The Detroit Tiger Weblog

Category: Spring Training

  • Video: Spring Training Eve

    With pitchers and catchers reporting on the 15th, I thought I would try out the first (and depending on feedback perhaps only) edition of DTW-TV.

    It is me talking into a camera pretty much off the cuff. I make up for the lack of production quality with a lack of insight so it should be okay.

    In tonight’s episode I talk about that despite how excited we are for spring training to begin, it’s probably best if we are bored during February and March this year.

    Download: Detroit Tigers Weblog TV – Spring Training Eve – 4:10 – 9.7Mb

    Links referenced

    Motown Sports
    Roger DeWitt’s Flickr Page

  • Spring has Sprung

    Justin Verlander, Joel Zumaya, and Jeremy Bonderman report early - Credit Roger DeWitt

    The Tigers are invading Lakeland. Justin Verlander, Jeremy Bonderman, and Joel Zumaya are among those who have reported early to camp. I’m particularly fond of the World Series hat that Verlander is wearing.

    Pitchers and catchers are due to report en masse on February 15th.

    Oh yeah, and you can save the pitchers-fielding-practice jokes.

    Photo Credit: Roger DeWitt

  • Zumaya reactions

    I liked reading this quote from Leyland in today’s Freep

    “Our 13 position players — and this is a big factor — would look at me like I was nuts if I didn’t take those two guys,” Leyland said. “I think I would lose some credibility. They’d look at me and say, ‘What are these guys doing? What are they looking at?’ “

    Alan Trammell made a mistake last spring by taking Bobby Higginson instead of Marcus Thames. Higginson was clearly on his last legs while Thames tore up spring training. In the process it seems like he lost some other members of the team. Leyland seems very aware of the situation and didn’t want to make the same mistake.

    However, I didn’t like reading this quote, also from the Freep

    Leyland doesn’t rule out that Zumaya will someday return to starting. But he doesn’t plan to insert him in the rotation if a starter gets hurt soon.

    “We’ve got him programmed,” Leyland said of the relief role.

    Zumaya being typecast into a relief role is my only qualm about him moving to the bullpen. While that may ultimately be his best role, he has way too much potential at age 21 to not be given the opportunity to start.

  • Verlander and Zumaya Are In

    It appears that the rotation is set. Leyland hasn’t announced the 5th starter, but the common belief is that the job is Justin Verlander’s. Verlander was the favorite going into spring training, and after a couple shaky outings, has pitched very effectively. Today he only pitched two innings due to the rain, but in those two innings were 19 strikes on 26 pitches as all 6 hitters were retired.

    Knobler also indicated that it appears that Joel Zumaya has made the team via the bullpen. Again, there isn’t an official announcement but given the way Zumaya has pitched, it would be hard not to take him. He also pitched two scoreless innings allowing only a bunt single.

    A bullpen role may have some definite benefits for Zumaya. First, it might prove an effective way to break him into the Majors. Second, at age 21 there could definitely be some long term benefit to his arm only accumulating 100 innings or so.

    My only concern is that Zumaya becomes pigeonholed as a reliever. While many believe this will be his best option long term, I want to see him given a chance as a starter. Given his performances at the higher levels of the minors as a 20 year old, I want to see what he can do in the rotation.
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  • Tigers cut nine

    Detroit trimmed its roster by nine players today, none of which were really surprises. On their way to minor league camp are:

    • Wilfredo Ledezma
    • Chad Durbin
    • Lee Gardner
    • Kevin Hodge
    • Brian Peterson
    • Max St. Pierre
    • Josh Phelps
    • Ryan Ludwick
    • Reggie Taylor

    It was hoped that Ledezma could either compete for the 5th spot in the rotation, or provide a second left handed option in the bullpen. Unfortunately he struggled and is headed back to Toledo for more seasoning. If the Tigers keep a second lefty, it looks like it will be Bobby Seay or Hector Mercado. Or there is always that possiblity of a trade.

    Phelps, Ludwick, and Taylor all had very solid springs, but found themselves on the wrong end of a crowded situation.

    This cut also thinned out the catching ranks with Peterson and St. Pierre heading to AAA. Brian Peterson remains an interesting option. He has a reputation as a defensive catcher, but in 2004 posted 300/361/444 line for AA Chattanooga in the Southern League at age 25.

    The remaining 11 cuts will be much more interesting as Detroit sorts out the Thames/Gomez/Logan situation in the oufield, as well as the bullpen options.
    detroit tigers

  • Off Day Tiger Round Up

    The Tigers still have 45 players in camp, so there are a couple of sizable cuts coming.  The next one will probably be before the end of the week.  Until then, here are some items of note:

    The rotation is set – sort of

    Jim Leyland had already decided that Kenny Rogers would take the first turn, followed by Bonderman.  Now it appears that Nate Robertson will be the number 3, with Mike Maroth being number 4. There’s still no decision on Detroit’s 5th starter of course. While Leyland has said Joel Zumaya still has a shot (and really, he’s pitched good enough to deserve it), he’s slated to come out of the bullpen on Thursday. According to John Lowe, Zumaya could be the one to come in and face left handers, in lieu of another southpaw in the pen.
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  • St Patty’s Bracket Busting Tiger Round Up

    The Boys are Back in Town

    	
Detroit	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Granderson, CF	3	1	1	1	1	0	1	.364
Guillen, SS	2	0	0	0	0	1	1	.250
Santiago, SS	2	0	0	0	0	1	2	.281
Ordonez, RF	3	0	0	0	0	1	0	.222
Taylor, RF	1	0	0	0	0	1	2	.379
Young, D, DH	4	0	1	0	0	1	0	.429
Pena, 1B	3	0	2	0	1	0	0	.194
Inge, 3B	4	0	0	0	0	2	4	.308
Gomez, LF	4	1	2	1	0	0	1	.317
Wilson, C	3	1	2	1	0	0	0	.400
Peterson, B, C	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.250
Infante, 2B	3	0	1	0	0	1	1	.455

    How about that lineup? It’s nice to see some regular names in there. Carlos Guillen and Magglio Ordonez saw their first action since Venezuela was eliminated from the World Baseball Classic. The game also marked Dmitri Young’s return to the lineup from his quadricep injury. Todd Jones should be on his way back, and we should also be seeing Pudge Rodriguez shortly. That leaves only Placido Polanco and Fernando Rodney MIA.
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  • Tigers First Cuts

    Okay, so maybe they weren’t quite the first cuts. Earlier in the week they sent catcher Chris Robinson to minor league camp, and optioned Kyle Sleeth. But today marked the first big cuts.

    Firstly, if Matt Mantei does comeback from his injury, he won’t be doing it with the Tigers. Mantei received his unconditional release.
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  • Wind Blown Tiger Updates

    Ten homers were hit in a 14-10 slugfest that saw the Detroit Tigers beat the Indians. Me thinks that the wind may have been a factor. With that, on to some Tiger news:

    Injury Update

    There has been mixed news the last couple days on the injury front. Mike Maroth made the start on Sunday, and so far things sound good. Omar Infante has also returned to game action, and he did so with a flourish. He went 3-3 today with a homer. In other news, there is a chance that Craig Monroe may be starting the season on the DL. While it is bad news for Craig, it is probably good news for Marcus Thames and/or Nook Logan (who has been struggling mightily). Finally, Dmitri Young may be close to returning.
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  • Dog Days of Spring Training

    After the initial excitement of pitchers and catchers reporting, and the surge of enthusiasm after the first few spring training games, baseball settles into 3 weeks of games that become somewhat tedious while fans anxiously await the beginning of real games. The World Baseball Classic has helped break up the monotony, as has some interesting developments in the Tigers camp.

    After Gammons blogged about the possibility of Carlos Pena being cut in a financial move, Danny Knobler followed up a day later saying that Pena and Nook Logan just weren’t manager Jim Leyland’s type of players. What remains to be seen is what becomes of players who aren’t Leyland’s type. Does the manager have the final say or does Dave Dombrowski hold the trump card? I’d say when it comes to which members of the 40 man roster head north with the big club (the Nook Logan scenario), Leyland might have more say, but when it comes time to decide who is on the payroll (Pena) Dombrowski’s vote probably carries more weight.
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  • Zum – Zum – Zum

    It was only yesterday that I was yearning for Justin Verlander or Joel Zumaya to have one of those WOW type outings wasn’t it? Well Zumaya came through today in split squad action against the Blue Jays. De Facto DTW Lakeland correspondent Scott Galbraith had this to say about Joel’s effort today:

    Rippin

  • Tiger Spring Training Round-Up

    Bullpen Retiring the Side

    First there was Craig Dingman’s artery injury that will probably force him to retire. And then there was Troy Percival’s failed attempt to come back that has resulted in his retirement. Then yesterday the oft-injured Matt Mantei strained his oblique. Mantei had been impressing everyone this spring and was a likely candidate to make the team. Now it looks like Mantei is a likely candidate to retire as well.
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