Whoa. Avila in Detroit? Interesting. What does this mean if Leyland uses him like he used Dusty Ryan? I don’t see the point in bringing him up if he doesn’t play, so he better be getting 40% of the starts behind the plate.

Well, the Avila call up REEKS of desperation. It’s 3rd degree desperation. It’s Cameron Maybin called up in 2007 style desperation.

I honestly don’t see how Avila fits, unless Laird is going to share playing time. Even then, it’s a stretch to think Avila is ready yet, especially behind the plate. His call up is a head scratcher, to say the very least.

Lambert, on the flip, has earned his call up. Let’s see what he’s got.

Top prospect in the Tigers system is Casey Crosby.

And no, I will not shut up about him until he retires.

…that Gerald Laird was not brought to Detroit for his offense. He was brought over to work with the pitching staff and control the running game. He has done exactly that. I’m not sure it’s the best idea to have a really young catcher learning on the job during a pennant race. Surely, if they’re trying to tap the farm system for some offense, there are other options (though I HAVE heard that just about every position player in the Tigers’ minors strikes out too much).

Even if they are trying to tap into the offensive side of the catcher’s postion (that’s fools gold anyways … nearly all catchers are brutal at the plate and the ones that aren’t are not available), why jettison Dusty Ryan who flashed power and decent patience from the C spot in 2008 and hasn’t even gotten a chance in 2009 (really? 29 PA’s this year? Really?)?

Just don’t get it and do not like the move one bit.

I don’t actually mind the idea. Ya, we are wasting a option on him, but really what is there to lose? Laird needs some days off (as almost everyone that he has had, he ends up playing in) and if defense is an issue with Avila why not let him tutor some. It won’t work if he doesn’t get off the pine, but…..(I wonder what Skelton is up to….oh, here it is: OPS .579, SLG .238, AVG .182….ya never mind). Ryan and de Pineapple have given us nothing.

No help now, but offensively, if they want anything out of the catcher spot they might as well offer Mauer (yes Wepri!) 150 million dollars in the off season (or trade every player we have Wieters!).

I am not ready to write this off just yet. I could be way off base, but if we were to get someone in a trade after they pass through waivers and we throw in the vague “PTBNL”…maybe someone wanted to get a peek at him? ~ probably not, but….

I think Washburn is allowed a shit steak for an outing. He has never worked with Laird and I am sure he was nervous, wanting to impress.

DD/Mikey, really have a hard job these days. Ya, they want to win (and NOW!), but Detroit already has a huge payroll so they are a little hand tied.

In conclusion, I have not a freaking clue what the hell is going on!

Yes.

I’m not sure I understand either move – Avila isn’t going to benefit from sitting on the bench, and will Lambert, being a starter, help our bullpen, or is the Kid/Battlestar about to get a rest?

These moves only work if 1) Avila and Laird platoon, with better offense from the catcher’s spot as a result; and 2) Lambert is a placeholder, as some seem to think, for Bonderman and/or Robertson, or they slot him in for a turn in Porcello or Galarraga’s spot.

Why they don’t want to see what Ramirez can do. We have seen Raburn, Thames, and Magglio this year, and the offense has struggled. Let the kid play for a week and see what happens. Jeez, they gave Don Kelly at bats, why not give Ramirez a real shot?

…..ryan would have been a little better at the plate had he played more then once a week…he would been fine just playing twice a week….Avila isnt going to hit well either up here and I believe that Ryan is better defensivly so I dont really like this move at all

Makes no sense given the time of year. Put an unproven double a kid behind the plate in the heat of a division race? Asking for passed balls and for teams to run on us like we run on aj. I guess dd has run out of ideas.

…..on the lil griffins episdoe……Dumb Yes…..Idiotic yes

Like desperation.

But I’m fine with it. Let’s throw stuff against the wall, see if it sticks. ChiSox are right on our tail. While they have their own issues, we need to do everything possible to get our damn offense going.

as I am still getting my bearings with our farm system – I never used to pay attention and I’m trying to remedy that. but I am reading what everyone says.. heh.

Avila is playing the most demanding position on the field behind a man who hasn’t had a decent backup all season. That man being Laird who A)can’t hit and B) is getting worn down. This means Avila should get regular playing time. This call up may be a little to soon and Dusty probably didn’t get much of a chance to prove himself, but Alex may be another one of those young gunz that’ll help spark the Tigers offense. Chris Lambert is gonna be fine up here, I don’t have any arguments about him coming up and probably no one else does.

So heres to another possible bat in the line up.

Not.

we’re going to see a lot of these yo-yos between now and Aug 31, as Dombrowski and Leyland finalize the 40 man roster.

I don’t follow the farm system as closely as most on this board, but do they have any other options? Is it simply a choice of Ryan vs. Avila, or is there anyone who’d make it through waivers?

It may be a move of desperation, or it may just be the only moves they have right now. Until about 5 different bats wake up, anyway. If a handful of guys were batting .280 instead of .250, we’d barely notice this.

It doesn’t start today. Laird in lineup per freep.clete, maggs, and everett with the rest of the usual suspects. Guillen dh.