LATEST TEAM INFO:
Several players are having a good spring, an indication that perhaps the Tiger's ship is turning around, finally..
This team will hover around 500 because they are developing a work ethic that has blue collar written all over it..
Jose Macias, in a spring game, hustled to get a ball that appeared to be an easy double, instead it was a long out that Steve Sparks, the beneficiary, said was an amazing catch. So much for taking it easy in Spring training..
Shane Halter has quietly become a team leader in the clubhouse.. In a recent Free Press article, he was quoted as saying "we are a team full of gamers" and likened the Tigers situation to that of the Minnesota Twins this time last year.. bottom line is a positive
outlook coupled with hard work helps confidence, throw in some early success, and the Tigers April schedule aids in that department, and who knows what might happen..
Jeff Weaver has been working with Jack Morris on a split finger pitch and is getting some pointers on how to best use his attitude.. Weaver has a rap as a feisty player with a bad rap, but he's a choir boy compared to vintage Jack Morris.. the tutelage must be paying off as Weavers last outing was four innings where he gave up only one hit.. ironically, it was a solo homer to Mike Sweeney, with whom he brawled lastseason.. Weaver was quoted as facing Sweeney "got me pumped up" And they says Spring games are
meaningless...
LOCAL PERSPECTIVE:
Most of us around here think the Tigers have a good shot of finishing 500.. Yankee fans may laugh at us, but no winning season since '93 and 500 is an outstanding stepping stone in the long term goal setting. The Tigers are hitting well, and pitching well, but defense still appears to be a problem.. help is on the way down on the farm, but for now, we feel better in March then in several seasons past..
RUMOR MILL:
There have been some rumblings that Bobby Higginson might bat 2nd.. while the move seems unlikely, there is some merit in it.. With Macias leading off, Higgy, who is the team's best contact hitter, bats from the left side. With Macias on base, that will create a
hole which Higgy is disciplined enough to take advantage off. Throw in his plate discipline and having Young, Fick and Palmer hitting behind him and the move isn't as whacked as it first sounds..
There has been alot of talk that Mike Riveria will be the opening day catcher and his hitting and fielding has done nothing to quell the talk. Several newspaper reports have Phil Garner beaming like a proud papa when talk of Riveria surfaces.. Mike has been likened
to Mike Piazza (33 homers, a 289 avg, 101 RBIs and a 368 OBP at AA Erie) Riveria went 4-for-12 in September and currently is batting around 350 with a couple of
doubles (off Greg Maddux) and a homer. His fielding had been suspect but against Atlanat, made an outstanding stop to save a runner on 3rd from scoring and threw out Rafael Furcal trying to steal.. He also got all over veteran pitcher Bill Simas for throwing a
wrong pitch that was knocked for a homer. Simas, smiled and said the kid has some balls, and more importantly, he was right.. Could he be this year's Albert Pujols.. maybe, just maybe..
INJURIES:
Mostly the standard Spring training variety, but a couple that may be significant.. Dean Palmer, who has been hitting well, has complained of a sore shoulder..his throwing shoulder.. been wary of that. Bill
Simas, who doesn't look to make the team anyway had an elbow twinge that might end his non-roster tryout..Deep leagues that use set-up guys, be wary that Danny Patterson has been having back problems.. n o word if it's serious, but he missed quite a few spring games..
WHO'S HOT/WHO'S NOT:
Who's Hot:
Robert Fick is having a good spring while learning to be the every day RFer under Hall of Famer Al Kaline's tutelage. he's batting .429 (12 of 28) with 2 homers and 4 RBIs. He has had some trouble fielding his
position, but he works his butt off to improve and if Al Kaline says he'll be fine, we here in Detroit believe him.
Mitch Melusky, here's a good sleeper candidate at catcher. Melusky spent all of 2001 on the DL with a bum shoulder; he played his first game behind the plate Wednesday with nothing significant to report,
good or bad, and that's good. Melusky likely will the DH as Comerica park was built for his batting style.. currently he is batting 400 (8 of 20) with 2 homers, 2 doubles and 3 RBIs.
Mark Redmon.. Another potential sleeper who is having a pretty good spring after spending a lot of last year on the Twins and Tigers DL.. in three spring starts, Redmon is 2-0, with a 2.08 ERA in 8.2 IPs and 8 SOs. Slated to be the 3rd or 4th starter, his early success is very encouraging..
Who's Not:
Eric Munson.. he was supposed to challenge the log jam at 1st, but as of Tuesday had failed to get a hit in 14 trips to the plate. He has guaranteed himself a trip to Toledo to begin the season.
Brandon Inge.. Not noted as a hitter, and he did get his first homer of the spring Wednesday against Cincy, but the lack of hitting, 3-for-21 and the hiting of Riveria means Inge, a gold glove candidate should he learn to hit major league pitching, will start in Toledo in April, barring a miracle.
Nate Cornejo.. he won 20 games splitting time at AA, AAA and Detroit last season (4-4 with a +7.00 ERA in 10 starts last year) touted as the 5th starter and eventual ace of the staff by 2004, Cornejo has not
performed well this spring.. in 3 starts, he is 0-2 with a 10.29 ERA in 7 IPs. Expect him to start the season in Toledo, redoscover his mechanics and be up with the parent club by mid may.
QUICK VIEW:
Add:
Mike Rivera (new) - wait until he has definitely made the club. If he makes the
club, it will be as a starter, not a back up and he will be worth using a roster spot, especially in a deep league
Shane Halter (new) - if you can grab him, he is walking and talking like a player with a position, not a utility player. He has enough tools to be worthy of a roster spot, especially where he qualifies for multiple positions..
Dmitri Young (new) - is having a good spring, leads the team in RBIs with 7, hit two homers and batting over 300 in the early going.. if you haven't drafted yet, depending on how many teams in your league, he'll be worth not waiting much past the 4th or 5th round to pick up.. Comerica Park is perfect for his line drive style of hitting and his power from the left side won't suffer much at Comerica as it's shorter than you think to the power alley in right.. It's the power alley in left that's cavernous..
Drop:
Dean Palmer (new) - for reason already talked about..
Randall Simon (new) - who has limited value, but does carry a decent batting average should be avoided, even in deep leagues as he fractured a finger fielding a ground ball at first. It's the kind of injury that could hurt his swing. He's 4-for-14 currently, but not worth taking the chance on at this time.
Jose Lima (new) - may not be turning his career around after all.. in two starts, 0-0 with a 9.00 ERA in 5 IPs.. I would avoid using him right now, at least until after the first couple of starts and you get an injury or two and need to replace a roster spot.. Lima time was "cute" last summer, but bottom line is The tigers are deep enough at pitching that if he continues to struggle, he will be replaced..
