Team News

[Liqourish]

I thought instead of trying to squeeze news into each series thread, we get one thread going for Tigers news.

To start if off...

Per espn.com:

News: Porcello, who has given up just two earned runs in his past three starts, received a vote of confidence from manager Jim Leyland on Sunday that the 20-year-old rookie would stay in the rotation, Mlive.com reports. "I'm not going to take him out of the rotation," Leyland said. "He's (bleeping) Nolan Ryan right now. He's better than what I thought. This kid's got good learning power and is already making adjustments."

Spin: While the Tigers still plan to keep a watchful eye on Porcello's innings and pitch count, this should quell any worries that he'll be removed from the rotation once Jeremy Bonderman returns from his rehab from shoulder surgery.

Word is, one of Galarraga or Willis will be moved for Bonderman when he's ready. Porcello is staying in the majors.

1. J. Verlander
2. E. Jackson
3. R. Porcello
4. J. Bonderman?
5. A. Galarraga?

[m23uza1hem36]

I'd put Bonderman early in the rotation so he can get it going as early as possible...
No doubt Willis is out unless he starts pitching like jesus

[Liqourish]

Leyland has said that he wants to protect Porcello by keeping him behind Verlander and Jackson who eat innings allowing the bullpen to rest until Porcello needs them. Unless he suddenly takes off the kiddie gloves regarding Rick, I don't see him being moved out of that spot.

[Liqourish]

http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090519&content_id=4813464&vkey=news_det&fext=.jsp&c_id=det

Wilkin Ramirez's first stint in the big leagues probably won't be a very long one. But he's the kind of talent that is hard to forget, even after a brief look.

With Magglio Ordonez on the family medical emergency list for at least the next couple days, the Tigers recalled their top outfield prospect on Tuesday from Triple-A Toledo. Unless he makes a pinch-hit or substitution appearance on Tuesday night, he's expected to make his Major League debut Wednesday against Rangers left-hander Matt Harrison. It won't be a long look, but it's a much-anticipated one

Leyland on Ramirez:

"He's got a lot of talent," manager Jim Leyland said Tuesday afternoon. "He's a little crude, but he's got a lot of talent -- strong, fast. He's got a lot of ability. I would say he's got to be one of the more natural ability guys we have."

The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Ramirez is tied for the International League lead in stolen bases.

"That's a big advantage," Leyland said of Ramirez's speed. "In Spring Training, he got some ground ball hits, infield hits. He puts pressure on the defense. We're trying to get a little more of that here, which we do right now."

Ramirez, Leyland said, is faster than Clete Thomas, who is fleet afoot himself. Leyland compared Ramirez's power and speed to that of former Tigers top prospect Cameron Maybin, who was traded to Florida in the Miguel Cabrera deal a year and a half ago.

"He's got two real pluses: Power and speed," Leyland said. "Those are two real pluses, and you don't find that [together] very often. He's got both of them."

He's supposedly going to start at DH tonight.

[tmorgan]

Wilkin swings too hard and doesn't seem to adjust to counts at all, but he can sure put a pounding on a mistake. He looked great in fouling off two 3-2 pitches and then taking a fastball (a little above belt high and out over the plate) 430+ feet to left center.

He's too young (and not developed enough) to sit on the bench, so he's not going to stay up unless something ridiculous happens, like Magglio not coming back. As a full-timer right now, he'd probably hit .240 with 20 homers, but have something awful like 20 walks and 160 whiffs over a full season. We'll see if he develops better strikezone judgment over time.

[Liqourish]

Per wiretap...

Magglio Ordoñez will begin sharing his job in rightfield with Clete Thomas in an effort to get his bat going, the Tigers announced Wednesday.

Ordoñez will start against lefties.

If Clete outperforms Maggz, do the Tigers move him? This can't be helping his trade value, but his grounding into double plays isn't exactly helping the team.

[Snakebites]

We'd have to eat virtually all of his remaining contract and get a very little in return to move Mags at this point.

Not sure its even worth it.

[Liqourish]

Well I hate to say it, but if Leyland can limit Maggz enough that he doesn't qualify for the gauranteed money on his contract the next few years, it might help us alot.

[ajaX82]

Well I hate to say it, but if Leyland can limit Maggz enough that he doesn't qualify for the gauranteed money on his contract the next few years, it might help us alot.

dude we should just cut him.

Raburn, Clete, Thames, Guillen or Anderson in the corner OF spots. Seriously. Those 5 are more than enough and better than Maggz

[Liqourish]

I think at this point, if they cut him, they still have to pay him. But if they limit him, they get out from under his money the next couple years. It might be best just to play him occasionally and let him go. I love Maggz, but damn he's doing horribly right now. Not playing good defence, he's slowed down alot in the outfield and he's grounding into double plays to end innings. I hate to say it because I have no proof, but he looks like a player coming off steroids.

I would rather play Clete Thomas every day than to watch Maggz struggle non stop with an occassional single every other day.

[Snakebites]

What is the minimum for him to get paid?

I thought we'd already passed it....

[Liqourish]

I forget the exact number of plate appearances he needs. He hasn't reached it yet, and if he continues to only play every so often, he won't reach it.

[ajaX82]

Speaking of crappy relievers:

NEW YORK -- Joel Zumaya was placed on the 15-day disabled list this morning because of the shoulder pain he experienced while pitching Friday night against the New York Yankees, and the Detroit Tigers recalled rookie reliever Ryan Perry from the Toledo Mud Hens

http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2 ... _disa.html


Great Choice!

[Liqourish]

GO PERRY!!!

[RustInPeace]

I'm saddened by the lack of rumors. We seriously need a damn bat. Get off your ass Dombrowski, all this 'bringing back Guillen could be enough' talk is BS.

[Snakebites]

I said early on we were unlikely to be buyers this deadline.

I thought given we could conceivably be in the pennant race that this might change, but I see no evidence that this could be the case.

Ah well.

[m23uza1hem36]

ESPN believes we'll make a move for a bat

[RustInPeace]

How much would you guys give up for Holliday? I'm thinking maybe Casey Crosby + Josh Anderson and a few minor leaguers.

[Liqourish]

A few minors leaguers. I doubt DD gives up Anderson. He has good speed even though his power numbers suck. He's also good defensively in the outfield. I doubt the team will go after Holliday though, don't ask me why, I just don't see it happening. DD is probably more likely to take a flier on a young guy, he can get for cheap, and will be a low risk, high reward type of move. I don't see him going after a big name that will command more compensation and possibly blow up in his face (ala Dontrelle and Renteria).

[RustInPeace]

OMG OMG OMG ADRIAN GONZALEZ POSSIBLY TRADE OPTION!?!? (wiretap).

Let's see:

Casey Crosby
Josh Anderson
Ryan Perry
Scott Strieby (near .1000 OPS in AA) DH/LF/1B type
Jordan Newton (1.200 OPS in A, .810 OPS in ADV A) C

for

Adrian

Yes, I was that bored/desperate to get offense to actually look up our minor league rosters. I'll keep dreaming.