Jason Beck reports that Chris Spurling was optioned to Toledo following today’s game. It does sound like Chris took the news well:
“I just get the impression I’m not well-liked anymore around here,” Spurling said, “which is fine. The staff changed, the opinions changed.”
I can’t blame him for being discouraged, especially considering the way some his bullpen mates threw today.
Since his recall on May 26th, he made 3 appearances and wasn’t charged with any runs. It included a 2 2/3 inning effort in mop-up duty against he Indians, and 1 1/3 innings today where he followed Jason Grilli. He hasn’t been used in high leverage situations, but he’s still been effective.
Frankly I’m perplexed by the move. Yes he has options, as does Roman Colon. And I’m not convinced that they couldn’t pass Jason Grilli through waivers
I understood when he was sent down the first time. He wasn’t pitching well, and Toledo pitching coach Jeff Jones was able to fix him. This time it makes little sense.
The Tigers were carrying 13 pitchers because they thought they would need an extra bullpen arm. Fortunately Nate Robertson, Kenny Rogers, and Jeremy Bonderman were able to go deep into games. The Tigers also have an off day tomorrow meaning the full complement of arms will be available. A yet to be named position player will be recalled. Ryan Raburn has been hitting well, but he currently isn’t on the 40 man roster which is now full. Essentially an additional move (ie Mike Maroth going to the 60 day DL) would have to be made to get someone other than Jack Hannahan back.
Hopefully, he’ll get over it. It really shouldn’t have been a surprise to him. Everyone knew a reliever would be sent down soon. Who else was it going to be? Colon maybe, but he did pretty well in the pen and I get the feeling they aren’t done evaluating him. Grilli maybe, but I don’t think Spurling has Grilli’s endurance.
The bottom line is that 3 appearances will not move you up on the depth chart. He should be happy he got a chance to showcase his new stuff and return to Toledo knowing that he’ll be the first they call if Colon continues to struggle.
Gomez might make sense? With Thames playing DH most days, having a back-up OF would be useful.
I agree,
Bring up Gomez. He did a decent job in his last time up. They need a LH power hitter. Hannahan looked overmatched when he was up. Gomez is a better ML player.
-Sam
From Freep.com
And from washintonpost.com:
Come July, any or all of the Nationals’ marquee players — most notably Alfonso Soriano, Jose Vidro, Livan Hernandez and Jose Guillen — could be traded as part of a plan by Stan Kasten and his bosses, new owner Theodore N. Lerner and his son Mark, to solidify the team’s future by strengthening its player development department and minor league system. — Washington Post
Does the fact that the Tigers haven’t announced the call-up yet indicate a trade may be in the works?
If we assume they’re looking at left handed hitters already on the major league roster, this speculation gets a little scary. Fick, Schneider, Marlon Anderson, Nick Johnson and Daryle Ward are the choices.
They probably wouldn’t trade for a catcher and probably wouldn’t give up what it would take to get Nick Johnson, even if the Nats are looking to deal him. That leaves Anderson and Ward. I don’t know why they’d want Anderson, so that would leave Ward. He’s doing okay with limited at bats this season, but most times I hear his name mentioned, it’s in the context of being a career disappointment. Plus, judging by his body type, I’m guessing he’s Dmitri-like in the field.
As with any trade, I guess whether he’s a good “get” would depend on who they give up. But with Dmitri on the roster, Ward seems kind of redundant. Of course, that’s comparing him with the normal, healthy Dmitri – not what we’ve seen from him this year.
Gomez it is.
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060606/SPORTS07/606060418/-1/SPORTS