Official Tiger Spring Training Thread

[ChrisBrown]

IS there any indication the Tigers want Crosby to transition to the bullpen, or are they strictly viewing him as a long-term starter?

I figured after the comments of when he was sent down:

http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ss..._fifth-st.html

that the Tigers were strictly looking at him as a starter

The Tigers would love it if Crosby could stay as a starter, and so would I, but at some point they're going to have to be realistic about his chances there. He never had good control to begin with, and losing two years of development time to arm trouble didn't help that. I think the best case scenario for him as a starter is something like Jonathan Sanchez, where he walks 5 guys per 9 but can almost get away with it by striking out a batter an inning. Really tough to rely on a guy like that, unfortunately.

And as far as Rondon, he's probably more like 270, but saying 300 is more fun.

[ChrisBrown]

Oliver optioned to Toledo. It's down to Smyly and Below for the final spot in the rotation.

This also means that Toledo's rotation is Turner, Oliver, Crosby, Wilk, and presumably the guy who doesn't make the cut. They should win the IL with that group.

[TMoney]

Oliver optioned to Toledo. It's down to Smyly and Below for the final spot in the rotation.

This also means that Toledo's rotation is Turner, Oliver, Crosby, Wilk, and presumably the guy who doesn't make the cut. They should win the IL with that group.

Do you think they go out and find somebody to fill that 5th spot? Oswalt is still out there not sure what he's doing.

[SportsFromA2]

Oliver optioned to Toledo. It's down to Smyly and Below for the final spot in the rotation.

This also means that Toledo's rotation is Turner, Oliver, Crosby, Wilk, and presumably the guy who doesn't make the cut. They should win the IL with that group.

OR a trade?

either the beat writers are bored, or.....

Does Jim Leyland's indecision mean Tigers are close to trade?

Are the Tigers close to making a trade?

They've been acting and sounding like it the last two days.

What it would be is only speculation at this point, but Brandon Inge to the Phillies has been part of that speculation.

Among the reasons a deal could be in the works are the uncertain lineup vibes emanating from manager Jim Leyland.

On Wednesday in Jupiter, he said he can't write down his starting lineup until he knows it — and that there are three different ways he could go with it.

Why wouldn't he know it by now?

It's not Miguel Cabrera's availability Leyland is uncertain about — because he said in the same discussion that he would be "totally shocked" if Cabrera isn't available for the April 5 opener against Boston. Out the last two days with a sore left knee, Delmon Young's status isn't questionable, either

The lineup uncertainty also doesn't have anything to do with not knowing who the Red Sox are going to start in the opener — because the Tigers have known for some time that left-hander Jon Lester is going to start for the Sox

So they can plan on a lineup loaded with right-handed hitters — not one involving the either/or decision that surrounds the question of whether Andy Dirks or Clete Thomas, both left-handed hitters, will make the team.

Upon arrival at the stadium in Jupiter on Wednesday, general manager Dave Dombrowski immediately sat down at the end of the Tigers' dugout with Leyland — the way they often do at this time of spring training when they are discussing confidential matters involving players — and/or trades.

They certainly weren't talking about the long drive down.

From an other-end-of-the-dugout looks of it, Dombrowski was updating Leyland about an important matter.

And now this: The Tigers didn't burn the midnight oil with meetings, but they're burning the mid-morning oil. Even with the Tigers' game being a 6:05 p.m. game against Washington, all the decision makers were at the clubhouse by 10 a.m. on Thursday — at least their cars were.

It's not uncommon for Leyland to arrive extremely early for a night game, of course, and it could be that Dombrowski had an early staff meeting. There's no guarantee this was a trade talk session.

But at this time of the spring training, with time winding down, and several signals that something could be in the works, it feels like something is.

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2...429/1129/rss15

Dombrowski, Leyland meet in plain sight; is Brandon Inge the topic?

As manager Jim Leyland again spoke to reporters about the mystery to his Opening Day lineup, and as Leyland and general manager Dave Dombrowski huddled more, a question seemed ready to push through to the surface Wednesday.

Might Brandon Inge not make the Tigers' Opening Day team? Could the club perhaps trade him in the week that remains before Opening Day?

Before Tuesday's game, Leyland and Dombrowski had what looked like a serious talk on the field. Leyland at one point waved his arms, as he does to emphasize a point.

It's the kind of body language you'd expect if a manager and general manager are talking over the 25-man Opening Day roster.

After Tuesday's game, Leyland said the same thing Inge did Monday: Inge has hit the ball much better this spring than his sub-.200 average indicates.

Now to Wednesday. In spring training, Leyland normally meets with reporters right after batting practice. Before he could do so Wednesday, Dombrowski intercepted him in the dugout for a chat.

When Leyland did then meet with reporters, he spoke for the second straight day about the lineup against Boston left-hander Jon Lester on Opening Day on April 5. For the second straight day, he volunteered that his lineup against Lester could hinge on a roster decision yet to be made.

"If so-so is on the team, the lineup might be this," Leyland said Wednesday. "If so-so is on the team, it might be something else. I'm not going to get into all that."

One roster decision still to be made involves Andy Dirks or Clete Thomas as the final outfielder. Both hit left-handed so neither would seem a candidate to start vs. Lester.

Perhaps Leyland means by his "so-and-so" comment is that if the right-handed Inge is on the team, he'll start at second against Lester. But if he's not, perhaps right-handed Danny Worth will take his roster spot and start at second against Lester. (Ryan Raburn apparently would be the DH against Lester.)

Leyland has said this spring that he considers Worth above average as a defender at second, third and short. (Inge doesn't play short.) The Tigers could also feel that Worth, 26, might now contribute more offensively in a part-time role than Inge. Worth has hit .259 in 143 big-league career at-bats.

After Wednesday's game, Dombrowski and two of his top associates met with Leyland in his clubhouse office for several minutes. Such a meeting is unusual after a road game in spring training, especially when the Tigers had a three-hour ride back to their home base. It indicates that Leyland and the front office had something to talk over that couldn't wait.

Inge is owed $6 million for this year, the final guaranteed year of his contract. If the Tigers trade him, they might have to pay part of that to make the deal. If the Tigers cut him, they will owe him all of that.

Leyland has made clear that Inge must hit to play, regardless of his superb adaptation to second base this spring. But how much will Inge's hitting this spring affect how much he'd play at the opening of the regular season? Leyland wisely doesn't assess that in public.

Inge is hitting .184 this spring. He went 1-for-3 Wednesday -- two groundouts and a line-drive RBI double to the left-center gap.

NOW AT THIRD: Ramon Santiago started at third to get some at-bats. It was the first time Santiago has played there this spring and he has started one regular-season game at third in his career.

"Most likely, if Ramon is at third base starting games, we've got a physical problem somewhere," Leyland said.

http://www.freep.com/article/2012032...xt|FRONTPAGE|s

I believe Joe Blanton was the name thrown about form the Philies a few weeks ago..

[SportsFromA2]

ok, here's the Inge/Blanton thing, just an idea that was thrown around, not even a rumor:

The real issue with me proposing sending Inge to the Phillies is whether or not the Phillies would take him or not. The positives of Inge are simple. He is going to defend well, and he does have the occasional ability to drive a ball out of the yard, especially in Philly. He is also a veteran, so he should be able to fit into that clubhouse, unless he starts telling everyone he should be starting over Chase Utley.

The negative for the Phillies would be that he is expensive for what he gives you, and well, he has troubles hitting. If Utley and Polanco are out for extended periods of time, they are most likely going to search for someone that can provide a little more than just veteran presence and defense.

Obviously, the Tigers would get something in return for Inge. Given their relatively full roster, I don’t want to bother speculating too much. It’s often a futile exercise, and if Philly took on Inge’s salary, I wouldn’t expect much at all. I do know the Phillies have been known to be shopping Joe Blanton, and as a 5th starter, there are worse things out there. I don’t like him as a pitcher though, and just as soon go with what we got.

Regardless of what the Tigers got in return, there could be a potential match here. At the very least, I had a little bit of fun speculating about it.

http://motorcitybengals.com/2012/03/...her-out-maybe/

[flemgoblue]

Do you think they go out and find somebody to fill that 5th spot? Oswalt is still out there not sure what he's doing.

Oswalt as a 5th would be pretty cool

[ChrisBrown]

Pretty sure the Oswalt thing is a pipe dream. I thought he specifically said the Tigers were a team he didn't want to pitch for, and besides, I think he's doing the Roger Clemens "don't pitch until mid-season" thing.

I suppose a trade is still a possibility, maybe for John Lannan, but I don't think he'd be appreciably better than any of the in-house options.

[ChrisBrown]

So after Below's performance today -- 3.1 - 3H - 3ER - 4BB - 1K -- It really looks like Smyly is gonna be the last man standing as the 5th starter. The thing that's really interesting to me now is the final bullpen spot. Both Villarreal and Luis Marte have been really solid this Spring, but man, Marte is striking everyone out -- he has 16 Ks against just 3 walks in 13 innings. Villarreal throws harder, but Marte really seems to know how to pitch. Really interesting decision to me.

[pGekko]

Oliver is becoming annoying.

[flemgoblue]

Oliver is becoming annoying.

the whole 5th starter thing is becoming annoying

[GF-22a]

How about the top 2 just share the 5th starters games.... 1st guy comes in pitches 3-4 innings then the other comes in for 2-3 then lets the pen take over. None of them seem to be able to go longer than 4 without giving up a big inning