What to do at Tigers Third Base

Brandon Inge is hurt and this is going to hurt the Tigers big.  If they start Don Kelly they won’t get much on offense but his defense is best at third, I just don’t think he should be starting everyday.  Ryan Raburn might be up to the challenge but I don’t think the Tigers would want to deal with his defense and they need defense at third.  The Tigers have Will Ryhmes and Max Leon in the minors, Leon wouldn’t be that good, Rhymes would be okay but Jeff Larish would be a lot better than both of them.  The Tigers could look at the trade market too and get Ty Wiggington, who I don’t think is that good but for a temporary replacement he would be okay.  I think Wes Helms would do decent for just a month but maybe not as good.  Alberto Calllaspo would boost their offense the most at of all of them.
THE PLAN: I would start Raburn for now and if he does bad, which probably won’t happen I would go out and get one of the three third baseman I listed.

Tigers best non-roster invitees

LARISH:  I really see Larish making some nice contibutions this year but he needs to step it up a lot.  His power will carry him a long way but his defense is bad and he needs to get on base more, if he can get better at that he might be a decent starter but he needs the minors first.
DIAZ:  I think he could serve as a good short-term back-up but he isn’t as good as Avila and Avila is ready, but Diaz might make the roster and if he does it won’t break this team.  His defense isn’t real good but his short-term hitting could carry him to a decent year.
NUNEZ:  Nunez isn’t ready yet but his set of tools should be very good and he might hit really well for them, I think he could be used if the have no other options and he might do just fine or he might mess up.  Nunez is a good guy to have and could help this team a lot, one day.
WEINHARDT:  This guy dominates and there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be on the club.  It might not fully translate but he has a great arm and he can pitch.  I like everything he can do and could be better than a lot of our relievers.  He has all the great tools and could start dominating any time now.
GONZALEZ:  Enrique Gonzalez should put up decent numbers but he isn’t that good and I don’t see him helping this team much.  He will get a strikeout from time to time though.

COULD FLY: Rick Porcello should build on his success because he has tons of talent and he could compete for the CY Young as soon as this year, watch out he can do a lot.
MAKE IT OR BREAK IT YEAR:  Joel Zumaya has to do good this year or else he will just get worse and really not do much besides get a few strikeouts and have a very high walk rate.

Larish to play pivitol role for Tigers

Jeff Larish should play a big role for the Tigers next year.  If he doesn’t do well the Tigers will be fine but I think he could factor into some games.  He needs to get better at his clutch hitting.  Larish could hit some big homers this upcoming year and he should play stellar defense at third.  He could challenge Inge at some point in the year.  He won’t be as good as he will be next year but I think it is his best chance to breakout.  He is a great player and he will breakout soon.  He should put up great numbers and play his best baseball the next few years and the Tigers should get a lot out of it.
FUTURE:  He could be the guy to turn to soon in the Tigers line-up.  He just needs to develop more.

Tigers Moves: Bondo, Thames, Kelly

Here are the lastest Tigers moves…

• The Tigers put Jeremy Bonderman back on the DL, this is bad for the Tigers and they are missing out on a good arm.  Bonderman may take a couple of starts to get back to normal but I think he will.  Bonderman’s only concern his his velocity, he should still be able to throw a bit of heat and he needs to.  Ryan Perry got recalled for Bonderman, he will do well out of the Tigers bullpen as a seventh or eighth inning guy who nails down the win.
• Marcus Thames came back off the DL for the Tigers.  He will be a great upgrade and a nice bat in the middle-end of the line-up, his power will help spark the Tigers and he should still be able to hit 15-20 homers.  Thames will give the Tigers power and production.  Jeff Larish got sent down for Thames.  He will be missed as a great lefty bat with pop, he should be back up soon and he will do good for the Tigers when he is back.
• Don Kelly got called up for the Tigers.  Kelly has a solid bat and should get some hits and give some production at the bottom of the line-up.  He is also versatile and will do okay at almost any position.  He was kind-of fast in 2006 but he has added some weight and should be a bit slower.  He is a small power-speed guy which is always a good combo.  Clete Thomas got sent down in order for this to happen, his bat will be missed but he should be back soon, he just needs to improve on hitting a good fastball and not swinging for the fences on every fastball he sees.  Good Move?: Barely Bad

Miguel Cabrera pulls hamstring

Miguel Cabrera has pulled his hamstring and this will hurt the Tigers really bad.  Cabrera is the main player on the Tigers and gives them tons of production.  Losing him for a couple games will effect the Tigers in a big way.  The line-up won’t be as good either.  Cabrera is though and shouldn’t have to go on the DL but if he does his replacement will be Jeff Larish.  Larish will provide power and play well but he isn’t as good as Cabrera.  Cabrera will make an imedite impact when he comes back and I think the the Tigers will go on a winning streak when he does.  Big Loss?: Yes, really big

Tigers call up Radada, send Larish down

Clay Rapada is a great situational lefty but now the Tigers will have barely any power on the bench.  I like Larish he has a awesome stance and great power, I can see him being an important part of a team someday.  Rapada is a guy who has some struggles but can get the job done.  I think it was a bit of a mistake since Larish a nice part of this team but Rapada is a side armer who could baffle some hitters.  Larish should tear up triple-a and get recalled.  Good or bad move???: Bad Move

Tigers Roster Problems and Soultoins

Here are the position battles of the Detroit Tigers

• The fifth starter is still up for grabs, at the beginning of spring I thought Zach Miner would win it with his stuff but he has had a bad spring and is out of the race.  Dontrelle Willis who is very slowly getting better most likely will not make the rotation unless Jim Leyland wants his offense to score around ten runs a game, so he is close to being out.  Nate Robertson is having an okay spring but won’t ever get his ERA down which makes it though, for me, to let him have the fifth spot.  That leaves it to Rick Porcello who is struggling a bit but is the Tigers best hope, he helps his case by being the toughest prospect in the MLB to find a flaw in.  The last thing the Tigers wanted to do is rush him into the rotation, though.  Projected Winner: Porcello
• The bullpen is a big position battle, the guys in it are Brandon Lyon, Fernando Rodney, Joel Zumaya, and Bobby Seay.  Zach Miner is good in the bullpen and is close to clinching a spot, too.  Which leaves two spots left, who I thought would go to Casey Fien, who tore up minors hitting last year and Freddy Dolsi, who’s only big flaw his his K-BB ratio, but both of them were optioned to the minors which I think was a bad move.  Now I think it is going to be Kyle Bloom, a nice lefty who might be ready to contribute and Clay Rapada, who is a side arm lefty that can fool hitters with his delivery.  This wasn’t what I thought the Tigers bullpen would look like.
• The last bench spot is up for grabs between Ryan Raburn, Jeff Larish, Mike Hessman, and Brent Clevlen, Timo Perez is also in it but is a super long shot.   I think it will come down to Larish and Raburn with Larish winning, Larish is a good prospect who has a bat and some D and he could really help this club.  Raburn should come up during the season and show off his tools of speed, power and defense.  The Tigers bench won’t be weak.

Rangers Inquire on Sheffield

Gary Sheffield might be a Ranger soon.  The Rangers are asking the Tigers about Gary Sheffield, adealo for him would take either Elvis Andrus or Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Joaquin Arias.  This would be a great deal for the Tigers it gives them a future and they could sign a free agent or play Marcus Thames or Jeff Larish or Matt Joyce there who all are great players who can play DH.  Gary will take a lot because he can hit 25-30 homers and around 100 RBIs, he also wants to play outfield which would be bad for the Rangers.  Andrus is a great player and the same with Salty and Arias is an awesome defenive player who is fast and woud play well here.  The Tigers would get the edge but it would help both teams.

Putz to Tigers close

J.J. Putz an all-star closer who can get saves and not give up hits while doing it is almost the Tigers closer.  This would help him and the Tigs because they can buy him low due to last year’s injury’s which were a fluke, Jeff Larish and a small prospect would seal the deal.  Putz would go to a pitcher’s park and that would make him a better closer for sure.  Larish is a great prospect, I also think Matt Joyce could take his spot, they are both great and have lots and lots of power but I think Larish edges out Matt Joyce by a hair.  The edge of this deal would go to the Tigers by a decent amount because Putz would have took Joyce, Larish and 2 prospects two years ago.  He is still  as good as he was then he just has an injury risk.

Tigers might find closer

The Tigers are interested in closer Kerry Wood and J.J. Putz.  The Tigs would have to trade for Putz who has an injury risk and they would have to give up Jeff Larish and maybe more.  Wood makes more sense, he wants a one or two year deal which will give Ryan Perry time to develop before his MLB debut.  Wood also gets the job done nice, has great pitches, and he is a great all-star closer.  I like Wood more and he would be a better fit plus we wouldn’t have to give up a prospect.