Leyland decides one of last 'pen spots

03/16/2008 6:27 PM ET
Leyland decides one of last 'pen spots
Bautista, Bazardo among candidates without Minors options
By Jason Beck / MLB.com

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- What had been a decision for manager Jim Leyland on two bullpen spots is now down to one. It doesn't mean that Fernando Rodney's outlook has changed, but it means Leyland has decided one of the spots.

"I've got my team already with the exception of one guy," Leyland said. "I've got 24."

That's as specific as Leyland would get on it.

"I'm not announcing anything," he said Sunday morning before the Tigers took on the Rays at Al Lang Field. "I'm just telling you, I've got 24 players. I've got one spot to go yet. The only reason you don't announce anything is that there could be a trade, we could pick somebody up."

Sunday's comments come on the heels of Saturday's loss to the Yankees. Denny Bautista pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings on one hit and a strikeout in that game, stretching his scoreless Spring Training to 9 1/3 innings on four hits with three walks and nine strikeouts.

Bautista is out of Minor League options, as is Yorman Bazardo, who allowed three runs on four hits and three walks over 2 1/3 innings on Sunday afternoon against the Mets in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Aquilino Lopez, meanwhile, tossed two perfect innings to give him nine innings with two runs allowed so far this spring. Preston Larrison, who pitched on Saturday, and Freddy Dolsi, who gave up three runs to the Mets on Sunday, are also believed to be candidates.

One potential trade that complicates the Tigers' roster -- whether it happens or not -- is Brandon Inge, who remains on the block with two weeks to go before Opening Day. Inge started at third base for the Tigers' split-squad against the Rays, while Miguel Cabrera started against the Mets.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Bautista should be in for sure!!

I suspect Leyland is awaiting word on Cruceta before finalizing anything with the pen. Could a trade be in the works though??

tigersaint wrote:

Bautista should be in for sure!!

I suspect Leyland is awaiting word on Cruceta before finalizing anything with the pen. Could a trade be in the works though??

I sure like Bautista, so far!

Trade rumors have been circulatining through the Tigers organization.....

One starts to wonder what is in Cruceta's past that would hold up his visa. All the other teams have gotten their player visa problems worked out. Normally it is something like drunk driving, or such, that causes this!

From the Detroit News -

Monday, March 17, 2008
Tigers: Notebook

...

Closer look at the boxscores

Marcus Thames, who started at first base, hit his third home run of the spring, while Gary Sheffield and Brandon Inge each had doubles.

Of three relievers who followed Willis, only Aquilino Lopez pitched well.

"He's done pretty well," Leyland said of Lopez, 32, a right-hander who pitched in 10 games last season for the Tigers. He has experience. He's not afraid of a big league bat. He's capable of making pitches."

Right-hander Denny Bautista, who has yet to allow a run this spring, remains with Lopez among the favorites to make off with two bullpen spots available.

In the other split-squad game, in Port St. Lucie, the Mets beat the Tigers, 7-4.

Around the horn

Leyland, on Sheffield, who during the past week has been swinging the bat in vintage fashion: "I'm encouraged because he can take some consistent at-bats. He's coming around, which is a real good sign."

Sheffield got a late start in camp because of depositions as part of a legal tussle with his former agent, Scott Boras.

The Tigers play their first televised game of the spring today, at 1:05 p.m. against the Reds on FSN Detroit.

You can reach Lynn Henning at (313) 222-2472 lynn.henning@ detnews.com.

GO TIGS

Apparently while with Texas, Cruceta tested positive for some banned substance but I can't find out what it is...or was.

That could be the problem.

...and they just aren't calling a spade a spade.