Detroit Tigers 2013-14 Off-season thread

[David Watts]

Ugh, why can't Kate Upton just leave justin alone? We need him focused.

[cephasjames]

Just read a short article on CBS Sports that the Cats were in trade talks with the Braves for Scherzer. But the talks broke off. If true, Detroit may end up trading him away this year. If they do it better be for another good pitcher.

[RandyTiger]

Updated information on the initial post:

1. 40-man Roster.
2. Coaching Roster.
3. Non-Roster Invitees to Spring Training.
4. Important Dates, including ST reporting dates, first ST game, and Season Opener date.

More information will be added in coming days.

[RandyTiger]

With only two days left until the pitchers and catchers officially report, here's the list of those who have already come in, based upon various reports I've seen:

Pitchers:
Duane Below
Phil Coke
Anibal Sanchez
Drew Smyly
Rick Porcello
Justin Verlander (Threw off the mound for 20 pitches yesterday, off flat ground today. Reportedly recovering from surgery ahead of schedule, expected to to be ready for Opening Day.)

Catchers:
Alex Avila

Infielders:
Miguel Cabrera

Outfielders:
Andy Dirks

Coaching staff confirmed present:
Brad Ausmus (manager)
Jeff Jones (pitching)
Wally Joyner (hitting).

Also, The Tigers official twitter feed is reporting they have 22 tons of equipment in place for ST. Wow. That's a whole lotta bats, balls, helmets, gloves and whatnot.

I've also began to update the initial post with Twitter handles for those interested in following the players individually.

[RandyTiger]

Further updates on Justin Verlander and his recovery in an MLB.com article here.

Summary: He's being careful with what he does and how much he pushes himself, keeping in close touch with the medical staff and the doctor who performed the surgery on him. He does not expect to be ready for the start of the Grapefruit schedule, but plans to throw 5 games during ST.

As long as he doesn't injure himself or experience a setback, he'll be ready for Opening Day.

[Orioles1966]

Jose Valverde just signed a minor league deal with the Mets with a spring training invite.

[RandyTiger]

Irrelevant news to add on the Valverde thing, but.. eh:

1. Zach Miner has signed a minor-contract with Seattle.

2. Matt Stairs will be a Phillies TV analyst this season.

The Mets must be really hard up for relief pitching if they're considering Valverde, given his recent track record of meltdowns. Miner is a... ahem... minor (go ahead, groan) "prospect" at this point. I don't see him returning to even the mediocre form he had before.

But hey, if it keeps them happy, with the illusion they can contribute, best of wishes to them. At least Stairs is doing the smart thing and putting his knowledge to use in the broadcasting booth instead of trying to hold back the ever-running sands of time. Hopefully, he'll do well in his new role.

[RandyTiger]

MLB has announced that Toledo C Ronnie Paulino has been suspended for 100-games due to a positive PED (exogenous testosterone) test. The suspension begins when the Mudhens start the season on April 4th.

This is his 2nd suspension, the first one coming in 2010 for 50 games when he was with the Marlins, although he blamed the suspension on a dietary pill which contained a substance on the banned list.

He was acquired from the Orioles in August of 2013 and subsequently re-signed in November to a minor-league deal, and he was to serve as a back-up to James McCann, the top Tiger catching prospect.

[Sources: MLB.com, MLB Rumors]

[RandyTiger]

2014 SPRING TRAINING BEGINS!



GO TIGERS!

[RandyTiger]

Some tidbits:

1. Every catcher and pitcher is in camp except for C Ramon Cabrera (Erie - AA), who will come along later. Not sure what the hang-up is there - possibly visa issues?

2. No progress on extension talks for Miggy or Scherzer. Wish they would get those two locked up so it's not an issue or distraction anymore.

3. Victor Martinez has been taking catching practice, a sign that Ausmus will be using him there during games at NL Parks. No big surprise there, given that he is batting behind Miggy.

(Aside: I do hope Ausmus doesn't resort to weird line-ups like batting The donkelly fourth, or my faith in the guy will rapidly head south. Any manager who does that has to be shy a few neurons, like certain ex-managers of the recent past.)

4. Full squad is to report by Monday, February 17th. A good many of the position players are already in camp, some I love to see. Far as I'm concerned, it's a sign of their dedication if they show up early. The ones who show up at the deadline... well, draw your own conclusions.

5. Everything appears to be running smoothly at this point, with no injuries or surprises. Always a plus in anyone's book, and let's hope it stays that way.

[RandyTiger]

There hasn't been a whole lotta news coming out of Tiger camp, nothing controversial, anyway. Here's some tidbits:

1. Avila (back spasms) and Rondon (unspecified illness) are back after a few days off each and doing well enough.

2. Both Rondon and Kinsler have lost weight over the winter. Should help Kinsler, not so sure it'll help Rondon in terms of throwing speed - but then again, throwing speed was never his problem. Control was. Boy still needs to learn how to pitch, not just try to throw the ball through a block of wood.

3. JV has been consistently throwing well - and questioning the strike zone, as well as cussing at his pitches. Guess he's back. Today's session, he threw 49 pitches. Last one was 45. Looks like he'll be ready for the season.

4. Ausmus is being cagey, won't declare who his lead-off guy will be to start the season. Hasn't named a starting pitcher for opening day, either.

5. Baserunning has been a focus in this camp - players are being taught to take tight corners running the bases, something that has never been a fundamental under the Leyland years. With a faster team, hopefully the focus on fundamental base-running will lead to more SB's and runs scored, something the Cats struggled with last year and doomed them in the playoffs against Boston.

6. Roster is pretty much set already - although in the bullpen, jobs can be lost if some guys get shelled during ST. Here's who appears to be in:

Pitching, starters:
Verlander
Scherzer
Sanchez
Porcello
Smyly (L)

Pitching, bullpen:
Nathan
Rondon
Alburquerque
Chamberlain
Krol (L)
Coke (L)
Putkonen

Position players, starters:
C Avila
1B Cabrera
2B Kinsler
SS Iglesias
3B Castenellos
LF Dirks/Davis
CF Jackson
RF Hunter
DH Martinez

Position players, bench:
C Holaday
Inf Lombardozzi
OF Kelly

And that's all so far, folks. Next post has game information for the next several days.

[RandyTiger]

Game info for the coming week:

Tuesday, Feb. 25th: Florida Southern Mocs (college team) @ Tigers, 1:05 Eastern. Tigers Starter: Drew VerHagen.

(Partial line-up info: Kinsler will lead off, followed by Hunter, Cabrera, Martinez, and Jackson.)

No media broadcast.

Wednesday, Feb. 26th: Tigers @ Braves, 1:05 Eastern. Starter: Smyly.
Radio: WXYT 1270.

Thursday, Feb. 27th: Braves @ Tigers, 1:05 Eastern. Starter: Porcello.
No media broadcast.

Friday, Feb. 28th: split squad games.

1. Tigers @ Phillies, 1:05 Eastern. Starter: Jose Alvarez. TV: MLBN (delay); MLB.TV (online).
2. Yankees @ Tigers, 1:05 Eastern. Starter: Scherzer. Radio: WXYT 1270.

Saturday, March 1st: Astros @ Tigers, 1:05 Eastern. Starter: TBA.
Radio: 97.1 The Ticket.

[CONN CHRIS]

Thanks Randy!

I am really looking forward to the season. My only concern is the bullpen (of course). I hope that Nathan still has plenty of tread left or it may be another painful journey out there this season.

[RandyTiger]

Originally Posted by CONN CHRIS

Thanks Randy!

I am really looking forward to the season. My only concern is the bullpen (of course). I hope that Nathan still has plenty of tread left or it may be another painful journey out there this season.

Agree. The BP has usually been the Cats' weakest link over the past 2 decades, so I hope this year it will be a bit different. With all of Ausmus's time in the Bigs as a catcher, coupled with Jeff Jones's savvy, maybe this can turn out to be a strength. Solid relief pitchers are few and far in-between... and pricey to boot.

If nothing else, at least Nathan will give Rondon a little more time to develop. I do wish, however, that they had kept Benoit for insurance, but we'll see what happens. This bunch just might surprise us... even with the presence of certain left-handers Whose Name Shall Not Be Spoken, least I burst a blood vessel or two.

[RandyTiger]

Lineup for tomorrow's game has been published:

1. 2B Ian Kinsler
2. RF Torii Hunter
3. 1B Miguel Cabrera
4. DH Victor Martinez
5. CF Austin Jackson
6. LF Andy Dirks
7. C James McCann
8. 3B Nick Castellanos
9. SS Jose Iglesias

SP has been confirmed as VerHagen.

[RandyTiger]

Contract news:

With the signing of the following players, the Tigers now have 32 of their 40-man roster under contract:

RHP Jose Ortega
RHP Luke Putkonen
RHP Evan Reed
LHP Kyle Lobstein
LHP Drew Smyly
3B Nick Castellanos
OF Steven Moya.

[CONN CHRIS]

I was just perusing some minor league records and it looks like that night that I saw Ben Verlander wasn't just an off-night for him.


Little brother may be in short A again at some point this year.

[CONN CHRIS]

Looking back at my night of armchair scouting, it seems that kid Sitz may have been the better of the three that I watched.




Connecticut Tigers 2013 Individual Stats | Connecticut Tigers Stats

Originally Posted by CONN CHRIS

Lowell Spinners (flop sox) - 2, Connecticut Tigers - 1

Pitching:

They were using a rigid pitch count which appeared to be 60 (or at least so for Beck)

Buck Farmer 5th rd selection out of GA Tech this year:
3.0 IP 1 hit, 2 K - Fastball topped out at 92 but he only exceeded 88 twice. Decent outing but most of the outs were sharply hit, his fastball (which he threw a lot) wasn't fooling anyone. If he wasn't on a pitch count, I think Lowell would have opened him up like a sardine can within a few innings. Young kid, so don't write him off but I was not impressed.

Ryan Beck 30th rd selection out of New Mexico State this year:
3.2 IP 2 hit, 1 run, 1 BB, 5 K - Fastball topped out at 91 but had a heavier fastball than Farmer with more movement and pretty good off speed stuff that he went to frequently. Had a lot of Spinners flinching. The run that he gave up should be hung around verlander's neck (will get to that later) - rough and raw kid but he may be something to watch.

Scott Sitz 28th rd selection out of Florida State this year:
2.1 IP 1 hit, 1 run, 1 BB, 2 K , took the loss - Not sure what to make of this kid. Squat, heavy kid that probably had the scouts writing 'bad body' in their reports unless Tony Gwynn and John Kruk have stopped them from doing that. Fastball never got above 88 and he throws a LOT of junk. A guy that starts out like that isn't going anywhere in most cases. He was fun to watch. Fooled people. The run wasn't all his fault. he walked a guy and with one out, the walked fellow stole second. Looked like he was dead but NIETHER the second baseman or the shortstop broke for the bag. They crossed up like that twice last night. The first time, the batter caught a smidgen of the balland they had to call the play back. So, man on second, Sitz gets his second K of the inning and then gives out a dying quail over the SS's head to bring in the game winner. Decent pitcher, likely not going anywhere.

Offense:

Dismal - they had seven hits and loaded the bases once to no avail but seemed pretty listless. Unable to get what they needed when they needed it. Lot of dying floaters and seeing eye singles. The only guy that hit with authority was Patrick Leyland (1B) who Homered to left and had a sharp ringing single to left for a two fer four night. He was a 10th round pick in 2010 and is on his way back down the minor league ladder so I assume that this was a better than normal outing for him.

Deffense:

Eh, 2B (Dominic Ficociello) and SS (Curt Powell) 12th and 21st round picks this year respectively, couldn't get their signals straight on stolen base attempts. Ficciello booted one off the heal of his glove and made a throwing error on a relay from RF but was pretty slick getting to the bag for the DP turn. Ficociello and 3B Curt Powell (21st rounder this year) didn't seem to have arms.

CF Austin Schotts (3rd rounder this year) got a great read/jump on two balls tailing toward RF that he caught (third PO for him was just a straight away affair). He lead off so I assume that he must have a little speed but I didn't get to see it as he went 0-3 with a walk and 2 Ks (one looking).

Ben Verlander (Justin's little brother) was a 14th round pick from Old Dominion this year. I shouldn't pass judgement on one outing but he has the look of kid that will wash out very quickly. At the plate, everything seemed to catch him off guard. He went 0-4 with a K, two weak ground outs to short and a pop up to first. In the field, oh my. No arm, misjudged two balls, one that fell about 3 steps in front of his straight away position for a single. He didn't move until the ball was by the second baseman; the other was a ball hit over his head that was catchable but he took one step in first and then had to retreat in vain giving up a run scoring double. His throw to the cutoff (2B) was a lollypop that made the 2B rush his throw to third - it went in the dirt and skittered away allowing the batter-baserunner to reach 3rd. Verlander either had a rough off-night or he just isn't going anywhere.

This year's 1st and 2nd round picks (pitchers Jonathon Crawford and Kevin Ziomek) are on this squad but I didn't see either.

In summary, a lot of young kids, most of whom we won't be seeing in the future. Great fun though!

[CONN CHRIS]

Originally Posted by Orioles1966

Jose Valverde just signed a minor league deal with the Mets with a spring training invite.

I just noticed this. :-) At least he won't be back in Lakeland!

[RandyTiger]

Detroit 12, Florida Southern 0, 8 innings.

No boxscore, unfortunately. :\

I do know that the Cats held FS to just 3 hits. Well, it's a college team, but at least no-one melted down on the mound.

Next game: Wednesday, Feb. 26th: Tigers @ Braves, 1:05 Eastern. Starter: Smyly.
Radio: WXYT 1270 (Detroit).