Tag Archives: Tommy Kahnle

February 15, 2025

Changes, Detroit Tigers

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The Tigers acquired the following players for their 2025 active roster:

Torres played his walk year at seasonal age 27, an age at which players normally peak. Instead, this turned out to be the worst of his last three seasons, which is why he settled for a one-year, $15 million contract. Torres’ power yo-yos; some years he pounds the ball; other years he hits like a second baseman known for his defense. Since his defense never was great, Torres needs to produce at the plate to make his WAR high. I’m not sure Torres is an improvement over what the Tigers received from their second basemen in 2024.

Flaherty returns to the Tigers after a mid-season trade which brought him a World Series ring, even though he pitched poorly in the post-season. Overall in 2024, he posted a 3.2 fWAR his highest since 2019. His walk and strikeout rate returned to the 2019 levels so the Tigers hope that continues.

Kahnle produced ERAs well below his FIP numbers in his last two seasons. He walks a lot of batters, but a high K rate and a low BABIP in that time meant the walks didn’t hurt him. In the last two seasons he added a sinker to complement his four-seam fastball, but he’s always had a high ground ball rate. We’ll see if he moves closer to his FIP this season.

Brebbia can go long in the bullpen or start. The last two seasons he gave up home runs at a high rate, however.

I don’t think there was a lot of improvement from moves. The offense is young, with only Jake Rogers hitting 30 this year. Another year of maturity should help more that their off-season moves.

October 18, 2017

The Kahnle Man Can

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Tommy Kahnle retires the Astros in order in the eighth to preserve the Yankees 5-0 lead. He’s now pitched nine innings in the post-season, allowing one hit.

Update: The Yankees do not score in the eighth. They are three outs away from taking a 3-2 ALCS lead into Houston.

Update: Kahnle comes out to pitch the ninth.

Update: Carlos Correa hits a one out double, the second hit allowed by Kahnle this post season.

Update: A ground out and a line out end the game, and the Yankees win 5-0. The Yankees held the Astros to four hits and one walk. The Yankees just need a split in Houston advance to the World Series, but a road team has not won a game in this series.

August 24, 2017

Grow Up

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I find it hard to believe that teams are still retaliating when batters hit home runs:

The incident started in the fifth inning when Yankees star Gary Sanchez was hit by Tigers starter Michael Fulmer, just one inning after Sanchez hit his fourth home run of the series.

The Yankees retaliated an inning later when reliever Tommy Kahnle threw behind Cabrera.

Kahnle was immediately ejected by home plate umpire Carlos Torres. Yankees manager Joe Girardi was furious that no warning was given; he too was then ejected.

Aroldis Chapman replaced Kahnle, but before he could throw a pitch, Cabrera got into a heated argument with Austin Romine.

Romine took off his mask, Cabrera shoved him and then threw a punch. Benches cleared immediately and relievers sprinted in from the bullpen.

After taking several minutes to sort out the mess, umpires only chose to [eject] Cabrera and Romine.

Fulmer and Kahnle should both be suspended for a month. It’s well past the time to put the hammer down on revenge.

Update: Here’s more information on the initial fight, and some disruption on the Tigers bench.

July 19, 2017

Cornering the Market on Fraziers

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The Yankees and White Sox execute a seven-player deal. The Yankees shore up their bullpen and keep the Red Sox from acquiring a third baseman, while the White Sox build for the future:

The Yankees completed a multiplayer trade with the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, acquiring Robertson, their former closer; third baseman Todd Frazier, a New Jersey native and two-time National League All-Star; and the right-handed reliever Tommy Kahnle, a former Yankees minor-leaguer.

The price was steep, as the Yankees gave up reliever Tyler Clippard and three prospects: left-handed pitcher Ian Clarkin and outfielders Blake Rutherford and Tito Polo.

At this point, the Yankees can limit their starters to five innings and come out okay. Sending Clippard away is addition by subtraction. Given their splits against left-handers and right-handers, it looks like Frazier and Headley should form a platoon at third base, Frazier getting the call against left-handers. Frazier and Headley have complementary skills, Headley getting on base well, Frazier hitting for power well. The combination gives the Yankees options, including moving one of them to first base.

As for the prospects, Clarkin is a low strike out pitcher, and his walks are good but not great. Rutherford is just seasonal age 20, and hit well in the low minors. Polo has been at A ball and lower a long time. He’s playing this season as a 22 year old, and only has 59 AA plate appearances. He did hit well in those, however.

I don’t think the Yankees gave up anyone who is going to be a star. They took care of a glaring weakness, and played a little chess by taking a piece off Boston’s board. Not a bad move for either team.