According to the broadcast of today’s game, Roman Colon has been optioned to Toledo. That leaves Bobby Seay and Franklyn German to compete for the last spot in the bullpen.
Related: Tigers Cut Six
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Tigers cut six
The Tigers have trimmed six more players. Optioned to Toledo are Nook Logan, Don Kelly, and Mark Woodyard. Assigned to minor league camp are Hector Mercado, Alexis Gomez, and Mike Hessman.
That leaves 29 players “in camp” but two of those are technically Troy Percival and Craig Dingman who are destined for the 60 day DL.
This means that the Tiger position players are set and the bench will consist of Ramon Santiago, Omar Infante, Vance Wilson, and Marcus Thames. I never thought I’d be thrilled to see Thames make the team, but given the way things were shaping up I am definitely happy.
The Tigers needed a viable bat on the bench, and Thames will provide that. Also, he was out of options so that if he didn’t make the 25 man roster his Tiger career would have been over. On the other hand, Nook Logan had an option left so he could be sent to Toledo.
I still think that Santiago and Infante are redundant. I understand the need for Santiago if Infante’s shoulder precludes him from playing in the infield, but in that case maybe Infante needs to be on the DL. The fact they were testing him at first is definitely a concern, especially because the Tigers just cut a player that could play first.
As for the last bullpen spot, it apparently is down to Bobby Seay, Roman Colon, Franklyn German, and possibly Jason Grilli. I still think that Grilli makes the team because like Thames, he is out of options. I also think German is still in camp only because the Tigers are still trying to deal him. German is also out of options, but hasn’t really shown much in the last several years or this spring.
My feeling is that the Tigers will keep Bobby Seay to provide the second lefty. This will also allow for Roman Colon, who still has an option, to work as a starter at Toledo. The Tigers have a log jam of potential starters/long relievers and I don’t see the need to have Colon given that Grilli and Zumaya will be filling similar roles.
Tiger Linkfest
Roster Issues
I’ve said pretty much all I have to say about the Carlos Pena release in that I don’t like how the roster sets up. Knobler’s blog today didn’t make me feel any better
Leyland raved again after the game about Ramon Santiago. Santiago is very likely to make the opening day roster, in part because they need a backup shortstop and Omar Infante’s right shoulder tendinitis makes it hard to consider him for that spot. Infante is on the team, though. In fact, they had Infante and Alexis Gomez work out today at first base. They need someone else able to play first, in case they pinch-run for Shelton in a game where Dmitri is the DH. Pretty good indication that Gomez has a very good chance to be on the team as the extra outfielder, too.
If Infante can’t be the back-up infielder because of his arm, maybe he needs to go on the DL. I’ve got nothing against Infante, and I think he’ll probably do okay this year, at least along the lines of his 2004 season. However, if he is your best pinch hitting option and he can’t play the left side of the infield there will be problems. I have a bad feeling that this bench is going to scare me more than opponents.
Continue reading Tiger Linkfest
Carlos Pena Released
The Tigers have unconditionally released Carlos Pena, thus ending his career as a Tiger. By releasing him now, the Tigers only have to pay 45 days of Pena’s $2.8 million salary, thus saving $2.1 million.
While the move isn’t surprising, I can’t help but be disappointed. I’m sure every effort was made to trade Pena, but there probably weren’t takers. While Pena has been frustratingly erratic, he still provides a powerful left handed bat, as well as plate discipline. While the Tigers weren’t lacking for first basemen, they are still lacking in those areas. And even despite Pena’s horrible first half, he still managed an 802 OPS in 2005.
This move definitely weakens the Tiger bench. While there isn’t a need for a first baseman/DH right now, one of the players that Detroit it relying on to man those positions is Dmitri Young who’s played one full season in his Tiger career. Omar Infante and Vance Wilson will occupy two of the 4 bench spots. A third spot will go to a backup outfielder who can probably play center – so Nook Logan or Alexis Gomez. That leaves one additional spot.
If the last spot is used to keep Marcus Thames in the organization, it will temper my disappointment somewhat. I don’t want to see the spot go to a light hitting infielder such as Ramon Santiago, or an error prone infielder such as Don Kelly.
Meanwhile, somebody will get a 28 year old power bat for cheap. Maybe Pena will never be an everyday player, and he may not be worth $2.8 million. However, he’d be a heck of a platoon option on the right team.
Leyland settles on a lineup
According to Danny Knobler, Jim Leyland has settled on a lineup.
Granderson, cf
Polanco, 2b
Rodriguez, c
Ordonez, rf
Young, dh
Monroe, lf
Guillen, ss
Shelton, 1b
Inge, 3b
Now if your reaction was similar to mine, you’re probably thinking “Guillen and Shelton at 7 and 8 while Pudge is hitting third?!?” Yes, the lineup is unorthodox, and one I probably wouldn’t advocate. However, I’m not sure how much of a difference it would actually make.
Continue reading Leyland settles on a lineup
Zumaya reactions
I liked reading this quote from Leyland in today’s Freep
“Our 13 position players — and this is a big factor — would look at me like I was nuts if I didn’t take those two guys,” Leyland said. “I think I would lose some credibility. They’d look at me and say, ‘What are these guys doing? What are they looking at?’ “
Alan Trammell made a mistake last spring by taking Bobby Higginson instead of Marcus Thames. Higginson was clearly on his last legs while Thames tore up spring training. In the process it seems like he lost some other members of the team. Leyland seems very aware of the situation and didn’t want to make the same mistake.
However, I didn’t like reading this quote, also from the Freep
Leyland doesn’t rule out that Zumaya will someday return to starting. But he doesn’t plan to insert him in the rotation if a starter gets hurt soon.
“We’ve got him programmed,” Leyland said of the relief role.
Zumaya being typecast into a relief role is my only qualm about him moving to the bullpen. While that may ultimately be his best role, he has way too much potential at age 21 to not be given the opportunity to start.
Verlander and Zumaya Are In
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.
Continue reading Verlander and Zumaya Are In
Tigers cut nine
Detroit trimmed its roster by nine players today, none of which were really surprises. On their way to minor league camp are:
- Wilfredo Ledezma
- Chad Durbin
- Lee Gardner
- Kevin Hodge
- Brian Peterson
- Max St. Pierre
- Josh Phelps
- Ryan Ludwick
- Reggie Taylor
It was hoped that Ledezma could either compete for the 5th spot in the rotation, or provide a second left handed option in the bullpen. Unfortunately he struggled and is headed back to Toledo for more seasoning. If the Tigers keep a second lefty, it looks like it will be Bobby Seay or Hector Mercado. Or there is always that possiblity of a trade.
Phelps, Ludwick, and Taylor all had very solid springs, but found themselves on the wrong end of a crowded situation.
This cut also thinned out the catching ranks with Peterson and St. Pierre heading to AAA. Brian Peterson remains an interesting option. He has a reputation as a defensive catcher, but in 2004 posted 300/361/444 line for AA Chattanooga in the Southern League at age 25.
The remaining 11 cuts will be much more interesting as Detroit sorts out the Thames/Gomez/Logan situation in the oufield, as well as the bullpen options.
Off Day Tiger Round Up
The Tigers still have 45 players in camp, so there are a couple of sizable cuts coming. The next one will probably be before the end of the week. Until then, here are some items of note:
The rotation is set – sort of
Jim Leyland had already decided that Kenny Rogers would take the first turn, followed by Bonderman. Now it appears that Nate Robertson will be the number 3, with Mike Maroth being number 4. There’s still no decision on Detroit’s 5th starter of course. While Leyland has said Joel Zumaya still has a shot (and really, he’s pitched good enough to deserve it), he’s slated to come out of the bullpen on Thursday. According to John Lowe, Zumaya could be the one to come in and face left handers, in lieu of another southpaw in the pen.
Continue reading Off Day Tiger Round Up
Tiger Seasonal Previews
A couple of looks at the 2006 season from fellow baseball bloggers…
Simulation
The Replacement Level Yankees Weblog has run 1000 seasonal simulations using 3 different projection systems: ZiPS, PECOTA, and Diamond Mind. With each of the 3 systems, Detroit was projected in 4th place, with approximately a 500 record.
Diamond Mind was the biggest fan of the Tigers projecting the Tigers with a 81-81 record, and had Detroit making the playoffs in 11% of the scenarios.
Continue reading Tiger Seasonal Previews
Book Review: The Last Nine Innings
I just finished reading Charles Euchner’s book The Last Nine Innings. The book takes a very in-depth look at the factors that are changing the game of baseball. The setting for the book is the dramatic Game 7 of the 2001 World Series between the Diamondbacks and the Yankees.
The main elements that Euchner identifies as revolutionizing the game of baseball are the globalization of the game, scientific analysis of baseball movement, and statistical analysis.
Euchner does a commendable job breaking down all the minute elements of a game, while framing it in a dramatic context. Even as an avid baseball fan, I enjoyed the examination of different preparation methods, gamesmanship, and the fractions of seconds or inches that seperate success from failure. The physical, and mental demands of baseball are well documented with scientific, as well as practical explanations.
Continue reading Book Review: The Last Nine Innings
Tubeless Tigers
Lynn Henning covers the lack of Tiger games on TV again this year, and rips the Ilitchs in the process.
The Tigers are notorious for having been latecomers to the table. It was the biggest reason why Channel 50 had to say sayonara a year ago. A television station needs, at some point, to get on with its programming life. Why Ilitch fails, annually, to understand this is hard to fathom.
Channel 50 ran into another dead-end during the offseason. Net result: Those folks who can’t swallow a monthly cable bill — and they are many — can stretch their imaginations and visualize what the field and the players look like as they tune into Dan Dickerson and Jim Price on local radio. That is, assuming you’re in one of those areas where radio reception along the Tigers network isn’t fuzzy or non-existent.
We’re not finished. FSN Detroit would have at least soothed the cable-payers with its ambitious offer: 140 games, minimum, for 2006. FSN’s lavish package moved up the ladder at Tigers headquarters and straight to Ilitch’s office. There it died, for reasons no one seems to understand.