Comments on: On Vance Wilson Resigning…

By: Boston Fan in Michigan

Boston Fan in Michigan — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Ooooo don’t start with me about Inge and catching, young man! He’s said himself it’s too much of a mental strain when he’s behind the plate! I’ll rumble ’bout this one, I will.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Gee, I remember the days when the Tigers had two backup catchers behind Lance Parrish, someone else and John Wockenfuss, who was the super-sub (C/DH/1B/3B/OF). I have no problem with the current setup (plus factor in Shelton as a FOURTH catcher). Assuming Young trims enough to go back to playing some third and left, the Tigers should be in okay shape.

By: Jeff M

Jeff M — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

I don’t think there’s anyone in the organization that still considers Shelton a catcher, Mike.

I do agree with you Billfer. I know Brandon’s no genius, but I’m sure the guy can handle catching one game a week. Even if there is a slight net offensive loss, the roster flexibility is worth it. It’s a very easy way to carry an extra fielder or pitcher.

By: Jeff M

Jeff M — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

BTW, You got my hopes up, because I first read that headline as

http://www.answers.com/resign&r=67

By: jeff k

jeff k — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Count me in on the “don’t put Brandon Inge back behind the plate” camp… And, yup, Shelton is allright for an emergency catcher when the starter has been pulled because he’s tired and the backup got hurt in the 17th inning… But then, Brandon Inge is good for that spot, too. Don’t get me wrong, I like Dombrowski… I like him a hell of a lot better than Randy Smith… But the odds of him thinking this far outside of the traditional baseball box are about slim and none.

By: Jeff M

Jeff M — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Shelton is allright for an emergency catcher when the starter has been pulled because he's tired and the backup got hurt in the 17th inning

Sure, but so is anyone that's ever strapped on the gear in high school. That situation might happen a couple times in a decade, so it really doesn't matter. We're talking about the guy who will catch 6 games a month to rest Pudge's legs.

You're right that it is "outside the box" and I really don't know enough about DD to say whether or not he'll venture out there, but it certainly an intriguing option that offers tremendous roster flexibility.

By: Tim D

Tim D — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

I don’t understand why they are wasting a 40 man spot on Wilson, or why they wasted one on Mike DeFelice. I like Wilson too, but these kind of guys are a dime a dozen. Sign a couple to minor league deals, invite them to camp and sort out the options in March. I would rather have kept Sean Douglass or Juan Tejeda rather than Wilson. I will go to my grave saying that Inge is a perfect supersub who is stretched playing every day. If he caught once a week, backed up at third and the OF, was spotted to see a lot of lefties, he’d get 300-400 ABs, he’d hit well and he’d be a huge asset. As an every day 3B he’s not terrible but he certainly no better than league average. His versatility is his biggest asset and they are wasting it, and wasting a roster spot on an extra catcher to boot. Billfer identified one of my pet peeves.

By: Tim D

Tim D — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

PS: Why aren’t we interested in Nomar for two years at Kenny Rogers money to play third and turn Inge in to exactly what we need? Nomar can’t even get a two year offer. He can still hit, he’d be a great fit.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Why not Nomar for two years? The same reason everyone complained about Percival for two years. I don’t see him getting more than a year until after he has played an entire season at reasonable health.

As for carrying a pitcher over an extra catcher, I don’t see the need for wasting a roster spot on someone who will see an innings work every month (mostly because the manager feels sorry for him) when you can carry an extra bat. Seven relievers is more than any team needs. Honestly, I’d rather see five in the bullpen. The last two guys are most often AAA players that are just filling out the roster and hurt the team more than they help.

By: Tim D

Tim D — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

My point is I would rather have Douglass on the 40 man roster with a chance to make the team than have a third string catcher we don’t need. If you don’t want another pitcher, carry a bat. Like Carlos Pena, who is likely a goner while we keep Wilson. Pena is miserable a lot of the time but when he’s hot he can carry the team. If you don’t want Pena carry another lefty (Ledezma?) for the pen. Or give the losers of the Verlander/Zumaya/Colon contest a shot as middle relievers. Or carry Marcus Thames and give him a shot. All better options than Wilson.

Nomar was healthy at the end of last year. His range is shot but he can still hit. He’s as good a gamble as Rogers, Jones, Percival, Ordonez, Pudge, Vina, Johnson, White, etc. Need I go on?

By: Tim D

Tim D — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

PS (again) and Billfer makes the point that they don’t even need another 3B to save the roster spot. Infante, Guillen, Polanco and Young can all play 3B. Shelton would be fine as an emergency catcher.

By: Mark P

Mark P — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

I like the out the box thinking! It would be nice to carry an extra player without having to have a full time backup catcher.

Though, I think the Tigers are covering their asses. They don’t have any quality catchers in the minors. So, if Pudge goes down they are stuck with Inge. This way they are not having to scramble to find a decent backup. Wilson is a good teammate and backup. If they didn’t sign him he would be on anothe team then the Tigers would be stuck with someone like Raul Casanova off the waiver wire…Ugh!

By: Tim D

Tim D — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

So sign a couple of guys to minor league deals. Do you really think Raul Casanova couldn’t catch once a week and hit .200?

By: Mark P

Mark P — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

I don’t agree with it…I am just trying to figure out their thinking. The organizational direction is confusing. Illitch talks of urgency, but Dombrowski doesn’t seem to be making urgent moves. He must think that Leyland can turn this team in a playoff team since he hasn’t changed much this off season.

By: Brian A.

Brian A. — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

to be fair to dombrowski, it’s not like there are a lot of free agents that are actually worth acquiring nor are the Tigers in an overwhelmingly strong position to trade away minor league and/or bench-level talent because we’re still a few years away from having a nice deep farm system. holy run-on, batman.