Fox Sports: Team Reports

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Team Report: Inside Pitch


The Tigers still have emergency rotation candidates in the organization despite dealing their top two candidates, RHP Jair Jurrjens to Atlanta and LHP Andrew Miller to Florida, in the offseason.

The Tigers' top prospect is right-hander Rick Porcello, but the next pro pitch he throws will be his first in organized competition. He's probably two or three years away from being ready for the majors if he doesn't have any setbacks.

Right-hander Chad Durbin, who got the most starts among Detroit's replacements last summer, was allowed to become a free agent, primarily because of money but also because the return of left-hander Kenny Rogers and the acquisition of left-hander Dontrelle Willis filled out the Tigers' otation.

There are still pitchers Detroit will be able to count on if the inevitable injury or sore arm happens.

One of the candidates would be right-hander Yorman Bazardo, who is out of options but figures to make the Tigers' bullpen anyway because he was 2-1 with a 2.28 ERA in 11 games for Detroit last season. He throws hard, too, which the organization likes.

Another bullpen member, right-hander Jason Grilli, could move into the rotation on a short-term basis if needed. He was a starter before the Tigers put him in their bullpen. Right-hander Zach Miner, also working out of the bullpen for Detroit, has starter experience in his background and pitched better after his manager urged him to get more aggressive with his pitching.

The Tigers also have two minor league pitchers who could be brought up, right-handers Virgil Vasquez and Jordan Tata, both of whom have started for Detroit in the past.

Aside from Porcello, none of the candidates on hand is seen as better than a fourth or fifth starter. Which is why they are where they are.


Team Report: Notes and Quotes

--1B Carlos Guillen reached career highs in home runs (21) and RBI (102) last season, and the Tigers figure he might improve on those numbers playing the less demanding position of first base this year. Guillen, 32, lost 24 points off his batting average, batting .296. It was the first decline in his average since he broke into the majors for good in 2000 with Seattle. He played mostly shortstop for the Tigers a year ago and battled sore knees and leg muscles most of the time.

--3B Miguel Cabrera enters the 2008 season 15th among active players in slugging percentage with a .542 figure. That ranks Detroit's new third baseman 34th all-time. He is also one of three Tigers with a career .300 batting average.

--UT Ryan Raburn seems to have a roster spot sewed up entering spring training, but that might not hold true if Detroit is unable to deal 3B Brandon Inge. The Tigers will have four players on their bench; one will be a backup catcher, and another figures to be SS Ramon Santiago. That would leave two spots for OF/1B Marcus Thames, Raburn and possibly Inge if the Tigers
can't get what they perceive to be anyone of value for him. Raburn hit .304 in 49 games with Detroit, and his value is in his versatility. He can play second, third and all the outfield positions.

--LHP Kenny Rogers needs to pitch 100 innings this season to break into the top 100 all-time. Rogers enters 2008 with 3,129 innings, 10th-highest among active pitchers and 111th in major league history.

--LF Jacque Jones probably will be slotted seventh or eighth in the Detroit batting order because he hits left-handed. Batting Jones ninth would mean manager Jim Leyland would have consecutive lefties in the order since leadoff man CF Curtis Granderson also bats left. It also will depend upon where the manager wants SS Edgar Renteria to bat.

BY THE NUMBERS: 21 -- Number to be worn by new Detroit LHP Dontrelle Willis, who wore 35 with the Florida Marlins.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I knew I couldn't get 35. That's the no-hitter man, (Justin) Verlander. I respect that. When they started reading off numbers, they mentioned 21, and I said, 'That's it.' " -- LHP Dontrelle Willis on why he's switching from the number he wore with Florida to the numeral 21 with Detroit. Willis chose 21 because it was worn by two-sport star Deion Sanders.

Team Report: Roster Report

Adding 3B Miguel Cabrera and LHP Dontrelle Willis created ripple effects on Detroit's roster. Cabrera forces Brandon Inge off third base, and the Tigers hope to be able to honor his request for a trade so he can remain a major league regular. Willis filled a rotation spot that RHP Chad Durbin hoped to fill, so Detroit elected not to offer Durbin arbitration, making him a free agent, after attempts to trade him failed. OF Marcus Thames was offered arbitration but remains a likely trade candidate. Re-signing free agent LHP Kenny Rogers filled the other vacancy in the rotation. Re-signing RHP Todd Jones as the closer eliminated a chief need that arose when RHP Joel Zumaya as forced out until at least midseason with shoulder surgery. The acquisition of LF Jacque Jones added a decent left-handed outfield bat to the lineup. The club solved its shortstop problem with the acquisition of Edgar Renteria to facilitate the shift of Carlos Guillen to first base next season. Detroit gambled RHP Francisco Cruceta can provide a cheap, viable alternative to a high-priced, late-inning reliever.

ARRIVALS: SS Edgar Renteria (trade with Braves), OF Jacque Jones (trade with Cubs), RHP Denny Bautista (trade with Rockies), 3B Miguel Cabrera (trade with Marlins), LHP Dontrelle Willis (trade with Marlins), OF Freddy Guzman (trade with Rangers).

DEPARTURES: RHP Jair Jurrjens (traded to Braves), INF Omar Infante (traded to Cubs), RHP Jose Capellan (traded to Rockies), LHP Andrew Miller (traded to Marlins), CF Cameron Maybin (traded to Marlins), C Mike Rabelo (traded to Marlins), 1B Chris Shelton (traded to Rangers), RHP Chad Durbin (non-tendered free agent, signed with Phillies).

BIGGEST NEEDS: Deal Inge for a relief pitcher or prospects, lower the bench payroll to accommodate higher salaries for regulars, bring in another arm for the bullpen and see if there's a cheap left-handed bat available for the bench. A backup catcher may become necessary if C Vance Wilson (Tommy John surgery) can't throw.

FREE AGENTS: 1B Sean Casey, INF Neifi Perez. Casey was told he won't be offered a 2008 contract, and Perez won't be back, either.

ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE: LHP Bobby Seay, LHP Nate Robertson, 3B Miguel Cabrera, OF Marcus Thames.

All four were offered arbitration.

IN LIMBO: Inge asked to be traded following the acquisition of Cabrera, and the Tigers agreed to try even though the $19.1 million he is owed over the next three years may make it tough to do so. Thames was offered arbitration, but the Tigers may try to trade him because they could feel he's too high-priced to be a part-time player.

MEDICAL WATCH:

RHP Joel Zumaya (right shoulder AC joint surgery in October 2007) will be out until at least midseason.

DH Gary Sheffield (right shoulder surgery in October 2007) should be able to hit by the start of spring training, but he might need more time before he starts throwing.

RHP Jeremy Bonderman (right elbow strain) was shut down in late September; rest is his prescription.

LHP Kenny Rogers (sore left elbow) ended the season pitching with an elbow that wasn't 100 percent, but rest is the cure.

RF Magglio Ordonez (sore left heel) just needs to keep off his foot to be ready to go in the spring.

C Vance Wilson (Tommy John surgery in June 2007) feels he'll be able to throw by the time spring training starts.

Thanks

GO TIGERS! KEEP HEALTHY!

THE WINTER BREAK SHOULD DO WONDERS FOR OUR TIGERS!

make all nice and tan and*gulp* healthy

That was really interesting. Thanks for posting

Quote :

--1B Carlos Guillen reached career highs in home runs (21) and RBI (102) last season, and the Tigers
figure he might improve on those numbers playing the less demanding
position of first base this year. Guillen, 32, lost 24 points off his
batting average, batting .296. It was the first decline in his average
since he broke into the majors for good in 2000 with Seattle. He played
mostly shortstop for the Tigers a year ago and battled sore knees and leg muscles most of the time.

If he did that well injured most of the season, we should see great things from him in the less demanding 1st base shift! Good luck this year Los, you showed them how tough you were last year, now suprise the american league by being "Super Tiger" this year!

Quote :

--3B Miguel Cabrera
enters the 2008 season 15th among active players in slugging percentage
with a .542 figure. That ranks Detroit's new third baseman 34th
all-time. He is also one of three Tigers with a career .300 batting average.

We are gonna love Miggy!

Quote :

RF Magglio Ordonez (sore left heel) just needs to keep off his foot to be ready to go in the spring.

Again, played super injured, if healthy this year, the sky is the limit! Bless you Maggs!

Quote :

DH Gary Sheffield
(right shoulder surgery in October 2007) should be able to hit by the
start of spring training, but he might need more time before he starts
throwing.

RHP Jeremy Bonderman (right elbow strain) was shut down in late September; rest is his prescription.

LHP Kenny Rogers (sore left elbow) ended the season pitching with an elbow that wasn't 100 percent, but rest is the cure.

C Vance Wilson (Tommy John surgery in June 2007) feels he'll be able to throw by the time spring training starts.

All expected to be healthy! Can't believe the Tigers did as well as they did last year with all te injuries! Watch out world, the Tigers really are a better team this year!!!!

:pudge: :curtis: :placido: :sheff: :dontrelle: :edgar:

BLESS YOU BOYS

Oh Yeah! Indeed