Leadoff battle and other issues
Notes from Leyland's session with the media today at the winter meetings:
- He's been playing around writing out some lineups while here, and he's pondering three possibilities at the leadoff spot: Curtis Granderson, Placido Polanco and Ivan Rodriguez. Yes, Pudge, whose speed is a factor Leyland is considering in the job.
- Gary Sheffield will bat either third or fourth, with Carlos Guillen moving up to third if Sheffield hits cleanup. Magglio Ordonez would then either hit fourth or fifth, with Sean Casey hitting sixth.
- If Marcus Thames isn't moved, Leyland wants to work him out at first base -- not just as an emergency option, but as a way to get him at-bats against left-handed pitchers and potentially right-handers if Sean Casey is injured or needs a day off. "Is he going to be Vic Power? No, that's not going to happen," Leyland said.
- Leyland sounded a lot more concerned about filling Jamie Walker's spot than Dave Dombrowski did. He's hoping they can sign one, even if it's a long shot. If not, he said. "I might have to go to the Minor Leagues and look around over there and have them set up all their lefties for two, three days in a row and go over there and watch them."
- Omar Infante has a chance to see more time in the outfield than he did last year. Barring a trade, Leyland sees Infante as his backup center fielder.
- Leyland will not have his team take pitchers fielding practice the first day of spring training. He doesn't want to make a big deal out of the issue and get it into players' heads.
- Leyland raved about J.D. Drew, whom he saw up close while he was a scout for the Cardinals. Makes you wonder what might've happened there had the Tigers not acquired Gary Sheffield.
More to come later.
I like Pudge at leadoff. I know everyone thinks it was a fluke, but he played well at leadoff last year.
Guillen third is great. Then Sheffield and Magglio fifth would be good.
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I like those lineup options. Actually with this group of hitters, there are many ways to stack them up. I just wonder if we'll have the first half Leyland who wanted to stick with a lineup, or the second half Leyland who couldn't seem to decide what he wanted to do.
So Thames will indeed be a firstbase option. Well, he has two good teachers in Casey and Guillen. The more flexibility a player (and team) has, the better.
I'm not convinced about needing to fill Walker's absence. I know it makes it easier for the manager who follows The Book, but The Book is full of holes.
Infante in the outfield would sure create a lot of outfielders. I'll see that when I believe it. :-)
If this past World Series didn't get into the pitcher's heads, nothing will. To be fair, there's a lot to think about on the mound. I think the youngsters will grow into it with experience. And practice.
I have to wonder about a player (Drew) who left his previous team under those circumstances.
Toronto is considering Matt Stairs. Sounds like a good deal for Matt if it happens.
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Vic Power? I had to look him up. I'm not that young, but Leyland went past my history for that one. I guess he had 7 or 8 gold gloves in a row at first base back in the early 60s.
What is the deal with Infante, Neifi and Santiago? I can't imagine all three will come north in the spring. Perez has his $2.5 mil contract and Santiago is signed, but Infante, probably the best upside of the three remains unsigned and headed to arbitration.
When Santiago signed so early, I thought it was a hint that he could be a piece of a trade package. Any word on that back-up middle-infield situation so far?
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RODRIGUEZ BATTING FIRST IS PROBABLY THE BEST SCENARIO.IT ALSO SHOWS THE TIGERS DID NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE.I WISH THEY WOULD HAVE TRIED TO OFFER MONROE AND THAMES FOR A FUTURE CATCHER AND SHORTSTOP AS MY GUESS IS THEY MOVE GUILLEN TO FIRST BASE NEXT YEAR.IF THEY DO MOVE THESE TWO THEN AT LEAST THEY CAN BRING UP CLEVLEN SO AT LEAST LEFT AND CENTER WILL BE DEFENDED TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL.I HOPE LEYLAND DOES NOT TRY TO BAT POLONCO 1ST,SECOND IS THE PERFECT SPOT AND I THINK POLONCO NOT HITTING IN WORLD SERIES WAS EXTREME COLD WEATHER HINDERS A BAD SHOULDER .I KNOW THE TIGERS WERE ASKED ABOUT BIG RED AND I WISH THEY WOULD SHOW SOME CLASS AND TRADE HIM-HE DESERVES A NEW START AWAY FROM THIS TEAM.
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