"The Big Dog" Mitch Vosburg

Well, I’ve been here three months now. Since I’m all settled in Escanaba, I think it’s time to start having fun with my writing again.

This is a series I’m starting today and you will see on occasion. I’ll share a few sports takes I have and explain why I think the way I do.

In reality, the inner workings of my mind are an enigma. By some grace of god or stroke of luck, I’m able to share it in writing.

Here are three random sports thoughts from the mind of “The Big Dog.”

The truth about the Packers

Well well well, here we are in Week 6. The Green Bay Packers enter their bye week at 2-3 and look a bit lost on offense. But are we really surprised?

Sure, Jordan Love has left a lot to be desired. But should those faithful to the green and gold abandon ship on Love?

No.

In 2008, Aaron Rodgers finally had his chance to start after sitting on the bench for three seasons. Do you remember how that season went?

The Packers finished 6-10, but it wasn’t your typical 6-10.

In fact, the 2008 Packers lost seven games by one possession. More specifically, Green Bay lost those seven games by a combined 21 points and suffered only one blow-out loss, a 51-29 road loss to the New Orleans Saints, who were one year away from becoming Super Bowl Champions.

In the ensuing draft, the Packers selected B.J. Raji with the No. 9 pick in the 2009 draft and, after trading a second and two third-round picks, drafted Clay Matthews at No. 26. Two years later they’re hoisting the Lombardi trophy as Super Bowl champions.

In 2023, well, take away a 34-20 loss to the Lions and the Packers dropped two games by a total of five points.

Am I calling my shot by saying the Packers are winning a Super Bowl come 2025? No, but there are parallels to where this organization was 15 years ago.

Be patient. This season is long, and Love’s journey at quarterback is in its infancy.

The great QB race of 2024

For those who don’t know me well yet, I treat any sports draft, trade deadline and/or free agency like a holiday. For me, the NFL Draft and the process leading up to it is my Halloween to Christmas stretch. Two months of preparation, anticipation and curveballs galore.

As I’m in the early stages of my 2024 NFL Draft prep, one major storyline is becoming apparent: we may have nine teams looking for a quarterback this off-season.

This will be the craziest quarterback draft we’ve seen in recent memory.

But it’s a dangerous game to play.

See, not every QB that gets drafted is a 100% lock to be the man. In fact, this class will have one, maybe two quarterbacks that actually succeed and have a lengthy career as a starting QB in the NFL.

While USC QB Caleb Williams and North Carolina’s Drake Maye are my top two choices, the rest of the crop is intriguing. Colorado’s Shedour Sanders, Oregon’s Bo Nix, Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy and Texas’s Quinn Ewers are all in play for first-round status.

Tigers splurging in free agency this off-season?

On a podcast at my previous employer, my coworker asked for a prediction on whether the Detroit Tigers would win over 69.5 of their games in 2023. He hammered the under. I hammered the over. I saw them as a team that could win 75 games.

After a 78-84 finish, I was right. In fact, it was good enough to finish second in the AL Central.

So how does this team continue to get better?

There are a few holes that need filled: second base, third base, designated hitter and in the bullpen.

Second and third base need short-term fixes with Josh Jung and Colt Keith, respectively, blazing through the minor leagues. Kolton Wong on a one-to-two year deal makes sense at second base, and while I would love to see Matt Chapman man the hot corner at Comerica Park, Eduardo Escobar’s consistency as a switch hitter makes too much sense on a short-term deal.

As for the designated hitter spot, signing Rhys Hoskins is a move that adds an established bat that can hit 30+ home runs, something this club lacks outside of Spencer Torkelson.

For the bullpen, remember the names Jordan Hicks, Chris Devenski and Blake Treinen.

Could signing big names like Shohei Ohtani, Cody Bellinger, Josh Hader and Matt Chapman be in play? Sure. And while it makes sense to a degree, it’s not what the Tigers need.

Look for the Tigers to be smart and efficient with free agent signings as opposed to taking big swings (pun fully intended).