Rodney update
I know any news of soreness in Fernando Rodney’s shoulder, or any body part, is going to set off alarms, but at this point both Leyland and Rodney are making it sound like it’s a preventative step. He played catch today without problem and will stretch out his arm again tomorrow.
Jason Beck
Players with options left:
Macay McBride, ZACH MINER, Armando Galarraga, Clay Rapada, Jordan Tata, Virgil Vasquez, Brent Clevlen and RYAN RABURN.
Players with NO options left:
Denny Bautista, Yorman Bazardo, Tim Byrdak, Francisco Cruceta, JASON GRILLI, Bobby Seay, MIKE HESSMAN, Ramon Santiago and Freddy Guzman.
I would expect we will end up trading some out of options guys for guys with options left. They did it last year if you recall the Ledezma deal and the Maroth deal I believe.
Felt to be serious at this point or not, I don’t like this at all. I think that this is a sign of things to come….????? Anyway Jason thanks for the post, I cannot wait for this to get started.
Go Tigers
Hey–Will someone let the SF Giants know that Brandon Inge can play 3B?
Seems they are pursuing a gimpy Joe Crede. Aaron Rowand is recommending his bud to the club brass. Maybe Rowand should wear a suit and tie to work?
Jason, thanks for the update on Rodney.
Dan, thanks for the ‘options list’ I was wondering about some of those players.
Bautista, Cruceta, Rodney etc., but I’m thinking the big key to this bullpen will be one Jason Grilli. If he can gain just a little more control of his nasty stuff, just a little bit, he can get late inning outs. It wouldn’t hurt for his disposition on the mound to be as nasty as his breaking stuff, too.
I’m also going to mention Freddy Guzman. I have a feeling this guy can help out. He’s incredibly quick, and has some experience. Some late inning speed might be just the thing on some nights.
Even more important than avoiding injury is for guys to ADMIT they’re injured when they ARE. I know JL wanted to address that issue so I hope it’s straightened out now.
–Rich
Hey Rich–hope you had a good winter and are ready for the Summer of ’08—40 years after the big one, maybe they can do it again.
I think you’re right about Grilli-he does have some overpowering stuff. And having met him his disposition does seem almost too kind or gentle for the role demanded of him. I’m sure he is another man out there on the mound though. We just can’t have episodes of extreme wildness where he walks 3 or 4 in a row.
I still expect a trade for optionable players, especially pitchers. The out of option list is full of guys you don’t want to lose for nothing and make no mistake, they will be claimed by somebody. I see Miner getting a ticket to Toledo even if he pitches OK. Unless he is spectacular. Tata and Vasquez too.
There is a dilemma brewing with Bautista, Cruceta and Bazardo. I think Bazardo is going to stick.
Rodney is throwing a monkey wrench into things right now too. I hope he is OK.
Guzman gets way more mention than Timo. I guess Timo’s days (and he performed yeoman service in the stretch) are pretty much done in Detroit.
Let us know if you hear anything about Big Red!
Yes, the summer of ’08, but it’s 100 years after the big one, not 40. There I was, sitting in Bennett Park, watching Ty and Wahoo Sam and Wild Bill Donovan……
Timo did a great job late last season, but he’s been effectively replaced by Jacque Jones. I really thought Timo would be with another club by now. I can’t forget the image of him carrying his bat all over the Metrodome field during pregame last year.
Not having really started yet, but I can see Bazardo winning out over Bautista and Cruceta based on command of the strike zone. We’ve got several weeks to see how that plays out, of course. Just an early prediction.
–Rich
Jason, not sure if you said or not, but is Cruceta there yet???
I was poking around the fielding stats for 3B yesterday and found that while Cabrera made 5 more errors than Inge he also started more DPs than Brandon. Interesting. Then this article came out this morning:
“Tigers Love Cabrera’s Glove
Tom Gage / The Detroit News
LAKELAND, Fla. — The Tigers are beginning to upgrade their expectations about Miguel Cabrera as a third baseman.
In fact, their changing opinion about him might already rank as one of the biggest developments of the spring
Instead of saying Cabrera will probably grade out as “average” with the glove, which even general manager Dave Dombrowski has said about him, early indications are that the Tigers could be pleasantly surprised.
And the early reality is that they already are.
“We haven’t worked anyone hard yet as far as movement,” said manager Jim Leyland, “but I can see he has very good hands, soft hands. (Infield coach Rafael Belliard) has looked at tape after tape of him and has said to me that he has a chance to be real good.”
The Tigers on Friday began to practice on what Cabrera has labeled a weakness of his: Accurate throws after fielding slow rollers.
“He wants to work on that,” said Leyland.
So, of course, they worked on that.
As Leyland has already said this spring, he wants Cabrera to be known as a complete player, not just as an excellent hitter — and while he won’t ever have Brandon Inge’s agility, the early returns are favorable.”