Tigers' Leyland: 'We're not ready' - March 21, 2008

Friday, March 21, 2008
Tigers' Leyland: 'We're not ready'
Tom Gage / The Detroit News

LAKELAND, Florida -- "We're not ready yet."

After Friday's game, the Tigers have only six Florida games remaining. The regular season is fast approaching, and it looks like they'll have a strong team.

But. . .

"We're not ready yet," manager Jim Leyland said. "Usually the final week can drag out, and the players are really ready to go, but I don't think overall we're ready.

"It's a combination of everything. We're not to where I want them to be. I think we will be, though."

Part of that are the roster decisions Leyland has to make. There are still two bullpen spots to fill.

"But I'm also talking about the way we're pitching, the way we're hitting and the way we're running the bases. We have some guys still not swinging very good."

They certainly didn't look ready when they played this afternoon.

That's for darn sure!

Saturday, March 22, 2008
Notebook
Leyland a bit concerned with Tigers' recent play
Tom Gage / The Detroit News

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Even before the Tigers lost their seventh consecutive exhibition Friday, manager Jim Leyland said about his team, "we're not ready yet."

After the 5-3 defeat to the Blue Jays, he still was saying it -- and thinking it.

"I haven't been impressed with us the last few days, to be honest with you," Leyland said. "We had only four hits and quietly didn't do much (against the Braves on Thursday), either. No, it doesn't look to me like we're ready.

"If we hit and pitch like that, we'll hardly win a game. But I don't think it will be that way."

Still, with spring training's finish line approaching, Leyland would like to see a different trend.

"Usually, the final week can drag out, and the players are really ready to go," he said. "But I don't think overall we're ready.

"I think we will be, but we're not to where I want them to be. I'm talking about the way we're pitching, the way we're hitting and the way we're running the bases."

Pudge the power hitter?

He's had an excellent spring, but Pudge Rodriguez also has had a different spring. That's because he's hit seven home runs, the seventh coming Friday.

"I've said this before, but I critique Pudge this spring the exact same way I have for the last two years," Leyland said.

"When he hits in the strike zone, he hits .320. When he chases bad balls, he doesn't hit (nearly as well). That's pretty much it in a nutshell."

But can power still be part of Rodriguez's game?

"He's stronger this year," Leyland said. "He's much stronger this year than he was last year.

"But I don't care about whether he hits home runs. I just want him to stay in the strike zone. If he does that, he'll hit doubles, triples, everything else because he's a good hitter with good hand action and good strength."

Inge looks solid at shortstop

Ryan Raburn didn't look out of place behind the plate Friday.

He won't catch a lot during the regular season. He might not even catch at all, but at least the Tigers know, as Leyland said, "he can be used there in an emergency."

Brandon Inge also didn't look out of place at shortstop. Then again, he's not looked out of place at any position he's played, a list that soon might include second base.

Leyland's purpose for playing Inge at short isn't to use him there instead of Ramon Santiago .

Leyland said made it clear before the game Santiago has made the team, and would be the choice if Edgar Renteria were to be out.

"If something unfortunately were to happen to Edgar for a month, are we better off with Santiago or Inge at short?" Leyland said. "That's why I'll play Inge there a little more this spring.

"I feel bad for Inge because what I'm doing to him is unfair. He's playing center, he's catching, he's playing third. That's not easy to do."

But only by being able to play multiple positions will Inge also get some at-bats.

"Not as many as he wants because he wants to play every day, and I don't blame him," Leyland said.

GEEZ! FINALLY SOMEBODY NOTICES THIS FREAKIN' ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM!

Took him a few games

they are just not acting like a team!

If we can't win in Spring Training how are we going to win once we start? We have a bunch of amazing players. We can succeed if they work hard and realize that they don't have much time left. They have a few games left, and then the games start to count

Each of our fielders say they are ready for the season to begin, but it sure does not look like it. Leland better get on their cases and get the kinks worked out now!

Spring Training Games don't mean squat!

If my memory is correct, the 84 Tigers had a losing record in Spring Training Games.

Well, when you analyze Spring training, the reason for it is to:

1- get Pitchers loosened up so they can pitch full force in the reg season,
2- to refresh the batters timing and
3- to hone in their fielding skills.

On top of that, they are checking out the talent in the farm system. (note how they cycle our regular players out and put A, AA and AAA players in when the regular team has had a set number of at bats or pitches.)

So we really never see the team as it will be in Detroit.

GS is correct, because of all this testing and stuff, they will not produce like they normally would. The more they are changing pitcher's assortment of fast balls, sliders, change-ups, ect, or batters mechanics, the more messed up their record is. Don't get me wrong, they still want to win these games, but notice how they may lose, but Leland is happy with a pitcher's performance... or a fielder's performance...

Another thing I read and also heard today is that Miggy never seems to do great in ST, but look at his record during the season. Plus they are really working on making him a great fielder to go with his batting. That can mess up a players mindset and effect his batting...

Look at who is winning the most games and who has more messed up records so far this spring...

Team	W	L	PCT	GB
Tampa Bay	14	5	.737	-
Florida	16	8	.667	-
NY Mets	16	8	.667	-
NY Yankees	12	7	.632	2.0
St. Louis	12	10	.545	3.0
Atlanta	12	11	.522	3.5
Minnesota	12	11	.522	4.0
Cincinnati	12	13	.480	4.5
Houston	12	13	.480	4.5
Cleveland	11	12	.478	5.0
Detroit	11	12	.478	5.0
Philadelphia	10	13	.435	5.5
Washington	10	14	.417	6.0
Toronto	9	13	.409	6.5
Baltimore	8	12	.400	6.5
Boston	7	11	.389	6.5
LA Dodgers	9	15	.375	7.0
Pittsburgh	8	15	.348	7.5

Who would expect Tampa Bay and Florida at the top -- Cleveland or Detroit in the middle and finally -- Boston or the Dodgers at the Bottom...

In the past we did not have as much access to viewing ST games on FSN or MLB.tv and we also did not have as much radio coverage. So ST is a foriegn animal to us.

When I think back to when I lived in FL, and my dad took my family to ST games, he said not to worry who wins, just watch how they train in the games. I forgot about him saying this until today. My dad has been dead for many years now, but he really knew his baseball. He coached High School ball for over 20 years and got to know a lot of the major league scouts so he learned a lot from them and from his sports and coachng career.

you always help me feel better!

Now with Grandy out, they DEFINITELY aren't ready!!

it's like the team lost a limb!

Well I don't think Grandy will make that big of a difference. We might lose a few games, but he is only supposed to be out for 2 weeks, meaning one week of normal season.

Once they get out there on opening day lets hope they get it together, even without Grandy.

the pitching needs work...maybe more than we know...but Grandy not there makes it worse.

laprimamirala wrote:

but Grandy not there makes it worse.

I don't like inge, at all. But I think he will be able to cover CF. Not as well as Grandy, but he will get the job done.

And we need to look on the brightside. Picture this: Last two weeks of the regular season. Cleveland ahead by one game in the standings. Grandy breaks his finger

^ I believe this would be a lot worse. It happened at the beginning of the season, not the end. I think everyone will work out okay.

Don't you have school right now? lol

laprimamirala wrote:

Don't you have school right now? lol

Nope! I don't have school all this week. And next monday my mom told me I don't have to go because "My grades are good and if I want to take a day off I can". lol

ah! scholarship does have its advantages!

Yes it does! If I didn't have good grades my parents wouldn't let me....

1. Play guitar
2. Watch the tigers
or
3. Do anything with my friends.

So yes, it very much does!

Always remember that! especially in college, when the distractions loom VERY large...