The Tigers Set with their Position Roster?

[John_Brian_K]

Per Becks blog in regards to them missing out on Cespedes:

Tigers had contract talks on Cespedes « Beck's Blog

So...we know who we have for the year.

The question is who plays where and for how long I guess.

Catcher:


First Base:


Second Base:


Thiird Base:


Short Stop:


Right Field:


Center Field:


Left Field:


Designated Hitter:

(for the Raburn lovers...I was just poking some fun at the guy with that pic)

Who are the others?

Dirks
Worth
Inge
Kelly

As far as a starting line up goes...this looks about right doesn't it? Maybe flip DY and Raburn and a small possibility Worth for Santiago?

Career numbers:

Avila .815
Fielder .930
Santiago .658
Cabrera .950
Peralta .757
Boesch .766
Jackson .718
Young .749
Raburn .779

And I know it says 'position roster', but to add to this the starting 4: (edit didnt know you were only allowed 10 images per post.)

One:


Two:
http://johnnyklister.com/wp-content/...ter-Tigers.jpg
Three:
http://www2.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/M...GtIoXUWUxl.jpg
Four:
http://blog.nj.com/yankees_main/2009...e_porcello.jpg

[mmwatkin]

The players look right. I like the roster. A lot of different combinations you could use.

Also, I am not a Raburn lover, but I would MUCH rather see him in LF and Young at DH if given the choice.

[Euphdude]

There is to be no mention of Cespedes in this thread, as the the thread starter is sick of talking about him.... : )

[John_Brian_K]

The players look right. I like the roster. A lot of different combinations you could use.

Also, I am not a Raburn lover, but I would MUCH rather see him in LF and Young at DH if given the choice.

So would I TBH, but I am not sure if that is how it plays out. Plus it would mean less chances Raburn plays 2b.

I could see DY DH'n more often that not.

[Gehringer_2]

I tend to think LF is wide open to be won or lost in ST.

[John_Brian_K]

There is to be no mention of Cespedes in this thread, as the the thread starter is sick of talking about him.... : )

lol

Come on! You have to admit it was getting a little tedious.

[John_Brian_K]

I tend to think LF is wide open to be won or lost in ST.

Can you envision a scenario where DY or Raburn do not play alot?

I agree LF is the toughest to predict right now with Raburn, Dirks, Young, Kelly etc etc.

But if you had to guess would it be either Raburn or DY? If not either of those guys what happens to Raburn who would most likely be the odd man out to start the year.

[lesgoblu02]

You know what I'd like:

Cut Delmon. Raburn to DH, Sandy to 2B (Worth backup), Dirks in LF

[Euphdude]

lol

Come on! You have to admit it was getting a little tedious.

When I was tired of discussing him I ignored the Cespedes thread. I always thought it was a long shot we'd sign him, and that he'd be a high risk for the money he would demand.

Regardless, we can move on and discuss what kind of lineups we can arrange with the roster we have at hand, which should remain pretty static from here on out.

[Gehringer_2]

Can you envision a scenario where DY or Raburn do not play alot?

I agree LF is the toughest to predict right now with Raburn, Dirks, Young, Kelly etc etc.

But if you had to guess would it be either Raburn or DY? If not either of those guys what happens to Raburn who would most likely be the odd man out to start the year.

I can see a scenario where Raburn is gone by mid-season. He has to prove that it really was his finger holding him back last spring. If he fails to do that -- and I'm not saying it's likely -- I certainly can envision Worth and Dirks both playing well enough to make him odd man out - sent packing for a PTBNL

[John_Brian_K]

When I was tired of discussing him I ignored the Cespedes thread. I always thought it was a long shot we'd sign him, and that he'd be a high risk for the money he would demand.

Regardless, we can move on and discuss what kind of lineups we can arrange with the roster we have at hand, which should remain pretty static from here on out.

It was one of the top threads for awhile. It was always at the top so I always checked in because I knew the news would break here before anywhere else. It is really a 'hats off' type moment to this forum for me.

I agree it will be fairly static. 2b and LF are now the positions to look at which really hasn't changed with the news, but at least we can rule out 'he we do not speak of' from here on out.

Someone pointed it out in another thread, but we really have 7 guys trying out for splits at 3 positions FL/2B/DH.

Dirks
Worth
Santiago
DY
Raburn
Kelly

And where the hell does that leave Inge? All of these guys would be good utility type players to insert in a line up and maybe get 60 starts a year or something, but we need 3 starting players from these guys.

DY is going to be one of em IMO so is Raburn and Santiago.

Maybe Worth/Dirks give the other guys days off throughout the year. Maybe they get 50 starts or so each? Leyland is a master of giving guys days off etc IMO so I think the flexibility will leave plenty of guys fresh at the end of the year.

I wonder if Leyland is thinking of playing Kelly at thiird over Inge when he rests Cabby and makes Cabby the DH?

[mmwatkin]

I can see a scenario where Raburn is gone by mid-season. He has to prove that it really was his finger holding him back last spring. If he fails to do that -- and I'm not saying it's likely -- I certainly can envision Worth and Dirks both playing well enough to make him odd man out - sent packing for a PTBNL

I never understood people's obsession with Danny Worth.

[mmwatkin]

It was one of the top threads for awhile. It was always at the top so I always checked in because I knew the news would break here before anywhere else. It is really a 'hats off' type moment to this forum for me.

I agree it will be fairly static. 2b and LF are now the positions to look at which really hasn't changed with the news, but at least we can rule out 'he we do not speak of' from here on out.

Someone pointed it out in another thread, but we really have 7 guys trying out for splits at 3 positions FL/2B/DH.

Dirks
Worth
Santiago
DY
Raburn
Kelly

And where the hell does that leave Inge? All of these guys would be good utility type players to insert in a line up and maybe get 60 starts a year or something, but we need 3 starting players from these guys.

DY is going to be one of em IMO so is Raburn and Santiago.

Maybe Worth/Dirks give the other guys days off throughout the year. Maybe they get 50 starts or so each? Leyland is a master of giving guys days off etc IMO so I think the flexibility will leave plenty of guys fresh at the end of the year.

I wonder if Leyland is thinking of playing Kelly at thiird over Inge when he rests Cabby and makes Cabby the DH?

It really comes down to Worth vs. Inge.

[John_Brian_K]

It really comes down to Worth vs. Inge.

To make the roster, but how about starters and the number of games we think they may play?

[Vonlenska]

I like the way this was done, and in order too, but you screwed up the outfield order. :(

[mmwatkin]

To make the roster, but how about starters and the number of games we think they may play?

I think it would be pretty equal. Worth has the ability to play 2B or SS, but he would be third on the depth charts at either position.

[Gehringer_2]

I never understood people's obsession with Danny Worth.

I can't say I've ever gotten the impression anyone was obsessed with Worth.

[STLTiger69]

It really comes down to Worth vs. Inge.

Does Worth have any minor league options left?

[tiger337]

There is to be no mention of Cespedes in this thread, as the the thread starter is sick of talking about him.... : )

Which outfield is better- Tigers or Athletics?

[Gehringer_2]

Which outfield is better- Tigers or Athletics?

Dunno .. we only know 2/3 of ours so far....

[mmwatkin]

Does Worth have any minor league options left?

I think he has one left. I believe he was added to the 40-man roster in 2010

[tiger337]

I think it will be Dirks platooning with Young in left unless Dirks has a bad spring. Young would be the DH when he's not in left. I think Raburn will split time at second with Santiago with Raburn getting the majority of at bats if things go well. Leyland will probably play the pitcher/defense matchups there.

[The Truman Show]

I would guess Dirks or Thomas gets most of the LF appearances by virtue of the platoon advantage.

[jonjd]

Did you ever explain the "thiird" thing?

Getting sick of it.

[baseball3]

I tend to think LF is wide open to be won or lost in ST.

What he said

[tiger337]

Did you ever explain the "thiird" thing?

Getting sick of it.

It's how Jim Price says "third".

[DaYooperASBDT]

Thanks for starting this thread, about time we get to discussing the final 25. You omitted Laird,
so if the Tigers carry twelve pitchers, then their "bench" would be Dirks, Kelly, Laird, and either Inge or Worth.

We might see a lot of Dirks, though.

I'd prefer that the Tigers only carry 11 pitchers, then they could run a very right-handed lineup out there against LHP,
and spot Worth once in a while against lefties. Having Inge, Kelly, and Worth provides a ton of position flexibility.

Versus LHP you could do something like this:
Jackson
Boesch RF
Cabrera DH
Fielder 1B
Young LF
Peralta SS
Raburn 2B
A. Avila or Laird C
B. Inge 3B

[Jeff6851]

I'd prefer Dirks in left and Delmon to DH

[DaYooperASBDT]

I definitely would DH Delmon, at least anytime a RH is pitching (Dirks in LF)

[TigersFan81371]

It's how Jim Price says "third".

No, with Price, it's "thiiiird".

[Motor City Sonics]

The only position up for graps will be Inge vs. Worth (as said by others). If Inge does not step up and offer to play more than third base he has absolutely no value to the team.

[potthole]

Did you ever explain the "thiird" thing?

Getting sick of it.

I am so glad I'm not the only one that has noticed this!

[Chili Mac Davis]

Jim could go with 11 p's based on light early schedule and (hopefully) our sp's ability to go deep. Depends somewhat on how reliable our 5th SP is.

[Tim Mitchell]

Andy Dirks will bat .275 with 18 HR and 72 RBI as the Starting Left Fielder.

[chasfh]

Did you ever explain the "thiird" thing?

Getting sick of it.

I am so glad I'm not the only one that has noticed this!

Maybe he's not getting enough attention from his mommy.

The more oxygen you give it, the more it's validated. Let it go and it will choke itself out.

[chasfh]

Andy Dirks will bat .275 with 18 HR and 72 RBI as the Starting Left Fielder.

Only if he gets 600 at bats, and can deliver throughout. He might be one of those guys who you can't give more than 350 ABs to.

The other concern is his fielding, which was not good in 2011. Left field is not generally a concern defensively, but it would be nice to at least have someone as good as the low end of average -- that is, if we do not have plus-hitting out of the position.

[John_Brian_K]

Maybe he's not getting enough attention from his mommy.

The more oxygen you give it, the more it's validated. Let it go and it will choke itself out.

You're a jerk you know that? Really...no joking.

You make 'mommy jokes'?

[John_Brian_K]

And FTR: It will not 'choke itself out' everytime I hear the word I think of Price calling a game and I will continue to do it because when I think of a baseball game being called...I feel good...I would have thought everyone would have liked to be reminded of listening to a Tiger game in July....obviously not.

[lesgoblu02]

It might if people actually liked Jim Price.

[ajspence]

Who wants to be reminded of Jim Price talking?

I thought it was to mock him, so I am good with it.