Freddy Dolsi became the latest addition to the Tigers' 25-man roster yesterday, when he was called up from Triple-A Toledo to take Ryan Perry's place. (This was largely covered in yesterday's Open Thread, along with a good discussion on what Dolsi's season numbers indicate.)
This season with the Mud Hens, Dolsi pitched in 24 games, compiling a 4.35 ERA with 19 strikeouts and 11 walks in 31 innings. Last year with the Tigers, he posted a 3.97 ERA with 29 strikeouts and 28 walks in 47.2 innings.
I have to join the majority in scratching my head over this move. Maybe it just doesn't seem that exciting, since we've seen Dolsi before, and his numbers don't look as impressive as Fu-Te Ni's or Casey Fien's. Perhaps the Tigers chose him due to familiarity, or preferred someone already on the 40-man roster. Dolsi has also been very good in June thus far, allowing one run and one walk in 10.2 innings, so maybe they wanted to go with the hot reliever.
Both The Detroit Tigers Weblog and Mack Avenue Tigers have more thoughts on calling up Dolsi, including "highlights" of his Tigers career and a closer look at his numbers.
As it turns out, the Tigers might have put Dontrelle Willis on the DL again because he refused assignment to the minors. That's what SI.com's Jon Heyman reports, anyway.
And as we posted yesterday, a player with Willis's major league tenure has the option of staying on the roster. Here's the explanation from Detroit Tigers Thoughts.
(Thanks to densogirl for posting this in the comments of yesterday's Morning Prowl.)
Could Carlos Guillen now return by July? That's what his agent told Jon Paul Morosi (approximately a week after telling him that season-ending surgery was a possibility.) Apparently, Gullen's current training program has him "feeling much better." However, if the Tigers want him to play left field when he returns, that might require more rehabilitation. Surgery still hasn't been ruled out as an option, either.
Alan Trammell: Always a Tiger. And during the Cubs' visit to Detroit this week, Tram plans on driving by what's left of Tiger Stadium. (Which isn't very much at all, with the upper deck collapsing during demolition yesterday.)
Should Troy Glaus be on the Tigers' radar? He could probably only be a designated hitter at this point, as he's better able to hit than throw on his current rehabilitation. And as Ken Rosenthal writes, Glaus is of no use to the Cardinals if he can't play third base. But he wouldn't have to do that in Detroit. And maybe he could fill in occasionally for Miguel Cabrera at first base.
Last year with St. Louis, Glaus hit .270/.372/.483 with 27 homers and 99 RBIs in 151 games (637 plate appearances).
More from Heyman: He lists the Tigers among 10 teams that could add payroll this season to bring in more help. The other AL Central team on his list is the White Sox. (Other AL teams: Red Sox, Angels, Yankees.)
How did Pedro Martinez look when he threw for some scouts on Friday? One told Danny Knobler that he needs "to go to Triple-A first," showing a good change-up, but only reaching 87 m.p.h. with his fastball. "He's a fifth starter," the scout said. "A soft fifth starter."
Was former Tiger Craig Monroe released by the Pittsburgh Pirates for not hustling? Last Tuesday, Monroe didn't run hard to first base after a strikeout pitch got past Joe Mauer. Apparently, that didn't go over so well with the Pirates' coaching staff and front office.
(via MLB Daily Dish)
If you're hungry for a little national perspective on the Tigers, USA Today's Bob Nightengale wrote a nice feature on the team's success this season, and how players are aware of just how bleak things have been in Detroit recently.
(Hat tip to Mike McClary)
How could Dane Sardinha (who was outrighted to Toledo on Saturday) have had a lower on-base percentage than batting average? Grand Cards does some investigative blogging. Tim Kurkjian would've loved this one.