Commenter TIGERS RULE asks: What do we do now? We don’t have a major league ss anywhere on the team. Good question. Before Jose Iglesias’s shin splints made an unexpectedly early reappearance, I don’t think shortstop was on our list of spring issues. Now it is.
We worried about our new acrobat’s long-term health last season, but that gathered dust over the offseason. A full season of Iglesias’s defense sounded great, even if questions lingered about his hitting (minus the infield singles, it gets pretty light). Now we’re reminded of another Plan B to think about, one to go along with possible questions about Miguel Cabrera’s and Justin Verlander’s “core” recoveries.
Yes, there’s Hernan Perez and Steve Lombardozzi, neither of them true shortstops. There’s Eugenio Suarez and Dixon Machado, and by the way, what is the organizational status of Argenis Diaz? All of these could be considered as fill-ins, but long-term? I’m thinking that Danny Worth’s chances of making the team just got a lot better. If injuries become a chronic problem for Iglesias in 2014, I think it’s either Worth or go outside in trade or signing. What do you think?
In other news, injury news, Casey Crosby is battling soreness and Eduardo Sanchez is out indefinitely with something unpronounceable.
ST Game 0
ST Game 1
ST Game 2
ST Game 3
ST Game 4
ST Game 5
Your New Tigers (3-2) are showing aggression on the base paths and working out the kinks. Not much in the HR department at this early stage. Pitching news seems mostly good. The most encouraging thing so far is seeing how it’s no longer “business as usual” with Ausmus at the helm. I think we’re gonna like that.
This just in from our correspondent jud in Lakeland, notes on Spring Training:
went to morning workouts. they might have been limited by a big rain on Thursday and it was still pretty wet. The thing that strikes you immediately is watching Ausmus vs Leyland is like watching Fallon vs Leno….Ausmus is physically active in most drills..either demonstrating or correcting..he looks like he could play today.
the other thing I really liked was coaches spread out over the fields. with Leyland …Lamont, Mac, Belliard, Leyland traveled around together. Jones was usually on a different field unless pitching drills…this year staff coaches were basically working different fields …now maybe that was the plan that day…lot more energy from place to place……more tomorrow
Good stuff, keep it coming. Mercifully free of too much about the weather. I shoveled snow this morning. My legs were cold.
I put a spring training report on the spring training blog page
Jud – awesome work. really enjoyed the update. Please keep them coming.
went to “Disneyland for the game today. Good points Kinsler Cabby and Victor hit the ball good…then the next 17-20 guys did nothing…O for whatever with runners on..
7 different pitchers.. didn’t see Ray last time against the college kids but did today…he is gonna be ok…maybe better. same with Joba the Hut..good pop on the ball. Sanchez was good..I was surprized they took that many guys over there but then used a ton of them..Maybe thats a Asmus thing..you kind of expect that at Lakeand but not a road spring game…all in all ok game but nit much excitement ….Cards tomorrow at hone will be there early!!!
i meant Carrera not Cabrerra looking over my notes..Miggy didn’t play. but Carrera payed CF…looks like he has some promise..need to see more!
is Casstilanos hurt..played about 30 guys tiday but not him…I didn’t get it?..Woryh played third most of game
The 3B/SS scrubs are going to get lots of play time so as to pick a potential reserve in the event Iggy can’t play/play regularly. Most of the regulars stayed at home for this one. Not unusual for away games this early in ST.
i am sitting on the berm for BP…bout a 20 mph wind blowing out to left…..its gonna fly out of here tiday…or were in trouble
Well three lefties in 4 batters against a lefty ..hmmmm. .on a sour note Jhonny musta got his PEDs in
when I saw Kinsler wearing #3 all I thought if was he is too tall for Trammel .
Ian steals second…easily…Leyland asked if that was legal
Smyly is between 91-77…
Avila did his patented drag the bat to the plate…K…and drag the bat back to the dugout…i could have crawled faster
Smyly was down –down..down… change slowed down on everyone except Peralta. high FB crank…second time up high hanger crank out again…next batter he goes down again easy ground ball. ..Both of Peraltas were fly balls carried in the wind..just barely cleared fence..
best thing so far not the two dingers by Jhonny but a groundball four steps to his right and he couldnt get to it..led to the Tiger 5 run inning
Coke pitched the 6th…not one pitch in the 90’s…nuff said!
that 6th inning was agonizing even for a spring training game!!!
Ortega blew out 3 batters at 95-96
Keep ’em coming Jud.
For everyone else:
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/24465673/photo-kate-upton-bryan-holaday-and-a-swimsuit
I think Jud is holding out on us.
Castillanos..hit one out that wad both of Petaltad added togethet…
Worth played all nine innings.. no one does that…read into that what we want
Davis ran from home to third on that triple in a frickin flash!!!!..faster that AJ
sorry about my spelling….it was hard to see in that bright sun…plus I don’t spell that good anyway…
I liked Kinsler..made a bug time play behind the bag on a groundball up the middle
Davis does everything as fast as Avila does slow..He hit a routine GB to Ss and almost beat it..
Smyly was good against everyone except Jhonny..he changed speeds and located down..hit 91 consistantly..
Ortega threw about 11 pitches in his inning 9 were 94-96..9 were strikes.
Coke was pitiful of the 5 hits he gave up..4 were to lefties.He didnt pitch with the starting D but maybe Kinsler would have gotten to acouple of the GB hits.Not one pitch over 89…one at 76 everything else at 84-88.
Castillannos muffed an easy GB…but made up for it with the longest HR of the day. It was a bomb.
were lookin at rain coming..I have to work for a couple days but will attend Fridays Phillies game weather permitting. Hooe you dont mind my ramblings but I am typing on the fly going here and there..Hope were ok!
Well done jud! It’s nice to have someone watching first hand …..you lucky guy ….. wish I were there.
I like Jeff Jones and I think he does a good job…BUT his support of Phil Coke after todays games was nothing short of total BS…Jones stated Phil is a slow starter and he was encouraged because he was 5 or 6 mph ahead of last year. I watched and charted all 27 pitches…3 at 89…7 at 88…..so last year he was throwing 82…i don’t think so.
he was pitiful. The Cards baserunning error got him one if his outs. He gave up 6 hits to guys numbered in the 90’s.four of them were left handed batters..Jones stated Coke is ahead of schedule….if he were ahead of schedule he would be packing his stuff up and looking for a new job.
Great on the scene reporting… I was hoping that Davis would open some eyes, you know that speed thing, you got it, you gotta flaunt it…
MLB.com is reporting Andy Dirks is going to have back surgery…
Dirks out at least 3 months. I was going to put up a new post soon anyway, I might have to change gears and do the outfield.
Not to worry, Carrera and Crowe are in camp.
the word in Lakeland is Dirks was hurt most of last year with this back problem…my question is why wasn’t something done during the off season
MLB says his back has hurt since since High School??? At the very least, off season would have been the most desirable option…