Complete The 2012 Pitching Staff (VOTE FOR FOUR)

**DaYooperASBDT** · 02-13-2012, 06:32 PM

Barring a trade or other roster decisions, the Tigers appear to have 8 of 12 pitching spots "set":

Verlander
Fister
Scherzer
Porcello

Valverde
Dotel
Benoit
Coke

Here's your chance to fill out the fifth SP and last three bullpen spots - please vote for FOUR players, thanks!

**Antrat** · 02-13-2012, 06:41 PM

Remember, Mark Buehrle will be offered a contract according to Detroittigersrule.

**spikesglaring** · 02-13-2012, 06:42 PM

I realize that Pauley struggled with the Tigers last season, but I am expecting somewhat of a bounce back from him. He isn't going to be completely lights out, but he could be a nice piece in the Tigers pen this year.

Schlereth & Balester should win spots pretty easily, and I'd guess that Below beats Turner for the fifth spot to begin the year. Turner will get plenty of face time in the Motor City this Summer though.

**Jeff6851** · 02-13-2012, 06:44 PM

Turner
Below
Marte
Schlereth

**DaYooperASBDT** · 02-13-2012, 06:46 PM

I went for a couple of dark horses, Wilk and Marte, along with Turner and Schlereth.
Balester is terrible. Could see Below beating out Wilk.

**Los Gatos** · 02-13-2012, 06:46 PM

Turner rotation.
Balester RH long/middle.
Below LH long/middle.
Marte RH middle.

These aren't predictions, just what I would do today, before the competition. I assume Schlereth and probably Pauley have a leg up for spots heading into ST.

**catswithbats** · 02-13-2012, 06:47 PM

I picked:

Turner
Below
Balester
Pauley

**DaYooperASBDT** · 02-13-2012, 06:48 PM

Pauley's past statistics (prior to 2011) are less than impressive. I think Marte can beat him out for a spot.

**mmwatkin** · 02-13-2012, 06:59 PM

I would imagine that Balester has a spot unless something unforeseen happens. They traded Perry (who has a remaining option) for Balester (who has no options remaining).

The way I see it:

Valverde (R)- Closer
Benoit (R) - Setup
Balester (R) - Long relief
Coke (L) - Long relief
Dotel (R) - 7th
Pauley (R)
Schlereth (L)

I think Pauley's spot is the one up for grabs. Marte could beat him out.

**DaYooperASBDT** · 02-13-2012, 07:15 PM

Didn't know that Balester was out of options. That really sucks.

**STLTiger69** · 02-13-2012, 07:27 PM

Great poll / great question DaYooperASBDT!!!

**Antrat** · 02-13-2012, 07:52 PM

Cough*brownnoser*cough

**TigersFan81371** · 02-13-2012, 08:10 PM

Someone please refresh my memory on Pauley's option status. Seems like maybe Leyland didn't like having him around, because there were a couple stretches late last season where Pauley seemed to be MIA. Granted, he wasn't that effective, but we've all griped about Leyland overusing ineffective pitchers way too much. I think he's a longshot to make the team.

Probably for the best that Pauley goes away. Penny is gone. Perry is gone. Purcey is long gone. The Tigers probably don't need anymore pitchers whose last names start with P and end with Y. (And with that, somewhere Dan Petry has just decided to cancel his comeback attempt.)

**socaltiger** · 02-13-2012, 09:40 PM

Baelester, Schlereth, Below with Smyly starting and sticking all year. Book it Dano !

**mickeyb105** · 02-13-2012, 10:04 PM

Below, starting
Baelester, long relief
Ni, 2nd lhp to compliment Coke
Pauley, mop-up relief until he proves himself

Schlereth packaged in a training camp trade with Raburn for a second baseman (you can always hope)

**Eric Cioe** · 02-13-2012, 11:00 PM

Turner, Balester, Schlereth, and I forgot to pick a fourth, but Marte. Or maybe Pauley. It depends if they decide they need a gas can or not.

**macedonian bengal** · 02-14-2012, 01:46 AM

Turner wont be ready yet...will go to Toledo until June.

SMYLY will be the most effective of the 5 th starter corps..Pauley will be DFAd to make room for him on 40 man roster, I predict. PAULEY, BTW, I believe is out of options as well as Balester...its possible they both make the team ..but I believe such a scenario is intentionally neglecting the will to compete. Especially if they go with Below as the fifth starter. Dude is just underwhelmingly not good IMO

Balester will win the mid relief role but will be demoted or DFAd by June....quite possibly to make room for Turner on the 25 man roster. If not Turner, then Marte is next in line.

Schlereth is as much of a lock as any of the top 8 pitchers, IMO....although I believe he may have an option or two left, just in case. If Danny cant find the strike zone, and a demotion is inevitable ...I could imagine either Wilk or Matt Hoffman doing effective job at loogey work...especially Wilk, ..I see a little Jamie Walker Or Bobby Seay in him for some reason.

My fourth pick is gonna be Crosby. I dont think hell ever be a starting pitcher in Detroit. This kid reminds me of Joel Zumaya 2.0 from the left side . I cant imagine them not taking him north for opening day when they keep seeing him light up the radar gun in Lakeland. Unless he gets hurt again, or traded, im banking on Crosby in the Tigers pen this year. Hell, even if hes wild . Control issues didn't stop them from calling up Alburquerque ..as long as hes healthy, Crosby will be striking out *** clowns in the D.

**Tim Mitchell** · 02-14-2012, 05:52 AM

Crosby LRP
Balester RRP
Smiley LSP
Turner RSP

Rick Porcello will be traded for a Starting 2B.

**lesgoblu02** · 02-14-2012, 07:33 AM

I picked other. I think they should go after Buehrle.

**apabruce** · 02-14-2012, 11:49 AM

I'm guessing Turner will need at least a half season at Toledo, ans Smyly will win the job out of ST.

**froggyvk** · 02-14-2012, 12:01 PM

I just don't see it with Pauley. His stuff is bad.

**Edman85** · 02-14-2012, 01:00 PM

Originally Posted by DaYooperASBDT

I went for a couple of dark horses, Wilk and Marte, along with Turner and Schlereth.
Balester is terrible. Could see Below beating out Wilk.

Based on what!?!?!

**DaYooperASBDT** · 02-14-2012, 01:13 PM

His entire minor league and major league records, it appears. Maybe he was rushed, but the last 3 years he's struggled to even get AAA hitters out.
I know the scouts have liked him but so far the results just are not there.

**Longgone** · 02-14-2012, 01:27 PM

Smyly isn't any more ready than Turner, especially as far as handling the workload. Wilk doesn't profile well out of the pen.

**sgtricc** · 02-14-2012, 03:33 PM

What happens when Al Al comes back ?

**Longgone** · 02-14-2012, 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by sgtricc

What happens when Al Al comes back ?

There are always injuries. No one goes the season with the original 12 intact.

**alwaysthrowheat** · 02-15-2012, 01:36 AM

Originally Posted by Tim Mitchell

Crosby LRP
Balester RRP
Smiley LSP
Turner RSP

Rick Porcello will be traded for a Starting 2B.

Originally Posted by Tim Mitchell

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

When you're wrong about these will you stop predicting?

**Mr. Bigglesworth** · 02-15-2012, 09:05 AM

If the Tigers could get a solid 2B, I would jump at the chance to trade Porcello for one.

But I am lower on Rick than most.

**Freehan_1968** · 02-15-2012, 01:43 PM

Smyly - 5th starter

Balester
Schlereth
Pauley

**HardyA34** · 02-15-2012, 09:53 PM

I think Below will start the year as the 5th starter for two reasons: they want a lefty in the rotation and will want to limit Turners innings early so that he won't have to be shut down in September. As for the bullpen: Schlereth as the second lefty, Balester as the long guy and Pauley with the final spot since he is out of options (even though Leyland hates him for some reason).

**Eric Cioe** · 02-15-2012, 10:25 PM

Originally Posted by alwaysthrowheat

When you're wrong about these will you stop predicting?

I've said it before: never has one poster gotten so much mileage out of one post.

**Eric Cioe** · 02-15-2012, 10:27 PM

Originally Posted by HardyA34

Pauley with the final spot since he is out of options (even though Leyland hates him for some reason).

Maybe because he couldn't strike anyone out, couldn't keep the ball in the park, and couldn't strand runners.

EDIT - Seriously, he was brutal in Detroit. He was exactly the kind of pitcher that could thrive in Seattle and not thrive in Detroit. He pitched in a favorable park in Seattle and got lucky on hits for 50 innings. He came to Detroit, a much less favorable park, and got rocked. Part of that might have been the seemingly heavy usage in Seattle, but I'd guess that much of it is that he just isn't very good.

**New_Age_X** · 02-15-2012, 10:38 PM

I went with Turner to get the 5th spot. I think he will shine in ST and Leyland has never had any problems with bringing the best players up to start the season.

Then I picked Wilk (homer pick he was my AAT). But I do think he is a good pitcher as well. Schlereth I believe will be a lock to have a spot. Unless I'm wrong I thought he pitched well when he came back up later in the season there. And last was Marte just got a feeling about him doing nicely this year for us.

**Tim Mitchell** · 02-16-2012, 02:25 AM

Another one.
Pauley will not even make this team.

**DaYooperASBDT** · 02-16-2012, 08:57 AM

You know what I would do? I'd keep Turner and Smyly, and keep swapping them between #5 and long man, to keep
their innings down. Apparently Balester has to be kept, so I'd give final spot to Marte or Schereth.

Pauley is about as replaceable as they come, he's had exactly one good season in his life AFAIK.

**TigersFan81371** · 02-18-2012, 10:23 PM

Is Balester going to be one of those guys who makes the Opening Day roster, gets sent down by the end of May and is never going to be heard from again?