A few days ago I bought the CountryStrongTigers name and made it my own.
Now I’m proud to say that the official Country Strong website is up and running on the FanVFan network!
All of my work in the coming days, weeks, months, will be on the site. I’ll still be posting stuff on occasion on here but, it’ll mostly be for news and what not.
So, I hope like the new site. Visit early and often as I know you all will. And plus, it makes me $$$ when you visit.
= )
(AP Photo)
Tigers’ fifth starter candidate Duane Below looks to put one more lasting impression on Tigers manger Jim Leyland in his start against the Orioles today.
Duane Below will need to be on his A-game today against the Orioles if he wants to be the Tigers fifth starter. Below’s numbers haven’t really been that impressive this Spring, 1-0 with a 4.38 ERA, 12.1 IP, 8SO and 6BB.
While Duane is the more experienced starter then the remaining guy Drew Smyly, has the better stuff and mound presence in my opinion. Below should make the Tigers squad but not as a starter but, as a long man/spot starter.
Even if Below pitches well today, I still think the final rotation spot has already been won by rookie lefty Drew Smyly.
(AP Photo)
The Tigers announced Friday morning that they’re reassigning catcher Omir Santos to minor league camp.
Which, unless you live under a rock, you knew this would happen. Having catchers Alex Avila and Gerald Laird, there was no way Omir was making the team out of camp unless Laird went down with an injury.
Omir hit .267 with four hits a double and three RBIs in 12 at-bats this Spring for the Tigers.
Santos will more then likely be assigned to Triple-A Toledo. Where he will be the primary catcher for the MudHens.
With this move it sorta creates a stockpile of catchers that are capable of playing in Toledo. Bryan Holaday, Jeff Kunkel, and John Murrian are all capable of catching for the MudHens in 2012 so, it’ll be interesting to see which guys they go with.
Manager Jim Leyland recently talked about the Tigers catching depth:
“I think we’re pretty deep,” Leyland said. “Our depth now at catching has probably now gone from the bottom of the tier toward the top.”
(AP Photo)
Brennan Boesch continues his hot hitting this Spring by launching a three-run homer last night off Washington Nationals pitcher Mitch Atkins. The homer would go for nought as the Tigers lost 5-3 in the late innings.
With Boesch’s home run on Thursday night he has now homered in three of his last four games, with two homers coming off of lefties.
Brennan is a career .269 hitter and has been a shade better this Spring hitting at a .271 clip. In 59 Spring at bats, Brennan is hitting .263 against lefties and .275 against righties. Which, for a power hitter like him, that’s pretty even keel.
After getting off to a slow start this Spring, Boesch has really picked it up as of late. Hitting in five straight games collecting seven hits, three home runs and six RBIs.
“You build to a point in spring training where you feel like you have the swing where you want it to be,” Boesch said.
“From then on, the swing is no longer something you’re concerned about.”
“That’s when it starts to get fun, when you can trust your swing and start competing out there.”
Boesch was asked if he had reached that point:
“Yeah,” Boesch said. “I’ve been there for two weeks.”
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I tabbed Boesch in a earlier post this season to hit .270 18HR 75RBI. It looks like he’s well on his way to match those numbers. I think that if Boesch continues his sweet swingin’ into the regular season, he’ll exceed the eighteen home run mark and maybe even reach twenty five. He still needs to improve his OBP percentage as a number two hitter, which won’t be easy hitting in front of Cabrera and Prince. Because, there isn’t no way a pitcher is going to walk him to get to the Big Fellas.
There has been speculation from Detroit News baseball writer Tom Gage that the Tigers might have a possible trade in the works. In a recent article Tom wrote,
“Upon arrival at the stadium in Jupiter on Wednesday, general manager Dave Dombrowski immediately sat down at the end of the Tigers’ dugout with Leyland — the way they often do at this time of spring training when they are discussing confidential matters involving players — and/or trades”.
And this statement from today,
“And now this: The Tigers didn’t burn the midnight oil with meetings, but they’re burning the mid-morning oil. Even with the Tigers’ game being a 6:05 p.m. game against Washington, all the decision makers were at the clubhouse by 10 a.m. on Thursday — at least their cars were.” “It’s not uncommon for Leyland to arrive extremely early for a night game, of course, and it could be that Dombrowski had an early staff meeting. There’s no guarantee this was a trade talk session.” “But at this time of the spring training, with time winding down, and several signals that something could be in the works, it feels like something is.”
Gage said that there is some speculation that the Phillies might have some interest in Tigers utility man Brandon Inge. If this is indeed true, I’d think that the Tigers would show interest in right-handed starter Joe Blanton, who’s name was brought up in trade rumors earlier this year.
The Tigers would have to eat most, if not all of Inge’s salary for 2012, which is $6M, for the trade to be possible. It’s uncertain wether or not the Phillies would so that trade straight up so, maybe the Tigers would offer up recently demoted lefty starter Andy Oliver?
Here is the Scouting Report on Joe Blanton:
The 30-year old right-hander was a 1st round pick in 2002 out of University of Kentucky, and is in his 9th major league season; he spent five seasons with Oakland and is in his 4th season with the Phillies. He’s 72-60 for his career with a 4.30 ERA and 1.34 WHIP. He has been referred to as a “league-average/innings eater” in the past, but was rewarded and will make 21 million dollars over the next two years.
Blanton throws strikes and has a very compact delivery, releasing from a high 3/4s arm slot. He features a 88-91 mph fastball that he will throw to both sides of the plate, a slider (83 mph), as well as an occasional curve (76 mph) and change-up (81 mph). He also has started to throw a few cutters per game (88 mph). His two best pitches are his slider and change-up. He’s a fly-ball pitcher who has been prone to the long-ball the last two years. Last year his fastball was his favorite pitch with 2 strikes, with poor results (6.8 K/9, below league average).
To sum that up, Blanton is just an average innings eater pitcher. Which is all the Tigers need.
(AP Photo)
And then there were two. The Tigers fifth starter spot is down to just two men (Drew Smyly and Duane Below) after the Tigers optioned Andy Oliver down to Triple-A Toledo earlier today.
On Tuesday, Oliver pitched against the Houston Astros and didn’t fair well. Giving up six earned runs in just three innings. After that it was almost clear as glass that he’d for sure be sent down to the minors. He struggled to find his best pitch, the slider. And like the old saying says, “It’s not how you start the race, it’s how you finish it”.
So that leaves to lefties to duke it out for the final rotation spot. Duane Below and Drew Smyly.
Smyly is due to start on Monday against the Blue Jays. While Below’s final start will be on Friday against the Baltimore Orioles.
This club hasn’t ruled out the possibility of bringing in someone via trade. But, of I had to guess, I don’t think they’ll go that route just yet.
(AP Photo)
Leyland used five words to describe the Cardinals lineup yesterday before Drew Smyly’s start “That’s a real good test” Leyland said.
Against the defending World Series Champs, Drew pitched 4 2/3 innings while giving up three hits, three runs and striking out four.
“They’re the defending World champions” said Smyly. “It was a great opportunity to go out there and show what you’ve got against the best”.
Smyly has definitely taken advantage of his opportunities this Spring. In four appearances, he’s only allowed 4 runs in 12 2/3 innings
Smyly’s worst inning of the Spring came Wednesday in the third. After retiring the first seven of eight batters, Drew ran into some trouble by allowing three consecutive batters to reach base, which resulted in two runs. Smyly also let up a home run to Tyler Greene in the fourth inning.
“I thought I did well the whole time,” Smyly said. “I made it hard on myself in the third, but I thought I got out of it fine. We had a three-run lead, and I held the lead by only giving up two runs.”
“You just want to give it all you got,” Smyly said. “You’re so close. Everyone wants that spot. You want to pitch in the big leagues, that’s what you always hope for since you’re a kid.”
Leyland said that whether or not Drew makes the team, he’s left a good impression on him. “It’s not a matter of helping or hurting. I’ve liked what I’ve seen from him so far. Nothing changed my mind.” “I will say this, whether he makes it or not, he looks like a classic-looking left-handed pitcher to me. And at some point, if things don’t go haywire, he’ll pitch in the big leagues. That’s my judgment, from what I’ve seen.”
Whether or not this start sealed the fifth starting spot for Drew is yet to be seen. He’ll have one more opportunity make his case next Monday against the Toronto Blue Jays. Both Duane Below and Andy Oliver will also have one more shot to make their bids for the fifth spot. Oliver starts Sunday against the Mets, while Below starts Friday against the Orioles.
(AP Photo)
Ex-Tiger Joel Zumaya is officially out of a job…again. After being officially released by the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday.
The Twins signed Joel to a Major-League contract and he’ll be receiving the full payment of the $850,000 because, his injury occurred before the start of the season.
Joel suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament on Feb. 25 in an attempt to make another comeback. Zumaya elected to end his season to have Tommy John surgery, in which the Twins will have to pay for.
There is no doubt that teams will be interested in Fireballer after his rehab next year but, I doubt he’ll be offered a major-league contract though until he can prove that he’s back to 100% health.
Joel had a conversation with Tigers manager Jim Leyland recently saying he’s ‘going to give it one more shot’.
“I talked to him,” Leyland said. “The conversation, and I don’t know if it’s still the same, I don’t know if he still feels the same but, the conversation I had with him, he was going to get this done, the surgery, and give it one more shot.”
Tigers take on the defending World Series champ St. Louis Cardinals today in Jupiter, FL at 1:05pm.
Here are both the Tigers and Cardinals lineups, along with scheduled pitchers.
Tigers Lineup:
1)Austin Jackson (CF)
2)Brennan Boesch (DH)
3)Jhonny Peralta (SS)
4)Don Kelly (1B)
5)Andy Dirks (LF)
6)Alex Avila (C)
7)Clete Thomas (RF)
8)Brandon Inge (2B)
9)Ramon Santiago (3B)
Starter:
LHP Drew Smyly (0-0, 1.13 ERA)
Also Scheduled To Pitch:
RHP Brayan Villarreal, LHP Phil Coke, LHP Daniel Schlereth
VS.
Cardinals Lineup:
1)Rafael Furcal (SS)
2)Carlos Beltran (RF)
3)Matt Hollidy (LF)
4)David Freese (3B)
5)Lance Berkman (1B)
6)Yadier Molina (C)
7)Jon Jay (CF)
8)Tyler Greene (2B)
9)Adam Wainwright (RHP)
Starter: RHP Adam Wainwright (2-0, 0.00 ERA)
Also Scheduled To Pitch:
RHP Jason Motte, RHP Mitchell Boggs, LHP J.C. Romero, RHP Fernando Salas
(AP Photo)
Fifth starter candidate Drew Smyly will be taking a major test today, as he is set to take on the defending World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals at 1:05 in Jupiter, FL.
Drew’s last start against the Class-A Atlanta Braves was a great one. Going four innings, while not allowing a run and striking out eight. Granted it was against lesser minor league players but still, his stuff was impressive nevertheless. In eight Major League exhibition innings, Drew has only allowed one run.
Today though will be a much different story as far as competition goes. The Cardinals had an off day yesterday so, they’ll be well rested and ready to go. Plus at this stage in Spring Training, most teams during home games, tend start their regulars.
So Drew will be facing the likes of hitters such as, Lance Berkman, Matt Holliday, David Freese etc. These guys will more then likely be getting three at bats against him do to the fact that at this stage in the Spring, pitchers tend to pitch further into games. So it’ll be vital for Drew to be able to mix up his pitch selection, location and speeds to be affective in getting those veteran hitters out.
With Andy Oliver struggling to find his “out” pitch in his last start on Tuesday against the Astros (3IP, 7H, 7R, 6ER, 2BB, 3SO), and being so close to the end of Spring Training, if Drew is the least bit effective, say he goes 5IP, 6H, 2R, 2ER, 1BB, 4SO, I think it’ll push him even more further ahead of the pack of other fifth starter candidates.
I wouldn’t say this is a make or break start for Drew but, it’ll be a major eye opener for the Jim, and the rest of the Tigers Organization, if Drew can show effectiveness in getting veteran Cardinals hitters out.
