Octavio Dotel starts with his 13th team in 13 seasons; Joel Zumaya clearly can't catch a break from the baseball Gods; and the Tampa Bay Rays rotation is by all accounts deadly. These stories and more appear in today's morning prowl!
Tigers links:
Tigers' Octavio Dotel: Baseball's travelin' man -- USATODAY.com, Jeff Seidel
The Tigers are the 13th Major League Baseball team Octavio Dotel has been a part of. Dotel is in his 13th season. You do the math.
The Eulogly of Joel Zumaya -- Walkoff Woodward, Doc Worn
I was at the Twins practice Saturday hoping to get a glimpse of Zoom in a Minnesota uniform. When I found out Sunday that he was nowhere to be found because he was out for the season, I was devastated. And I think all baseball fans -- not just Tigers fans -- share that sentiment. It's just such a heartbreaking story.
If Brandon Inge gives Tigers best chance to win, play him -- Detroit Free Press, Jamie Samuelsen
Yes, I'm guilty of feeding the Brandon Inge media circus. But I quite liked this article. At least it's honest. And at least it doesn't unnecessarily scrutinize the guy. Though I still think Ramon Santiago gives Detroit the best chance to win.
Scenes From Spring Training in Lakeland -- DesigNate Robertson
Because every links post needs to have at least one Detroit Tigers funny.
How the Tigers compare to other top American League contenders -- The Oakland Press, Pat Caputo
Caputo breaks down how the Detroit Tigers match up against the other big teams in the American League -- most notably, the New York Yankees and the Texas Rangers.
Bobby Abreu and Tigers Make Perfect Fit -- Motor City Bengals, Chris Hannum
If the rumor is true that the Angels are interested in trading 38-year-old Bobby Abreu, would the Detroit Tigers be a good fit to pick him up? Hannum certainly thinks so. What do you guys think?
Valverde's streak puts Gagne's in perspective -- Tigers.com, Jason Beck
"Jose Valverde made it to the big leagues the year that Eric Gagne made baseball immortality. He still has a long way to go, but the Big Potato could be covering the same ground."
Around the AL Central:
After tough season, White Sox 2B Gordon Beckham ready to follow dad’s advice and ‘let loose’ -- The Washington Post
After Gordon Beckham's disappointing 2011 season with the Chicago White Sox, the 25-year-old second baseman is hoping that a new mindset, new coach, and a new year will mean big things for the 2012 season.
Cleveland Indians' Chris Perez to miss most of spring camp with strained left oblique -- The Plain Dealer, Paul Hoynes
The Indians have already lost center fielder Grady Sizemore to a lower back strain and now they may start opening day without closer Chris Perez. If so, manager Manny Acta says they'll turn to Vinnie Pestano to take over the relieving duties.
Elsewhere in baseball:
Nationals’ Ryan Zimmerman signs $100 million extension, averts distractions -- Big League Stews, Ian Casselberry
Looks like the Nationals mean business. Or something. Zimmerman's $100 million contract extension makes him the second-highest third baseball in major league baseball. Not too shabby.
Flaws in MLB’s testing program could prove fatal for the game -- Sporting News, David Steele
Regardless of your stance on the Ryan Braun situation, the way it went down certainly has tainted -- at least temporarily -- the way players, coaches, and spectators view MLB's testing system. Do you think it will forever affect the league?
Tampa Bay Rays' rotation all about quality -- ESPN, Jayson Stark
The fact that anyone in the Rays five-man rotation could be a second or third starter on the majority of major league teams is terrifying. And that's all I really have to say about that.