Lynn Henning has a lengthy article projecting what the Tigers roster may look like when the team comes North. According to Henning, here is your 2006 Detroit Tigers bench:
- Vance Wilson – C -Bats R – 241/310/368
- Omar Infante – IF/OF – Bats R – 253/309/413
- Ramon Santiago – IF – Bats S – 227/297/303*
- Nook Logan – OF – Bats S – 264/317/367
The numbers alongside the players are their PECOTA projections for average, OBP, and slugging percentage – except in the case of Ramon Santiago where there was no projection and I used his career numbers instead.
The group looks much more like a bunch of defensive replacements rather than pinch hitters. Not only are all 4 weak offensively, three of the 4 are right handed (I know Nook is officially a switch hitter, but he really shouldn’t be hitting left handed.
If Leyland takes this group North, he is going to be severely limited in terms of late game strategy, or even resting players. Alan Trammell was heavily criticized for resting his starters last year. The problem wasn’t in the starters getting a day off, it was in the weakness of the bench. This group of 4 won’t do anything to alleviate this.
Left Behind
Meanwhile, here are the players that could be left behind:
- Carlos Pena – 1B/DH – Bats L – 259/361/506
- Marcus Thames – OF – Bats R – 255/342/498
- Alexis Gomez – OF – Bats L
If Pena and Thames don’t make the team, they will be out of the Tigers organization. Both players are out of options, and would assuredly move on. While I know the emphasis has been on situational hitting, and neither Pena or Thames are situational hitters, both are pretty good at not making outs.
There isn’t a projection for Alexis Gomez, but he hit 307/348/450 for Toledo at age 25 and can play all 3 outfield positions.
Alternatives
If it were up to me, my bench would be Carlos Pena, Omar Infante, Marcus Thames, and Nook Logan. You may notice that there isn’t a back-up catcher. Brandon Inge can certianly catch 1 day a week. If you don’t like the idea of putting Inge behind the plate on occasion, swap Wilson for Logan.
I don’t mind Logan on the roster, but he has options left. You can send Logan to Toledo, and still be able to recall him if necessary. The same isn’t true of Thames.
I also understand that it will be tough to get playing time for 3 first base/DH types. But personally, I’d rather do what it takes to horde as much talent in the organization as possible.
What is a better alternative? Keeping Ramon Santiago and Nook Logan on the 25 man roster, or keeping Ramon Santiago, Nook Logan, Carlos Pena, and Marcus Thames in the organization?
I don’t like Henning’s projected bench either. There is no offense there at all and that’s a problem on a team that is likely to have frequent injuries. I do think they need a backup catcher that doesn’t play a regular position but there is no reason to keep both Santiago and Infante. I also think they need a backup center fielder but if Infante can do that, then Logan becomes unnecessary.
Ideally, I’d like to see both Pena and Thames make the team and Young get cut. In my scenario, there would be no regular DH and that would allow for a 5 man “bench”: Wilson, Infante, Logan, Thames and Pena. I know that realistically Young won’t get cut due to his salary.
I really wonder what the logic would be behind keeping Infante and Santiago? Apart from the nostalgia of reuinting the old DP combo, what do we gain?
Unless Pena and Leyland really just don’t get along or Pena refuses to play a bench role, I can’t see any sensible reason not to keep him on the team.
This is all DD’s fault. How could he let his team come into spring training with 3 1b/DH types, especially with no options for them. He has nobody on the bench that has a high OBP. Then so many RHs when we need LH hitters. On top of that he gets Seay for a LH pitcher to pair with Walker…come on!!! We need players all around that can get us win shares. Look at the win shares the White Sox get from their bench/bullpen. I like your alternative better than Henning’s. At least they are more proven. Only bad thing is Thames needs to play regularly to be productive. We should have traded Monroe while his value was high.