Just so that everyone is clear....

[slim pickens]

Leyland said in the post game that Shelton is not available to be activated until the World Series.

Sorry to have to waste thread space....but 100 people will say "why arent they playing Shelton?" in 20 other threads!!

[T.O. Tiger Fan]

Makes you wonder why they kept 3 middle IF in Santiago, Perez and Infante instead of adding Shelton before the series started.

[slim pickens]

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

[T.O. Tiger Fan]

I would like to see Carlos play 1B and Infante play SS, but based on tonight I think it might be Santiago. I think Casey is the most expendable of all the position players.

[Adams Brush St]

this really hurts losing casey... I think the team will be OK, but man have I grown to love him in the 3-hole... plus the guy is MONEY with guys on base.

[slim pickens]

Infante is gonna have to get ready to play some SS. he has played there a bit in his career, but he will be rusty.

[The G Man]

Infante is gonna have to get ready to play some SS. he has played there a bit in his career, but he will be rusty.

A bit?
Didn't he play pretty much all of 2003 there?

[estrepe1]

I think they run Santiago out there. He is the best defensive player the Tigers have at SS and he is the one that they sent out there tonight.

I suppose they could use Infante. He can play SS....

[T.O. Tiger Fan]

I think they run Santiago out there. He is the best defensive player the Tigers have at SS and he is the one that they sent out there tonight.

I suppose they could use Infante. He can play SS....

I agree. I think Leyalnd will want defense first and that means Santiago.

[darko31]

I think they should think outside the box a little bit. I sya start Vance Wilson at C and move Pudge over to 1B. Wilson has always been Verlander's "personel catcher". and with Casey going down I see no reason not to use that right now. Plus, i'd much rather see Wilson hit instead of Santiago or Infante.

[slim pickens]

A bit?
Didn't he play pretty much all of 2003 there?
He played 63 games in 2003......23 in 2004......50 in 2005....and 10 this year at SS.

But Santiago will get tomm. game until he goes 0-4. Then I think we see Infante there next game.

[T.O. Tiger Fan]

I think they should think outside the box a little bit. I sya start Vance Wilson at C and move Pudge over to 1B. Wilson has always been Verlander's "personel catcher". and with Casey going down I see no reason not to use that right now. Plus, i'd much rather see Wilson hit instead of Santiago or Infante.

Interesting, but I dont trust Pudge at first defensively in the playoffs. Not really the time to experiment.

[GartenSpartan]

Maybe they were just putting Santiago in there for defense because it was later in the game...I can't imagine him starting, he has almost as much offensive value as Neifi.

[slim pickens]

Maybe they were just putting Santiago in there for defense because it was later in the game...I can't imagine him starting, he has almost as much offensive value as Neifi.
Thats the way I was seeing it. If they do give him the start, he wont last long, Imo.

[estrepe1]

He played 63 games in 2003......23 in 2004......50 in 2005....and 10 this year at SS.

But Santiago will get tomm. game until he goes 0-4. Then I think we see Infante there next game.

Unless they win. Then they won't care whether he goes 2-4 or 0-4...

I just think they go with Santiago. I would like if they went Infante because I think he is a better hitter than Santiago or Neifi.

[slim pickens]

Unless they win. Then they won't care whether he goes 2-4 or 0-4...

I just think they go with Santiago. I would like if they went Infante because I think he is a better hitter than Santiago or Neifi.
That is true. Winning cures everything!

[GartenSpartan]

Unless they win. Then they won't care whether he goes 2-4 or 0-4...

I just think they go with Santiago. I would like if they went Infante because I think he is a better hitter than Santiago or Neifi.

Is there enough difference in defense to offset the difference in offense though?

[estrepe1]

Is there enough difference in defense to offset the difference in offense though?

I don't think so. I hope I am wrong honestly, I am just saying what I think they will do.

I don't think Leyland trusts Infante to make the plays in the field. Which is why they traded for Neifi.

[Edman85]

Good thing we carried three friggin middle infielders...

[slim pickens]

Next season they should give Thames a few shots at 1st, just see what happens. I know he dosent have great defense....but maybe it could be a natural position for him.

[estrepe1]

I think Thames would be terrible at 1B.... Its not as easy as people might think.

[slim pickens]

I think Thames would be terrible at 1B.... Its not as easy as people might think.
I agree it is not easy, but I wouldnt mind seeing a game next year how it goes. Tony Clark pulled it off for years, and was alright. Hell Cecil pulled it off! Give him a few reps in Spring Training or something.

[Domino]

I think if we win this series Leyland will have dodged a freaking bullet by not having a true backup 1B on the squad (like Shelton!). If we lose, people may point the finger at that.

[Edman85]

I think Thames would be terrible at 1B.... Its not as easy as people might think.

See Sheffield, Gary.

[estrepe1]

I think if we win this series Leyland will have dodged a freaking bullet by not having a true backup 1B on the squad (like Shelton!). If we lose, people may point the finger at that.

In my opinion if they lose this series it will be due to the pitching more than the offense. Just a feeling I have about it. If they continue to pitch well they will win. Basically the same as it has been most of the year.

[Edman85]

One thought I just had is that it may pay off to have Santiago in the lineup this weekend when it is so cold out. We may have to resort to small ball to get some runs across the board in the snow.

[JS]

Interesting, but I dont trust Pudge at first defensively in the playoffs. Not really the time to experiment.

Did you see Guillen there tonight? He was very shaky.

[estrepe1]

Did you see Guillen there tonight? He was very shaky.

Guillen was fine at first. He made one error on a ball that had a ton of spin. That was the first time he had made an error at first.

I worry about the offense with someone like Santiago in the lineup and Guillen at first more than the defense.

[tiger337]

this really hurts losing casey... I think the team will be OK, but man have I grown to love him in the 3-hole... plus the guy is MONEY with guys on base.

I hate having him in the third spot. He's hitting a little better lately so I hope he's ok but I wouldn't see it as a crushing loss even if he can't play for the rest of post-season.

[Edman85]

Did you see Guillen there tonight? He was very shaky.

That was a tough play... like picking up a leaf blowing in the corner. I was impressed with the 3-6-1 double play on all three counts. Is it just me or has Fernando Rodney slimmed down over the past few months?

[GartenSpartan]

it's a significant loss losing casey if it means a lot of playing time for Santiago or Perez...it wouldn't be so bad if Infante gets the playing time

[tiger337]

it's a significant loss losing casey if it means a lot of playing time for Santiago or Perez...it wouldn't be so bad if Infante gets the playing time

That is true. I think he brought in Santiago today because they had the lead and he wanted defense. I think Infante and Perez will split the starting role and Santiago would be brought in to play defense. That's just a guess though. I haven't heard or read anything.

[JS]

Guillen was fine at first. He made one error on a ball that had a ton of spin. That was the first time he had made an error at first.

I worry about the offense with someone like Santiago in the lineup and Guillen at first more than the defense.

There was also another routine play where Guillen caught the throw with his foot off the bag and had to quickly search around for it to record the out. He only had 34 chances at first this year, so his lack of errors is hardly statistically significant.

I agree that offense should be more of a concern, though (particularly since I don't buy the claim that Casey is still a Gold Glove quality first baseman). My vote would be to either use Infante at short or to move Pudge to first and start Wilson at catcher. Infante is probably a better hitter than Casey anyway, and either of these moves has the benefit of getting Casey out of the 3rd spot in the lineup. The downside is that we lose one of only two left-handed hitters.

[catswithbats]

Obviously you probably all know this, but Shelton couldn't be added to the roster after the ALCS is over, given that they advance, so.

[Brian]

Here's a Casey update: http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061010&content_id=1708153&vkey=news_det&fext=.jsp&c_id=det

I think there's a chance we will see Wilson behind the plate and Pudge at 1b before the ALCS is done.

[Adams Brush St]

i honestly have no problem with vance behind the dish. Its not like Oakland is running a lot out there. I'd prefer this option to the alternative.

[billfer]

Obviously you probably all know this, but Shelton couldn't be added to the roster after the ALCS is over, given that they advance, so.

He actually can be added, but the player that would be removed would be Ramon Santiago and not Sean Casey. Of course they could remove both players and add an extra pitcher as well.

This is where the Dmitri Young situation bites us in the ***.

[pfife]

That was a tough play... like picking up a leaf blowing in the corner. I was impressed with the 3-6-1 double play on all three counts.

Yeah, that double play was awesome. Don't see that one very much. I had to use that one to explain the position numbers to my friend who doesn't watch baseball much.


Is it just me or has Fernando Rodney slimmed down over the past few months?

Is it just me, or has his hat sat on his head slightly straighter within the past month? If I were more suspicious, I'd tell him to put that mofo on crooked again!

[pfife]

i honestly have no problem with vance behind the dish. Its not like Oakland is running a lot out there. I'd prefer this option to the alternative.

Not a terribly horrid point. :classic:

[pfife]

from Knobler's blog:
http://www.mlive.com/tigers/weblog/

Like it or not, you're getting Neifi
OAKLAND, Calif. -- OK, so none of you wanted Nate Robertson starting Game 1, and then he pitched five scoreless innings and now the Tigers lead the series 1 game to none.

So what are you going to go crazy about now? Oh, of course, Neifi Perez.

I laugh at it by now, because it's so predicatable. The minute Sean Casey gets hurt, the ``No, not Neifi'' e-mails and forum posts begin.

Well, sorry, Jim Leyland said tonight that Perez will start at shortstop tomorrow night, with Carlos Guillen playing first base. Not only that, but Leyland said he doesn't regret leaving Chris Shelton off the playoff roster.

``Not one bit,'' he said.

Perez could play for a while, because Leyland isn't optimistic about Casey. Casey will have an MRI Wednesday, but he won't play tonight and might well not play during the weekend, either.

As I said about the Robertson decision (which worked out, of course), you'd think some of you might trust Leyland's judgement by now.

Apparently, that's not the case.

[Yoda]

UGH!!! I'd much rather have Santiago. Not that it's going to make a bit of difference in regards to wins or losses, but I just hate watching Neifi play.

[Oblong]

Leyland must have intimidated Knobler back in spring training. I'm tired of his bashing on fans. Just because he's lucky enough to travel to the games for free and be up close to them doesn't mean he knows more about things than we do.

[Yoda]

Leyland must have intimidated Knobler back in spring training. I'm tired of his bashing on fans. Just because he's lucky enough to travel to the games for free and be up close to them doesn't mean he knows more about things than we do.

Have you ever read their message board? I think you'd rethink that last sentence.

[Biff Mayhem]

Neifi has no calf muscles. It is more prominent in his right leg. It looks like he has a peg leg.

Just a side note. Sorry.

[billfer]

Leyland must have intimidated Knobler back in spring training. I'm tired of his bashing on fans. Just because he's lucky enough to travel to the games for free and be up close to them doesn't mean he knows more about things than we do.

Agreed. The Knobler-Leyland lovefest is especially annoying and it has pretty much killed Knobler's ability to do analysis.

To blindly accept anything that Leyland says as Gospel is asinine. And then throwing the "he knew what he was doing with Robertson..." crap back is lame.

With the Robertson move, it was at least understandable even if you didn't agree with it. The reason everyone is down on Neifi is that he brings nothing to the table. Santiago is clearly better defensively. Infante is clearly better offensively. What is it that make Perez worth anything?

[Euphdude]

Neifi has no calf muscles. It is more prominent in his right leg. It looks like he has a peg leg.

Just a side note. Sorry.

Polanco has a big head too. It looks like one of those lumpy yellowish melons at the grocery store.

[Tigercub33]

Infante playing at SS is CLEARLY the superior choice. That is why I am not suprised to hear/read that Neifi No Hit will be there instead. It is a wash between him and Santiago, but I prefer santiago because he does not look like a bafoon.

[Euphdude]

Infante playing at SS is CLEARLY the superior choice. That is why I am not suprised to hear/read that Neifi No Hit will be there instead. It is a wash between him and Santiago, but I prefer santiago because he does not look like a bafoon.

Good idea! You're more than a supposedly pretty face.

[ypsieast]

Well, Santiago is the only guy who bats from the left side (switch hitter). I can see why Leyland would favor him. Zito is the only starting lefty, so the question should be Neifi or Infante in game 4. Considering the lack of fastballs from Zito, I could see Leyland play Perez (ughhh).

I'm also concerned about the batting order. Who fills the 3-hole? Pudge, who batted there for much of the year, or Monroe or Thames? We know it won't be Guillen (and we know it should). Leyland wouldn't move Carlos out of the five spot if we only had 4 guys on the roster. And where does Santiago bat? 8th, I would guess, as to not bat him and Grandy (lefties) back to back.

For those calling for Infante, consider this. Looking how game 1 went down, the Tigers relied heavily on the double play. You could make a case that better defense at SS is a little more important than a better bat. Of course, playing Wilson with Pudge at 1st keeps the DP combo the same. However, each game is going to have higher and higher stakes. Pudge has been there before, and although Wilson has been great this year, I think Pudge is absolutely necessary behind the plate.

[Tigercub33]

Infante's offensive is more important that Perez's defense. The postives to playing Neifi No Hit do not outweigh the negatives...

[qsilvr2531]

Guys, Perez is a switch hitter. Infante hits right handed. Loaiza pitches right handed. I'm willing to bet that's why Perez is playing tonight.

It isn't just the fact that Perez can't hit that bothers me, it's that he also isn't a very good defender at this point.

Leyland may not regret not keeping Shelton on the roster, but that doesn't change the fact that it was a mistake. Leyland probably doesn't regret having Ordonez try to steal 3rd in game 1 of the ALDS either, he doesn't strike me as someone that second guesses himself (and to be honest, that is a pretty important quality in a major league manager).

[Euphdude]

Sometimes these right / left-handed matchups are silly. It doesn't matter that Perez is a switch hitter - he's just horrible at the plate. Infante can hit AND he's comperable on defense to Perez.

In the end, Perez is a "Leyland guy", so he'll get preferential treatment.

[Tigercub33]

Santiago is a switcher too, I would rather have him play...and bat 9th. At least he has some wheels

[billfer]

Can we stop the Neif is a switch hitter talk? He's a switch batter, not a switch hitter. The hitting part would lead some to believe he could hit.

[billfer]

Infante's offensive is more important that Perez's defense. The postives to playing Neifi No Hit do not outweigh the negatives...

I think Infante's defense is more important than Perez's defense as well.

[ypsieast]

FYI, Neifi's postseason numbers:

AVG: .333
OB%: .500
SLG: .667

That's right. 1 for 3 with a 2B, a walk and a run scored.

Leyland, those are terrific career numbers. Don't mess them up for Neifi by giving him more at bats.

[Tigercub33]

I think Infante's defense is more important than Perez's defense as well.

Good call. I really feel that Infante has more range than Perez.

[qsilvr2531]

FYI, Neifi's postseason numbers:

AVG: .333
OB%: .500
SLG: .667

That's right. 1 for 3 with a 2B, a walk and a run scored.

Leyland, those are terrific career numbers. Don't mess them up for Neifi by giving him more at bats.

:classic: