Prince Fielder, Nick Castellanos, Roy Halladay's Car, Justin Verlander's Fast Food Diet - Afternoon Prowl
by Rob Rogacki on Feb 20, 2012 12:01 PM EST
in Detroit Tigers Links
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PrintWith today being the beginning of Spring Training workouts, stories are flying around the internet left and right. What does this mean for you? Clearly, a double dose of links to quell your baseball fever.
Tigers links:
With Miguel Cabrera at 3B, Nick Castellanos' future with Tigers unclear - Detroit Free Press, John Lowe
"He's stronger already. Castellanos has become noticeably bigger in the upper body than he was last year. 'I did a lot of work this winter,' he said. 'I put on roughly 13 pounds.'" Music to our ears.
The Battle for the Final Bullpen Spot - Walkoff Woodward, Erin Saelzler
You may know her better as SabreRoseTiger, but Erin makes her debut at WoW (I have a feeling that's not going to catch on) talking about the unclaimed spots in the bullpen.
Justin Verlander has fast-food fraternity among Tigers - Detroit News, Tom Gage
Gage asks the hard-hitting questions that fans and bloggers want to hear... like what each player ordered on their last trip to a fast food joint. Many fans will be happy to see that Austin Jackson has discovered the beacon of fast food glory that is In-N-Out.
Detroit Tigers over-under: How many games will Prince Fielder DH this year? - MLive, James Schmehl
Schmehl sets his over/under at 25 games. What do you think, BYB? I'm fine with whatever, as long as that "total games played" stat hovers between 150-160.
Ask Alex: Can Prince Fielder and Miguel Cabrera combine for 80 homers? - Big League Stew, Alex Remington
Big League Stew questions whether Prince and Cabrera can combine for 80 homers. However, they might want to look up the dimensions of Comerica Park before making any further generalizations about Prince's homer totals this season.
Elsewhere in Baseball:
Sam Fuld on the Tampa Bay Rays' win over the New York Yankees in Game 162 of the 2011 regular season - Grantland, Sam Fuld
You know it's going to be a good story when an athlete of Fuld's caliber starts the story with "I like to consider myself a coordinated person," then discusses whether he could hold his own on a Japanese game show.
And so it begins - Where Have You Gone Andy Van Slyke, Pat Lackey
Short but sweet: the Pittsburgh Pirates have put Rule 5 draft pick Gustavo Nunez on the 60-day disabled list. Nunez was plucked from the Tigers' organization this offseason, so it will be interesting to see if he stays in Pittsburgh or not. (Also, what a great blog name.)
Raul Ibanez Signs With Yankees, According To Report - Baseball Nation, Al Yellon
For those looking to offload Delmon Young, the Yankees are showing us that the possibilities in left field (or DH, hopefully) could be much worse.
San Francisco Giants direct Buster Posey to no longer block plate - ESPN
With the Giants instructing Posey to get out of the way of hard-charging runners, it will be interesting to see what other teams with young, All-Star caliber catchers (oh hi there, Alex Avila) have to say about this matter.
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That first link is BS
If Castellanos doesn’t have a future at 3B (which assumes Cabrera can stay there for three years) then he’ll play corner OF. Next question.
"You, on the other hand, make Eeyore look like Rainbow Brite." -johnmoz
"I think of you more as the blue book style essay of sports journalism."-Kurt Mensching
Just checked in to comment on that article
And yeah, it’s awful. No exploration of possibilities when Victor comes back. No scenarios about who plays where. Just a bunch of crap.
I grew up reading the Freep. Was it always this bad, and as a kid I didn’t notice?
If your parents didn't have any children, chances are you won't either
by Singledigit on Feb 20, 2012 12:40 PM EST up reply actions
I was trying to focus on the positive of Castellanos bulking up
But yeah, the rest of it is rubbish
by Rob Rogacki on Feb 20, 2012 1:32 PM EST via Android app up reply actions 1 recs
And 25 sweet pictures
I absolutely love pictures of spring training and that article has 25 of them. Was there a story too?
The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel, 1981
My exact thoughts
Chicks dig me, because I rarely wear underwear and when I do it's usually something unusual
if i may...
WoW is appropriate but WW2 could be catchier ;-)
@walkoffwoodward | www.walkoffwoodward.com
Eh, WW2 is kinda touchy
by Rob Rogacki on Feb 20, 2012 12:25 PM EST via Android app up reply actions 1 recs
How about WW?
"You, on the other hand, make Eeyore look like Rainbow Brite." -johnmoz
"I think of you more as the blue book style essay of sports journalism."-Kurt Mensching
by David Tokarz on Feb 21, 2012 5:32 PM EST up reply actions
Can we engineer a trade for an In-N-Out burger location?
I’d lie and say we should do it just to keep Austin happy, but really I just want In-N-Out to hit the Midwest.
The effects of In-N-Out
I would expect a spare tire, but the pics of AJax make it look like he processed his grease into muscle and tattoos. Dude looks ripped and has some new ink.
The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel, 1981
Try 5 guys burgers and fries instead
The In-N-Out burger may be marginally better than 5 Guys (arguments can be made both ways), but the French Fries at 5 Guys crush their sad counterparts at In-N-Out.
by Big Z in Orlando on Feb 20, 2012 5:19 PM EST up reply actions
Wow do I disagree with you.
However, the only Five Guys I’ve ever been to is in Columbia, Missouri, and it was a fairly new location. Perhaps they were off their game. Still, I was so unimpressed that I’ve never been back. In-N-Out flat kills.
by SweetLouDoubleU on Feb 20, 2012 5:41 PM EST up reply actions
In-n-Out is the best fast burger made
Have one within walking distance, living in San Diego.
Thing about them is, though … eat ‘em while they’re hot. Once they start cooling off at all, they become bricks.
If your parents didn't have any children, chances are you won't either
In-N-Out and wine and pretty much the only things I miss about California.
Well, and surfing. And sequoias.
by SweetLouDoubleU on Feb 20, 2012 6:43 PM EST up reply actions
I dunno
70-80 degrees and sunshine 350 days a year is something I’ve grown quite accusomed to, and fond of.
If your parents didn't have any children, chances are you won't either
I lived in Davis, then the East Bay.
We had consistently unpleasant weather.
by SweetLouDoubleU on Feb 20, 2012 10:49 PM EST up reply actions
But, I never got pepper sprayed...
So, I got that going for me, which is nice.
by SweetLouDoubleU on Feb 20, 2012 10:50 PM EST up reply actions
I wouldn't put 38 HR's as Cabrera's ceiling.
His peak power years are probably still ahead of him. I think he’s equally or better than Jose Baustia is and he’s hit 97 HR’s in the past 2 seasons combined. Miguel is as capable of hitting 50+ HR’s as much as anyone else in the majors.
We already know that Prince can 50 HR’s. So I wouldn’t be shocked if Miguel and Prince combined for 80 homers more than once. They might even hit 90 to 100 one of these years.
I don't see it
Honestly, I’d say 65, with Fielder hitting 35 and Miggy hitting 30
"Goaltending is a normal job, sure. How would you like it in your job if every time you made a small mistake, a red light went on over your desk and 15,000 people stood up and yelled at you."
-Jacques Plante
by DetroitSports on Feb 20, 2012 2:55 PM EST up reply actions
Please tell me that you're kidding.
With the protection that Prince give Cabrera, I say 43 for Cabrera and 38 for Prince.
I don't think Kurt is too far off
Look for a boost in OBP and slugging from both Prince and Cabrera more than a jump in HRs to determine whether the protection factor is working. There’s a lot of luck that comes into play with how many home runs someone hits. I don’t think Cabrera gets much higher than 32 homers, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him hit a career best in doubles.
You can't use old stats to predict for Cabrera this year because...
he’s never had protection like this before. He will not get pitched around and I honestly believe that he could hit 40-45 homeruns, 130+ RBI’s, and a .350+ BA. There will be no doubt of who the best hitter in baseball is by season’s end.
I didn't use any old stats to predict for Cabrera this year
I love your optimism, but I don’t think that Fielder will have that kind of impact on a guy that is already one of the best hitters in baseball. Pitchers aren’t going to start lobbing fastballs down the middle of the plate. Yes, the intentional walks will go down, but there’s no way to predict that his home run totals will increase. The Comerica fences haven’t moved, and I don’t believe they have in any of the other 13 AL ballparks either.
They have moved in Chicago,
but that’s not the point. It has been shown, that when you put a great hitter behind a great hitter, they will see better pitches to hit. Cabrera does not miss good pitches to hit. With all do respect, it is very naive to think that Fielder won’t have a great effect on Cabrera.
Heres what you do:
1. Sign Damon to DH and bat second
2. Move Boesch to fifth to protect Fielder
3. Put Raburn in left
4. Make DY a power bat off of the bench
5. Profit
by JacksTigers on Feb 20, 2012 10:36 PM EST up reply actions
Who bats second?
It’d be nice to have a lefty with some speed. Damon fits that.
by JacksTigers on Feb 20, 2012 10:40 PM EST up reply actions
Put Boesch there
He wants to hit second and would be perfect in front of Cabrera and Fielder. He’s not going to steal many bases, but you don’t need steals with Cabrera and Fielder hitting 3rd and 4th.
by Rob Rogacki on Feb 20, 2012 10:42 PM EST up reply actions
Who protects Fielder?
Delmon? No thank you.
by JacksTigers on Feb 20, 2012 10:43 PM EST up reply actions
Him or Peralta
Boesch will likely hit 2nd though.
by Rob Rogacki on Feb 20, 2012 10:45 PM EST up reply actions
I'd prefer Boesch to protect him.
1. Jackson
2. Damon
3. Cabrera
4. Fielder
5. Boesch
6. Peralta
7. Avila
8. Raburn
9. Santiago
or
1. Jackson
2. Boesch
3. Cabrera
4. Fielder
5. Peralta/Young
6. Young/Peralta
7. Avila
8. Raburn
9. Santiago
I’d prefer the table setters of Jackson and Damon to Jackson and Boesch. Just look at the Cabrera’s RBI totals from 2010 w/ Damon to 2011 w/o Damon. He had 126 RBI’s in 2010 and 106 without him. If you want to maximize the oppurtunities for Cabrera/Fielder, then Damon is your best option.
by JacksTigers on Feb 20, 2012 10:55 PM EST up reply actions
Damon is a marginal improvement at the 2 spot at best
And this assumes that he replicates the .350+ OBP that he had in 2010. My guess is that he wouldn’t. By signing Damon, you have to get rid of someone else off the 25-man roster. What Damon adds isn’t worth the depth that he costs you by getting rid of someone else who can actually play a little defense.
by Rob Rogacki on Feb 20, 2012 11:08 PM EST up reply actions
The roster spot would work itself out
While it is a marginal improvement in the number two spot, it’s a great improvement in the number five spot. Inge is taking up a roster space. Who would you rather have on the 25 man roster? Obviously Damon.
by JacksTigers on Feb 20, 2012 11:11 PM EST up reply actions
Inge won't be cut
If he were, he would have already been released or traded. IF the Tigers were to sign Damon (and that’s a big if, because it’s frankly not a good idea), you would probably see someone like Don Kelly cut. Joke all you want, but I’d rather have Kelly’s versatility than Damon’s now-one-dimensional skill set.
by Rob Rogacki on Feb 20, 2012 11:15 PM EST up reply actions
Kelly is a lot more valuable than Inge
We released Sheffield in ST, not sure what makes you think that if Inge fails in ST, he won’t be cut, but this whole thing started with who will protect Fielder because Delmon is a bad idea. Damon brings us a true number two hitter. Boesch brings us a true number five hitter. Inge brings us nothing.
by JacksTigers on Feb 20, 2012 11:18 PM EST up reply actions
Nobody on this team except Cabrera will protect Fielder
Boesch won’t make pitchers think twice about pitching around Fielder.
If anything, having a good righty behind him (not Boesch) might, might, make a LHP think twice about walking him.
The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel, 1981
I like Boesch in the 2 hole
I think he’s the one that stands to benefit most from hitting ahead of Cabrera. As long as he maintains his good hitting, he can be a stud in that spot.
The league average OBP is down to .325, .330 in the past two seasons. Get at least that from AJax, or try Raburn or someone else.
I’d bat Peralta or Avila fifth and move Delmon down. But then, I’d have spent Delmon’s salary on a second baseman.
"King of Minutiae"
It's also very naive to think that Fielder will have such a huge impact on Cabrera
Miggy has proven throughout his career to be a very patient hitter who waits for his pitch. He’s not exactly Delmon Young or Brennan Boesch, who will benefit more from the direct approach that opposing pitchers will probably take with them.
I’m not trying to say that Fielder won’t have a positive impact on Cabrera’s production, but I think you’re looking at it the wrong way. Look for Cabrera to spray the ball all over the park this season. Will this result in more home runs? It’s tough to say.
You make it sound like Cabrera only hits 30 homeruns...
Since coming to Detroit, Cabrera has averaged 34.75 HR/Season. If you take out the abnormal low of 30 this year, it goes up to 36.33 HR/Season. You cannot tell me that it is out of the realm of possibility for Cabrera to see enough good pitches to not only hit more doubles, but several more homers to push him above the 40 home run mark. Add in that he is coming into the season in better shape and more content as he’s at the position that he prefers. I don’t think that 43 homeruns is as crazy as you make it sound. Would you be surprised to see Cabrera hit over 40 homers? Come on, man.
by JacksTigers on Feb 20, 2012 10:32 PM EST up reply actions
I be surprised if he went his whole career and never hit 40
Cabrera could have almost 30 HR’s at the All-Star break if he has a career year.
by Keith-Allen on Feb 20, 2012 11:01 PM EST up reply actions
Exactly
He has amazing power, perhaps better than Bautista, but unlike Bautista, Cabrera would prefer to get the RBI with a bloop single than to try for a homer and risk a strike out. Very smart hitter.
by JacksTigers on Feb 20, 2012 11:04 PM EST up reply actions
Actually
It hasn’t been shown that you will see better pitches with a better batter behind you. Here is a pretty good story about the effects of having a a good hitter in the on deck circle.
Of particular note:
The results lead us to not only reject the protection hypothesis, but also we find evidence that good on-deck hitters actually harm the hit and power probabilities of the current batter.
I think that Castellanos should be groomed as a right fielder.
I think that he is a starter in 2013. He just looks to me as a guy who will dominate the minors.
If he dominates this year, it will probably be in Lakeland
2013 is a little soon to project him for the bigs…there’s a lot of room between Lakeland and Detroit. If we assume a solid 2012 at Lakeland, a 2013 promotion to Erie still puts him in an aggressive spot for his age. I think at late 2103 callup and ETA at the start of 2014 is perhaps optimistic, but very close to realistic. That causes a bit of a log jam with Martinez, Cabrera, and Fielder, but I think time will work it out.
The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel, 1981
I think that he's in Erie by mid June.
I really like him. I think that with this added muscle, we will see power and he will tear it up. I can’t wait for him to start tearing up the majors in 2017 or so. I think that we have a Ryan Braun type player.
Afternoon Prowl?
We go from no links postings in months to two per day. I love it! Thank you for the additional article links Rob, it is very much appreciated!
Don't get used to it
I had today off and there’s always a plethora of content from bored baseball writers on the first day of workouts. Unless Kurt gets ambitious, we’ll be sticking with just the morning post for the foreseeable future.
up to the writers of course
but I do have a few ideas we can all discuss.
by Kurt Mensching on Feb 20, 2012 6:41 PM EST up reply actions
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