Dirks recalled. Kelly DFA'd.

[Truth]

Who cares about expected role? Raburn has more value to this team that Kelly.

Doing what? Oh wait I forgot some of his fielding gems, there is comedic value.

[ToledoTigerFan]

Doing what? Oh wait I forgot some of his fielding gems, there is comedic value.

[Gehringer_2]

Raburn does have more value than Kelly, ....

Not sure I see that. Equal OPS and Kelly can play many defensive positions without the added 'excitement' RR brings. Now if you want to posit that Raburn might be more valuable to keep because he will come back next year healed from whatever existential malady he suffers from this year and be a great player, a la Adam Dunn, then maybe. But it's time folks (read: JL and DD) stopped waiting for his fairy godmother to pop the pumpkin version of 2012 RR into a Phaeton.

[ToledoTigerFan]

Dirk - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia :)

Ah, OK, a dirk dagger. As opposed to a Dirk Diggler.

[tiger337]

Not sure I see that. Equal OPS and Kelly can play many defensive positions without the added 'excitement' RR brings. Now if you want to posit that Raburn might be more valuable to keep because he will come back next year healed from whatever existential malady he suffers from this year and be a great player, a la Adam Dunn, then maybe.

Neither Kelly nor Raburn has had any value at all this year. Raburn is potentially more valuable because he bats right handed and they have a shortage of RH bats. They don't need another infielder because they have Infante and Santiago with Worth waiting in the wings. If either Kelly or Raburn contributes, it will be in the outfield. With Berry, Jackson and Dirks, there won't be much need for a defensive replacement. Berry, Boesch and Dirks are all left-handed, so there is a need for a RH pinch hitter or platoon player. There is no role for Kelly even if he hits a little.

[pyrotigers]

Raburn has the potential to possibly hit well vs LHP, it's not likely, but it could happen as he's done it before.

Kelly doesn't have the potential to do anything other than be a utility man.

That's really the key to me regardless of versatility/handedness etc. Raburn is just a better player, that definitely doesn't excuse his horrific play so far this year of course.

[toadhunter911]

The Tigers are a better team with Dirks. No matter if it's Raburn or Kelly that gets released. We're talking the lower end of the bench players there. An OF of Dirks, Jackson and Berry is pretty good. Let Young and Boesch platoon at DH. Too many LH hitters, but I guess it's better than too many RH hitters.

What Leyland needs to do won't get done. He's too set in his ways and he's way too stubborn. He needs to bat Berry leadoff and put Jackson in the 5 hole. When a player is going good, Leyland likes to leave him in that spot. I understand that. But we need production from the #5 thru #9 spots too. But, it will never happen with Leyland filling out the line-up.

Not sure I get the bolded part. We need to take a guy getting on base at a .405 clip and move him BEHIND the two big guys in the line-up? Just doesn't make sense to me. Seems what you gain is lost in spades by not having AJ on base for Miggy and Prince.

[Mehm]

Who backs up Cabrera at 3rd without Kelly there now? Santiago? Can he play 3rd? Or does Peralta go to third in an emergency and Ramon plays short?

[shauntacular]

Infante will likely play third on days that Cabrera does not.

[Vonlenska]

Who backs up Cabrera at 3rd without Kelly there now? Santiago? Can he play 3rd? Or does Peralta go to third in an emergency and Ramon plays short?

Santiago can play it. Raburn has. Infante can do it. They have options. I'm sure they could use Peralta there if they needed. Kelly played 19 innings at 3B this year.

[tiger337]

Infante has played about 100 games at third, so he would probably be the backup. They don't seem to like Santiago at third. I don't want to see Raburn there.

[Gehringer_2]

Infante has played about 100 games at third, so he would probably be the backup. They don't seem to like Santiago at third. I don't want to see Raburn there.

Yup. Infante pretty much has played just as many positions as Kelly has. Maybe not 1st, but I always thought Kelly at 1st was completely ridiculous anyway.

[Vonlenska]

I don't either Lee, but in a pinch they could get by with him for an inning or two.

[TigersSlappy]

Infante has played about 100 games at third, so he would probably be the backup. They don't seem to like Santiago at third. I don't want to see Raburn there.

You and the rest of TigerNation.

[DaYooperASBDT]

Raburn should not even be allowed to THINK about playing third base ever again.

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

I will never forget at the MTS Tigers game a couple years ago when Mr. Biggs called a Don Kelly homer. "Don Kelly will hit a home run this at-bat." Moments later-- BOOM! It was magical.

Don Kelly simply knows how to win.

[ROMAD1]

I just realized that those who do the elmon thing...if you take out the "L" from Delmon's name it spells


DEMON

[Mehm]

Am I the only one that doesn't hate Delmon Young? They got him last year for nothing, he provided a spark. He's batting in the .270 range this year which is about what should be expected from him. His defense has always been suspect, so that's not a surprise. I really don't get all the Delmon venom.

[tigerbomb13]

Am I the only one that doesn't hate Delmon Young? They got him last year for nothing, he provided a spark. He's batting in the .270 range this year which is about what should be expected from him. His defense has always been suspect, so that's not a surprise. I really don't get all the Delmon venom.

I think you and jonjd are the only ones. To go along with the horrid defense, his OBP is under .300 and his OPS is under .700. He doesn't really show much power either on a consistent basis. A sub .700 OPS (he might be hovering around there now) from a corner OF/DH is absolutely terrible.

[Biff Mayhem]

I think you and jonjd are the only ones. To go along with the horrid defense, his OBP is under .300 and his OPS is under .700. He doesn't really show much power either on a consistent basis. A sub .700 OPS (he might be hovering around there now) from a corner OF/DH is absolutely terrible.

Especially when Stubborn McStubborny keeps plugging him in to the 5th spot.

[tigermojo]

I don't hate him as a DH against left handed pitching.

[Yoda]

Am I the only one that doesn't hate Delmon Young? They got him last year for nothing, he provided a spark. He's batting in the .270 range this year which is about what should be expected from him. His defense has always been suspect, so that's not a surprise. I really don't get all the Delmon venom.

Because batting average alone doesn't score you runs. It's an empty statistic. It doesn't tell you how often a player gets on base, or if he's slugging at all, both of which are necessary to score runs. Sure .270 is an OK batting average, but he'd be an ok hitter if he actually took a walk once in a while and hit for more power. He's really bad at one and not very good at the other.

[tigerbomb13]

I know WAR isn't the be-all, end-all of stats, but chances are if you've got a -0.8 WAR (and a 1.0 WAR over six full seasons!) you've been pretty awful.

[sabretooth]

I will say at least this much for Delmon...in 2011 and 2012 he has still OPS over 800 against LHP...admittedly with a crappy OBP, but he still manages to hit a fair amount of singles and HRs against lefties. I think that's a poor excuse for keeping a no-defense/no-speed/can't-hit-righties-at-all guy on the team, but until we get someone better, he does mostly occupy a hole that we need to be filled, even if he doesn't fill it.

[TigersSlappy]

I don't hate him as a MudHen DH against left handed pitching.

Fixed it for you.

[STLTiger69]

I think Raburn will not be with the Tigers for the 2013 season....

[RandyMarsh]

Raburn has the potential to possibly hit well vs LHP, it's not likely, but it could happen as he's done it before.

Kelly doesn't have the potential to do anything other than be a utility man.

That's really the key to me regardless of versatility/handedness etc. Raburn is just a better player, that definitely doesn't excuse his horrific play so far this year of course.

This is where I am as well, it may not be the most fair to Don Kelly to keep a guy over him based purely on what he might do but the fact is Kelly didn't do himself any favors with how horribly he played this year either. So basically they were both crap this year but atleast Raburn has shown in as recently as last year that he can hit so he should get the nod. Worst case scenario for the Tigers by releasing Kelly is he goes to another team and OBPs around .300 and plays a bunch of positions for that team, worst case for them by releasing Raburn is he goes to another team and remembers how to hit again and OPS's in the .800s the rest of the way. To me that's all it boils down to, the ceiling that Raburn has is just much higher than Kelly's.

[sabretooth]

I think Raburn will not be with the Tigers for the 2013 season....

I have been as big a support of Ryan's as anybody, and I would personally puke if the Tigers brought him back after 2012.

[tiger paw paw]

You could keep Boesch and Young in a DH platoon, if you wanted an outfield of Dirks, Jackson, Berry ?

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner.

[sabretooth]

You could keep Boesch and Young in a DH platoon, if you wanted an outfield of Dirks, Jackson, Berry ?

This is how I would do it.

[RJBBREZ]

I am torn on keeping Raburn around, I don't care if he is is right or left handed, he still isn't hitting and can't play any shred of defense. He is just awful. Kelly didn't do himself any favors either, but atleast he could play in the field and help in the later innings. I don't see where Raburn will help this team at all.

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

I am torn on keeping Raburn around, I don't care if he is is right or left handed, he still isn't hitting and can't play any shred of defense. He is just awful. Kelly didn't do himself any favors either, but atleast he could play in the field and help in the later innings. I don't see where Raburn will help this team at all.

When would Kelly play?

He isn't going to be played over than Berry, Jackson, or Dirks. He isn't going to be played over Infante or Santiago.

So how is he going to help the Tigers in later innings?

[Truth]

When would Kelly play?

He isn't going to be played over than Berry, Jackson, or Dirks. He isn't going to be played over Infante or Santiago.

So how is he going to help the Tigers in later innings?

There really isn't much to debate when it comes to Kelly, even for those of us who respected the guy for learning to play as many positions as he did while laboring in the minors, just for a chance to play in the big leagues. What's bothersome is that everything you said about Kelly is true of Raburn too. Now Raburn is the so-called 25th man on the roster and he offers even less than Kelly this season.

[Big Frame]

When would Kelly play?

He isn't going to be played over than Berry, Jackson, or Dirks. He isn't going to be played over Infante or Santiago.

So how is he going to help the Tigers in later innings?

Emergency catcher?

[Yoda]

Emergency pitcher.

[STLTiger69]

In about 4 weeks it will be time to expand the roster, so the term "emergency" anything is relative to the day the rosters expand.

[tiger337]

Am I the only one that doesn't hate Delmon Young? They got him last year for nothing, he provided a spark. He's batting in the .270 range this year which is about what should be expected from him. His defense has always been suspect, so that's not a surprise. I really don't get all the Delmon venom.

A batting average of .270 is not very good when that's all you do. He can't field, doesn't walk and doesn't hit for that much power. He hits lefties pretty well, so he'd be OK in a platoon if you want to use a roster spot on a platoon DH. He plays too much.

[Nastradamus]

Getting upset that it wasn't Raburn cut is silly. You can argue that he and Kelly were equally bad, but he certainly wasn't worse than Kelly. He probably won't contribute, but neither will Kelly. Its worth a shot, at least he has potential.

[RJBBREZ]

Getting upset that it wasn't Raburn cut is silly. You can argue that he and Kelly were equally bad, but he certainly wasn't worse than Kelly. He probably won't contribute, but neither will Kelly. Its worth a shot, at least he has potential.

Don't get me wrong, I won't miss Don Kelly either, my point was atleast he could play defense. Raburn does NOTHING but hold a bat right handed. I don't know what he has done this seaso, at all, for people to think he still has potential. He has terrible at-bats, he is terrible in the field, and he has nothing to offer this team.

[sagnam]

Don't get me wrong, I won't miss Don Kelly either, my point was atleast he could play defense. Raburn does NOTHING but hold a bat right handed. I don't know what he has done this seaso, at all, for people to think he still has potential. He has terrible at-bats, he is terrible in the field, and he has nothing to offer this team.

Don Kelly could play below average defense at multi positions. I think Kelly and Rayburn are about equal the outfield. Raburn hasn't done anything this season. It's a combination of what he's done before and no better options. Raburn offers the remote chance of getting a hit, and if he does get a hit it will be hit hard. Don Kelly does not even offer the chance.

It's not like people want to keep Raburn over a useful player.