 |
 |
 |
|
Tigers camp report
LAKELAND, Fla. -- Five things to know about the Detroit Tigers:
1. For the first time in memory, there are no significant jobs open in Detroit's camp. The rotation is set: Kenny Rogers, Justin Verlander, Nate Robertson, Jeremy Bonderman and Mike Maroth. Most of the bullpen is set. The infield is set from first to third with Sean Casey, Placido Polanco, Carlos Guillen and Brandon Inge. The outfield is set with Craig Monroe, Curtis Granderson and Magglio Ordonez. Pudge Rodriguez will catch. Gary Sheffield will DH. Barring any significant injuries, the biggest question might be whether Maroth keeps the fifth starter's job after missing significant time last year with an elbow injury.
2. So if the jobs are all taken, how will manager Jim Leyland and his staff pass the time this spring? As you might expect, he has things he's looking for. "On paper it doesn't look like there are a lot of decisions," Leyland concedes. "But we do have some issues to look at, like protection for our starting pitchers. We'll pick three or four more guys out for protection." They'll line up -- in the minds of Leyland and pitching coach Chuck Hernandez, if nowhere else -- as Detroit's sixth, seventh and eighth starting pitchers.
3. Not only will Sheffield's mean bat make the Tigers lineup that much better, equipment manager Jim Schmakel confirms that Sheffield will become the first Detroit player since at least the mid-1970s to wear No. 3. That was Alan Trammell's number beginning when he broke into the bigs in 1977, and following his retirement as a player in 1996, the Tigers did not issue it to anybody else. Trammell wore it again during his managerial stint from 2003-2005 and, the Tigers have not retired it. Schmakel said Sheffield requested No. 3, and that he heard Sheffield did so because he always admired Trammell, but Sheffield wasn't in camp Friday to discuss the subject.
4. You can ask setup man Joel Zumaya about his key error in last fall's World Series, but don't ask him about his beloved video game Guitar Hero, which the Tigers say was the root of the sore forearm that caused him to miss last fall's ALCS. Zumaya opened an interview session Friday by warning reporters not to ask him about the game. Why is he so sensitive about that while OK to talk about the World Series? "I can joke with the Guitar Hero and people can say whatever, but I believe it's old to me," Zumaya says. "I've gone through so many magazines (that have written about it). I still play it, I'll just be more cautious with it. I'll put it more on top of the refrigerator than I used to." While the Tigers blamed his injury on him overzealously playing the game, Zumaya says that he thinks blame for his sore forearm last fall was split "50-50" between the game and his tight grip on the baseball. Best news for the Tigers: He feels good this spring and is not noticing any forearm strain. Just in case, though, Zumaya said he's doing strengthening exercises for the hand and forearm.
5. Two possible trade possibilities for the Tigers this spring should any needs arise that could net them talent in return: Closer Todd Jones and outfielder Marcus Thames. With Zumaya and Fernando Rodney both having closer potential, the Tigers spent some time this winter attempting to deal Jones. The acquisition of Sheffield likely takes at-bats away from Thames. Meanwhile, as for the loss of lefty setup man Jamie Walker, Leyland says that he "will take the best 12 pitchers north," regardless of whether they're lefty or righty.