Granderson On the mend

Curtis Granderson and Francisco Cruceta could both be in Detroit soon
By JON PAUL MOROSI • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER • April 19, 2008


Centerfielder Curtis Granderson started his minor league rehab assignment with the Class A West Michigan Whitecaps on Friday night. Granderson singled and tripled in four at-bats in the Whitecaps' 3-0 loss to Burlington.

He will join Triple-A Toledo tonight and Sunday.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland said his status would be reevaluated after that. It's possible Granderson could return as early as Monday's series finale in Toronto.

"We'll play it by ear," Leyland said. "We had a good talk with him before he left. We just want to make sure he has enough at-bats to be effective. It's one thing to have enough at-bats to come back. It's another thing to have enough at-bats to be effective.

"We don't want him back if he's not ready."

COMING SOON? Francisco Cruceta pitched in another extended spring training game Friday, achieving the significant step of throwing on back-to-back days. If he continues to progress, Cruceta might be only several days away from starting an assignment at Toledo.

The Tigers must add Cruceta to their 25-man roster or place him on waivers by May 10, but it seems unlikely they will need all that time. Cruceta could be ready to join the Tigers' pen in roughly one week.

BACK TO HENS: Right-hander Francis Beltran cleared waivers and was outrighted to Toledo. Beltran appeared in five games for the Tigers this season. Yorman Bazardo, designated for assignment last week, also cleared waivers and returned to Toledo recently.

:curtis: Grandersoned! He's ready!

bobrob2004 wrote:

:curtis: Grandersoned! He's ready!

and that's a good thing!

Runway cleared and ready for liftoff!!

GO CURTIS!!

Curtis Granderson is here, Francisco Cruceta hopefully soon to come!

Where's Cruceta and why is Sheff STILL hitting 3rd?

tigersaint wrote:

Where's Cruceta and why is Sheff STILL hitting 3rd?

the $64,000 question! That's probably what they make per game!