Yeah, I don't have many notes yet, but I guess it's not necessarily the offseason now that pitchers and catchers have reported, so that can be un-stickied.

I like the fact that Bonderman is NOT on the 30 man roster for the WBC. That means all 5 starters (regardless of who the 5th ends up being) are in camp right now working with the new staff. Something about that makes me more comfortable. Of course, Pudge will be in the WBC so someone else will be catching them most of the time, but that kind of needs to happen eventually anyhow.

Personally, I'm preparing myself for my annual ritual:

Right now, I'm still of right mind, and have absolutely no real hope of the Tigers contending, and really not of even getting to .500.

Over the next few weeks, I'll read all the fluff from the beat weriters, and slowly start to come around to the idea that "Hey, if everything falls right, these guys just might have a shot! Look at what the Sox did last year, everyone had them pegged for 3rd, maybe even 4th."

By Opening Day, I'll be fairly sure that the Tigers are gonna win 85 games or so, and with the right bounces at the right times, the Wild Card could be theirs. Dreams of Zumaya coming up in late July to give us the push we need will bounce through my head.

By May 1st, I'll be a Dodgers fan.

I just read on tigerscentral.com that Verlander right now is the #5 starter. Anyone know if this is true?

I just read on tigerscentral.com that Verlander right now is the #5 starter. Anyone know if this is true?

I don't think that true.

He is in contention for the #5 spot with Colon and Zumaya, with Verlander being the favorite.

Hello all from sunny Lakeland. We got real lucky, because it appears the Lakeland cold spell (it was 29 the other night) passed just before we got here. Anyway, the first workout was today, and here are a few highlights:

1. Leyland looked genuinely excited and antsy about the first meeting and first workout, and a little relieved after it was over and went well. That's a good sign, because it means he's as into it as he has said he would be.

2. The reaction from the players to Leyland has been good. Pudge said today ``He's the manager we need.'' Things can change, but Leyland wants the veterans to give him a chance and it appears that at least for now they will.

3. No question Pudge seems more relaxed than he was last spring, although he's reluctant to talk comparisons himself.

4. Speaking of which, Leyland has outlawed comparisons between last year and this year. He's still extremely sensitive to anything that hints at criticism of Tram.

5. Percival is here, and threw off the mound along with the other pitchers. Right now he's only throwing every fifth day. The chances of him on the opening day roster still look slim, especially since the Tigers can collect insurance money if he's on the DL.

6. Kyle Sleeth is here and throwing, too. Only fastballs and changeups for now, but he said he hopes to be game-ready by opening day. Not bad for someone who had Tommy John surgery last June.

7. No great surprises about how anyone looks. Pudge actually put on a little weight, but only a half-dozen pounds, so it's not really noticeable. Craig Monroe isn't here yet, but I hear he may win the award for best offseason makeover. They say he's in the best shape of his career.

8. They have the pitchers taking ground balls in the infield, and Leyland says they'll do it every day. The idea is that by taking more grounders they'll become better fielders. We'll see.

9. Not that anyone should care this early in camp, but Leyland says the opening day roster will have 12 pitchers, and that while he prefers more than one LH in the pen, he'll go with the 7 best relievers, whoever they are.
http://www.mlive.com/forums/tigers/index.ssf?artid=154440

I just read on tigerscentral.com that Verlander right now is the #5 starter. Anyone know if this is true?

I don't think that true.

He is in contention for the #5 spot with Colon and Zumaya, with Verlander being the favorite.


Ok, just wondering. That sorta shocked me when I read it.

While Leyland isn't ready for an official announcement, he left little doubt Monday that left-handed pitcher Kenny Rogers will start on opening day. If he does start, Rogers will be the fifth different opening day starter in as many years, and the 13th in the 16 years since Jack Morris left the Tigers. . . . Right-hander Craig Dingman, who had an outside shot to make the Tiger bullpen, hasn't been able to pitch because of a torn artery in his right shoulder. It's an unusual injury, one that scared Dingman when he started to throw three weeks ago and noticed that his forearm had turned purple and his hand turned white. "I went to (assistant trainer) Doug Teter,'' Dingman said. "He was like, `Holy Cow, what did you do?' I told him I was just playing catch.'' . . . One of the more impressive pitchers early in camp has been right-handed reliever Matt Mantei, who once saved 29 games in a season for Arizona but has spent much of his career on the disabled list. If he stays healthy, Mantei could easily make the team. . . . Left-hander Wil Ledezma has also thrown well. Ledezma admitted that he didn't handle things well when the Tigers sent him to Triple-A Toledo last June. "Now I feel great,'' he said. . . . The first full-squad workout is today, and the biggest surprise might be that Leyland intends to have his pitchers take batting practice. "I don't believe that you wait until five days before the start of interleague play,'' Leyland explained.
http://www.mlive.com/tigers/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1140520209169940.xml&coll=1

Meh, I'd like to see Bonderman start Opening day again

Meh, I'd like to see Bonderman start Opening day again

I am not sure how well that would work out. If we start Bonderman, we will have three straight lefties in the rotation. We need more balance.

L - Rogers (Opening Day starter)
R - Bonderman
L - Robertson
R - Colon/Verlander/Zoom
L - Maroth

I like Bonderman at #2. It gives him some better matchups against opposing pitchers and should help his W/L a little bit. Rogers can handle the pressure of #1 and has proven that for a good part of his career. I'm more inclined to have Maroth as the #3 over Robertson, just because Maroth's style is so different from Bonderman while Robertson is another power guy, but then again, they might likely be ok with those two lefties back-to-back unless one of the candidates for the 5 spot REALLY steps up.

Meh, I'd like to see Bonderman start Opening day again

I am not sure how well that would work out. If we start Bonderman, we will have three straight lefties in the rotation. We need more balance.

L - Rogers (Opening Day starter)
R - Bonderman
L - Robertson
R - Colon/Verlander/Zoom
L - Maroth

didnt even think about that [smilie=arrgh.jpg]

on MLive, Zumaya says he thinks he is a better fit as a closer....which is good because that is probably the only way he is going to make the club

Percival ends comeback, for now
Closer has not yet made official decision on retirement

A simulated game brought home reality for Troy Percival, who announced Sunday that he's ending his comeback attempt.

The Tigers reliever stopped just shy of calling his retirement final, saying that he wants to see if his arm feels any better in a couple of weeks, but admitted that he has "probably" thrown his last pitch.

That final offering came in a simulated game Sunday afternoon that hammered home where he stood. Pitching the final inning of the six-inning contest at Joker Marchant Stadium, Percival gave up a mammoth home run to non-roster invitee Mike Rabelo. The ball landed on the roof of the batting cage building beyond right field.

Percival finished out the inning, then met with the coaching staff after everyone had returned to the clubhouse.

"I've been fighting it all spring," Percival said. "I thought I could give this organization an opportunity to make a decision. I tried to go back to the arm angle I'm accustomed to, and it's just not there. There's a lot of pain. Right now, I can't help this club, physically. Mentally and with my heart, I think I can, but I have to be realistic and say there's no way, physically, I can go out and help this club right now."

The 36-year-old has been throwing bullpen sessions in camp, hoping he could get enough out of his arm to pitch again in the Major Leagues. He hadn't done that since last July, when a muscle mass tear around his throwing elbow left him unable to do basic activities with his right arm.

Thus likely ends the career of one of the greatest closers of his generation. Percival is tied for 10th on the all-time Major League saves list with 324. Only Trevor Hoffman, John Franco and Mariano Rivera own more among active players.

http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060226&content_id=1323589&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=det

Final four: Leyland said he has four candidates in mind for the open fifth spot in the rotation, though he wouldn't list them by name. He has already said that Verlander and Roman Colon are in the mix, and Zumaya said earlier this week that he's been told he's in the mix. Wilfredo Ledezma is also believed to be a candidate.

"We need to catch lightning in a bottle, whoever it is," Leyland said.

While Leyland has stated he usually judges track record over Spring Training performance, he needs to see something out of the candidates to decide this job.

"We're not giving jobs away here," he said. "We're going to have to think that they're the right guy."


Who's batting where: Leyland continues to work on possible lineups, and he spent time filling out more of them after Thursday night's team barbecue. Other than batting Polanco second and his center fielder first, he doesn't have anyone set in one particular spot.

"One thing about our lineup, it's got a chance to be pretty balanced," Leyland said. "I don't know that our 3-4-5 [hitters are] going to sound as impressive as somebody else's 3-4-5, but I think 1 through 9 we're going to be pretty good, and I kind of like that. We might not have the big boppers right in the middle, but ... I think you can get a lot out of whoever's going to hit 7-8-9."

One tendency he might use is to put a power hitter in the bottom third of the order. If everyone is healthy, he has enough from which to choose.

"I do like a three-run homer late in the lineup," he said. "Somebody that's not a real good runner, but I think that he's got power, I like the three-run homer down late in the lineup. I guess in the National League it would be a little bit more important with the eighth hitter and then the pitcher."

Percival's done. Gotta give him props for making an attempt despite the lack of healing his arm's gone through.


Percival's career likely over after aborted outingMonday, February 27, 2006
By Danny Knobler
LAKELAND, Fla. -- Troy Percival made it back, but only for an inning. Only for a simulated game.

Only long enough to realize that his throbbing right elbow still won't allow him to pitch the way he once did.

Percival's attempt at a miracle comeback ended Sunday, and with it he all but ended an 11-year, 324-save big-league career. He didn't call it a retirement, but he might as well have.

"I still want to go out and compete,'' Percival said. "There's just nothing there.''

He threw one inning Sunday, at the end of the Detroit Tigers' first simulated game of the spring. No radar guns clocked his pitches, but he obviously wasn't throwing hard, and allowed a long home run to minor-league catcher Mike Rabelo.

Then, after a long talk with pitching coach Chuck Hernandez, Percival met with manager Jim Leyland and general manager Dave Dombrowski and told them he was shutting it down.

The Tigers took no official action, but they'll likely keep the 36-year-old Percival on the disabled list this season and allow insurance to cover part of his $6 million contract. Percival offered to work with young pitchers, or to do anything else the organization asks him to.

What he really wants to do is pitch, but his torn-apart elbow just won't allow it. Percival's forearm muscle broke away from bone in the elbow last season, and that injury hasn't healed.

"There's no possibility that it's getting any better right now,'' he said. "I've been in pain every day . . . It's headed down a downhill path.''

Percival's decision has little effect on the Tigers' 2006 chances, because the team was never counting on him to pitch. Knowing that Percival was hurt, the Tigers signed Todd Jones to be their closer.

But Percival wanted to pitch again, if he at all could. He still wants to pitch.

"My mind and heart want to go out there and pitch,'' he said. "If I can throw two pitches in September, I'll throw two pitches in September. But right now? That (inning Sunday) was pretty hard to go out there and go through.''

Percival's career has been a story of persistence, but all the effort in the world hasn't helped since he signed with the Tigers after the 2004 season. After a career with the Angels that included two 40-save seasons and one World Series title, Percival had just 26 appearances and eight saves after signing a two-year, $12 million contract with the Tigers.

"If it is the end, he'll have nothing but great memories in this game,'' Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Sunday in Tempe, Ariz. "His sense of duty, a feeling of knowing what he meant to the club, how important it was to take the ball no matter how he felt, is as good as I've ever seen. He loved to compete, and as the game got tighter, he got better.''

He was still competing, right to the end. Right until Sunday, when his elbow told him it was time to stop.

You generally have to take baseball prospectus stuff with a grain of salt, but here's some optimistic thinking:

https://baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=4741


DETROIT TIGERS
Team Audit | Team DT Cards | Team Articles | Team Statistics



Twelve straight losing seasons has a way of breeding pessimism towards a team, and the Tigers have become one of baseball’s privileged few to be perennially overlooked. From that 1993 club, the last Tiger hanger-on was Travis Fryman, who was traded eight years ago. Ever since 1993, Detroit has played at a .408 clip, the equivalent of a 66-96 record. Dismissing the Tigers is a Grapefruit League tradition almost as routine as split squad games and sporting green caps on St. Patrick’s Day.

But is the ridicule justified this year? The AL Central isn’t the rest home it used to be, but can the Tigers claw themselves out of their presumed fourth place standing? Might they even vault into--gasp--contention? Here are three reasons it could happen:


Three incumbent starting pitchers--Jeremy Bonderman, Mike Maroth, and Nate Robertson--are major breakout candidates. In fact, of the 59 hurlers that PECOTA has pegged to pitch 180 or more innings, these three respectively rank first, ninth, and tenth in breakout rate.

Breakout Improve Collapse Attrition
Bonderman 38% 76% 2% 1%
Maroth 26% 64% 10% 0%
Robertson 26% 63% 6% 2%


(For further explanation of what these terms mean, visit the PECOTA section of the Statistics Glossary.)
It’s not that PECOTA projects Herculean seasons from this trio; it simply likes their chances of putting it all together and barreling past their previously established levels of performance. If one of these three does so--the most likely scenario, since each pitcher’s breakout rate hovers around 33 percent--it will help the Tigers. If Detroit is fortunate enough for two or more breakouts, the jolt would be worth several wins.

The rotation has significant upside beyond these three. The decision to commit two years and $16 million to a 41-year-old is questionable, but Kenny Rogers is merely being counted on to replace the steadily average Jason Johnson. Rogers is the antithesis of the three incumbents, with zero chance of a breakout and a 55 percent collapse rate. But Rogers and Johnson have pitched the same number of innings over the past two years--a span in which Rogers posted a 4.14 ERA against Johnson’s 4.71, despite their polar opposite home parks. The upgrade from Texas’ defense to Detroit’s will also help Rogers.

Justin Verlander, one of the most promising young pitchers in baseball, enters Lakeland as the favorite for the fifth spot. Judging by ERA, PECOTA likes him better than any Tiger starter after Bonderman. The revolving door of fifth starters last year was terrible, so a healthy Verlander could be a massive difference maker.

Notably, the Tigers gutted their coaching staff this winter. Altogether, Jim Leyland and the men appointed have no less than 63 years of playing, coaching, and managerial experience...in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization alone. (In case you’re wondering, his circle includes Gene Lamont, Rafael Belliard, Andy Van Slyke, Don Slaught, and Lloyd McClendon.) The one new staffer who isn’t a former Pirate, pitching coach Chuck Hernandez, might be the most integral to Detroit’s success. Without the rotation clicking on all cylinders, the Tigers don’t have a serious shot in the Central. Hopefully, Leyland will handle his young pitchers wisely.


Several of Detroit’s best hitters didn’t play full seasons in 2005. The Tigers lineup should be quietly productive, a very balanced group unlikely to feature a 30-home-run hitter.
Curtis Granderson will relegate Nook Logan mostly to the bench, an enormous trade-off. According to PECOTA, Granderson rates as baseball’s top defender in center field, but the difference at the plate is much more significant. Chris Shelton also began 2005 in Toledo, but during his four months with the Tigers he zoomed to the top of the team VORP leaderboard. Acknowledging some likely regression to the mean, a full season of Shelton should help.

Likewise, Placido Polanco raked after his June 8th acquisition. It would have meant a lot more to the Tigers had he been replacing Omar Infante, but Carlos Guillen’s ACL flare-ups prompted the trade and shifted Infante to shortstop. Needless to say, 150 games each from Polanco and Guillen would be optimal, but Guillen remains a major health risk.

Magglio Ordonez was still a good hitter when healthy. Not $15-million-per-year good--he lacked his standard power--but .302/.359/.436 isn’t shabby. Reportedly, his knee was not an issue last year, so he could provide another big boost over the course of 2006.

Stay tuned--the Team Health Reports will kick off later this month. Good health is always critical to success, but the Tigers take this law to another level.


After years of nominal contributions from the farm system, real help has finally arrived. Verlander. Granderson. Shelton. Joel Zumaya has a career minor league K/9 ratio of 10.56 and should debut this year at age 21. PECOTA projects 22-year-old Kevin Whelan (drafted last June) as Detroit’s top reliever, and he could conceivably supplant Todd Jones by season’s end. And lest we forget, Bonderman just turned 23 this winter.
Who knows, maybe Ivan Rodriguez can even regain some of his OBP, which sank 93 points. The Tigers? Contending? If the breakouts come and the team stays healthy, it’s not crazy at all.

The Tigers agreed to terms Wednesday with nine players, including left-hander Nate Robertson. The others who signed were right-handers Roman Colon, Jason Grilli and Kyle Sleeth, left-hander Wilfredo Ledezma, infielders Omar Infante and Chris Shelton, and outfielders Nook Logan and Marcus Thames.

The signings leave 39 of the players on the team's 40-man roster under contract for 2006

http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060301&content_id=1329794&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=det

Tigers edge Florida Southern
Jones kicks off spring with one-two-three inning

Mocs at the plate: Catcher Raul Rodrigues, a junior for Florida South, broke through against Tigers pitching with a one-out single in the top of the third inning. Nick Mershon, a junior, lined an RBI double to right in the seventh that broke a 1-1 tie. Sophomore Jeremiah Oyer's RBI grounder the same inning had tied the game.

Tigers at the plate: Nook Logan recorded the first Tigers hit of Spring Training when he beat out a bunt with one out in the bottom of the third. He also stole the team's first base of the season. Omar Infante's two-out single in the fifth knocked in the first run of the season. In the eighth, Carlos Pena hit the first homer of Spring Training with a two-out, two-run shot to right. In the bottom of the ninth, catcher Danilo Sanchez doubled home the winning run.

Mocs on the mound: Right-hander Daniel Albritton, a junior, didn't allow a run in his start. Right-hander Kyle DeYoung, a senior, gave up Pena's two-run homer.

Tigers on the mound: Reliever Todd Jones started the game and worked a 1-2-3 inning. All three outs were infield grounders. Eulogio De La Cruz, who blew the save when he allowed a tying run in the ninth, picked up the win.

Up next: The Tigers play host to the Reds on Thursday afternoon in a game that officially kicks off the team's Grapefruit League season. Left-hander Nate Robertson will start, and right-handers Roman Colon, Jason Grilli, Chad Durbin, Fernando Rodney and Chris Spurling will follow. Left-hander Eric Milton will start for the Reds.
http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060301&content_id=1329339&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=det

Young leaves game with leg injury

Tigers slugger Dmitri Young left Saturday's split-squad game against Team Italy in the first inning with a strained left quadriceps.

Young was batting in the bottom of the first against Italian starter Lenny DiNardo when the injury occurred. He was running toward first base on a foul ball to right field, then felt a twinge when he tried to speed up about two-thirds of the way to the bag. He made a right turn and limped to the dugout.

Young walked gingerly back to the clubhouse on his own power after the inning, accompanied by a team athletic trainer. He referred all questions to the training staff, but no further evaluation or timetable will be issued until head athletic trainer Kevin Rand examines Young on Sunday morning. Rand was in Winter Haven at the time for the Tigers' other split-squad game against the Indians, as was manager Jim Leyland.

Bullpen coach Lloyd McClendon, who managed the Tigers against Italy, offered some optimism after the game. "Hopefully, it's nothing serious," McClendon said. "From what the trainers told me, he took a lot of ice and felt a lot better when he left. We'll reevaluate in the morning."

Ironically, Young looked healthy and mobile on Saturday in his first start of the spring at third base, where Leyland hopes to have him play on occasion in order to have some flexibility in his lineup. He lunged to his right on the first play of the game to make a diving catch of Italian leadoff man Tony Giarratano's line drive down the line.

Young has missed time due to injuries in three of his four years as a Tiger. He suffered a sports hernia in 2002, then a broken leg in the second game of the 2004 season. His 2005 season ended in early September when he strained a muscle in his leg. Young spent this offseason working out to lose weight, hoping to regain his versatility and some durability.

That potential versatility would make him tougher to replace than most players, should the injury prove more serious than originally suspected. Should he successfully make the transition back to a multi-positional player, he projects to be the main backup at third base and corner outfield spots. He could also be the primary backup at first base if the Tigers move Carlos Pena before Opening Day.

Prospect Kody Kirkland replaced Young at third and delivered the game-winning hit in the ninth inning, doubling in Brian Peterson with a deep drive to center field off former Tiger Dan Miceli.
http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060304&content_id=1333743&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=det

Another injury for Mantei
Right-hander strains oblique during spring game

As strong as Matt Mantei felt this spring, he was always worried about another injury getting in his way. This is why.

Trying to work his way out of a rough outing Tuesday with the bases loaded and two outs, Mantei reared back to throw and suffered a strained oblique muscle as his pitch sailed to the backstop. After nearly hitting Indians batter Ryan Garko with his next pitch, walking in a run, he limped off the mound in pain and was removed from the game.

Whether it's the last time he walks off a mound in his career remains to be seen.

"It's not good," he said. "I can barely breathe. It's not good."

Mantei had established himself as one of the bigger surprises of Spring Training. Signed to a Minor League contract over the offseason, Mantei was throwing hard and commanding his pitches. That wasn't much of a surprise to manager Jim Leyland, who managed him with the Marlins in 1998.

Leyland has said more than once that as long as Mantei is healthy, he's a Major League pitcher. If he could stay healthy, Leyland predicted he'd be pitching somewhere in the big leagues this year.

Though Mantei said he felt the twinge on his next-to-last pitch, he seemed out of character the entire inning. After Tim Laker led off with a bloop single, Mantei walked Jake Gautreau and Ryan Mulhern to load the bases, with a strikeout of Todd Donovan in between.

Mantei had good velocity on his fastball, but seemingly little control over where it was going. He nearly hit both Mulhern and Garko as his heater kept running inside to right-handed hitters. The last pitch to Garko, and the limp around the mound, brought out Detroit's training staff, but he might not have had much left anyway.

If the injury is serious, it'll be his seventh consecutive year with one. He missed the second half of last season with torn ligaments in his left ankle after losing most of the previous two seasons to shoulder problems. He missed a year and half from 2001 to 2002 after undergoing ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction surgery on his elbow. The only healthy season in his 11-year Major League career was 1999, when he saved 32 games between Florida and Arizona.

He came to camp last month looking at this as a do-or-die chance at getting back in the big leagues.

"Not to make a sob story, but for everything that I've been through, I've had enough," he said two weeks ago. "If I can't do it anymore, if I get hurt, that's it. I'm going home."

Time will tell whether this injury is severe enough to dash his hopes.

"We'll see how it feels tomorrow," Mantei said after Tuesday's game. "Right now, it hurts. Bad."
http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060307&content_id=1339414&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=det

He probably would've made the opening day roster, if he was healthy.

The Tigers are making relief pitchers retire on a fairly frequent basis this spring. We're about 3 career ending injuries away from having to make some difficult calls.

"Hello? Is Kerry Lightenberg available by chance? No? Umm, what about John Wetteland? Randy Myers? Jeff Shaw? DAMNIT!!!!!"

DD: GET ME JOE BOEVER!!!

No decisions yet, but ...

I heard it again today. Come to think of it, I also heard it yesterday.

Carlos Pena just isn't Jim Leyland's type of player. Neither is Nook Logan.

Leyland would never say it. He hasn't said it to me. But even without talking to Leyland, people who know him or have watched him through the years look at Pena and Logan and figure they're not long for the Tigers.

It wouldn't be a shock if the Tigers release Pena next week, paying him a little less than $466,667 rather than the $2.8 million he gets if he makes it to opening day. I'm sure they'd much prefer to trade him, but Pena just doesn't have $2.8 million worth of value on the open market, so he's a tough guy to move.

He had a couple of hits today, and he's hitting .250 this spring. But this isn't about his spring stats. You can look at Pena in the Tiger clubhouse right now and tell he doesn't fit. You can look at the roster, with Chris Shelton (a definite Leyland type) set as the first baseman and Dmitri Young available to DH.

Same goes for Logan, who theoretically is competing with Curtis Granderson for the center field job. In reality, Granderson (another Leyland type) looks like the center fielder, and the better question is whether Leyland would rather have Logan or someone else coming off the bench. Remember, he's played Brent Clevlen in center field some this spring. Leyland admits it's a little bit of a stretch to have Clevlen jump from A-ball to the big leagues, but Clevlen is very good and has been very impressive.

He's also, absolutely, a Jim Leyland type player.
http://www.mlive.com/tigers/weblog/index.ssf?/mtlogs/mlive_tigers/archives/2006_03.html#119694


Infante out with tendinitis

The list of injured Tigers grew again Thursday to include a familiar face, or in this case a shoulder.

Infielder Omar Infante, who had received the bulk of the playing time at shortstop with Carlos Guillen out to play for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic, is out at least a couple days with tendinitis in his right shoulder. That's the same shoulder that bothered him last spring and lingered into the regular season, when he didn't seem to have his normal strength on his throws until midseason.

A sore shoulder last year kept Infante from starting a game until March 20. Much like last year, Infante didn't admit his shoulder was hurting until someone asked him about it. This time, it was new manager Jim Leyland.

"I told him to go into the training room with [infield coach] Rafael Belliard and get it checked out," Leyland said. "In reality, this is nothing new. Talking with [president/GM] Dave [Dombrowski], there was some history to this. Sometimes, if you watch what you're doing, you can see it. There was discomfort there. You could tell by the look on his face.

"I wasn't jumping the gun on this. I felt like, 'Hey, I'm not going to talk about this every day.' To me, that's dumb. Let's find out [what it is]."

MRI results showed no structural damage. Still, given his history, it's not something the Tigers want to dismiss. Infante will spend the next couple of days working with strength coach Javair Gillett on building up the shoulder.

He'll have company in the Tigers clubhouse while the team is on the road. Craig Monroe, who has yet to play in a game this spring due to a sore oblique muscle, said Thursday he hurt his right quadriceps while chasing fly balls in practice earlier this week. That injury will keep him out a while longer.

Both he and Dmitri Young, who has a strained quad of his own, will receive treatment and stay away from any activity for the next few days. "We're going to get this thing settled once and for all," Leyland said.

The news is worse for reliever Matt Mantei, whose oblique injury is severe enough that Leyland isn't expecting him to be ready to pitch in games when the season starts.

"This looks like a definite setback," Leyland said. "Right now, it looks like it's going to be a while."
http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060309&content_id=1342500&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=det

I personally want to hang on to Pena for a couple reasons:

1) He gives us a much needed LH bat with power.

2) His defense at 1B is excellent and he comes cheap.

Dingman to have surgery Wednesday: Craig Dingman is scheduled to undergo artery bypass surgery Wednesday morning in St. Louis. Dr. Robert Thompson, who earlier this month performed surgery on Pirates pitcher Kip Wells to repair an artery blocked by a blood clot, will perform Dingman's procedure, as well.

Dingman's surgery is different and believed to be a first among Major Leaguers. The operation will take an artery from one of his legs and insert it into his shoulder, thus allowing blood to flow around the original artery that had been damaged by movement in Dingman's shoulder capsule.

No timetable is known on Dingman, and probably won't be even after he's examined when the surgery is finished, according to head athletic trainer Kevin Rand.

Sleeth sent down: The expected move Leyland talked about Sunday wasn't a surprise. Former first-round pick Kyle Sleeth was optioned to Class A Lakeland so he could continue his rehab process in Minor League camp.

Sleeth underwent Tommy John surgery last June. He's been throwing bullpen sessions twice a week, but only fastballs and changeups while he strengthens his arm. He'll still be working his way back when the Minor League season starts.

"We're taking our time with him," Rand said. "He's too valuable a prospect not to take your time with him. We want to make sure everything's done right and he can come back as well as can be expected."

Infante back: Omar Infante returned to the lineup Monday after missing the previous five days with tendinitis in his throwing shoulder. He went 1-for-3 at the plate and started at second base against the Pirates, turning a double play to end the fourth inning.

Monroe's return still muddled:
Craig Monroe took batting practice for the second consecutive day Monday and Dmitri Young hit off a tee after running, a sign of progress for both, but there's no timetable for a return on either player.

Monroe took batting practice for a second day Monday and felt like he could "find a way" to play if necessary. "I'm crushing," he said. "I feel great. Now it's basically [a question of] running."

It's a question Leyland hopes doesn't linger much longer. If Monroe isn't healthy enough to return by this point next week, Leyland said, he might have to be a candidate for the disabled list because he wouldn't have enough time to prepare.

"I don't know if we're getting to the point where you're thinking DL or not," he said. "I'm not going to have somebody active if they're only going to have 10 or 15 at-bats under their belts in Spring Training."

Tip of the cap: With three World Baseball Classic gamees on television Monday night, Leyland was able to watch many of his regulars playing for their national teams. He saw Carlos Guillen and Magglio Ordonez hitting for Venezuela, Ivan Rodriguez leading Puerto Rico and Fernando Rodney earn a wild save for the Dominican Republic against Cuba.

He also saw Rodney's cap lined up nearly sideways as he pitched. "I can promise you one thing," Leyland said. "He won't wear his hat like that for the Tigers. But I don't know, maybe there's something to it. If I'm a hitter and I look out and the guy's like that, it might mess me up."

WTF with Mark Prior? They try to keep him healthy all spring, and now he's here in SoCal seeing a "specialist".

LOL@Cub Fan. Poor fucks.

What, by definition, is a "Leyland type of player"?

What, by definition, is a "Leyland type of player"?

Old school, by the book.

Detroit optioned right-handers Eulogio De La Cruz, Preston Larrison, Humberto Sanchez and Jordan Tata, infielders Tony Giarratano and Kody Kirkland and outfielder Brent Clevlen to Double-A Erie.

The Tigers also assigned right-handers Tim Crabtree and Colby Lewis, catchers Mike Rabelo and Danilo Sanchez and infielder Kevin Hooper to Minor League camp.

..

In addition to prospects, the Tigers released right-hander Matt Mantei from his Triple-A Toledo contract. Leyland said Mantei wasn't ready to compete for a job. Mantei told Leyland that he'd take some time to weigh his future.
http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060317&content_id=1353809&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=det

In a way, those options are good. 3 years ago the team would have had no choice but to keep Tata and Clevlan up due to strong spring performances. Now, we actually have a little depth in our minor league system. I'm interested to see where Phelps ends up. He's destroying opposing pitchers so far, but has so many people in front of him. If Phelps were a lefty Pena would be long gone by now, but he's not so we'll see.

Phelps has been doing this for 3 years now, though. he kills triple a pitching but can't handle the big stuff consistently. Kind of like Thames.

Sunday update

Back after a few days off to take a breather this spring. Like a reliever getting ready for back-to-back days, I'm probably on call the rest of the way out.

Joel Zumaya looked just about unhittable Sunday in his two innings of work. His curveball seems to look better each time out, including a nasty one that started inside and broke over the plate on Brad Ausmus for a called strike three. Jim Leyland said he's still in consideration for a starting spot, but this very much had the feeling of a long relief audition. He warmed up quicker than usual. He pitched two innings at a point in the spring when starting candidates are pitching twice that much. And he didn't pitch the eighth inning, instead leaving Chad Durbin to go the last two innings -- and as a side note, Durbin is putting together a nice spring after a rough start.

It might well be that Leyland is just weighing his options, but it's hard not to look at the picture right now and view Justin Verlander and Jason Grilli as the candidates for the fifth spot in the rotation -- Verlander the gifted young arm, Grilli the more veteran option. As fantastic as Zumaya's stuff is, as good or better than Verlander at times, he's still very excitable.


MANTEI EYES RETURN: Reliever Matt Mantei was talking about fire on Friday, too. He did so as he prepared to leave camp and head back to Michigan.

"I'm going to get a physical therapist and a personal trainer and see what I can do," he said. "If I still have the fire in me, I'll give it a shot."

The right-hander asked for his release Friday, and the Tigers gave it to him. Mantei said the club left the door open for him to come back.

For now, Mantei wants to drive back home to Stevensville, let his strained oblique muscle heal, spend time with his family and collect his thoughts.

After 10 years in the big leagues, including two as a prolific closer, Mantei signed a minor league contract with the Tigers this off-season. Before the injury, he was a candidate to make the big-league club -- his home state's big-league club.

Mantei told Leyland and general manager Dave Dombrowski on Friday: "My goal is to play for you guys. I'm not going to sign with another team."


No more tryouts: Leyland liked the fact the Classic gave him a chance to take a long look at some of the organization's top prospects, but he's seen enough of those prospects.

He's now ready to see what kind of team he'll go into the season with. Put another way: The veterans will see more playing time.

"We're at the point now where we've given everybody a chance, and that's over with," he said. "We've got to get our guys ready."


What they're saying: "My brother ought to be his agent, because my brother goes to every Mud Hen game, and he tells me this guy can hit." -- Leyland, on outfielder Marcus Thames, who hit .340 with 22 home runs and 56 RBIs last year in his second season at Toledo.


Did you know: Tigers fans might think that Denny McLain holds the team record for the most complete games in one season. But McLain's 28 complete games in 1968 are a long way away from the team record. In 1904, George Mullin completed 42 games for the Tigers, a mark that dwarfs McLain's total. Mullin piled up a whopping 382 1/3 innings, another club record.

Pena rant OK with Leyland

It was difficult to tell which Tiger had better velocity Sunday -- Joel Zumaya as he hurled his fastball toward the plate, or Carlos Pena as he threw his helmet toward the dugout wall.

"The Fourth of July," manager Jim Leyland said of the sound Pena generated when he either threw or slammed his helmet after his third straight out against Houston ace right-hander Roy Oswalt. (The dugout roof obscured Pena's actions, but not the decibels.)

In his remaining at-bat of the day, against premier closer Brad Lidge, Pena hit a looping liner for an out just behind second base. That sank his average -- in a spring where he needed a good spring -- to .171. After that fourth at-bat, he nailed a video camera in the dugout.

In between Pena's third and fourth at-bats, Zumaya didn't allow a run in his two innings. He continued his bid to win either the open spot in the rotation or a job in the bullpen (although not the late-inning bullpen, Leyland said). "He throws the ball real good," said Astros manager Phil Garner.

Leyland was reserved in talking about Zumaya, as he has been about all the young pitchers trying to make the team. But Leyland's eyes danced when discussing Pena's venting.

"That's good," Leyland said. "That's real good. I like that."

Four days earlier, Leyland had said the Tigers were too nice and that he'd like to see his players lose their tempers once in a while.

"Today he was legitimately frustrated, so he did what he should have done," Leyland said. "Now if a guy does that for 50 or 60 straight games, then he's being phony. If they do it for that long, I tell them, 'Take a bat, go out to the parking lot, and beat the (expletive) out of your car.' Because it's no longer real.

"Today, there was nothing phony about that. I'm glad."

Pena, who lost his first-base job last season, has no apparent spot on this season's club. By the end of spring training, the Tigers must decide whether to release him -- in which case they'd owe him $700,000 of his nearly $3 million salary for this season. It seems hard to believe they can find another club to take his salary in a trade.

Pena isn't talking to reporters these days, but his Sunday tantrum infers that his standards remain high. He was frustrated even though he had a day against Oswalt a lot of National League hitters could recognize -- two strikeouts and a pop-up.

Hitting coach Don Slaught said he's working with Pena on keeping his swing in the strike zone longer. "He knows what he has to do," Slaught said. "He just has to do it."

Good readin'

Thanks H1.


I like Shelton much more the Pena. Shelton can do a little more than hit for power. I'd like to see Pena moved for a real 3Baseman if at all possable.

They need to just send Zumaya down to Toledo. Long relief's the last place we need him. Wether he's going to be a starter or a closer, he needs the seasoning more than we need a mop-up guy.

Good readin'

Thanks H1.


I like Shelton much more the Pena. Shelton can do a little more than hit for power. I'd like to see Pena moved for a real 3Baseman if at all possable.

I prefer Shelton over Pena too. But I hope they retain Pena as the backup rather than Young.


They need to just send Zumaya down to Toledo. Long relief's the last place we need him. Wether he's going to be a starter or a closer, he needs the seasoning more than we need a mop-up guy.

Actually Zumaa has been more impressive during spring training than both Verlander and Colon. But I do think they should send both Verlander and Zumaya down to Toledo for more seasoning.

They need to just send Zumaya down to Toledo. Long relief's the last place we need him. Wether he's going to be a starter or a closer, he needs the seasoning more than we need a mop-up guy.

Actually Zumaa has been more impressive during spring training than both Verlander and Colon. But I do think they should send both Verlander and Zumaya down to Toledo for more seasoning.

Yeah, I just meant that if the alternative is leaving him up in a long relief role like one of those articles implied, it's better for him to get regular work in the minors.

Impressions spring forth from Tigers training camp
Fans must be patient with Bonderman; Leyland has calmed front office, clubhouse.

Impressions from a spring-training tour of Tigertown:

Jeremy Bonderman: Fans are impatient. Relax. Bonderman is 23. His stuff is top-shelf. He will be the front end of what could be an imposing top-three starting rotation in the years ahead -- Bonderman, Justin Verlander, Joel Zumaya.

Brent Clevlen: There was interest last week in stepping to the cage just to see a 22-year-old prospect take batting practice. It was no disappointment. His swing, and the way the ball leaves his bat -- to all fields -- was as entertaining as it was impressive. Clevlen is going to sell a lot of tickets to Comerica Park when he shows up for full-time work, probably next season.

Roman Colon: No pitcher has made as many adjustments as Colon from last season to this season. Here is a stylish pitcher who could be the Tigers' big surprise.

Curtis Granderson: He should be a fixture for the next 10 years. Excellent package of professional and personal skills: good left-handed hitter with some sock, fine fielder (although he ultimately will be better in left field than in center), and a charismatic person.

Omar Infante: His manager admitted last week he underestimated Infante, which is easy to do. The Tigers will be wise to use him -- a lot -- as a combination infielder-outfielder. Infante has the potential and power to be a big-inning hitter.

Jim Leyland: Now you know why the Tigers zeroed in on precisely the manager they needed. He sees seven steps ahead. He has experience that can't be measured. He handles players, collectively and individually, with ease. He has calmed the front office and clubhouse. The only question is, how much will change -- in his demeanor and in the community's view -- when the team has lost five in a row? For now, the Tigers have the manager they were obliged to hire.

Nook Logan: Can he hit enough to stick in Detroit? That's the only question. Leyland likes Logan and the way his speed can change a game. The tough part is keeping Logan ahead of other outfielders who can break up a game with their bats: Marcus Thames, or left-handed hitting Alexis Gomez.

Cameron Maybin: Willie Horton had it right. Put 100 players in an outfield and Maybin, 18, stands out. Tremendous size, speed, presence -- and power. Leyland used him last Monday against the Phillies at Clearwater and Maybin just missed a pitch that soared so high it looked like a night-time satellite before it returned to earth and the left-fielder's glove. "That's some kind of man," Leyland said afterward. "He has a chance to be special. Plus, he wanted to startthe game -- he ain't afraid."

Craig Monroe: Seems more relaxed, which might have something to do with Leyland's influence. Player and manager have nice chemistry. Leyland mentioned last week how the ball has a "different sound" when Monroe slams it during batting practice. Consider that one baseball man's tribute to another.

Carlos Pena: New season, same story. Pena leaves everyone confused. He has turned his back on the media, unhappy because we report that his ups and downs have left everyone baffled. It's a good bet Pena is just as bewildered.

Josh Phelps: A shame the Tigers aren't in the market for a right-handed bat off the bench. This guy kills the ball -- and has done the same at other stops in his big-league career.

Pudge Rodriguez: On the plus side, Pudge hasn't looked this serene since 2004. He was as bright as the Florida sunshine when he returned to camp Saturday from the World Baseball Classic. The question is: Has his bat slowed down permanently, as appeared to be the case last year?

Kenny Rogers: He is a professional pitcher who signed a professional free-agent contract. He will give the Tigers a professional presence on the mound. He is not 31. He is 41. Still, until age finally catches up with him, Rogers has a shot at having a fine season or two in Detroit.

Ramon Santiago: One of the most pleasant players you will encounter. And what a slick fielder Santiago is. He left Detroit as something of a baseball kid when he was traded for Carlos Guillen and rejoined the team this spring as a man. Lots of growth took place between 2004 and 2006.

Chris Shelton: Not since the Tigers stole Norm Cash from Cleveland have they filched a bigger, or potentially more important, position player and hitter. Shelton is simply an amazing hitter.

Marcus Thames: What a pity there wasn't an expansion draft this year. Thames would have been claimed, would be a starting corner outfielder somewhere and would roll up dandy numbers. But he needs to play every day to stay in rhythm. And it simply isn't possible in Detroit.

Justin Verlander: Here's another guy with the kind of talent and box-office appeal who will sell scads of tickets at Comerica Park. Stay tuned. You're watching a seriously talented pitcher in his earliest stage of development.

Dmitri Young: Looks great. His energy is back. And he's swinging the bat very well. This could be his best season in Detroit.

Joel Zumaya: Just be glad, wherever you are when you watch this young man pitch, that you're not standing at home plate. He doesn't throw baseballs. He throws comets.
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060320/SPORTS0104/603200368/1129

LOL, we sound like World Series contenders if that ^ is all you read about this team.

I think Lynn might be on the payroll.

I prefer Pena over Chris Shelton myself.

Better home run hitter, better run producer, can get on base, and is a lefty.

I prefer Pena over Chris Shelton myself.

Better home run hitter, better run producer, can get on base, and is a lefty.

If he can consistently do that for an entire season rather than 2-3 months at a time, I might agree.

Until then I will take Shelton.

LOL, we sound like World Series contenders if that ^ is all you read about this team.

I think Lynn might be on the payroll.


Nothing wrong with a little spring Optimism, before all the excitement is killed mid to late July [smilie=2thumbsup.g:

I prefer Pena over Chris Shelton myself.

Better home run hitter, better run producer, can get on base, and is a lefty.

If he can consistently do that for an entire season rather than 2-3 months at a time, I might agree.

Until then I will take Shelton.

Yep same here. Dont know what your watching, Arch.

Nothing wrong with a little spring Optimism, before all the excitement is killed mid to late July [smilie=2thumbsup.g:

I'll take July at this point.

Most years, by the end of May we're out of it.

Good readin'

Thanks H1.


I like Shelton much more the Pena. Shelton can do a little more than hit for power. I'd like to see Pena moved for a real 3Baseman if at all possable.

I prefer Shelton over Pena too. But I hope they retain Pena as the backup rather than Young.


Really? I always thought that had Young not injured him self that he would have had much better seasons than he has had. I'd rather keep Young than Pena.*




*I know nothing about the economics about baseball. So take that opinion as in how I view them on the feild.

LOL, we sound like World Series contenders if that ^ is all you read about this team.

I think Lynn might be on the payroll.

Agreed. He acts like Thames would become Gary Sheffield if he just got the chance.

Nothing wrong with a little spring Optimism, before all the excitement is killed mid to late July [smilie=2thumbsup.g:

I'll take July at this point.

Most years, by the end of May we're out of it.

Could have sworn it was July. Or maybe I just hold out hope longer than most [smilie=annoyed.gif]

Could have sworn it was July. Or maybe I just hold out hope longer than most [smilie=annoyed.gif]

We were 10.5 games behind at the end of May last year.

And that was a relatively good year compared to most, we were 23-26 at that point.

OH......


Ummmmm




lol@the tigers logo in 1928

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/9968/71937va.gif

More cuts

Wilfredo Ledezma optioned to Triple-A Toledo. Chad Durbin, Lee Gardner, Kevin Hodge, Ryan Ludwick, Brian Peterson, Josh Phelps, Max St. Pierre and Reggie Taylor all assigned to minor-league camp.

Phelps is a slight surprise in the fact that it happened this early, but the logjam at first base/DH wasn't in his favor, with or without Pena. The bigger surprise is Ledezma until you consider his struggles in camp. When you consider that he came into spring training with a real shot to make this team, especially with Leyland looking for a second left-hander in the bullpen, then you could say Ledezma pitched his way off of the roster. I still think he has a chance to make it with this organization, but he has to regain his confidence and learn to work the strike zone again.
http://beck.mlblogs.com/


Trade watch: The Tigers sent down Ledezma, but they still might've had a look at a second lefty reliever on the field Thursday. Rheal Cormier pitched two scoreless innings with a hit and two strikeouts Thursday. They were for the Phillies side, but Cormier has been linked through the Tigers to trade rumors should Detroit decide it wants to add a lefty but doesn't want to keep Hector Mercado and Bobby Seay.

http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060323&content_id=1360583&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=det

Verlander, Zumaya in

It's official. Jim Leyland named Verlander the fifth starter and Zumaya as one of his relievers. Verlander will start the first Saturday of the season at Texas. Zumaya, meanwhile, could end up in a major role for the Tigers, though not as a setup man or closer.

"Not only is Zumaya going to pitch on the team," Leyland said, "I think he's going to pitch in some huge situations."

As for Jason Grilli and Roman Colon, the other two contestants in the fifth starter race, Leyland said they're both in the running for the remaining three spots in the bullpen. Grilli starts today against the Astros. Colon is slated to pitch tomorrow.
http://beck.mlblogs.com/beck/2006/03/verlander_zumay_1.html

Fuck.

I don't mind the fact that Verlander made it as a 5th starter but I hate the whole Zoom in the bullpen idea.

Where it really kills us is it gives him Major League service time in a pointless situation. That means that if/when he ever develops into a star-level player for us, he's going to get real expensive much quicker. His arbitration years and free agency will come up that much sooner. It's mistakes like this that teams like the Tigers can't afford to make. Stupid.

As long as Ilitch keeps the checkbook open, I don't care. I would rather see these guys learn at this level and develop the way Bonderman has than to hear about them ripping up AA ball forever but have half of the major league roster gone before they ever get here. They brought in grnadparents like Rogers and Jones to do something now. If Verlander and Zumaya can help with that - which it seems they have a better shot to do than some of the others who have been hanging around with unmet potential, bring them in.

My concern with Zumaya making the bullpen is two-fold:

- The organization might feel inclined to keep him in the bullpen after this season, especially given concerns over his delivery.

- And being in the bullpen, Zumaya won't have a chance to work on his secondary pitches like he would if he were a starter (even if it is in Triple A).

Where it really kills us is it gives him Major League service time in a pointless situation. That means that if/when he ever develops into a star-level player for us, he's going to get real expensive much quicker. His arbitration years and free agency will come up that much sooner. It's mistakes like this that teams like the Tigers can't afford to make. Stupid.

I agree, but the Tigers could save themselves the headache of arbitration if they did like Cleveland. Over pay your guy with a long term contract when they start to emerge not after they breakthrough and can cash in.

If Zoom or Verlander have good years lock the up same with Bonderman don't wait until you price yourself out of keeping them all, A's style.

LOL, we sound like World Series contenders if that ^ is all you read about this team.

I think Lynn might be on the payroll.

Agreed. He acts like Thames would become Gary Sheffield if he just got the chance.

Thames could if he "ate some wheaties".

Injury concerns: Guillen and Infante aren't the only injury worries on Leyland's mind. He's still wary of Craig Monroe's quadriceps, Placido Polanco's calf, and Magglio Ordonez's knee was sore from sitting around as the designated hitter Sunday. The concerns were enough that the manager, who says he takes it personally if players aren't prepared and healthy for the season, wasn't in a good mood before the game.

"I'm very concerned about having this club 100 percent healthy and ready to go," he said. "The fact of the matter is, I'm very concerned that nagging things are showing up and I'm not very happy about it. It's nobody's fault, but I'm very concerned about it. I'm concerned about the combination of having enough playing time to be ready and yet not overdoing it so where somebody's going to end up on the disabled list."

What concerns Leyland more is that they're the kind of injuries that could be aggravated by cold weather, now less than two weeks away. They'll apparently dodge bad weather to open the season in Kansas City, where the forecast calls for a high of 73 on Opening Day, but Detroit could be another climate April 10.

"I know this much: It's going to be 35 degrees in Detroit," Leyland said. "So if you stiffen up and get cold sitting around and can't play, you're going to have problems."

Aftermath on Pena: Monroe considers Pena like family, and they're godfathers to each other's children. Yet as much as Monroe hated to see Pena leave the organization, his emotions were mixed.

"I'm not sad. I'm happy for him," Monroe said. "He's happy that he's going to hopefully get an opportunity to go continue his big-league career. It was obvious here he wasn't going to play. I personally think when you've done so many things that he's done in this game, then there's opportunity for you somewhere else."

Monroe said he talked to Pena by phone this morning, and he was in, "great spirits." Monroe didn't take issue with the team's decision, choosing instead to look ahead.

"He is as far from here in his mind as possible," Monroe said of Pena. "He is relaxed and he is very confident that things are going to work themselves out. That's how we all think."

Control woes: A few days after Justin Verlander won the fifth starter's job, his first outing since then wasn't exactly a matter of getting his work in. He walked five Astros in as many innings, including a bases-loaded pass that plated Houston's first run.

That wasn't much of a concern to Leyland. "He had nasty stuff," Leyland said. "I'm very pleased. He's making progress."

At one point, Leyland went out to the mound to talk to his young starter. "He was probably close to a state of panic," Leyland said, "and that's why you go out there."

Come the eighth inning, Franklyn German had similar woes. His first eight pitches were out of the strike zone, leading to two walks. A bunt single loaded the bases with no one out, yet he still escaped without a run scored thanks to a fielder's choice throw to the plate from third baseman Brandon Inge and a double-play grounder off the bat of Eric Bruntlett.
http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060327&content_id=1364431&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=det

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.
http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2006/03/tigers-cut-six/

What ever happened to Nate Cornejo?

Didnt he have a career ending injury or surgury or something.

What ever happened to Nate Cornejo?

Arm injuries. IIRC, he pitched at Erie last season.

What ever happened to Nate Cornejo?


I thought he was a rookie with the Raptors this year?


http://playerdevelopmentsolutions.com/images/Photos/Nate%20Cornejo.jpg

http://www.metronews.ca/uploadedImages/charlie_article0630(1).jpg

Tigers claim Rob Bowen off waivers from Twins
Roman Colon optioned to Triple-A Toledo

The Detroit Tigers today announced the club has claimed the contract of catcher Rob Bowen from the Minnesota Twins and optioned the contract of righthanded pitcher Roman Colon to Triple A Toledo.

Bowen, 25, played in 87 games for Triple A Rochester in 2005 and batted .267 (70x262) with six home runs and 25 RBI. He saw action with the Twins during both the 2003 and 2004 seasons, playing in 24 games.

The Tigers have 29 players remaining in major league camp.
http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20060329&content_id=1367567&vkey=pr_det&fext=.jsp&c_id=det

Roman Colon?

That's pretty big news--who's our current closer, H1Man? Any clue?

That's pretty big news--who's our current closer, H1Man? Any clue?

Todd Jones.

That's pretty big news--who's our current closer, H1Man? Any clue?

Todd Jones.

Holy balls. Forgot all about him. You can tell I haven't been keeping up this offseason.


Thanksabunch.

Holy balls. Forgot all about him. You can tell I haven't been keeping up this offseason.


Thanksabunch.
Don't worry, you will want to forget all about him once the season starts anyway.

So what about Fernando Rodney? Will he be a set-up guy? He had a pretty good season last year.

So what about Fernando Rodney? Will he be a set-up guy? He had a pretty good season last year.

And is German ready to step up to the set-up role?

Not until he starts throwing strikes.

I read yesterday that they are trying to trade German as quickly as possible.

Percival will work as scout during season

From closing to advance work: Troy Percival visited the Tiger clubhouse on Wednesday, but not for any new comeback. The only attempt he's making is in a new line of work; he'll work this year as an advance scout for the club, looking for tendencies among pitchers and hitters for his teammates to watch.

The idea came up during a meeting with front-office officials on what he could do during the season, while he's still under contract and on the disabled list with a career-ending muscle tear near his elbow. Percival is already well-versed in video work and spotting tendencies. He'll travel to Texas this week to get a look at the Rangers, but he'll do most of his work this season at home watching games on television.

"It's not something I want to make a career out of," Percival said. "It fills a need the Tigers have. Ideally, I'd like to be in a uniform and on the field."

After seeing the reports that scouts file, though, Percival said he has a whole new respect for them. What Percival hopes to bring to the job is a different set of eyes that have been on the field recently.

"A lot of players want different things," Percival said. "And I know these guys. One guy might want to know approach. One guy might want to know his favorite pitch in this particular count. I've been walking around asking guys what kind of stuff they want."

Leyland wants a whole different scouting report. "He's the highest paid scout in the country," Leyland joked. "He's a trooper, but we knew that. I told him to find me the best place to buy a good pair of cowboy boots when I go there [to Texas]."
http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060329&content_id=1370464&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=det

Talk to the kids: So why was Leyland nervous Thursday? He was set to address the entire Minor League camp in the morning, something player development director Glenn Ezell asked Trammell to do last year, and Leyland this year.

Leyland used his 20-minute speech to tell the farmhands what he believes it takes to make it in baseball, talk about getting a chance, and explain how he believes players should go about their business.

"I told them I was interested in players, not athletes," Leyland said. "I want a baseball player. I can find a lot of guys who can dunk a basketball. I can also find a lot of guys who can't hit one. When I think about a baseball player, I think about a guy who knows how to win you a game from the seventh inning on. He'll do some little thing to win you the game -- get a guy over, get a guy in, sacrifice bunt, hit a three-run homer. Those are the guys that I want. I made it pretty obvious."
http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060330&content_id=1374305&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=det

German was waived today.

About fucking time they let German go. Zumaya will step in and be a much better option anyway. Zumaya>German any day of the week.

German was waived today.


[smilie=funnyguy.gi:

I read yesterday that they are trying to trade German as quickly as possible.

I guess nobody wanted to give anything up for him.

Somebody will sign him.

I read yesterday that they are trying to trade German as quickly as possible.

I guess nobody wanted to give anything up for him.

Somebody will sign him.
Yeah a team would have been crazy to give anything up for him with all the rumors of him being let go floating around.

Injury could mean DL for Jones
Tigers closer feels hamstring pop in Spring Training finale

Last game of Spring Training. Bottom of the ninth inning. Two out. For Todd Jones, it was a worst-case scenario.

At first, a little stiffness. And then, a pop.

Pulled hamstring. Likely trip to the disabled list.

"This is exactly the way I drew it up. This is perfect ... exactly what I wanted to see happen," said a frustrated Jones at his locker following the 4-3 win. "Looks like I have to take a 15-day timeout. I'm hoping it's not too bad, and we'll see what happens."

The 37-year-old right-hander had battled soreness in his left hamstring since Monday's game against Houston, but said he thought he'd just overextended a muscle. He rested two days and felt fine through a scoreless inning Thursday. On Saturday, Jones said he got loose and again said he felt fine.

Until the last batter of the exhibition season.

After feeling what he called "a little pop" on a 1-1 cutter to Rays right fielder Joey Gathright, Jones tried to throw one more. His last pitch went high and hit just 87 mph on the radar, after which he motioned to catcher Vance Wilson, who turned to the dugout after a quick chat with Jones.

Detroit head trainer Kevin Rand told manager Jim Leyland he felt a definite knot in Jones' upper leg, but because of the short time frame between the injury and game's conclusion, couldn't elaborate as to the extent of the injury.

Despite the bad timing, Leyland remained optimistic.

"We have to go do battle with what we've got, and hopefully we get Todd back as soon as possible, have him healthy," Leyland said. "We've got 162 games, he's going to pitch a lot, and he's going to save a lot of games. I don't like it any more than anyone else. ... But those things happen and that's the way it is."

Leyland said he wanted time to mull things over before deciding who would fill the closer's role in Jones' absence, but it is assumed the ball most likely will fall to Fernando Rodney. The 29-year-old righty earned nine saves in 15 chances after assuming the closer's role after Kyle Farnsworth was traded. Rodney has had arguably the strongest spring of the contenders, carrying a 3.00 ERA through six innings with eight strikeouts and two walks.

Guillen finishes strong: One of the major questions this spring has been how well Carlos Guillen's back will hold up. He has been hit-and-miss since returning from the World Baseball Classic, leaving some games early with tightness, being scratched completely from others with spasms. Leyland was hopeful he'd see Guillen play seven innings Saturday, and the shortstop didn't disappoint, finishing 1-for-2 with a double and a walk in eight innings.

He didn't get any help from Casey Fossum, who plunked the shortstop in the leg during his first at-bat. Guillen hobbled down to first but showed no lasting harm was done by stealing second three pitches later.

Roster set: The 25-man roster, pending any move that might be made as a result of Jones' condition, was officially set before the Tigers broke camp. The club purchased from Triple-A Toledo the contracts of left-handed pitcher Bobby Seay and second baseman Ramon Santiago, and designated righty Franklyn German and catcher Rob Bowen for assignment. Detroit placed right-hander Craig Dingman on the 15-day DL (shoulder surgery) and Troy Percival on the 60-day DL (torn muscle in his right elbow).

Lineup locked: Barring any unforeseen problems, Leyland said the lineup Detroit used Saturday against the Rays would stand for Opening Day as well. The only significant change between Saturday's lineup and that of March 25, one he also fingered as a probable Opener list, was that first baseman Chris Shelton batted sixth and Guillen eighth, instead of the other way around.

"That's right on the button, if everybody stays healthy," he said.

Smashing spring: The Tigers finished in the top five in several AL team hitting and pitching categories in the Grapefruit League this spring, including batting average (.292, tied for fifth through Friday), runs scored (197) and RBIs (189, second). Detroit led all AL teams with 349 hits and 55 home runs. The Tigers also led the AL in saves (16).

Individually, Curtis Granderson led the Grapefruit League with 18 runs scored and 14 walks. He finished tied for third with 26 hits and six homers, and ranked in the top 10 in nearly every other offensive category.

Quotable: "The game's still catch it, throw it, hit it, pitch it...I'm old, but I'm not old school. I play the game."
-- Leyland
http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060401&content_id=1380208&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=det


Grilli makes the club: Jason Grilli couldn't wait any longer to find out if he was on the club, so he talked to Leyland on Friday morning. He got the answer he wanted, making an Opening Day for the second time in his career, the last time being 2001.

"Hopefully, I can make a habit of it," he said. "The best way I can express my gratitude is hopefully prove they made the right decision."

Grilli will be the long reliever in Detroit's bullpen.
http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060331&content_id=1379056&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=det

Who wil close Zoom? I mean who else is capable Rodney was less than impressive last year. Let the coaster ride begin and TJ has yet to throw a pitch in the reg season.

Maybe we can liberate Urbina.

I thought Rodney was fine last year. He'll fill in I'm sure, or maybe committee it.

Who wil close Zoom? I mean who else is capable Rodney was less than impressive last year. Let the coaster ride begin and TJ has yet to throw a pitch in the reg season.

Jordan Tata.

I better go trade for Jones. He'll fit in nicely with Prior, Burnett, Sabathia and the rest of my broken pitchers.

Closer Jones placed on disabled list
Tata to be recalled from Double-A Erie on Monday

Add another of the Tigers' pitching prospects to Detroit's Opening Day roster.

A day before opening the season here against the Royals, the Tigers placed closer Todd Jones on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with a pulled hamstring suffered in Saturday's Spring Training finale against the Devil Rays. To take his spot on the roster, the club will recall Jordan Tata from Double-A Erie on Monday.

When Jones went down Saturday, the expectation was that Roman Colon would be the first option. Though Franklyn German was the final cut from the roster Friday, Detroit couldn't bring him back while he was on irrevocable waivers, the result of being designated for assignment.

As manager Jim Leyland and his staff discovered, Colon wasn't available, either. Though the right-hander is on the 40-man roster and could be recalled, he's suffering discomfort in the biceps of his throwing arm.

That left Tata, who was sent to Erie's club on March 17, and left-hander Wilfredo Ledezma, who was optioned to Toledo on March 23. Given the choice, organizational officials recommended Tata, who hasn't pitched a regular-season game above Class A ball.

The next game he pitches will be quite a leap above that level. He'll work in relief on a pitching staff that already includes the Tigers' top prospects from last year in 23-year-old fifth starter Justin Verlander and fireballing 21-year-old Joel Zumaya, whose chances of pitching later in games would appear better now with Jones out.

Tata is older than both of them at 24, despite being lower on the developmental ladder. Yet he beat them out for Tigers Minor League Pitcher of the Year honors on the strength of his 13-2 record and 2.79 ERA last season at Class A Lakeland.

Though he doesn't boast the power fastball, he tops out in the mid-90s and spots it effectively. Baseball America, which ranked him as Detroit's seventh-best prospect last winter, also credited him with the best control in the farm system.

"Tata was the recommendation [of player development and Minor League officials] because he had thrown the ball so well," president/general manager Dave Dombrowski told reporters Sunday. "They said, 'Who's more ready for the big leagues? Verlander, Zumaya or Tata? He's just as ready as the other guys. He wouldn't take a backseat to any of them.'"

Tata made an impression on Leyland this spring, tossing 7 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run. He struggled with his control, walking four Nationals over two innings in his lone big-league spring start March 16. He issued three times as many walks (six) as hits (two) this spring.

Leyland will probably pick and choose his opportunities for Tata, whose callup gives him a chance to pitch in front of family and friends near Dallas when the Tigers visit the Rangers for four games starting Thursday.

As for save opportunities, though Leyland didn't outright name Fernando Rodney as his closer in Jones' absence, he'll have the first chance. Rodney's nine saves tied him for the team high. All nine of them came in the final two months of the season after Detroit traded Kyle Farnsworth to Atlanta and anointed Rodney as the closer.
http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060402&content_id=1380675&vkey=news_det&fext=.jsp&c_id=det


More on the newcomers: Tata falls into some other categories on the Opening Day roster. Here's a roster breakdown:

• Six Tigers -- Tata, Joel Zumaya, Ramon Santiago, Bobby Seay, Kenny Rogers and Todd Jones -- weren't active with the club in 2005.
• Four have less than a full season in the Majors: Tata, Curtis Granderson, Zumaya and Justin Verlander. Only one Tiger on last year's Opening Day roster fit that category.
• Eight have more than five years in the Majors: Carlos Guillen, Magglio Ordonez, Placido Polanco, Ivan Rodriguez, Kenny Rogers, Jamie Walker, Vance Wilson and Dmitri Young. Eleven Tigers opened last season with that much experience.
• Twelve Tigers are back from last year's Opening Day roster.
• And with Bobby Higginson gone, Brandon Inge opens the season as the longest-tenured Tiger, having opened the 2001 season with the big club.

German, Bowen claimed: Both reliever Franklyn German and catcher Ryan Bowen, who were designated for assignment over the weekend, were claimed on waivers Monday. German is headed to the Florida Marlins after losing out on a spot in Detroit's bullpen. The San Diego Padres claimed Bowen, whom the Tigers claimed off waivers last week in hopes of outrighting him to Triple-A Toledo for catching depth in the system. His Tigers experience consisted of one Spring Training workout.