Tough roster decisions looming - Rapada optioned

06/14/2008 3:38 PM ET
Tough roster decisions looming
Two players must go to make room for Rodney, Zumaya
By Scott McNeish / MLB.com

DETROIT -- Friday night reminded Tigers manager Jim Leyland that, as he put it, "there's no such thing as a manager having a good day."

The Tigers had just put together a fine 5-0 victory, their sixth in the last seven games, a win that had pundits and radio talk show hosts saying the Tigers are playing their best baseball of the year.

But before Leyland could reflect on it, team president and general manager Dave Dombrowski met him in the clubhouse. The Tigers had optioned to Triple-A Toledo left-handed reliever Clay Rapada, a pitcher Leyland has sung praises about for most of the season.

In a matter of minutes, the cheerfulness of victory turned into the gloom of losing one of his favorites.

All part of the manger's job description.

"It's not fun stuff, but that's the way it goes," Leyland said before Saturday's game. "That's my job. That's why the manager never has a good day. We win a nice game last night, our fourth in a row, and as soon as the game's over I'm talking with my general manager and we have to send a kid out. That's not fun. But that's why the manager's the manager. You never have a good day, no matter what."

With star relievers Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney due to return from injury within the next week, two more deserving players will return to the Minors.

More tough days are on the way for Leyland, who said the players filling in for Zumaya and Rodney have done a solid job holding the bullpen together this season. Most recently, young reliever Freddy Dolsi has impressed. He helped the Tigers out of two major jams this week and seems to get better with every outing.

But the Tigers have to make roster room somehow, and Dolsi appears to be the prime candidate to go down. And that's just one example. Assuming Dolsi goes down, one more demotion remains, and the decision becomes tougher.

Leyland can't get caught up in that, though. He has to look out for the best interest of the team.

"It's not complicated," Leyland said. "Rodney and Zumaya come back; two guys got to go. It's that simple. That's the way it is.

"But it makes it a little better when you're getting Rodney and Zumaya. It's not one of those chance things where you want to take a look at his guy or that guy. You're getting Rodney and Zumaya. That's pretty good."

Scott McNeish is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

No not Clay!

Yep, it makes me mad, It will be even worse as Rodney and Zoom get back! I really hate to see Dolsi sent back down!

Rodney better be 100% great or I will pitch a major fit!

Same for Zoom!

Sending Dolsi down is STOOOOPID!!!
And you are right, Gogetem... If Nando is not up to par, I probably better drive up to Detroit and do some ear boxing on a certain Tigers manager!!

laprimamirala wrote:

Sending Dolsi down is STOOOOPID!!!
And you are right, Gogetem... If Nando is not up to par, I probably better drive up to Detroit and do some ear boxing on a certain Tigers manager!!

BUT if Fernando isn't up to par and they pitch him for a week and then put him back on the DL and then bring Freddy back up, I won't be so mad.

Nando just seems so fragile for some reason.

mrsrabelo wrote:

No not Clay!

It's your fault... you liked him

SoulRat wrote:

mrsrabelo wrote:

No not Clay!

It's your fault... you liked him

:haha: I just saw that.

No it only happens when I have a shirt made or a jersey. And I only have a Clay poster, that's it I swear!!!

Clay has a poster????

Dolsi should stay up, we should send Fossum down.

gdennis59 wrote:

Dolsi should stay up, we should send Fossum down.

agreed.
You looking better than your avatar now?

laprimamirala wrote:

Clay has a poster????

Yeah. Here is a picture of it.

Spoiler:

oh, Mrs. Rabelo! UR2 cute! I thought it was a picture of him; never mind!

laprimamirala wrote:

oh, Mrs. Rabelo! UR2 cute! I thought it was a picture of him; never mind!

Aww thankies! No I have a few posters that I take to the games that say different things. They love me.

very creative and cute! All mine will say is

"VIVA MAGGLIO!"

laprimamirala wrote:

very creative and cute! All mine will say is

"VIVA MAGGLIO!"

:haha: I wouldn't expect you to have anything else.

laprimamirala wrote:

gdennis59 wrote:

Dolsi should stay up, we should send Fossum down.

agreed.
You looking better than your avatar now?

Most definitely, but the part below my lip is still pretty cut up. It will probably be last to heal. My eye still hurts when something makes contact with it. and my forehead is fine.

I like this avatar you have now! Awesome!

mrsrabelo wrote:

laprimamirala wrote:

Clay has a poster????

Yeah. Here is a picture of it.

Spoiler:

WOW! Can we hire you to make our Spring Training signs next year? I was up till the crack of dawn working on them and they didn't look near that good!

Better yet-- why don't you come to ST with us?????????

YAY ST!!

EVERYBODY COME ON DOWN NEXT YEAR!!!!!

Trinita wrote:

mrsrabelo wrote:

laprimamirala wrote:

Clay has a poster????

Yeah. Here is a picture of it.

Spoiler:

WOW! Can we hire you to make our Spring Training signs next year? I was up till the crack of dawn working on them and they didn't look near that good!

Better yet-- why don't you come to ST with us?????????

:haha: Sure. My aunt has this machine (it's called a CriCut) and you type in the letters that you want and it cuts them out. There is no way I could've done that by myself.

Oh believe me I am trying

She sounds like an avid scrapbooker, your auntie!

laprimamirala wrote:

She sounds like an avid scrapbooker, your auntie!

Yeah. My mom was too but she hasn't been into it that much lately.

I had been for awhile, but geez it is an EXPENSIVE hobby...
Would love to do Tiger pages...
would love to do Magglio pages...got enuf pics of him!!

.....really?? LOL

totally! I met up with people from Midland, the photographer guy...he's been making a mint off me! He takes good shots!