Detroit Tigers Playoff Roster Decisions: Omir Santos

by Kurt Mensching on Sep 20, 2011 3:12 PM EDT in Detroit Tigers Analysis

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - AUGUST 25: Catcher Omir Santos #18 of the Detroit Tigers bunts against the Tampa Bay Rays August 25, 2011 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Tigers won 2 - 0. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

We kicked this off with 22 likely "locks" on the Tigers' playoff roster yesterday. (Honestly, I think you could go with 23, but that would cut down on the number of posts I could milk this for so I won't.)This series will continue throughout the week. Next up: the backup catcher question

Some people contend the Tigers need a backup catcher for Alex Avila in case of emergency. Others believe that there are several emergency catchers available to Detroit already on the roster, making the need all but non-existent. In the spirit of debate, I thought we could talk about Omir Santos' chances of being added to the playoff roster.

Before you ask, he could be added to the playoff roster as a replacement for a player on the disabled list. So even if we cede one of those positions to Andy Dirks, there is room enough for Santos too.

I'm not even going to bother looking at his batting numbers, although he apparently had an in-the-park grand slam while he played for the Mets a few years ago. He'd be on the playoff roster solely for an emergency.

Reasons Santos would make the roster

Emergency catcher
The other position players competing for a spot on the roster do not add any unique skills the Tigers need
He bunted in the photo I used

Reasons Santos wouldn't make the roster.

Allow me to quote MomoTigers from another thread:

1 – There are enough travel days built in so that Avila will never, repeat, never see "time off to rest" in the playoffs.

2 – In the event that Avila were injured mid-game, refer to my subject. Leyland has been quoted saying that Martinez could catch if needed. So could Don Kelly for that matter if we’re only talking an inning or two. Further, in the event of injury, a player could be added to the roster (Omir Santos). So, an injury isn’t really all that big of a risk at all.

Summation: There's no need and he takes up a spot that could be used by a Tiger with skills that could actually play.

So what's my take? I don't think he makes it.

Poll

Should Omir Santos make the playoff roster? Will he?

Yes he should make it and he will

32 votes

He should make it, but he won't

35 votes

He shouldn't make it, but he will

20 votes

He shouldn't make it, and he won't

371 votes

458 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 5 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I'm surprised that this post wasn't a two-parter.

seriously.

by lesmanalim on Sep 20, 2011 3:35 PM EDT reply actions

Even better reason to add Carlos Guillen to the playoff roster

If Avila gets hurt, and is day to day. We can just switch the always injured Guillen, with Santos. Guillen can be like a wild card. He’d be like having a player to be named later on the 25 man roster.

by Keith-Allen on Sep 20, 2011 3:47 PM EDT reply actions

Hah

Love it

"You, on the other hand, make Eeyore look like Rainbow Brite." -johnmoz

Contributor, Bless You Boys

by David Tokarz on Sep 20, 2011 7:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Doesn't look like a great bunt in the photo.

by rcpratt on Sep 20, 2011 5:29 PM EDT reply actions

What if the Avila

falls into the “not quite injured, but not good enough for the next game” scenario? (Blown up at the plate, foul ball off the wrist, etc)

If they were to declare Avila injured he would have to sit the remainder of the series, and wouldn’t be eligible for the next series either, right? I suppose they would roll the dice and have Martinez catch, hoping Avila could return for the following game.. It seems like there are enough in-game replacements, but this is the only wrinkle I can see in leaving Santos off the roster. Unless I’m missing something.

by marq96 on Sep 20, 2011 5:44 PM EDT reply actions