The Tigers assigned 10 players to minor league camp today. Cody Ross and Matt Roney were assigned to Triple A. Wil Ledezma is headed to Erie. Other players assigned to minor league camp include Ben Petrick, Marcus Thames, Brent Abernathy, Pablo Ozuna, Craig Dingman, Chris Mears, and Brian Schmanck.
This leaves 14 more cuts to come before the start of the season. As for what the 25 man roster might look like, here is a stab:
Position Players: Pena, Vina, Guillen, Munson, White, Sanchez, Higginson, Rodriguez, DiFelice, Monroe, Inge, Shelton, Torres
Pitchers: Johnson, Bonderman, Maroth, Cornejo, Yan, Walker, Rodney, Levine, Patterson, Eckenstahler/Bumatay, Robertson/Knotts
I think and hope that they will keep Shelton. Despite reports he’s looked lost, his numbers are pretty strong. Given the Tigers farm system, they have to keep a guy who can hit. As for Torres, he’s played well this spring, and there doesn’t appear room for him with Logan in Toledo. A possible trade could be Torres to PIttsburgh for Shelton which would give the Tigers Shelton’s rights and not be forced to keep him in the bigs.
I know that Inge can’t hit, but if he can prove that he can play 8 positions, then he is worth keeping on the team. If it enables us to not carry seperate backup middle infielders and centerfielders, it actually frees up a spot for a Chris Shelton.
As for the pitchers, unless Yan collapses I think he has the 5th spot locked up. I don’t believe that Robertson is still a contender. If anyone is pushing Yan at this point I think it is Knotts who had another strong outing today.
The bullpen is still scaring me. Matt Anderson can’t get anyone out, and pretty soon he needs to stop taking spring training innings from guys who might deserve to make the team.
The cutoff man is surveying readers about who they think should be on the roster, so check out his blog and send him your thoughs.
I saw them in Florida last week. Shelton isn’t much in the field, even at 1B, but he has a live bat and makes the pitchers throw strikes. Inge looked real good at C, 3B and CF and even hit a little. He’s a lock at this point and will actually be a plus if he can play the middle infield. He can’t hit but he is one hell of an athlete.
I thought Norton would make the team but I it looks like Shelton may get that spot. Torres looked great, better than Sanchez in my book. Who knows if he can keep it up. He is hitting the ball a lot harder. I think they will carry 11 pitchers. German and Anderson aren’t going to make it. Anderson gave up two more homers today and German is still wild. The fifth spot is still pretty wide open. Knotts pitched well; Robertson didn’t. Bumatay has looked pretty bad and Urdaneta got lit a couple of times. I don’t expect them to stick. Yan will make it either as a starter or in the pen. Same may be true of Knotts and Robertson. I think Eckenstahler will stick. If Robertson doesn’t make it as a starter they could have a three lefty pen which would at least give them some flexibility. Levine has looked really shaky. Didn’t get to see Rodney because of injury.
Their pitching has a chance to be lousy instead of awful. The defense was downright embarrassing and the running game is killing them. Guys getting thrown out by ten feet and such. The hitting will be better but that’s not saying much.
I hope Tram doesn’t stick with the deadball style baseball tactics of stolen bases, bunts, “taking the extra base” when it’s not there practices that I saw last year. The offense should be good enough on it’s own to make sensible baserunning decisions.
KS