3-13-06 Press Pass Game Information

[grendel]

Game Information
DETROIT TIGERS VS. PITTSBURGH PIRATES

Monday, March 13, 2006
Joker Marchant Stadium, Lakeland, FL
Game Time - 1:05 p.m.

TODAY’S STARTERS
LHP Wilfredo Ledezma (0-1, 6.75) vs. LHP Paul Maholm (0-1, 14.40)

TIGERS ALSO SCHEDULED TO PITCH:
RHP Colby Lewis, RHP Chris Spurling, LHP Hector Mercado and RHP Kevin Hodge.
PIRATES ALSO SCHEDULED TO PITCH:
LHP Tom Gorzelanny, RHP Nerio Rodriguez and LHP Mike
Gonzalez.

TIGERS FALL 3-1 TO BLUE JAYS: The Tigers were defeated 3-1 by the Toronto Blue Jays yesterday afternoon at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mike Maroth took the loss for Detroit after allowing three runs on five hits in three innings of work. Roman Colon, Jamie Walker, Eulogio De La Cruz and Chad Durbin combined to blank the Blue Jays over the final six innings. Brandon Inge belted a solo home run to account for Deroit’s lone run of the game. Curtis Granderson added two hits in the game for the Tigers.

FOUR MINOR LEAGUERS JOIN SQUAD FOR TODAY’S GAME: The following four minor league players have joined the Tigers for today’s game: infielders Louis Ott (#28) and Nick McIntyre (#50) and outfielders Vince Blue (#28) and Jeff Frazier (#72).

SLEETH OPTIONED TO SINGLE A LAKELAND, ROBINSON ASSIGNED TO MINOR LEAGUE CAMP: The Tigers today announced the club has optioned the contract of righthanded pitcher Kyle Sleeth to Single A Lakeland and assigned catcher Chris Robinson to minor league camp. With the roster moves, the Tigers now have 58 players in camp.

ON THE OFFENSIVE: The Tigers enter play today leading all American League
clubs with 21 home runs this spring, while the club is second with 79 runs scored and 47 walks. LEYLAND RETURNS TO HIS TIGERS ROOTS: Jim Leyland was named the 36th manager in Tigers history on October 4, 2005. Originally signed by the Tigers a catcher in 1963, he brings 42 years of experience in professional baseball to the franchise. Leyland previously served 14 seasons as a manager at the major league level with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1986-96), Florida Marlins (1997-98) and Colorado Rockies (1999). He led the Marlins to a World Series championship in 1997, while his Pirates won three straight National League East Division titles from 1990-92.

NEW COACHING STAFF IN PLACE FOR 2006: Manager Jim Leyland will have a
new coaching staff in place for the 2006 season: Rafael Belliard will serve as the infield coach, Chuck Hernandez is the pitching coach, Gene Lamont will serve as the third base coach, Lloyd McClendon is the bullpen coach, Don Slaught will serve as the hitting coach and Andy Van Slyke is the first base, outfield and baserunning coach. The six-man coaching staff brings 157 combined years of professional baseball experience to the Tigers organization.

THREE TIGERS AMONG BASEBALL AMERICA’S TOP 100 PROSPECTS: Three Tigers landed in Baseball America’s Top 100 prospects: righthanded pitcher Justin Verlander was tabbed the eighth-best prospect, while outfielder Cameron Maybin and righthanded pitcher Joel Zumaya were named the 31st-best and 35th-best prospects, respectively.

PRICE, DICKERSON RETURN TO AIR WAVES IN ‘06: Jim Price and Dan Dickerson will call all of the Tigers action on AM 1270 The Sports Station throughout the 2006 season, including 13 games this spring. Price enters his 14th season as a broadcaster for the club, including his eighth full season on the Tigers radio network. The 2006 season will be Dickerson’s seventh calling play-by-play action for the Tigers.

TIGERS ON TV: FSN Detroit will televise two games this spring from Lakeland, March 16 versus the New York Yankees and March 27 versus the Houston Astros. Mario Impemba will handle the play-by-play call for the fifth straight season, and he is joined for the fourth straight year by his partner Rod Allen.
LONG STANDING RELATIONSHIP: The Tigers return to Spring Training in 2006 for the 70th season in Lakeland and their 41st at Joker Marchant Stadium. The relationship between the Tigers and the city of Lakeland is the longeststanding of all major league clubs and their Spring Training
homes.

TODAY’S STARTER - WILFREDO LEDEZMA
Makes his third appearance, second start, of the spring this afternoon against the Pittsburgh Pirates...pitched for Caracas in the Venezuelan Winter League following the 2005 season, posting a 0-2 record and 3.14 ERA (28.2IP/10ER) in eight games (seven starts)...named the Tigers minor league pitcher
of the year for his efforts at Double A Erie in 2004...selected by the Tigers from Boston in the major league phase of the Rule 5 Draft on December 16, 2002.

2006 Spring: 0-1, 6.75 ERA (5.1IP/4ER), 5 H, 3 BB, 3 SO
2005 Season (Detroit): 2-4, 7.07 ERA (49.2IP/39ER), 61 H, 24 BB, 30 SO
2005 Season (Toledo): 5-3, 5.29 ERA (51.0IP/30ER), 52 H, 27 BB, 44 SO

DATE OPP. DEC. IP H R ER BB SO
3/4 @Indians L-1 2.0 4 5 4 2 1
3/8 vs. Braves ND 3.1 1 0 0 1 2

UPCOMING PROBABLE PITCHERS:
MONDAY AT PHILADELPHIA: Justin Verlander (R), Jason Grilli (R), Bobby Seay (L), Franklyn German (R) and Mark Woodyard (R) vs. Jon Lieber (R), Ricardo Rodriguez (R), Aquilino Lopez (R), Yoel Hernandez (R) and Geoff Geary (R).

TUESDAY VS. CLEVELAND: Kenny Rogers (L), Joel Zumaya (R), Humberto Sanchez (R), Lee Gardner (R) and Eulogio De La Cruz (R) vs. Jeremy Sowers (L), Steve Karsay (R), Danny Graves (R) and Jeremy Guthrie (R).

WEDNESDAY AT TAMPA BAY: Jeremy Bonderman (R), Chris Spurling (R), Jamie Walker (L), Franklyn German (R) and Chad Durbin (R) vs. Edwin Jackson (R).
THURSDAY VS. NEW YORK (AL): Nate Robertson (L), Mark Woodyard (R), Bobby Seay (L), Eulogio De La Cruz (R) and Hector Mercado (L) vs. TBA.

THURSDAY AT WASHINGTON: Jordan Tata (R), Preston Larrison (R), Kevin Hodge (R) and Lee Gardner (R) vs. TBA.

BROADCAST SCHEDULE
AM 1270 The Sports Station will air 13 spring games this season. FSN Detroit
returns to Lakeland and will televise two Tigers games back to Michigan and
Northern Ohio.

Date Opponent/Time TV/Radio
3/13 vs. Pittsburgh None/None
at Philadelphia None/None
3/14 vs. Cleveland None/1270
3/15 at Tampa Bay None/None
3/16 vs. New York (AL) FSN/None
at Washington None/None
3/17 vs. Minnesota None/None
3/18 vs. LA Dodgers None/1270
3/19 at Houston None/1270

DETROIT TIGERS SPRING TRAINING ROSTER
MANAGER
Leyland, Jim 10

COACHES (6)
Belliard, Rafael 17
Hernandez, Chuck 55
Lamont, Gene 22
McClendon, Lloyd 21
Slaught, Don 34
Van Slyke, Andy 18

PITCHERS (29)
Bonderman, Jeremy, rhp 38
Colon, Roman, rhp 43
Crabtree, Tim, rhp *66
De La Cruz, Eulogio, rhp 36
Dingman, Craig, rhp 57
Durbin, Chad, rhp *71
Gardner, Lee, rhp *74
German, Franklyn, rhp 62
Grilli, Jason, rhp 49
Hodge, Kevin, rhp *77
Jones, Todd, rhp 59
Larrison, Preston, rhp 60
Ledezma, Wilfredo, lhp 41
Lewis, Colby, rhp *45
Mantei, Matt, rhp *31
Maroth, Mike, lhp 46
Mercado, Hector, lhp *68
Percival, Troy, rhp 40
Robertson, Nate, lhp 29
Rodney, Fernando, rhp 56
Rogers, Kenny, lhp 37
Sanchez, Humberto, rhp 51
Seay, Bobby, lhp *73
Spurling, Chris, rhp 48
Tata, Jordan, rhp 53
Verlander, Justin, rhp 35
Walker, Jamie, lhp 32
Woodyard, Mark, rhp 50
Zumaya, Joel, rhp 54

CATCHERS (6)
Peterson, Brian *78
Rabelo, Mike# *76
Rodriguez, Ivan 7
Sanchez, Danilo *75
St. Pierre, Max *64
Wilson, Vance 13

INFIELDERS (14)
Giarratano, Tony# 39
Guillen, Carlos# 9
Hessman, Mike *67
Hooper, Kevin *65
Infante, Omar 20
Inge, Brandon 15
Kelly, Don+ 58
Kirkland, Kody 52
Pena, Carlos+ 12
Phelps, Josh *70
Polanco, Placido 14
Santiago, Ramon# *61
Shelton, Chris 26
Young, Dmitri 25

OUTFIELDERS (9)
Clevlen, Brent 24
Gomez, Alexis+ *63
Granderson, Curtis+ 28
Logan, Nook# 19
Ludwick, Ryan *72
Monroe, Craig 27
Ordonez, Magglio 30
Taylor, Reggie+ *80
Thames, Marcus 33

* - non-roster invitee
+ - lefthanded hitter
# - switch-hitter

2006 DETROIT TIGERS SPRING TRAINING SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT WP LP SAVE ATTEN.
3/1 TIGERS 4, FLA SOUTHERN 3** De La Cruz Wadsworth -- 2,115
3/2 TIGERS 8, REDS 5 Durbin Wagner Spurling 4,015
3/3 Tigers 17, @Reds 10 Maroth Weathers -- 3,835
3/4 TIGERS 6, ITALY 5* ** Hodge Miceli -- 1,331
@Indians 11, Tigers 8* Byrd Ledezma Perez 3,626
3/5 TIGERS 4, PIRATES 1 Durbin Bayliss Spurling 4,832
3/6 Tigers 8, @Braves 2 Robertson Ramirez -- 7,213
3/7 INDIANS 7, TIGERS 4 Lee Hodge Graves 4,962
3/8 TIGERS 5, BRAVES 5 (11) -- -- -- 5,114
3/9 Tigers 3, @Toronto 2* De La Cruz Blank Mercado 2,843
Tigers 6, @Yankees 1* Rogers Johnson -- 9,889
3/10 Tigers 12, @Dodgers 3 Spurling Meadows -- 3,898
3/11 @Twins 14, Tigers 3 Radke Robertson -- 7,756
3/12 BLUE JAYS 3, TIGERS 1 Halladay Maroth Taubenheim 5,923
3/13 PITTSBURGH, 1:05 p.m.*
@Philadelphia, 1:05 p.m.*
3/14 CLEVELAND, 1:05 p.m.
3/15 @Tampa Bay, 1:05 p.m.
3/16 NY YANKEES, 1:05 p.m.*
@Washington, 1:05 p.m.*
3/17 MINNESOTA, 1:05 p.m.
3/18 LA DODGERS, 1:05 p.m.
3/19 @Houston, 1:05 p.m.
3/20 NY YANKEES, 1;05 p.m.
3/21 @Philadelphia, 1:05 p.m.*
HOUSTON, 6:05 p.m.*
3/22 OPEN DATE
3/23 PHILADELPHIA, 1:05 p.m.
3/24 @Houston, 1:05 p.m.
3/25 WASHINGTON, 1:05 p.m.
3/26 @NY Yankees, 1:15 p.m.
3/27 HOUSTON, 1:05 p.m.
3/28 @LA Dodgers, 1:05 p.m.
3/29 NY YANKEES, 1:05 p.m.
3/30 @Cleveland, 1:05 p.m.
3/31 TAMPA BAY, 1:05 p.m.
4/1 @Tampa Bay, 3:05 p.m.

* - Split Squad Game, ** - “B” Game
ALL TIMES EASTERN; HOME GAMES IN CAPS

OVERALL RECORD: 7-4-1 HOME: 2-2-1 ROAD: 5-2
VS. AL: 2-4
VS. NL: 5-0-1
“B” GAMES: 2-0

2006 DETROIT TIGERS SPRING TRAINING TRANSACTIONS
DATE TRANSACTION
3/12 Assigned C Chris Robinson to minor league camp.
3/13 Optioned RHP Kyle Sleeth to Single A Lakeland.

TIGERS PARTICIPATING IN THE WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC
PLAYER COUNTRY
Tony Giarratano Italy
Carlos Guillen Venezuela
Jason Grilli Italy
Todd Jones United States
Magglio Ordonez Venezuela
Placido Polanco Dominican Republic
Chris Robinson Canada
Fernando Rodney Dominican Republic
Ivan Rodriguez Puerto Rico
Max St. Pierre Canada

[cruzer1]

Colby Lewis is quietly having a nice little spring.

*Shh, it's early*

[estrepe1]

Colby Lewis is quietly having a nice little spring.

*Shh, it's early*

Stats don't matter as much as stuff in spring. His stats are good over 5 innings, but if his stuff isn't good he wouldn't last long in the pen.

[cruzer1]

Stats don't matter as much as stuff in spring. His stats are good over 5 innings, but if his stuff isn't good he wouldn't last long in the pen.

He has quality stuff when healthy. Being healthy and throwing strikes were his main combatants. It should show in his stats where he's at, and so far, so good. He is ticketed for Toledo, but could be a darkhorse, although there are a few ahead of him. Basically, theres work to do with the bullpen.

[estrepe1]

He has quality stuff when healthy. Being healthy and throwing strikes were his main combatants. It should show in his stats where he's at, and so far, so good. He is ticketed for Toledo, but could be a darkhorse, although there are a few ahead of him. Basically, theres work to do with the bullpen.

According to some stuff I have read on here his stuff isn't quality right now. Until he gets back to pre-injury levels there is no guarantee he will.

[cruzer1]

According to some stuff I have read on here his stuff isn't quality right now. Until he gets back to pre-injury levels there is no guarantee he will.

How recent is the info? At top end, he's a mid 90's type. I know Mark said his velocity isn't "all the way back yet" but he's obviously making progress.

[estrepe1]

How recent is the info? At top end, he's a mid 90's type. I know Mark said his velocity isn't "all the way back yet" but he's obviously making progress.

That is the info I am talking about.

I hope he recovers and gets back to that point. He is a darkhorse though.