Brennan Boesch, Ryan Strieby, Casper Wells assigned to minor league camp

by Kurt Mensching on Mar 19, 2010 11:33 PM EDT in News Comment 24 comments

The Detroit News' Tom Gage reports tonight the Tigers made their first big round of assignments for positional players.

Outfielders Brennan Boesch, Ryan Strieby and Casper Wells were assigned to the Triple-A Toledo camp. That should provide some pretty exciting nights at Fifth Third Field. Wells was made expendable from the major league roster with the play of Austin Jackson and Ryan Raburn. Boesch and Strieby are just biding time until 25-man roster spots open up, either due to injury or next season.

Shortstop Audy Ciriaco was assigned to Double-A Erie. Thinking out loud, does this mean Detroit will promote Cale Iorg to Triple-A Toledo, even though he really needs to repeat the season in Double-A? I can't imagine Ciriaco would be riding the pine in Erie. Of course Iorg's being advanced to quickly until he stalled completely shouldn't hold up players behind him, either. And where does that leave Brent Dlugach? Second base in Toledo? Maybe third if Don Kelly ends up in Detroit?

It sounds like middle infield in the minors is stacking up as a bit of a mess. But admittedly I haven't spent a lot of time charting out what the minor league rosters might look like, so it's possible I'm completely missing something. Feel free to connect the dots in the comments.

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damn

I was hoping Casper would come north, even if it was just for a little while… oh well, season hasn’t started yet. I have a feeling we’ll see him before September

Welcome to Detroit, NO sissies allowed

by Detroitchik on Mar 19, 2010 11:36 PM EDT reply actions

Maybe this is a sign that Dlugach is coming north?

President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.

by David Tokarz on Mar 19, 2010 11:40 PM EDT reply actions

if he is, that's a bad sign for Santiago probably

Bless You Boys.com

by Kurt Mensching on Mar 19, 2010 11:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Or Everett

President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.

by David Tokarz on Mar 20, 2010 12:23 AM EDT up reply actions

crosses fingers that it's opie

I Like Pie

by mrsunshine on Mar 20, 2010 3:33 AM EDT up reply actions

^^this^^

but i wouldn’t count on it

Welcome to Detroit, NO sissies allowed

by Detroitchik on Mar 20, 2010 8:58 AM EDT up reply actions

maybe...

but that’s wishful thinking.
DD and Leyland don’t want two n00bs as middle infielders, no matter how impressive in sping.

by DetroitTigersGeek on Mar 20, 2010 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions

Thanks for the update Kurt.

Speaking of guys like Dlugach and Kelly…
How do you think the position side of the 25 man roster will end up?

by JAYRC on Mar 19, 2010 11:49 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

as of today i'd say no on both of those guys

9 regulars +
Bench:
C Avila — I think he makes it over Diaz
OF Raburn — Can play a lot of positions and hit well
OF Thomas — Best defensive replacement option
IF Santiago — Really no reason not to

Toledo infield:
1B — Larish
2B — Kelly / Dlugach
SS — Iorg
3B — Kelly/Dlugach

Bless You Boys.com

by Kurt Mensching on Mar 19, 2010 11:59 PM EDT up reply actions

but then kelly doesn't have any options

oh so many things to consider.

I really have to think about this better

Bless You Boys.com

by Kurt Mensching on Mar 20, 2010 12:02 AM EDT up reply actions

Kelly would have to clear irrevocable waivers

then accept a minor league assignment
The Tigers would have six outfielders: Ordonez, Jackson, Damon, Guillen, Raburn, and Thomas, and only one spare infielder- Santiago who isn’t the ideal third baseman.
At this point, I think Kelly has the inside track, while Dlugach isn’t finished, and Jeff Larish still lurks in case Inge has to start the season on the DL. Clete is just burned by the numbers game, even though he’s hitting .400 and is a very solid defensive outfielder.

by Tigerdog1 on Mar 20, 2010 12:06 AM EDT up reply actions

Thanks

Kinda what I had too

I’ve really been impressed with Diaz and I’d love to see Avila play full time in Toledo. I don’t see it happening though.

Dlugach has been great but Santiago has a solid track record.

You are right on with Raburn and Thomas.

It stinks for Kelly though. As you pointed out he has no remaining options. He reminds me a lot of Raburn a few years ago.

Keep up the good work

by JAYRC on Mar 20, 2010 12:13 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I'm going to put myself in the Tigers' mind set today

and try to come up with a post for today or tomorrow.

It’s harder than “well this makes the most sense because of X, Y and Z” because the Tigers don’t operate that way. If they did people would get a whole lot less annoyed!

Bless You Boys.com

by Kurt Mensching on Mar 20, 2010 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Is Iorg in Toledo?!?!
Why?
Sure, he’s got a fantastic glove, but man, if he was being overpowered by AA pitchers, he’s gonna get devoured at the dish in AAA.
Stay in Eerie! Don’t rush his development!
But… it’s kinda too late…

by DetroitTigersGeek on Mar 20, 2010 10:10 AM EDT up reply actions

that's just my best guess

because Ciriaco’s development is important and there’s no reason for him to be a backup, and Gustavo Nunez needs his promotion to Lakeland.

Bless You Boys.com

by Kurt Mensching on Mar 20, 2010 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Very True

I forgot that Ciriaco was in Eerie…

Well… Sorry Iorg. Welcome to the backseat…
Danny Worth will enjoy the company now that Mikey Holliman is gone…

by DetroitTigersGeek on Mar 20, 2010 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions

If Dlugach goes north

it’s probably at the expense of Donnie Kelly, rather than Everett or Santiago.
The Tigers have to be concerned at this stage about Inge’s knees, and they’re not completely certain that Sizemore’s ankles will hold up for a full season. So that 25th man is likely to be a second infielder, rather than a sixth (counting Guillen) outfielder.

Santiago was just signed to a two year extension. He plays three infield positions, and bats from the left side fairly well for a Tiger SS (which ain’t sayin much these days). If Dlugach can play above average defense at the SS position, it would make more sense that he replaces Everett than Santiago. More likely, though, he’d be kept as a spare infielder and the Tigs would keep their veterans until they are more certain that Dlugach can handle the duties full time. They’d be reluctant, I imagine, to put a combination of Avila, Dlugach, Sizemore, and Jackson on the field at the same time up the middle.

Wells had to beat out not only Thomas, but Jackson also, to claim a roster spot. Raburn played the full ten innings in CF against the Braves today. He looks like the alternate to Jackson in CF. I just hope JL isn’t so deluded to think that Raburn is an infielder. AS much as I want his bat in the lineup, I don’t want his glove in the infield.

by Tigerdog1 on Mar 19, 2010 11:57 PM EDT reply actions

OF overabundance suggests Kelly over Clete???

Just piecing together the logic from posts above….

“The Tigers would have six outfielders: Ordonez, Jackson, Damon, Guillen, Raburn, and Thomas, and only one spare infielder- Santiago who isn’t the ideal third baseman. "

That’s a pretty strong argument for a different bench set up than Kurt suggests. Unless we’re accepting Guillen as the emergency 3B (I hope not), there appears to be strong incentive to bring Kelly along, especially considering he’s out of options.

While it’s been noted that Clete has had an excellent spring, and is the best defensive OF replacement option, does this team really need him AND Rayburn on the bench?

by cdobrien on Mar 20, 2010 1:08 AM EDT reply actions