How many Tigers make the All-Star game?
Posted: Thu Apr 5, 2007 4:50 pm
Unless it has been changed over the off-season I believe Leyland gets to name all of the non-starters to his all-star roster. Of course each team needs to be represented with one player, but after that it's completely his choice. In the past both Boston and New York have "rewarded" their own players with spots that probably deserved to go to other players - will Leyland do this?
He did talk about naming Fernando Rodney to the squad if he continued to pitched like he did last year (so far not so good). I thought this was laughable when he said it, however it does lead me to believe we'll see 3-5 Tigers depending on who is names as a starter (if any). The only chance I think we have at starter is Ivan Rodriguez. I think if he is healthy Carlos Guillen is a lock, as will Gary Sheffield. I don't think he'll bring Polly and there is just too much CF talent to even consider Granderson. Maggs could be interesting. Looking at the pitchers I could see any one of Bonderman, Verlander or even Nate Robertson getting selected. I could even see two of the three getting selected if Leyland doesn't take one of our relievers - Jones, Zoom or Rodney. the only reliever I would even consider would be Zumaya otherwise it's blatent favoritism and I don't want to see Rodney or Jones anywhere near the game that decides the home team in the WS.
14 players are pre-determined as representatives for each team depending on the starters that could leave 11 spots up to Leyland's discretion. Of course there will be Jeter and A-Rod, Papi and Manny Ramirez voted in, but even assuming that there is a few teams with multiple starters, it still leaves Leyland 7-8 open spots. Could he really burn 4 "bench" spots on Tigers? I've hated it done by the other managers in the past, but what's good for the goose is good for the gander.
He did talk about naming Fernando Rodney to the squad if he continued to pitched like he did last year (so far not so good). I thought this was laughable when he said it, however it does lead me to believe we'll see 3-5 Tigers depending on who is names as a starter (if any). The only chance I think we have at starter is Ivan Rodriguez. I think if he is healthy Carlos Guillen is a lock, as will Gary Sheffield. I don't think he'll bring Polly and there is just too much CF talent to even consider Granderson. Maggs could be interesting. Looking at the pitchers I could see any one of Bonderman, Verlander or even Nate Robertson getting selected. I could even see two of the three getting selected if Leyland doesn't take one of our relievers - Jones, Zoom or Rodney. the only reliever I would even consider would be Zumaya otherwise it's blatent favoritism and I don't want to see Rodney or Jones anywhere near the game that decides the home team in the WS.
14 players are pre-determined as representatives for each team depending on the starters that could leave 11 spots up to Leyland's discretion. Of course there will be Jeter and A-Rod, Papi and Manny Ramirez voted in, but even assuming that there is a few teams with multiple starters, it still leaves Leyland 7-8 open spots. Could he really burn 4 "bench" spots on Tigers? I've hated it done by the other managers in the past, but what's good for the goose is good for the gander.