FIFTH THIRD PARK: Detroit Tigers Fans REACT to Comerica Park Name Change + River Ryan Makes Debut!

0:00This is the Lockdown podcast network celebrating 10 years of your team every day. Hey sports fans, it's JD, the host of Lockdown Cardinals, and did you know with the Discover Cashback card? It's payback time when you earn cash back on everyday purchases. Activate and earn 5% cash back in different categories each quarter on up to $1,500 in purchases. That's 5% cash back at different categories each quarter like grocery stores on gas and restaurants. It pays to discover terms apply. See Discover dot com slash five four details. Today's episode is brought to you by the Dell XPS. I'm Wes Goldberg from Lockdown NBA Daily and Lockdown Heat. So what does it feel like to have a better laptop like the Dell XPS powered by Intel Core with a premium design that's thin and light. It feels smooth with a responsive touch screen. It feels fast and precise. And with long lasting battery life, it feels like

1:00non-stop energy with a laptop that can keep up. Built for those who want better, the Dell XPS built for you. River Ryan makes his Detroit Tigers debut in a ballpark that for now is still named Comaric a park. You are Lockdown Tigers. Your daily Detroit Tigers podcast part of the Lockdown podcast network. Your team every day. What is up everybody? Welcome back to another addition of Lockdown Tigers. I'm of course your host Scott Bentley today is Tuesday, September 22nd 2000 in 26. Thank you so much for making Lockdown Tigers. Your first listen every single day we are free and available wherever you get your podcast. And that is of course. Including you to part of the Lockdown podcast network. Your team every single day.

2:01Today's episode brought to you by Colchee for a limited time download the Colchee app and use code lock down to get $25 when you trade $25. Colchee trade what's next? The Detroit Tigers win big over the Washington Nationals at Comaric a park for now by a score of nine to two. The Tigers improved to 74 and 83 on the season as the Nationals fall to 73 and 84. So first thought. My first thought in the game itself is almost exclusively surrounding River Ryan, which we will talk about in a second. Like yes, they sort of ton of runs. They face Nationals pitching, which has been a dumpster fire this year. Like it's awesome. We'll talk about some of the the guys that stood out still obviously right. A lot of things went right. It was a very fun night at the ballpark. But really my first thought on Monday September 21st is about the Detroit Tigers renaming

3:01Comaric a park. So that is where we will start and we will get to the game after because I do think ultimately for a team that's eliminated from postseason play as much as I'd like it to be all about River Ryan and just like the excitement surrounding the young players on the team. It would be foolish of me to ignore the fact that the biggest story among the fan base right now is Comaric a park being renamed 5th 3rd park beginning at the start of the 2027 season. For starters, the name that they did pick. It's underwhelming and boring. It's not a hot take. I think pretty much everybody agrees with that. Honestly, it's it's it's whatever. And I think that's what I think it's whatever. And I don't mean whatever in like a completely dismissive way, I guess. But like I'll get over it. The stadium name for my entire life has just been a different

4:01bank. It's still a bank. It's still a corporate like advertisement. For my entire life. I guess when I was like an infant, I you know, I was born. I was born. That they played two seasons in Tiger Stadium. After I was born. Like it's always been a Comaric a park to me. And stadium names change all the time. And and now it is our turn. I guess my dream scenario for this was that they used 5th 3rd as a like presented by the community. And I think that's what I think was the first time I've ever ever had a dream. Or they did what. Well, even in house, like in the organization. Joker merchant, right? It's public's field, but it's still Joker merchant stadium. The Coliseum did it forever. Right.

5:01Ricky Henderson field. At the Oakland Coliseum. Like there's plenty of places that I've done that. And that was that was my dream. My dream was that it's like. You know, it's it's it's it's 5th 3rd field at. New Tiger Stadium or at, you know, if you don't even want to, you know, you're a traditional list and there's only one Tiger Stadium. You don't want it to be that then find picks up mouse cool, right? Motor City Park or like some sort of old to the city in the organization. Make it actually a part of the city. Fifth 3rd Park. Like I mean, I mean, shocking. Yeah, great, great name. The mudhands already play at 5th 3rd fields here. And the white caps. What five years ago. Probably yeah, probably about 4 or 5 years ago renamed there. So what it is now, but before then that was 5th 3rd field. Like we already have plenty of

6:015th 3rd fields in the organization. And I get it, man. I get it. It's it's a business. It is what it is that they paid. I'm sure millions of dollars to get the rights to the name of the park. And I'm sure that from a business perspective, the illitches did what they thought that they had to do when illitch holdings did what they thought they had to do. I'm. As much as I can like, I'm not going to say anything about it. I'm not going to say anything about it. I understand. Now. I'm trying to like walk a fine line here. The quote. From the media availability. About.

7:01Getting fan response. The name of the park. Is one of the most ridiculous quotes you will ever hear. And I'm not trying to like pick on the guy that said it specifically because like I'm sure he's telling the truth. I'm sure that he did. And I'm sure that they did as a group. You know, get fan responses. And read through them and see if anything jumped out. But we don't have to pretend like anybody on planet Earth. Outside of the people that were a part of the committee picking the name. Like or wanted the name fifth third park. Okay. We don't have to pretend like people were chomping at the bit and submit it, you know, answering surveys and submitting to the organization. G. I hope you name it fifth third park. The thing that made me laugh the most was actually not even that

8:03I was like, I'm not sure if I was going to get a name fifth or fifth quarter. I know that that's the one that everyone was hung up on. It was following that. And it was about. Well, we worked a lot with illicit holdings to come up with the name we picked. What. How many of these dudes does it take to screw in a light bulb? What are you talking about? You just named it the park. There's no creativity. There was no like what game was going to be going. That's. That that was the funniest quote to me actually. But again, I really, I'm not trying to like pick on. Any one individual or the people that did it again, they paid a lot of money to have the naming rights to the park. And ultimately it's. It's the illicit right to. And here to that and to make that reality and it's to accept that deal. So it is what it is.

9:03On one hand, I do want to be that person that is kind of like look, the name change doesn't really mean anything. It's lame and underwhelming. Yes, but like we'll get over it and move on. And by June of 2027, assuming there's a normal season, it won't even be a talking point anymore. And we'll just like move on. And I do believe that. I believe everything I just said in there. I also think. I think that's the only way to get that right. And I think that's the only way to get that right. And this is like me looking internally and being selfish admittedly. As I said earlier, this is the only. Comerica is the only name I have ever called the home of the Detroit Tigers. Since I learned how to speak. Comerica Park has been the home of. The Detroit Tigers. So it is kind of a sad thing still. The signs just are going to look different. So yes, I do think fifth third park is one of the worst names for any park in all

10:04the baseball. I genuinely mean and believe that. I think it's it's. Kind of like vile to be honest. It is in social media. I didn't even say anything on social media. Okay, I just reported what the press conference said. And I mean the reaction is unbelievably negative. I'm also not going to lose sleep over the name of a stadium that was already named after a different bank. As much as I will love Comerica Park forever. And I personally we're going to move on to the ballgame because I care much more about the fact. What is it? I think that's why this is a lot of things that I'm not a part of. The fact that I'm on the field. They could name it, Ilaj Park sponsored by fifth third bank brought to you by

11:04little Caesars. And and I don't like signed off by, I don't even know who. If you meant that the Tigers were going to win some World Series, okay? Like I truly, to me, the name, the signs are just going to change there. call it fifth third if you don't want to. So yes, it sucks, but we'll get over it. And I don't think it was that hard to just call it fifth third field. Or even like fifth third ballpark and we play on Al-Keyline field or there's just so many different things you could have done to bend more creative. But apparently all the brains in that room were going back and forth with illidge holdings for months about what to call it and you came up with the name of the bank. It is what it is. Let's talk about on the field what went right.

12:06River Ryan, my favorite storyline of Monday, September 21st. We'll talk about that right after this. First of all, to talk to about our friends over at five hour energy. If you've got a sweet tooth like I do, you know how tough it can be to find that perfect tree without all of the sugar. That's why the fruity rainbow five hour energy shot brings that nostalgic flavor back in a whole new way. Fruity rainbow five hour energy shots treat your taste buds like an explosion of fruity flavor with a tasty caffeine kick. It's a quick way to satisfy that sweet craving while keeping things simple and on the go. It's also zero sugar, so it's sweet tooth approved. And it's really an easy, convenient shot, small and portable and you can take it whenever you need a little pick me up. So get candy flavored chaos with fruity rainbow five hour energy shots available at fivehourenergy.com or on Amazon. Also got to talk to all about our friends over at Stance. You know what that means folks.

13:06It is time for the Stance Everyday icon presented, of course, by Stance. This is the official sock partner of Major League Baseball Stance. And it's known as greatness isn't built in a single moment. It's earned over time throughout consistency preparation and showing up every day. That's why each week we are recognizing one player whose performance and bodies, those same qualities in this ballgame. We are going to go with River Ryan who made his Detroit Tigers debut and we'll review or break that down rather not preview it. Here in a second, the everyday icon though is presented by Stance. You can check out the icon collection from Stance, premium comfort, and durability design for whatever your day brings. You promo code locked on it. Check out for 20% off of your first purchase. Stance, the official sock partner of Major League Baseball Learn More at Stance.com. All right, everybody welcome back here. Second to locked on Tigers. Appreciate you all for tuning in. As always, making us your first listen every single day shot to the

14:06everydayers that do tune in every day. And we will of course be back tomorrow. As we recap game two against the Nats and continue to talk about any other huge franchise altering news that might happen as always. What went right, Miss 92 Victory, done talking about the name of a ballpark. We're going to move on to the product on the field and how we can hope that whatever they call in 2027, the team is better than it was in 2026. And if that is to happen, in part it is going to probably have to be because of River Ryan who made his Detroit Tigers debut on Monday night. Three innings, two hits, nowhere runs one walk and three strikeouts that is obviously a zero ERA. But is he his career ERA now is now like one one or one one five or something which like it's barely over 20 innings. But it's he's not forced what five starts in to his majorly career. If you take before that he made for the Dodgers, you know, two calendar years ago.

15:06And this one. So a nice little start to his majorly career. This was a really fun debut for me. And I think it's a great storyline for a team playing meaningless baseball at the end of September. So if something to watch like that is is is is a rarity for a team that is out of it in the last week of the season. And I think I don't take that for granted. I really do appreciate the fact that he got a look here in this last week of the season. But I want to start with something that's not analytical and not really like stat based and just kind of like a gut feel on watching him. His mount presence is is fantastic. And that doesn't really mean anything. There are plenty of guys that have great mount presence that like aren't very good pitchers. And there are guys that you know are are rather still or even like like appearing timid on the mount in our fantastic arms right that

16:06doesn't inherently mean anything. But I do think for a guy that has gone through so many injuries and has taken so long in the minor leagues to get to this point of of cracking. I guess again he did crack the Dodgers roster roster a couple of years ago. But to get back to this point where like he knows now that if he stays healthy, this is for good. And I think that's really nice to see him. Not only attack and just want to attack but he was quick on the mount. It was get ball throw ball pretty much the entire outing certainly in the first two winnings maybe slowed down a little bit there in the third, but that was really fun and I don't think that that's nothing. Now in terms of what we actually saw and what he was featuring a strikeout in the first batter he faced is electric and I think that there's a lot to like in the arsenal. So the first one was a lot of stuff is apparent and the fastball was pushing 100 in the first inning. His change up moves so much that stat cast and the broadcast literally labeled it as a sinker in the first two innings.

17:10He threw four. He threw 43 total pitches. That's how you talk. 14 fastballs and that was the most that he threw of any of his pitches. You know six pitch mix outside of the four seamer. So five were all thrown between five and eight times each. For his first start as a tiger to have that evenly balanced of a pitch mix. I think was also really exciting because all of them were good. They all looked good again just purely in terms of velocity and movement and stuff. And we didn't even really see the slider in full effect which in my opinion might be his best pitch even to lefties where he can throw back foot with it. He did that a lot in the minor leagues. But this is pretty much exactly what I wanted to see in his debut. Like we really saw a picture that has the potential to have six plus pitches that he can throw consistently to any type of

18:13batter and any handiness of batter. There's swing and miss stuff in every pitch that he threw great velocity. Obviously helping the most important thing and he was attacking the most of the outing. I think he lost command a little bit there at the end. But again, he's only thrown two or three innings, sends joining the Tigers organization and being activated from injury anyway. So not too surprising. He left a couple of breaking balls up to lefties specifically. That's always kind of the risk with throwing sliders and curveballs back foot to left handed batters. Right. Like if you do hang it a little bit, they can pretty much just drop the bat. And if the barrel hits the ball, it's going to go like 400 feet. So like there is a little bit of risk involved in you. He is going to need to be pinpoint if he wants to make that a consistent part of his arsenal. But I hope that he gets one more outing before the season ends. And I think that there was a ton to be excited about about what he can offer the team in 2027.

19:14Okay, moving on. Kater Monterey four innings one hand nowhere run one walk five strikeouts. He's a three four eight ERA now. The fact that he's going to end the year potentially with a sub three five ERA and over 150 innings pitched is unreal for the organization. And there's a huge win for the Tigers. This was kind of a fun outing too because he actually got some decent swing and miss and some strikeouts. The slider was especially good in this one. Usually it's more of just like a pitch to ground ball type of well pitch for his arsenal. And this one he was getting strikes with it as well. He kind of looks like he'd been running out of steam lately in his last few outing. So it's really good for him to end the year kind of on a strong note and on a high note for him offensively nine runs. I mean, everybody hit. I think literally everybody that started this game except for John Pack got on base at least once. Obviously, the nationals pitching is a dumpster fire and has been for most of the year. They also had a guy that's been hurt for the better part of like two

20:14seasons coming back from injury in this game. But we're never going to apologize for putting up a crooked number and for getting hits and offense. How you lead yet again three for five. I tweeted out like stats that don't seem real but are how you lead in Dylan Dingler now have the exact same OPS on the season. Which is devastating on one regard. Dylan Dingler a player that if the season ended on August 1st would have probably been a top three to five finish for MVP. Now, I mean, if he even gets a down ballot MVP vote, it'll be like 18th or 15th or something, right? Maybe that's too dramatic. Oh, that might not be to be honest. He's been really, really unproductive over the last couple of months. But it's also the positive spin on that is that how you lead even with an

21:14OPS and the 400s in May has had a fantastic season since June 1st. And there's a real chance that he finishes the season among hitters that have like a full seasons worth of at bats or close to a full seasons worth of at bats. Like the third highest OPS on the team, which is pretty remarkable considering his start to the year. Okay, got a handful of other guys. Obviously again, a lot of offense. So got a couple of other conversations I want to have before we get to some injury updates and then preview game two really quickly. We'll do that right after this. College football fans. It's time to put your knowledge to the test with college football pick them from Fandall every week. You can make 10 free against the spread picks and compete for a share of $500,000 in bonus bets. There are no entry fee and no wager required. Just make your picks before kick off and see how your college football knowledge stacks up and you can follow the live leaderboard throughout Saturday to see where you stand.

22:17You can even see how your picks compare with names like Will Compton, Taylor LeWon, and Josh Pate. There's so many great features over at Fandall and you can download the Fandall app today and play college football pick them for free only on Fandall. Visit Fandall.com to get started. Lastly, got to talk to you all about our good friends over at Colchee. There's less than a week left of regular season baseball and this, well, the last week of the season here, you can make baseball more on Colchee. America's number one prediction market platform where you can trade on every single game on Colchee. You're trading its peers in a live market. There's no house. And as the probability changes, you can buy in and out of your position. So download Colchee and use code lock down to get $25 when you trade 25. Colchee, KALS, H.I. Trade what next? 18 plus only restrictions and eligibility requirements apply event contract trading and balls risk and made up a suitable for all investors. Colchee products are not available in all jurisdictions, prices, values,

23:18and available markets may differ from those mentioned. For more information, see cauchy.com slash regulatory. All right, everybody welcome back here. Third and final segment of locked on tigers. Appreciate y'all for tuning in. As always, rather green with a walk in this ballgame at Wardle Valencia, band three for four. And like one of them was just a really hard hit ground ball that went over the head of the was that shortstop third baseman left side of the field. Regardless, he has a 354 average with an OPS over a thousand now on the season. And I think he's taken strides defensively as well. I don't think he's ever going to be a gold glove or back there, but it doesn't really need to be if he's hitting and is even just average behind the plate. That's a massive win for the organization and he is going to be a very valuable asset going forward. Now at the play, he is and this is not me trying to like rain on the parade. The great day of the office don't take that away from him. But he's another guy that is just barreling up everything and while swinging at everything.

24:22He's striking out a pretty decent amount and never walks ever. And it's just very much like what Dylan Dingler was the first four months of the year, what how you Lee has been through a lot of this year. Now how you Lee's been walking a lot more, not a lot more, but more as of the last month ish. But I guess my point is at Wardle Valencia over the course of 162 is not going to hit 360 with an OPS over a thousand. Right. Okay. I promise he's not unfortunately. But if we can just get solid league average hitter with some pop right. No, PS it starts with the number seven. With a little bit of home run pop in there and an average defensive catcher. That's like a three win player that's going to be pretty darn valuable for this team going forward. That Mel Jerry, maybe the star of this game to be quite honest with you two for four with a home run. Mel Jerry has a lot of tools. He's very fast like sneakily very, very fast.

25:22He plays really good defense. He had an incredible game in right field. I think he made every single final out while River Ryan was on the bump. I had a diving play in the first inning. He also has a little bit of pop probably like 15 to 20 home run, you know, pop a little bit. He can run to, you know, it's slug over 400. He has a valuable asset to have in terms of roster construction for sure. The weird thing about his season is despite a day hitched hinges best wishes and and and he him trying his darnedest. He has not been the platoon player the way that the Tigers and that hinge have wanted him to be. He is a right handed hitter that has been horrible against lefties despite almost only playing against lefties. He has like one and a half times the amount of played appearances against lefties than he does against righties against righties. He's hitting 270 with an OPS of 876.

26:22He'll be 27 years old Lex next year. He just made the 40 man roster. So like he's a valuable guy to have internally right. He has tools. He's good organizational depth in the outfield and he's a nice depth piece that they can have and they can keep him the minor leagues right in not. Really worry about it for at least the next two years after this one if they want. It'll just be interesting to see how much they value him this winter, you know, him guys like him guys like Brett Callahan, etc. Really impressive ballgame though and has really impressed me and defensively in the corners to the point where like you can probably throw him in center field if Max Clark needs a day off and and he has done that at points this year. And feel pretty good about it. Hobby Baez in center field huge home run. I mean the hardest he's hit a ball in seemingly over a calendar year. So good for him played center field didn't you know suck in center. That's always good. Dylan Dingler for as much as we're talking on him earlier went two for four with a walk so gets on base.

27:26He's a nice one. There's a nice and nice again like just given how much he has struggled over the last month and a half. I would really love to see him just have a blast. Good series or two before we put an end to the regular season and then Spencer Torgelsen another home run was hit in the ball hard kind of. I think that's as he usually does but anytime he hit the ball he was hitting it hard as well and yeah really got under that one. That was a moonshot for sure as he continues to trend upwards towards the end of the season as well. What went wrong honestly not much of anything I like I guess John Peck goes over for. I guess John had a really bad at bat I guess the one is like Drew Summers which like of course when I give you all homework to go look at how great. Drew Summers of on pages he immediately gives up a home run because that is the curse and that is the the weight that I carry. Having the ability to curse players the way I do but he goes one inning two hits two runs no walks two strikeouts obviously the big home run against he is a three six nine ERA.

28:35On the season which my OCD appreciates well I mean we've talked about it all year like I he still had two strikeouts in this inning because he has really good stuff and he has really really good swing and miss strikeout caliber major league stuff which is great and why he'll be back next year and why he should get a legitimate look at being like a high leverage back and reliever. For this team next year he also this season. It just completely loses command a little too often still whether it's like he'll just randomly go out there and plunk and a guy and then walk the next two and it's like okay well this is a disaster or he'll do this where he'll just randomly throw you know some meatballs over the heart of the plate. So I'm still really excited for him in 2027 I still think this is a massive win of a year or four Drew Summers but obviously in this one let one bleed a little bit over the heart of the plate. But they won by seven instead of nine it's okay. Stuff cool key to the injured list seemingly ending his season Jace Young to the majors as we saw and talked about in this ballgame they also face a lefty again on Tuesday so they pick Jace Young and then I don't think he's going to play too much but whatever I I digress that will be a conversation I think Jace Young's gone in the winter I think this is kind of run its course.

29:53At this point and then obviously River Ryan to the majorly roster Troy mountain to the injured list definitely ending his season they listed it as forearm fatigue and he said that he just felt a little like tingle or a little like something was just a little bit off on the mound on Sunday. Yeah I mean he started off the season with an injury did really well has struggled the last three weeks the with rate and velocity has gone down and now he's hurt like you just hope it's nothing serious and then you just need the off season to get here and that it's not any like bigger picture type of thing but not exactly the most encouraging update to get either. Okay game two probably be a much less eventful show tomorrow we don't have a name change to talk about we don't have a guy making his Tigers debut to talk about this is Jackson Kent against Drew Anderson on Tuesday at Comaric apart against two eliminated ball clubs.

30:59Jackson Kent is a 23 year old lefty that is still a decently ranked prospect or was I guess before getting called up in the Nats organization he has struggled this year but he's only made about seven starts not a huge velocity guy but he's a lefty starter so a lot most of them aren't and he can spin it yeah that's kind of his calling card as a nice change up to righties and a nice slider to lefties Drew Anderson. There's just very little for me to take out of like whatever I he could give up 50 runs he could throw a perfect game it does not change my opinion of what Drew Anderson is going to be to this team in 2027 like with it is what it is we know what he is I hope he goes out there and as a good outing because I want him to end on a high note. But this will be his last start of the year I'm sure and and I'm looking forward to him coming back in 2027 as kind of the the long reliever swing man that he was for them this year. Thanks for making locked on Tigers your first listen every single day shots of every day is the due tune in every day we will be back tomorrow alright.

32:05Alright peace and love going to therapy's double catch all that maybe go Tigers. Hey it's JD host of locked on Cardinals and whether you're heading to the ballpark the office or anywhere in between it all starts with what you put on first the stance icon is built for every day comfort combining premium materials targeted support and a fit designed to keep up with whatever the day brings. It's no surprise stands as the official sock partner of major league baseball trusted by players who know the importance of consistency and performance every time they take the field. Check out the icon collection and find your new everyday favorite at stance.com and use promo code locked on a checkout for 20% off your purchase. Have you heard that McDonald's spicy chicken McNuggets made with spicy tempura and a blend of aged cayenne are back. Remember to grab a few extra napkins bottom up for a limited time at participating McDonald's.

33:07Thank you for making locked on your first listen every day for your second listen find the all night locked on MLB game night every game every night until a world series champion is crowned get local analysis on a national scale find MLB game night on locked on MLB on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts.