Systems Audit: Detroit Tigers
October 11, 2006
Systems Audit:
Detroit Tigers
1. Cam Maybin, CF, A. Maybin may be the most highly anticipated prospect in Detroit, ever. Too bad for Tigers fans he's 19 and 2-3 years away from the bigs. He's got very good power potential, makes good contact and has a fairly good eye. His defense is questionable at the moment but his athleticism and speed should help him become a good defender.
2. Andrew Miller, LHP, MLB. Miller signed a contract that guarenteed a callup. Otherwise he'd probably find himself in AA this year. He can bring it at 97 consistently and just needs a little time before he finds himself in the youngest and (arguably) best rotation in baseball.
3. Humberto Sanchez, RHP, AAA. Sanchez is a power pitcher who struggles with control. He is susceptible to the long ball and the base on balls. However, as you would expect, has no trouble racking up the K's. He's moderately hittable but if he can develop the control necessary to make the leap to the big show he can cut that down significantly.
4. Jordan Tata, RHP, AAA. Number four may be a bit generous for a 25 year old pitcher with nohwere to go in this system but he's got the tools to succeed. He skipped AA this year and he suffered some growing pains but adjusted well toward the end of the year. Detroit has to be happy with the progression he's made this year.
5. Kevin Whelan, RHP, A+. Dominant relief pitcher. Mid-90s flame thrower with some mechanical problems that are being worked out. He could maintain an MLB K/9 of 13.00 if he maintains his velocity and adds a plus change. Doesn't walk too many and is rather unhittable because of the movement he gets which is almost always downward.
6. Jeff Larish, 1B, A+. Excellent power potential. He has an incredible eye at the plate and once he refines his approach his strikeouts will go down and his average will go up. He projects as a Jason Giambi type player.
7. Bert Clevlen, RF, MLB. Clevlen finished the season in the bigs after a rather unimpressive season in AA. I'm not quite ready to give up on the guy but if he doesn't have a good AFL his hopes of being a long term piece in Detroit are going to be dashed. He has decent power potential and some of that began to show through this year but he still strikesout too much.
8. Nate Bumstead, RHP, AA. Bumstead has little value to the Tigers as he projects no better than a #4 starter but has tremendous value if the Tigers want to make a trade. He struggled with a promotion to AA this year but the Tigers front office has commented on his development as a giant success.
9. Jair Jurrjens, RHP, AA. Jurrjens is 20 but has four seasons under his belt already. He has a good fastball and an above average change. He needs to get another plus pitch to compliment his fb/change. A little more control and he will develop into a nice pitcher someday.
10. Kevin Ardoin, RHP, A+. Ardoin doesn't strikeout many nor does he walk many. He relies on his defense which is why his ERA/WHIP do not tell the whole story. Any defense independant measure (DICE, ERAC, etc) shows he's better than those number and simple observation reveals the same thing. He's a decent prospect but will never be a stud pitcher.
Flier: Wilkin Ramirez, 3B, A+. Good speed but is a poor defender. That may come with time but the 20 year old althletic 3B is spending his time at the plate working on getting on base. He doesn't have a lot of power but could hit 20 HR someday. His value is in his speed. He's a real flier but if he "gets it" he'll be a huge asset for the Tigers someday.
Future Lineup (arrival date)
C: Ivan Rodriguez/FA signing
1B: Jeff Larish (2009)
2B: Omar Infante
3B: Brandon Inge
SS: Carlos Guillen
LF: Marcus Thames
CF: Curtis Granderson
RF: Cam Maybin (2009)
DH: Sean Casey
Starting Pitching
1. Jeremy Bonderman
2. Andrew Miller (2007)
3. Justin Verlander
4. Zach Miner
5. Humberto Sanchez (2007)
Relief Pitching
Closer: Joel Zumaya
Setup: Fernando Rodney, Kevin Whelan (2007)
Middle Relief: Jordan Tata(2007), Nate Bumstead (2007)
Everything is pitching besides Cam Maybin. I cannot write enough about his potential and he is the future of the franchise offensively. But this system is about developing pitchers. Big, young, flamethrowers seem to be coming out of the woodwork of this revamped organization. We're seeing some of the benefits already and by the notably absent names in the near future there is a lot of talent knocking at the door. Robertson, Rogers and Jones might not even be in the game plan for next year already. Whelan and Rodney are also potential closers but Zumaya has an edge in potential.
System Grade: B
Posted by Koby Schellenger: Oct 11 at 8:22 PM
Fantasy Baseball 
The heads of the organization are really genuinely high on Brent Clevelyn. They looked at his double A stint as just growing pains. It never hurts to have the big teams coaching staff, the GM, and the owner on your side.
The organization also still has the hopes that Kyle Sleeth can get healthy and provide even more depth with pitching.
If Chris Shelton doesn't get things straightened around early next season, I wouldn't be surprised to see him moved, simply for a change of scenery.
Mike Maroth and Nate Robertson are still very much in the long term plan for pitching.
The heads of the organization are really genuinely high on Brent Clevelyn. They looked at his double A stint as just growing pains. It never hurts to have the big teams coaching staff, the GM, and the owner on your side.
The organization also still has the hopes that Kyle Sleeth can get healthy and provide even more depth with pitching.
If Chris Shelton doesn't get things straightened around early next season, I wouldn't be surprised to see him moved, simply for a change of scenery.
Mike Maroth and Nate Robertson are still very much in the long term plan for pitching.
Thank you.
I have heard plenty of good comments about Clevelyn from the Tigers and I think he and Thames will have a good battle in the near future for the one remaining OF spot. Obviously Granderson and Maybin are written in pen for the future, the position of each is questionable but they are certainly there. I went with Thames over Clevelyn simply because I think he provides a bit more power and a little better defense. I know certain publications are very high on Clevlyn and even tagged him the best hitter for average in the system but that might be a little misleading. Anyway, that was the toughest question for me about the Tigers so I wouldn't be surprised to see a rotating RF/DH or something between them or even Thames to be let go.
Kyle Sleeth certainly has a lot of talent. He has a long way to go before he's back from TJ surgery but we should see pretty early next year how ready he is. Before his surgery certainly he would have projected as their future #2/3, but now it's hard to put him in there. He could be a solid contributor to their bullpen in MR someday.
I think Shelton will be shipped off soon. Casey will be good enough at 1B for a while until they're ready to sign someone else or Larish is ready.
Maroth and Robertson will be in the rotation next year (at least to begin) but I think Miller will be up soon and his skill set demands a starting role and Humberto Sanchez will be up in relief and spot starting. Eventually I just don't see Maroth or Robertson having the potential of the top four guys. Both are slightly older than the other four and Detroit will probably need to part with some of their pitching in order to land a catcher or upgrade thier middle infield at some point.
I also have heard that Maybin will be up in the bigs next year, but I think someone is BS'ing.
I also have heard that Maybin will be up in the bigs next year, but I think someone is BS'ing.
I live in GR, and have heard that they feel Maybin will shape up to be a corner outfielder. Ideally, you'd like to see an OF of Granders, Clevlyn, and Maybin take shape.
I don't think we'll see Maybin in the bigs except for maybe September callups. The Tigers are committed to developing him which is why he stayed in West Michigan all year.
I also have heard that Maybin will be up in the bigs next year, but I think someone is BS'ing.
I live in GR, and have heard that they feel Maybin will shape up to be a corner outfielder. Ideally, you'd like to see an OF of Granders, Clevlyn, and Maybin take shape.
I don't think we'll see Maybin in the bigs except for maybe September callups. The Tigers are committed to developing him which is why he stayed in West Michigan all year.
Exactly. The Tigers were in no rush this season to win (funny how things worked out) so they said they were not going to rush Maybin up. He'll start in high A next year and maybe move to AA but I wouldn't count on it. Depending on how the Tigers feel, he may not even get a Sept callup next year so he doesn't start his arbitration clock. Eventually he will be a corner outfielder in my mind as well.