Bloggers

Ian Casselberry - Bless You Boys
Bill Ferris - Detroit Tigers Weblog
Peter Robins-Brown - Bugs & Cranks


Question 1: What are your expectations when it comes to LHP Dontrelle Willis?

Ian: Willis will likely be the third or fourth starter in the Tigers' rotation, so I'd expect approximately 10-12 wins from him this season.  I know there is plenty of concern over a pitcher who struggled in the National League coming over to face the stronger American League lineups, but Willis's strikeout numbers have stayed rather consistent throughout his career, which gives me confidence that he still has good stuff.

The hope is that pitching coach Chuck Hernandez can straighten out Willis's mechanics and get him to be more efficient with his pitch count numbers.  It will also be interesting to see whether or not pitching for a better team, one whose lineup should provide plenty of run support and already has plenty of veteran leadership in place, will relieve any pressure Willis might have put upon himself in Florida.

Bill: I'm looking for a moderate bounce back season.  Nothing stellar, but 200 innings of league average-ish production.  There may be some effect to play for a contender and in front of a full house every night. But I think the bigger reason will be he'll have a better defense behind him.  Plus I have some faith in the organization that they wouldn't have extended him if they weren't confident his problems last year were correctable (or already corrected).

Peter: First off, I think it will take the American League at least half the season to adjust to his delivery. For that reason alone I expect him to be excellent in the first half, if not the entire season. I also think that with a much improved defense playing behind him (Tigers D vs. Marlins D), a stronger overall team that should contend for a World Series title, and just the general change of scenery, he should come back strong in 2008 and be among the top 25 pitchers in the AL.


Question 2: If you were the manager, how would you handle Brandon Inge in 2008 (positions played, playing time, etc)?

Ian: I think both the Tigers' aging roster and Jim Leyland's preference to give his guys several days off throughout the season present plenty of opportunity for Brandon Inge to find playing time.  I would try to use him much like the Tigers used Tony Phillips in the early 1990s, using him at several spots in the infield and outfield.  Given his ability to play center field, he could fill in for Curtis Granderson if he needs a break against left-handed pitching.  I'm sure he'll play some third base when Miguel Cabrera fills in at DH or needs a day off.  And of course, Inge could help out at catcher, which is something the Tigers very much need.  I'd also like to see the Tigers use Inge at shortstop, though I'm not sure if he'd perform well enough defensively to suit Leyland.  Overall, I see no reason why Inge couldn't play at least 140 games this season, even if that's a bit less than he'd prefer to play.

Bill: He'd be my primary back-up catcher with the occasional start in centerfield against lefties to platoon Granderson.  And just to keep him happy I'd throw him at third base once every other week or so.  Right there he's making 2-3 starts a week and that's even without injuries.  Despite his problems last year, he still has value to the Tigers due to his versatility.

Peter: If I was Smokin' Jim Leyland this year I would like to play Inge on a regular basis as a backup third baseman, catcher, and replacement in centerfield against left-handed pitchers. However, it doesn't appear that Inge is going to accept that role, and for that reason I think the team should trade him, even if it's for 25 cents on the dollar, or they have to pay a large portion of his contract in order to get any value back. With the team being as deep as it is coming into the season (Marcus Thames, Ryan Raburn, Ramon Santiago, etc.) there really isn't any room for a guy who's going to be unhappy playing on a championship level team - no matter how much it hurts me to say that, considering how big a fan of Inge I have been over the years.


Question 3: What would you do to shore up the bullpen (internally or through signings/trades)?

Ian: I actually like the way Dave Dombrowski approached shoring up the bullpen in the offseason.  Rather than possibly overpay to acquire a set-up reliever, he tried to accumulate a number of promising live arms that may have run out of options with other organizations in the hopes that at least one of them develops into someone reliable.  So the Tigers have until July to determine if pitchers like Denny Bautista, Francisco Cruceta, Yorman Bazardo, and/or a recovered Joel Zumaya can get those key late-inning outs.  And if they can't handle the responsibility, then hit the trade market hard.  Dombrowski might have to be a bit more aggressive or willing to overpay for a quality reliever than he was last season.  There's too much at stake and the championship window is too small not to take a chance.

Bill: Send Fernando Rodney and Joel Zumaya to that island on LOST.  If it can mend bullet wounds and broken spines surely it can keep Zumaya healthy for 6 months.  Seriously though, at this point I'd focus on quantity and hope to get lucky on one or two guys.  Between Bautista, Cruceta, Miner, Bazardo, and some scraps cut by other teams as the spring progresses, hopefully someone emerges.  However, if Todd Jones' arm strength issues persist they might have to do something desperate - which is tough with a decimated farm system.


Question 4: Who is the best Detroit Tigers player of all time?  Why?

Ian: Ty Cobb should probably be the pick when you consider what a phenomenal hitter he was (.366/.433/.512 for his career).  When you look at his career numbers, it's like he had a bad season If he hit below .350.  But I guess I like a guy who can also hit the long ball (399 career home runs, for example), as well as provide outstanding defense, which gives the nod to Al Kaline for me.  I'll admit, however, that I'm influenced by having talked to people who actually saw Kaline play.  If I ever mentioned a nice play that a Tiger made in the outfield - especially right field - my dad would say that I should've seen Al Kaline, and that's stayed with me as long as I've watched the Detroit Tigers.

Bill: I could try to tell you it is Al Kaline, or Hank Greenberg, or Charlie Gehringer, but it would be disingenuous.  It's easily Ty Cobb who's exploits (both within and around the rules of baseball) are legendary.  Best batting average of all time, ninth best OBP of all time, 2nd most triples, 2nd most runs...

Peter: As always, coming up with a best of all-time list, or pick, of any sort is difficult. In this case I discount Ty Cobb and Hank Greenberg, despite their greatness, because I tend to favor players who played after the color barrier was broken. With that said, I'm going to go ahead and pick, Al Kaline. I'm too young to have seen him play, but when you look at his numbers (399 home runs in a time when home runs were especially difficult to come by), combined with his reputation as maybe the best defensive right fielder of all-time, and the way the players of his time reverentially spoke of his talents, I think it's hard to go with anybody else.


Question 5: Present a minor league player you feel is under the radar  (weaknesses/strengths, projections, ETA, etc.).

Ian: I really don't know as much about Detroit's minor leaguers as I probably should, so I hope not to embarrass myself with this answer.  I don't know how "under the radar" he is, but I haven't seen Charlie Furbush on several of the Tigers' Top 10 prospects lists out there.  I like the strikeout numbers I've seen from him in college (including the Cape Cod league) and his brief minor league career.  And he also looks to be the right size you're looking for in a major league pitcher.  Also, as a left-handed starter, Furbush might fill an important spot in Detroit's starting rotation in three or four years, after Nate Robertson and Dontrelle Willis finish out their current contracts.  That would seem to give him plenty of time to develop and progress through the Tigers' minor league system.

Bill: I'm a fan of Mike Hollimon.  I don't view him as someone with a particularly high ceiling, but I think he can start at the big league level as soon as this year.  As a 25 year old he was no spring chicken in AA, but posted solid  offensive numbers across the board while playing solid defense at second and shortstop.  But to his credit he at least did it skipping a level.  Plus managers seem to love his character and leadership.

Peter: After the trade with Florida it's kind of hard to find anyone in the Tigers minor league system who is both good and under the radar. So, I'm going to say, Ryan Rayburn, although I'm sot sure he is either a minor league player, or under the radar. I haven't heard a whole lot about him this year, and after the way he played down the stretch last year I feel like he should be getting a little more publicity. Obviously, the Inge situation has kept him overshadowed, since Inge would basically be playing the same positions as Rayburn. At this point, though, with Inge openly expressing his unhappiness, I feel like Rayburn should have the inside track on that utility spot, with Inge leaving town.