It appears that the rotation is set. Leyland hasn’t announced the 5th starter, but the common belief is that the job is Justin Verlander’s. Verlander was the favorite going into spring training, and after a couple shaky outings, has pitched very effectively. Today he only pitched two innings due to the rain, but in those two innings were 19 strikes on 26 pitches as all 6 hitters were retired.
Knobler also indicated that it appears that Joel Zumaya has made the team via the bullpen. Again, there isn’t an official announcement but given the way Zumaya has pitched, it would be hard not to take him. He also pitched two scoreless innings allowing only a bunt single.
A bullpen role may have some definite benefits for Zumaya. First, it might prove an effective way to break him into the Majors. Second, at age 21 there could definitely be some long term benefit to his arm only accumulating 100 innings or so.
My only concern is that Zumaya becomes pigeonholed as a reliever. While many believe this will be his best option long term, I want to see him given a chance as a starter. Given his performances at the higher levels of the minors as a 20 year old, I want to see what he can do in the rotation.
With Verlander, Zumaya, and Grilli pretty much locks to make the team now, the pitching staff is nearly complete. The rotation is set, and the bullpen is close. With Grilli and Zumaya joining Todd Jones, Fernando Rodney, Jamie Walker, and Chris Spurling that leaves only spot in question. That spot will most likely come down to Franklyn German, Bobby Seay, and Hector Mercado.
I’d have to say that German’s days as a Tiger are limited. He is out of options, and hasn’t been impressive this spring. Even last year, he probably had more success than he should have. He walked (34) nearly as many as he struck out (38) and his WHIP of 1.644 wasn’t exactly impressive. He also is the right handed and trying to make a bullpen full of righthanders. The only question that really remains is whether or not any other teams claim him off waivers.
UPDATE: Now it does appear to be official.
That’s a good summary. The only thing I would add is that I think Colon is also a fairly strong bullpen candidate.
I’d hate to see Zumaya “typecast” as a reliever too. But since Leyland is “old school,” I wonder if he’ll take that sort of approach with Zumaya, harkening back to the days when starters were groomed in the bullpen, rather than thrown into the deep end of the pool right away.
I have mixed feelings about this. The kids have certainly earned it, but it seems like “tomorrow” has arrived awfully fast. I can’t help but think that maybe we should make them wait awhile, even if only for the sake of waiting. I’ve never heard of anyone being harmed by having a few too many months of AAA. Sure, these two will almost certainly pitch as well as any of the other candidates, but why not make them absolutely hungry? When did “he should do at least as well as these other guys” become good enough to break a guy into the league?
Having said that, I’ll be in section 340 for most of the season, praying that they prove Leyland right.
Waiting only makes sense if you aren’t trying to win this year. This is just another sign by the Tigers front office that they are expecting to be competitive right now. Considering the age and health of our offense, the immediate window probably isn’t very big so taking a shot a year early is almost certainly better than taking a shot a year (or half a year late).
Doesn’t Colon also have a decent shot at that 12th spot in the bullpen? I thought I had read some articles elsewhere that had put him as a pretty sure bet for making the 25 man roster.
I understand the “win now” mentality, and I’m going to be there, so I definitely want to see a competitive team. Let’s be honest though, the stars would really have to align for this to be much more than a .500 team this year. The real opportunity is going to come in 2008 (and following years, of course) when over $25m will be off the payroll (Pudge, Rogers, Jones, Young, and misc others).
Like I said, I’m not against the move (it will certainly be exciting), I just have mixed feelings about it.
As for Colon, he does have a pretty good shot at the bullpen. However, that would put 3 guys in the bullpen, who could be starters. It’s not that it can’t happen, but I think they will try to balance those guys between Detroit and Toledo. Colon happens to have an option year left, which Grilli doesn’t.
Colon deserves to be in the mix. However, I think he will be starting in Toledo.
2008 might be a real opportunity for the Tigers, but I have a feeling if we don’t have a good year in 06 or 07, it won’t be for Dombrowski.
True Nick, but he only needs to win 82 games this year to buy a couple more years. How do you fire the guy responsible for the first winning season in over a decade?
I think Lelyand made the right call going with Verlander at No. 5. He’s one of the best pitching prospects in baseball and should progress to Detroit’s top starter within a few seasons.