Comments on: Tigers Minor League Wrap 6-22-08

By: Kathy

Kathy — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 03:32:46 +0000

According to this article, Shef has left Florida and is returning to the Tigers tomorrow. According to another article Leyland is quoted as saying he “didn’t know how that was going to work out” referring to his coming back to the team. Another article says he still has 2 games to make up. Who knows? We’ll probably find out tomorrow.

http://www.theledger.com/artic.....ing_Tigers

By: Chief Monday

Chief Monday — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 03:14:26 +0000

I’d hardly say Sheff is done.

Sheff still has the best hitting eye on the team and is one the best baserunners on the team also. The legs are the 1st thing to go for aging and often injured players. When his legs are gone, then he’s done, but until then he should get every chance to play.

By: Mike R

Mike R — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:45:15 +0000

Mitch, while I won’t completely disagree (i was as big of an advocate here to put him on the 60-day DL back in late April), he proved last year, when healthy, he can hit. I think he can hit, the question is can he stay healthy.

By: Mith

Mith — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:47:56 +0000

I don’t put stock into any of Gary Sheffield’s rehab assignment numbers. Whether it’s 13 AB’s or 80. We know he can hit when he’s right. So it’s more of a is-he-swinging-without-pain thing than a how-many-homers-and-rbi’s-does-he-have-in-high-a-ball.

Well, I disagree. We knew he USED TO be able to hit. Guys get washed up eventually whether from injuries, advancing age, or both. I really think Sheffield is done.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:06:07 +0000

No Sheffield in the lineup tonight for Lakeland . . .

By: Neal

Neal — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 23:34:24 +0000

The thing is that it seems the only way to get any idea as to if Shef is right is to look at the production, line-drives, etc., at wherever he is. From past experience we know Shef has no idea of whether he is healthy or not until he goes into a batting coma.

By: Ryan P

Ryan P — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:47:29 +0000

Looks like they’re skipping Bonine’s next start, since Nate will have had two off days since his last start (off days on both sides of a series is WEIRD).

By: Mike R

Mike R — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:45:46 +0000

I don’t put stock into any of Gary Sheffield’s rehab assignment numbers. Whether it’s 13 AB’s or 80. We know he can hit when he’s right. So it’s more of a is-he-swinging-without-pain thing than a how-many-homers-and-rbi’s-does-he-have-in-high-a-ball.

By: Neal

Neal — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:04:22 +0000

Very astute observation on your part Greg.

Chief, I didn’t mean that Thames would play at DH, just that with Sheff at DH Leyland might think he needs to have a LH bat out in Left Field.

By: greg

greg — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 20:56:20 +0000

billfer wrote:

Sheffield has a batting average on balls-n-play of .000. He probably won’t sustain that. Much like he won’t sustain an OPS of 1.000 while hitting below .200. I’m not going to draw any conclusions from 13 at-bats regardless of the level.

Hmmm…. BABIP of .000. Seems like there’s no where to go but up!

By: Chris in Dallas

Chris in Dallas — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 20:56:06 +0000

Speaking of Thames and BP – I watched the Tigers take BP in Philly last year (my Dad likes to go to the games early) and Marcus absolutely hammered the crap out of every pitch. I’m talking like an average of 450 feet. Impressive. Although he’s the anti-Alexis Gomez, as he seems to be able to translate it into games.

By: Chief Monday

Chief Monday — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 20:49:54 +0000

Plus Sheff adds that fear factor to the opposing pitcher. He still swings out of his shoes and hits line drives that make the ball scream. Before he got hurt with the oblique strain, he hit a homerun that probably tore the cover off the ball.

By: Sean C. in Illinois

Sean C. in Illinois — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 20:49:23 +0000

“Doesn’t it just make it more tempting for Leyland to not play Thames if Sheff is in the lineup?”

Neal – Lucky you. Great game to see.

Maybe Sheffield can bat ahead of Thames. Lots of 2-run (at least) home runs would be a nice reason to have them both in there.

By: Chief Monday

Chief Monday — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 20:46:10 +0000

Thames has been worse than Sheff in the dh spot.
5-24, .208 avg, .296 obp, .375 slg. 1 HR, 4 runs, and 1 rbi.
and Larish has been even worse than Thames.

I don’t expect Sheff will ever be 100%, but even if he’s just 70%, he’s still 150% better than anyone else we can put at dh.

By: Neal

Neal — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 20:27:29 +0000

Went to the game Saturday night, good time. Assisted HR was nice. I couldn’t believe that Thames wasn’t starting, but man is Leyland a genius. He knew Marcus would come up big. Just like the driving range, don’t want to waste your good swings early on, save them for crunch time. Marcus shouldn’t even take batting practice, we wouldn’t want to waste some good swings when it isn’t crunch time.

All 3 starters for STL are going to be righties, so why not let Shef get a few more AB’s, at least through the weekend, to see if he can really find his stroke. Let Larish play against STL, please don’t take out Marcus again.
If Larish still isn’t hitting, and Sheff does start to hit, then you bring him up for the weekend. Otherwise you wait until Sheff really finds his grove before you bring him up.
The only problem is that Sheff seems to make the calls on his situation. I hope he comes back and he has his power stroke for the summer air.

Doesn’t it just make it more tempting for Leyland to not play Thames if Sheff is in the lineup? And Sheff has to be in the lineup if he is with the club.