should we expect E-Rod or Greene to be out? What does this mean for the Detroit Tigers' chances of taking the AL Central? What about the trade deadline? Who could the team potentially call up? Who should they call up? Mark and Evan go over these questions and more in this emergency podcast edition of "Days of Roar." Follow Mark on Twitter here. Follow Evan on Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
May 30, 2023
Evan and Mark have a fun week of Detroit Tigers baseball against the Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox to review. The team has the right strategy and team chemistry down but they need more big hits in big moments. The guys also briefly touch on Tarik Skubal's future return and Mark has a stat wrap-up for the month of May. Follow Mark on Twitter here. Follow Evan on Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
May 22, 2023
Mark and Evan have a tough week of baseball to cover which has led to the guys swearing off predictions based on the schedule. What would it take for this team to win consistently? Later, the guys talk adjustments and if the clock is ticking for some players. The guys also take notice of a strong Double-A performance and provide updates on Tarik Skubal and Kerry Carpenter. Follow Mark on Twitter here. Follow Evan on Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
May 15, 2023
Mark and Evan review the mixed bag results of the series against the Seattle Mariners and Cleveland Guardians. Later, the guys talk the bullpen's recent polished performances and how better at-bats combined with better approaches are revealing the resilience of this team. The "Days of Roar" duo also discuss the turn of events surrounding Spencer Turnbull, Scott Harris and an interesting link to the St. Louis Cardinals. Follow Mark on Twitter here. Follow Evan on Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
May 8, 2023
This week, Mark and Evan take in the unexpected but greatly welcomed positive highlights of the team. Coming off of a week which included sweeping the New York Mets, the guys are noting some adjustments. What's ultimately changed about this team from just a few weeks ago? The guys have some thoughts on that answer as well as some player shout-outs and two new segments for the pod. Follow Mark on Twitter here. Follow Evan on Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
May 1, 2023
Your "Days of Roar" hosts are changing their first names to Zach/Zack after the recent performances of Zach McKinstry and Zack Short. Mark and Evan talk the Tigers' recent series against the "Tampa Bay light" Baltimore Orioles. The guys also cover how Eduardo Rodríguez continues to impress and the glimmers of light in the offense. We also have a Tarik Skubal update and why Detroit fans are in for a blast from the past with the upcoming series against the New York Mets. Follow Mark on Twitter here. Follow Evan on Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Apr 24, 2023
The guys have a rough week of Detroit Tigers baseball to go over. Mark has an apology and the guys mention the brighter side of the bullpen/pitching. However, the anemic offense casts a long shadow over the whole team. With less runners on base and too many missed opportunities to turn on opposing pitcher mistakes, the bats have been whimpering rather than roaring. Despite the lack of production, the guys talk how Eduardo Rodriguez may be able to pitch himself to a contending team. Follow Mark on Twitter here. Follow Evan on Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Apr 17, 2023
This week, the guys have the epic highs of walk-off wins and the lows of player errors to discuss. Mark and self-proclaimed "big nap guy" Evan talk the recent clouds hanging over Comerica Park and Javier Báez. Later, the guys take a look at Riley Greene's offensive gaps; could he be an All-Star in the making? Also, find out why Matthew Boyd's ERA is in Mark's crosshairs and which aspect of the team has seen some solid performances. Lastly, we have some minor-league updates, why you should really be keeping an eye on Orchard Lake St. Mary’s baseball team and offer reasons for not sleeping on Nick Maton. Follow Mark on Twitter here. Follow Evan on Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Apr 10, 2023
While the Houston series may have shown some signs of hope for the team, Mark & Evan have an overall disappointing week to recap for the Tigers. Certain position players are showing some promise but starting pitching is struggling to deliver in key innings. Where's the strike zone domination? Where's elite Javier Báez gone? Later, the guys talk how the bullpen has devolved into a null-pen and how pitching as a whole isn't getting the job done. Lastly, the guys give a shout out to tigersmlreport.com and update us on some minor league developments. Follow Mark on Twitter here. Follow Evan on Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Apr 3, 2023
This week, Mark and Evan are breaking down the less than stellar start to the 2023 Tigers season. Offensive woes may not be new but did the bullpen regress from last year? Is there any resilience or swagger on this team? Is it time to hit the panic button? How are Evan and Mark feeling about their team projections for the year? Later, the guys talk which minor leaguers they're keeping their eyes on. Follow Mark on Twitter here. Follow Evan on Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Mar 27, 2023
With Opening Day finally here this week, the guys break down the Detroit Tigers' potential lineup and walk through what's still unresolved. What's in store for the likes of Kerry Carpenter, Akil Baddoo, César Hernández and Ryan Kreidler? How much of the lineup is locked down? How's the rotation and bullpen looking? Has the team found their closer yet? What does Miguel Cabrera's farewell season look like? Evan & Mark go through the lingering points and answer your questions directly in our first listener mailbag segment. Follow Mark on Twitter here. Follow Evan on Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Mar 20, 2023
With the start of the regular season quickly approaching, Mark and Evan take a look at how things are continuing to evolve for the Tigers in spring training. The guys talk why top pitching prospect Jackson Jobe may miss the entire season and how prospect Colt Keith is hitting into some exciting buzz. The guys also talk how things are heading in the right direction for Spencer Torkelson and why the middle infield needs to hit the ground running soon. Later, the guys talk how Matt Manning's pitching may be turning around, which relievers are on the cusp of earning their roles and why the bullpen may be a bit of a revolving door. Lastly, the "Days of Roar" duo talk Evan's latest projections for the Opening Day roster and welcome some new but familiar on-air talent to the Tigers broadcasting booth. Follow Mark on Twitter here. Follow Evan on Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Mar 13, 2023
This week, we continue our spring training coverage of the Detroit Tigers. Co-hosts Mark Gorosh and Evan Petzold talk the improvements and lack thereof for certain members of the potential roster. Is there a silver lining in the cloud hanging over Spencer Torkelson? What's the pitching rotation looking like? Has Parker Meadows punched his ticket to the Opening Day lineup? Mark and Evan address these questions and more. Follow Mark on Twitter here. Follow Evan on Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Mar 6, 2023
Welcome to the first episode of "Days of Roar: A Free Press Sports Detroit Tigers Podcast". Public baseball analyst co-host Mark Gorosh checks in with Free Press Tigers beat writer co-host Evan Petzold, who's down in Lakeland, Florida covering spring training. The guys take a broad look at the team's preparation for the regular season. What's the lineup going to like like this season? Is Spencer Torkelson making the right kind of adjustments to succeed? How's Spencer Turnbull's arm looking after coming back from Tommy John surgery? Will Javier Báez stop whiffing at sliders out of the zone? Mark and Evan talk about these team aspects and more. Follow Mark on Twitter here. Follow Evan on Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here.
Feb 24, 2023
Hosted by Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press and Mark Gorosh of “Don't Call It A Rebuild, It's A Teambuild” podcast. Days of Roar can be found every Monday wherever you listen to podcasts. Tune in to listen to engaging conversations and unique perspectives on your Detroit Tigers. Evan brings insider insights and analysis as a Tigers beat writer and Detroit native combined with Mark’s in-depth analysis as a baseball lifer who thinks like an executive. Days of Roar is your go-to Tigers podcast for all the best news, analysis, insights and opinions on the team.