Just pulled this off the WTFDetroit NewsFeeds (http://wtfdetroit.com/index.php?page=tigersnews.html)


Leyland: Perez can do better
January 19, 2007

BY JON PAUL MOROSI
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

Tigers manager Jim Leyland said the team might have "made a mistake" when it acquired infielder Neifi Perez from the Chicago Cubs in August, telling WDFN-AM (1130) on Thursday that Perez "played terrible" in Detroit.

Reached later Thursday by the Free Press, Leyland said, "We're not ripping Neifi. He was a hell of a player, and we thought we were getting a similar player to that, but Neifi simply did not perform well. 'Terrible' is an exaggeration.

"We're going to look at this in spring training. If he's capable of performing, he'll be on the team. If not, obviously we made a mistake. The fact of the matter is that he did not play well in Detroit. I stand behind that. That's just a fact."

Perez, 33, acquired after an injury to starting second baseman Placido Polanco, hit .200 with no home runs and five RBIs in 21 regular-season games. The Tigers are obligated to pay Perez's $2.5-million salary this year, even if he is released.

The Tigers likely will carry two utility infielders this year. Leyland said Perez would "have to play his way off the team," indicating Perez has a tentative hold on a 25-man roster spot.

"If Neifi Perez can play like he's capable," Leyland said, "he can be a key player for us, because he can play shortstop ... when (Carlos) Guillen needs days off, and second for Poli when he needs days off. He can play better than he showed.

"I recommended that we trade for him. I take responsibility. I don't want people to get the wrong impression. I like Neifi Perez, but he did not perform well. It's that simple."

I agree. He stunk. If he is keeping 2 backup IF's than Perez should not be one of them. I forget if Omar is back, but he's better than Perez and so was our other backup (the name escapes me). Cut him fast.

Omar Infante and Ramon Santiago. I'd much rather have those two around than Perez. Ramon doesn't have a great bat, but its decent enough, and his defense is pretty solid. Don't forget that he was our "shortstop of the future" a few years back when we were a putrid team. He and Omar were battling for the job and Omar ended up in the minors while Ramon was our starter. I vaguely remember an Infante injury having something to do with that though.

Statistically, Ramon and Neifi are 2 of the worst hitters ever when rated by generation.

i heard that interview on WDFN. i busted out laughing when Leyland said that. talk about a straight shooter.

After JL was 'reached later by ESPN' at least he didn't say he was misquoted and all that shit.

It's odd how certain coaches, mgrs can say things about players and it seems like others just get hammered if they do. I guess JL has the respect to be able to do that.

Well, the fact that I don't think there's a soul in this country -- including Neifi -- who would deny that he was terrible probably helps matters.

He was honest and said "he was bad WITH US". He didn't say he was a bad player, and he even said that if Perez played like her normally does, he'll be fine, so I think that makes it a bit better. What did we give up for him again?

I don't think Neifi was ever any good. He had some empty numbers playing in Coors and that's about it. The fact that he's had a job this long is one of the biggest mysteries in baseball.

I think we were all thinking the same way about Perez. Ramon Santiago remains my favorite, though.

I've always loved Santiago, from the day we brought him up from the minors, but Infante is by far the better player. I'd be more than happy to see both of them as our utility infielders next season.

Jim Leyland finally saw the light. This is great news.

Neifi was terrible here but I think Leyland should shoulder most of the blame.

Neifi didn't perform any worse than expected. It was Leyland that kept playing him everyday even when he had Infante (and Santiago) rotting on the bench.