Morning Prowl: Joel Zumaya, Scott Sizemore, Trammell and Whitaker

by Kurt Mensching on Apr 22, 2011 9:59 AM EDT in Detroit Tigers Links

Jamie Samuselsen's blog: Add Tigers' Joel Zumaya to best-that-never-was category | Detroit Free Press | freep.com
Eulogizing Joel Zumaya's career. It very well may be over, but I'm not going to rush the issue.

John Lowe: Five things to watch in Tigers-White Sox series
How will the lineup do? How about Jackson? Lowe has those questions and more.

If Ryan Raburn at Second, Why Not Scott Sizemore? | Motor City Bengals
John Parent wonders why Sizemore isn't getting an opportunity. One guess: He just hasn't made Leyland feel comfortable during his time wearing the D. Right now Leyland knows what Raburn gives him. Sizemore's past appearances have been as inconsistent as Will Rhymes this year. Added guess: Minor league coaches/scouts say there's work left to be done in Sizemore's game first. Stats aren't everything. Decisions usually have a reason, but that reason isn't always known. ... But thinking about this more, that reason might just be "finding playing time for both Raburn and Brennan Boesch."

Detroit Tigers are struggling, but not as badly as the Twins or White Sox | MLive.com
I don't agree that the standings are perfectly inverted -- never was believer in the Twins finishing above third -- but the rest of what Matt writes is a good recap of the AL Central so far this year.

Slumping White Sox still present challenge for Tigers | detnews.com
The A's and Mariners can't hold a candle to the potential run-scoring of the White Sox, Lynn Henning writes

Joe Blogs: The Hall of Not Famous Enough
JoePos says by the numbers Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker should be in -- duh -- but "one of the most famous double play combinations in baseball history, figure to stay together in the Hall of Not Famous Enough." (H/T Ian)

Hen Eggs -- April 21, 2011 - Coop Scoop
John Wagner sums up the Mud Hens' doubleheader in quick order.

Scout.com: TigsTown Draft Blog: Scanning the Landscape
Mark Anderson takes an early look at the draft in this freely accessible article.

AL Central In Focus: Asdrubal Cabrera and Small Sample Size
The Indians' version of Cabrera is hitting more home runs per fly ball than normal, but most of his other stats are consistent, Colin writes.

Huffman goes berserk in batter's box | MiLB.com News | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball
Indians prospect Chad Huffman hit three homers and had 10 RBI for Triple-A Columbus against Louisville

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Whitaker is always overlooked, but he was a multiple Gold Glove, Silver Slugger, and All Star… and one of the best 2nd basemen of his era.

If you go in the bathroom, turn off the lights, and say "Da Coach" 5 times while facing the mirror... Ditka will appear and slap the wussy right out of you.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Apr 22, 2011 11:51 AM EDT reply actions

The Sizemore thing has been talked to death.

It just seems that JL does not like him. It’s possible that they were waiting to get off the left coast, but I doubt it. JL is stubborn, to put it mildly, and he just doesn’t seem to value Sizemore.

FREE SCOTT SIZEMORE!!

"What does a momma bear on the pill have in common with the World Series? - NO CUBS!" - Harry Caray

by 77bestrookieclassever on Apr 22, 2011 11:58 AM EDT reply actions

Sizemore and scouts

Do you (Kurt) have a link or some ev regarding that? Because from what I remember, even Baseball America liked him as a guy who didn’t overwhelm but who had solid, translatable tools.

"Aside from the stuff I haven’t been diagnosed for yet, I don’t have a problem."- Phil Coke

Contributor, Bless You Boys

by David Tokarz on Apr 22, 2011 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Te was a good article about zumaya

Thanks Jamie.

As far as the raburn or sizmore debate, I have made my feelings clear that I have wanted him on the 25 man roster, ESPECIALLY over rhymes.

BUT, I feel that maxing raburn to second is a much better idea.
1) I will take raburns bat over sizemores any day of the week. Doubly so if it allows boesch and mags in the lineup
2) raburn is an infielder by nature. Was all through his early career. I think his defense at second will far exceed what he can do in the outfield.
3) If he can do it, he provides a permanent solution for our dire need of a good hitting infielder and the eventual loss if guillen
4) if Scott sizemore continues as he has shown in AAA, he becomes worth a metric buttload as a trade chip for a more alarming need
5). He’s under contract for a bit. Not a huge one, but we still have to figure out what to do with him, especially if he is being outplayed by boesch.
Granted all of my reasons will be totally dictated by whether or not he can handle the role at second, which I feel he can. If that position is wide open, then in my mind, he really deserves the first crack at it.

Thoughts should be reserved for those that can use them.

by Siggzilla on Apr 22, 2011 12:12 PM EDT reply actions

I would have gone with Sizemore to begin with, but....

There was no open competition for the job this spring. Nobody “won” or “earned” anything this spring. Rhymes simply took advantage of the opportunity last year when he got it, and Sizemore did not.

If we’re going to give Will the same shot that Sizemore got last year, we have a ways to go. If JL truly believed that Will was the best option to start the season, it’s really too soon to hit the panic button on him. 50 AB’s for Will this year, over 100 for SS last year, plus you have last year’s performances.

I also feel that JL likes what we all like about Will. He brings a certain energy to his game, and I believe that JL likes his speed as well.

The lack of a 3 hitter has had an impact on the 2 hitters this year as well. The Tigers desperately need Maggs to get healthy. There is nobody else to fill his shoes. Maybe he can’t even fill them any more, but we need a legit No. 3 hitter.

JL has signaled what he’s going to do for now. Chuck defense in the river both at SS and at 2B, and use Raburn and Peralta. Using RR lets him get BB into the lineup, and he has clearly decided that BB is an every day player, making a farce yet again of his promise to give RR and every day job. Just more BS from JL, but such is life in Tigerdom.

I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!

by Tigerdog1 on Apr 22, 2011 12:27 PM EDT reply actions

The lack of a 3 hitter has had an impact on the 2 hitters this year as well.

That is true, just as the lack of a leadoff man has done about the same to the 2 hitter. Another thought would be that the lack of a leadoff man and 2 hitter could have a lot to do with the problems at 3.

On a side note, we don’t have a problem with our 4 hitter, other than no one has consistently been on in front of him.

"What does a momma bear on the pill have in common with the World Series? - NO CUBS!" - Harry Caray

by 77bestrookieclassever on Apr 22, 2011 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions