4/7 Minors Affilliate Articles

[redshark63]

Toledo:

Another Thames article!
I didn't check to see if this is the same or close to the one they put out the other day.



http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs...0345/-1/SPORTS

OPENING DAY
Big-league smile: Demotion to Hens isn't end of world for Thames


Marcus Thames slugged an International League-leading 24 home runs in just 64 games with the Mud Hens last season.



By JOHN WAGNER
BLADE SPORTS WRITER


This afternoon the Mud Hens will raise the curtain on the 2005 season, and Toledo's cast will include an improbable member.
Marcus Thames will be in the outfield for the Hens at 1 p.m. today at Durham.

That may come as a surprise to people who watched him play in Toledo or Detroit last year, as well as to fans who watched him this spring. But Thames said his demotion to Toledo at the end of spring training didn't faze him at all.

HENS’ OPENING DAY
• Where: at Durham
• Time: 1 p.m.
• Radio: 1470
• Home opener: 5:30 p.m. April 15


"I'm a big boy - I've been through a lot of hard things in my life," he said. "This isn't the roughest thing I've been through."

The "rough" times came while the 28-year-old Thames was growing up in Louisville, Miss.

"I grew up as one of five children reared by a single mom," Thames said.

"I think about that all the time. But that's why I'm smiling now: I still have a chance to help my family."

He also has a chance to help the Mud Hen offense, something that brings a smile to the face of manager Larry Parrish.

"We really didn't think we would have him," Parrish said of Thames. "I would think he would be the first guy they [the Tigers] call for. But for now we have a big-league hitter in the middle of our lineup."

Thames dominated International League pitching last season, slugging a league-leading 24 home runs in just 64 games and topping the IL in RBIs and runs scored before his June 22 promotion to Detroit.

He struggled with the Tigers at first, then hit a home run at Colorado July 2 that helped spark a fast finish. Thames finished with 10 home runs in just 61 games.

He also hit well this spring, finishing second on the Tigers with four homers and 14 RBIs. Thames heard about the furor in the Tigers' clubhouse after his demotion was announced, but he tried not to get involved.

"I didn't want to get caught up in that stuff," he said. "I called some people to thank them for seeing how I go about my work. I'm not loud, I'm not outgoing. I just try to play the game the right way. And certain people saw that and appreciated that."

Thames said his plan is to not change his spring-training attitude.

"I can walk around looking sad and down in the mouth and not play up to my abilities, and just not get the job done," Thames said.

"Or I can walk around with my chin up, smiling and having a good time, and help the Mud Hens win ballgames."

Thames said that attitude hasn't changed over the course of his career, which began after the Yankees made him a 30th-round draft pick in 1997.

"I talked to some of the Yankee coaches that I played with and coaches like Stump Merrill, they said I still have the smile on my face that I always have had," Thames said.

"I just enjoy playing the game, and that's what I have to take into this season."

Thames hasn't set goals for this season based on numbers, and he hasn't set goals based on the date he wants to return to the big leagues.

In fact, Thames said he enters every new season with the same goal.

"I've got [my goal] written [on my cap]: 'Go hard,'●" Thames said.

"That's my main thing. If I play hard and play to my abilities, I'll be fine."

And if Thames plays up to his abilities, he may not wear a Mud Hens uniform very long.

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IMO, we get it - he was demoted, he is going to play hard to prove them wrong, blah, blah, blah...

He was going to be a 4th outfielder at best, my goodness!
My guess is if, G forbid one of the corner OF's gets hurt(DL), he will be the first to get called up. Might as well let him play full time than sit on the bench.

At this point, Higgy is a better defensive player as a corner OF. If that changes, I'm sure Thames will get called up.

Tram has a solid offensive lineup. There is not a lot of need for power PH threat. More need for a defensive replacement for White or Monroe. Higgy fits that bill better than Thames.

Thanks for indulging my venting.

[redshark63]

Erie:

GREAT opening day coverage by GoErie!



http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...LL01/504070444

SeaWolves look for offensive firepower


By Ron Leonardi
ron.leonardi@timesnews.com.

With former Erie SeaWolves Curtis Granderson, Ryan Raburn and Jack Hannahan at Triple-A Toledo this season, it's unlikely the SeaWolves will boast the same muscle that made them one of the Eastern League's top offensive teams in 2004.

"I don't think we'll have the same firepower," outfielder Kurt Airoso said, "but it will be close. We should have a good offensive team."

Airoso belted a franchise-record 34 homers last year and helped the SeaWolves lead the league in homers, runs and walks. First baseman Juan Tejeda returns after a 23-homer, 92-RBI season, as does outfielder David Espinosa, who had 19 homers and 52 RBIs a year ago.

That's a solid nucleus to construct a lineup around, but power should not be the lone trademark of the SeaWolves, who open their season tonight at 6:35 against the Trenton Thunder at Jerry Uht Park.

"I think we're going to have a pretty good hitting team and defensively we're going to be good," Espinosa said. "We're going to hit, that's for sure."

New manager Duffy Dyer is ready to put all of his players' skills to use. He said his managerial style likely will showcase "a little bit of everything, depending on how we're swinging the bat."

"I think we're going to have a pretty good offensive team," Dyer said. "This is a small park, so I probably will not run as much in this park as I will in bigger parks on the road. We have some good team speed at the beginning and the bottom of the order, depending on which lineup we use. We have some guys who can steal some bases, and I like to put runners in motion."

With run-producers like Airoso and Tejeda at the plate, however, Dyer will likely be more apt to hold runners.

"If Airoso is hitting, I probably won't run," Dyer said. "With one swing, he can hit a two-run or three-run homer. If everyone is swinging the bat well, then we probably wouldn't run quite as much, but I'd like to try and jump-start our offense and I like to put men in motion, I like to run 3-and-2 and 3-and-1 sometimes, again depending on the hitter."

Dyer said he'll use the squeeze bunt every so often, and though he is not a big fan of the delayed steals, admits he will use that tactic occasionally.

"I might try and double-steal once in a while, too," Dyer said. "I like to use a little of everything, depending on how we're swinging the bat. That's going to determine how I manage. It's more how confident I am with the guy at the plate. If he's struggling a bit, I might put guys in motion a little bit more. It depends on the hitters right now and how they're doing."

The SeaWolves open the season with a seven-game homestand, and Dyer said it could take him two weeks before he settles on a set lineup.

"I'd like to keep more of a set lineup," he said. "I think the players get more comfortable in one position. But if a guy is hot, he might be hitting third or fourth one day. When he cools off, he might be hitting sixth or seventh. It's going to vary."

Tejeda will open the season in the cleanup role and should be one of the few players whose batting position remains unchanged.

Dyer will tinker with his lineup heavily in the first two weeks. Tonight, second baseman Gilberto Mejia should bat first and could settle into the leadoff role if he can develop more patience.

Dyer said outfielder David Espinosa could settle into hitting second or third, and shortstop Tony Giarratano, one of the top prospects in the Tigers' organization, is capable of hitting leadoff, second or third.

After Tejeda in the cleanup spot, Dyer is uncertain on the remainder of his batting order.

"It's going to vary quite a bit," Dyer said.

"We have some veteran guys and we have some younger guys," Airoso said. "It's pretty much all about the pitching. If you get good pitching, you're going to win. If you don't, it's going to be tough. Right now, we have some guys who can swing the bats and some guys who are unproven. We didn't manufacture runs real well last year at times. If you can manufacture them as well as hit the home runs, that makes an even better offensive team."

RON LEONARDI can be reached at 870-1680 or by e-mail.


Last changed: April 07. 2005 12:00AM

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http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...LL01/504070408


Deep rosters in Detroit, Toledo, dock SeaWolves' majors chances


By Ron Leonardi
ron.leonardi@timesnews.com

A sure sign that a major league organization is getting stronger is players coming off breakthrough seasons return to the same classification the next year.

That appears to be the case with the Detroit Tigers and their minor league system. After watching players jump quickly to the majors - often out of necessity - in the past few years, the Tigers have made strides to stockpile more depth, talent and prospects.

Two years ago, when Detroit won just 43 games, numerous Triple-A and Double-A players got major league looks. The movement slowed but the practice continued last season, when the Tigers improved their wintotal by 29 games and showed positive rebuilding signs.

"You can ask some of the guys in our locker room - some of them didn't plan on coming back here because they had good years here last year," SeaWolves manager Duffy Dyer said. "If you just go by numbers, they deserved probably a shot at Triple-A. But a couple of them didn't even get a chance because there's guys ahead of them who are a little older or have played Triple-A already."

Based on their production last season in Erie, outfielders Kurt Airoso and DavidEspinosa and first baseman Juan Tejeda warranted a shot at Triple-A this season, Dyer said. Yet all three will begin the season with Erie.

"Those are the three guys I was thinking about the most,"Dyer said. "But the organization did go out and sign a couple of six-year free agents. The signing of (Toledo catcher) Sandy Martinez probably hurt (Erie catcher) Max St. Pierre. He probably would have gotten a chance to play Triple-A if they hadn't done that. Signing six-year free agents at the upper levels and developing the kids down in the minor leagues is getting a little deeper."

While that's great for the organization, a deeper farm system can be disappointing for minor leaguers who have toduplicate good years with no guarantee of moving up.

Airoso, 30, had a career year in Erie last season with a franchise-record 34 homers and 94 RBIs. Tejeda had a career-high 23 homers and 92 RBIs andEspinosa hit 19 homers and drove in 52 runs.

"(The Tigers) went out and claimed a couple guys off waivers - 40-man guys - so you know those guys are going to play," Airoso said. "Coming into the spring, we knew it was going to be a pretty tough situation in the outfield. You can make them move you up, but instead of having a really, really good year, you're going to have to have areally, really great year. You can force their hand by really putting up some strong numbers.

"Also, if you keep doing well, there are other teams that may want a crack at you," Airoso said. "There's 30 teams, so if you keep putting up good numbers, eventually maybe somebody will give you a shot. That's what you have to hope for."

More stability in Detroit and more depth throughout its minor league system will likely make it more difficult for many farmhands coming off good years to warrant a look at the next level.

"I'm a pretty critical person of myself and I was a little bit borderline on going Triple-A considering I had a pretty rough last four or five weeks of last season," Espinosa said. "I felt like I had to come back here and put something together for a longer period of time. I can't control what the team does with signing guys. They had to sign a couple older guys. Possibly they might have needed somebody to step into the big leagues right away and probably they didn't think I was ready at that point."

Glenn Ezell, the Tigers' minor league field coordinator, preached all spring that theorganization faced more difficult decisions on players' designations than they had recently. Some of the players who were waived would have started on some of Detroit's minor league clubs in the past, Dyer said.

But Dyer is quick to point out that some of his players whodidn't get the call to Triple-A this season shouldn't despair.

"As I've told the kids, itreally doesn't make any difference," Dyer said. "If they'redoing very well here, there were some kids called up from here to the big leagues last year. They didn't have to go toTriple-A, especially guys who have been here a year or two. If they do well here again and the big league club needs somebody, they might get a chance."

Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski has demonstrated he isn't afraid to bring a Double-A player to his major league roster if that player has proven himself.

"These kids, sure, are going to be disappointed if they didn't get a shot at Triple-A and they're not in Triple-A," Dyer said, "but that does not necessarily mean they're not going to get a chance to go to the big leagues, this season even.

"There are a couple of kids on this club I wouldn't be surprised if the big league club called them up, bypassingToledo. If there are injuriesup above, a domino effect usually happens."

RON LEONARDI can be reached at 870-1680 or by e-mail.


Last changed: April 07. 2005 5:23AM


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[redshark63]

http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...LL01/504070406

Familiar faces rule 'Wolves' lineup


By Ron Leonardi
ron.leonardi@timesnews.com.

The Erie SeaWolves' roster brimmed at the start of lastseason with several top prospects and eight members of the Detroit Tigers' 40-man roster.

A good blend of veteran leadership and talented newcomers helped the 'Wolves to a second-place finish in the Eastern League's South Division with an 80-62 record and the franchise's first playoff berth since 2001.

Center fielder Curtis Granderson, second baseman Ryan Raburn, third baseman Jack Hannahan and pitcher Mark Woodyard enjoyed breakout or career years and wererewarded with promotions to Triple-A Toledo.

This year's 'Wolves, who open the season tonight at home against the Trenton Thunder,return 16 players who spenteither most or part of the 2004 season in Erie.

The opening-day rosterincludes four of the top six Tigers' prospects ranked by Baseball America, and seven of the organization's top 30.Outfielder Byron Gettis and pitcher Preston Larrison are on Detroit's 40-man roster.

"I think we're going to have a good club," SeaWolves manager Duffy Dyer said. "I'm very optimistic that way, but I'm not real happy because we have not had the chance to have the whole team together in spring training. I'd like to have a little more time with the whole club there."

As spring training wound down this past week in Lakeland, Fla., Dyer said he was justbeginning to feel comfortable with his personnel.

Veterans include outfielders Kurt Airoso and David Espinosa and first baseman Juan Tejeda, all of whom will be counted on by Dyer to produce runs and provide leadership.

Top newcomers include left fielder Mike Woods, shortstop Tony Giarratano, centerfielder Victor Mendez and Gettis, the outfielder.

Here's a position-by-position look at this year's team.

Pitchers
Dyer's projected five-manrotation was revamped over the weekend when right-handers Kyle Sleeth and Humberto Sanchez were placed on the disabled list with injuries suffered in spring training. Each isexpected to be out of action for four weeks to five weeks.

Hard-throwing right-hander Joel Zumaya returns and was Erie's most consistent pitcher in spring training. He shouldenter the season as the ace of the staff. He routinely throws in the mid-90s and topped out at98 mph last season.

"He's going to impress you with his stuff," Dyer said. "Double-A is where you start becoming more of a pitcher and not just a thrower. You see a lot of kids in A ball with great arms, but they are still throwers. You see a lot of kids in A who have trouble with their command and a lot of them have trouble with poise, fielding their position, holding runners - things that make the complete pitcher. Double-A is where they should start turning more into pitchers and being able to get out of innings when they're in trouble."

Zumaya is joined in the starting rotation by right-handers Nate Cornejo and Jeremy Johnson, and left-handers Rob Henkel and Mike Bynum.

Cornejo was assigned to Triple-A Toledo in the spring, but will open the season on arehabilitative assignment after undergoing surgery last season to repair a slight labrum tear in his right shoulder. Cornejo has pitched either at Toledo or with the Tigers the past three seasons after a stellar season with Erie in 2001.

Henkel, who will pitch in the opener tonight, is coming off shoulder surgery and will be limited to 75 pitches per outingearly in the season.

Johnson was 5-3 with Erie in 2003 and 3-6 at Class A Lakeland last season. Bynum wasreleased by the Padres inDecember and signed with the Tigers. He pitched at AAA Portland last season (6-6,3.19 ERA) before making twoappearances with the Padres.

Right-hander EdwinAlmonte will open as Erie's closer, though Dyer said no one looked impressive in that role during spring camp.

Erie's bullpen also features right-handers John Birtwell, Matt Roney, Mark Johnsonand Lee Rodney and left-handers Cory Hamman and Mike Bumatay.

Infield
Nicknamed Baby Bull, first baseman Tejeda belted a career-high 23 homers last season and drove in 92 runs. Tejeda has consistently hit for average and produced runs, but last year demonstrated his power potential. Tejeda got a good look with Toledo this spring, but needs to improve his defense to get to the next level.

"Defensively, he needs toimprove on a lot of things," SeaWolves hitting instructor PeteIncaviglia said. "We're going to work on that and try and keep him ready. You can go straight from Double-A to the big leagues, as we saw last year with a lot of our players. I think great things are in store for him."

Gilberto Mejia will start at second base. He hit .266 with seven homers and 31 RBIs in 96 games at Lakeland last season.

Throughout spring training at Tiger Town, one of the top stories was shortstop Giarratano. Everyone in the Tigers' organization raved about the 22-year-old, who spent most of the spring in the Tigers' major league camp.

Giarratano, a switch-hitter, has a .333 career batting average in stops with short-season A Oneonta, Class A West Michigan and Class A Lakeland. He was hitting .376 last season at Lakeland until he suffered a season-ending left shoulder injury while sliding into home plate.

Talk in spring training was that Giarratano likely will leave Erie for Triple-A by June.

"It's got to be such a confidence-builder for him to spend most of spring with the Tigers,"Dyer said. "I know the first couple springs I went to camp and just got to hang around with the players and see what it's like in the big league clubhouse and get a few at-bats and games. You go down and play in the minor leagues and come back the next year. It made a lot of difference in my career."

Don Kelly returns to Erieafter missing most of last season with an injury. A year ago, he hit .228 in 28 games with Erie. He suffered a hip injury and had a three-game rehab assignment with the Tigers' Gulf Coast Rookie League team and could not play after that.

Chris Maples likely willhandle a utility infield role after making the jump from Class A Lakeland.

Outfield
Dyer said he plans to rotate his five-man outfield of AA rookies Woods and Mendez, and veterans Gettis, Airoso and Espinosa

Gettis, a member of the Tigers' 40-man roster, probably will be the only everydayplayer in the outfield.

"He'll probably play the most of everybody being on the (Tigers' 40-man) major league roster," Dyer said.

Woods, who spent thelast two seasons at Class A Lakeland, is drawing favorable reviews after moving from second base.

"We're very high on him and rightfully so," Dyer said. "He looks natural in the outfield, he's getting great jumps on the ball and he's been a pleasant surprise defensively. Everybody thought it might take half a season for him to get comfortable."

Woods will play mostly left field, but also could see some time in center, Dyer said.

Mendez, who will start in center, hit .241 at Lakeland last season and led Florida State League outfielders with 290 putouts. He is considered Erie's best defensive outfielder and one of the best in the Tigers' organization as far as range, jump on the ball and arm strength.

Airoso is coming off of a career year in which he belted a franchise-record 34 homers and drove in 94 RBIs. Espinosa, in his first season at AA last year, hit .264 with 19 homers and 52 RBIs.

Catcher
Max St. Pierre spent most of the spring with Toledo but wasassigned to Erie a week ago.A member of the Eastern League All-Star team the past two years, St. Pierre has one of the Eastern League's best arms. Mike Rabelo also returns.

"They can both catch and throw, and Max is a little more experienced, so he'll get the opening-day start," Dyer said. "We're not counting one over the other. It depends on who's doing the best job and how the club is playing."

RON LEONARDI can be reached at 870-1680 or by e-mail.



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From staff reports

When you've read every word about the ErieSeaWolves, computed every statistic, and found out you still want more, there's a placedesigned just for you: www.GoErie.com/baseball.

Boot up and go to www.GoErie.com/baseball for these unique features:



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Ask staff writer Ron Leonardi a question about the team or the Eastern League by taking part in the SeaWolves Mailbag. Watch for Ron'sresponses in print and online.


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Look regularly, too, for Ron's Web-only SeaWolves notebooks.


The team schedule, contact information and an archive of stories about your SeaWolves.


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'Wolves roll out game-ready Jerry Uht Park


By Ron Leonardi
ron.leonardi@timesnews.com.

Aside from a few largepuddles on the warning track, Jerry Uht Park looked in excellent condition late Wednesday afternoon and ready to host the SeaWolves' Eastern League season opener today against Trenton at 6:35 p.m.

"It's amazing how it looks, I can't believe it," SeaWolves manager Duffy Dyer said. "When I came here this afternoon (Wednesday) and looked at it, now that they've had a chance to roll it a little bit and firm it up, it's looking great."

After conducting media day interviews Wednesday evening, the SeaWolves took batting practice and infield practice.

"The field is in really good shape," general manager John Frey said. "The rest of thestadium put us a little bit behind in terms of cleanup, but we're close. We have everythingjust about done. We'll be working into the night ... and we'll be putting on the finishing touches in the morning."



SeaWolves third baseman Don Kelly can count on having one die-hard fan at home games this season. His younger brother, Andrew, is a freshman at Mercyhurst College. He does not play baseball for the Lakers.

The Kellys are graduates of Mount Lebanon High School.


The SeaWolves' opening-day roster includes four of theDetroit Tigers' top six prospects and seven of their top 30,according to Baseball America.

Headlining the list are right-handed pitchers Kyle Sleeth (No. 2), Joel Zumaya (No. 4) and Humberto Sanchez (No. 5), and shortstop Tony Giarratano(No. 6). Also scheduled to open the season in Erie are first baseman Juan Tejeda (No. 15) and outfielders Byron Gettis (No. 23) and David Espinosa (No. 25).

However, Sleeth and Sanchez will begin the season on the disabled list with injuries. Both pitchers remain in Lakeland, Fla., in extended spring training. Each is expected to be sidelined four to five weeks.


The Tigers released SeaWolves catcher Alex Trezza last weekend before the team left spring training.

Erie catcher Max St. Pierrerejoined the SeaWolves last week after spending most of the spring with Toledo, giving Erie three catchers and necessitating a roster move at that position.

RON LEONARDI can be reached at 870-1680 or by e-mail.

[Microline133]

I find it really funny that the worst defensive player on the Erie roster said this.....

"I think we're going to have a pretty good hitting team and defensively we're going to be good," Espinosa said. "We're going to hit, that's for sure."

[Yoda]

Published Thursday, April 7, 2005

In 2005, Lakeland Tigers Will Have New Faces

By DAVID YATES
Ledger Correspondent

LAKELAND -- It'll be fresh faces all around when the Lakeland Tigers open their 54th Florida State League season at Legends Field in Tampa tonight at 7.

L-Tiger fans will recognize very few names on Lakeland's 2005 roster, including that of new manager Mike Rojas.

"I'm excited about my first season in Lakeland because I have a great bunch of guys to work with," said Rojas, the son of former Major League veteran Cookie Rojas.

The L-Tigers will play a second game in Tampa on Friday before returning to play thier home opener at Joker Marchant Stadium on Saturday at 6:05 p.m., also against Tampa.

"More than speed or pitching or hitting, I think the strength of this team will be its unity and I can already tell that just from working with them this spring," Rojas said.

Lakeland is showing signs of a healthy team chemistry. This may be because nearly all of them played together on a West Michigan team that won the Midwest League championship a year ago.

THE LINEUP

The Whitecap offense was powered by first baseman Kelly Hunt, a Bowling Green graduate with a steady glove who drove in 102 runs and belted 21 homers and 28 doubles.

Venezuelan switch-hitter Juan Francia will play second after an equally solid year at West Michigan, where the speedy infielder batted .320 and swiped 37 bases. Francia already has 175 stolen bases in his minor league career and has been identified as the fastest baserunner in the Detroit organization by Baseball America.

Shortstop will be split between former Dodger Anthony Schifano and Scott Tousa.

Kody Kirkland will play third. He belted 30 doubles, 11 triples and 10 homers at West Michigan last year.

Vince Blue will play center field after a solid year with the Whitecaps which included an impressive 19-game hitting streak.

Blue was named the best defensive outfielder in the organization by Baseball America.

Garth McKinney will play left and provide more power to Rojas' line-up. The 22-year-old had 19 homers and 14 doubles with the Whitecaps last year.

Brett Clevlen, who played with Lakeland last year, will play right field.

THE PITCHERS

Right-hander Jason Verlander, Detroit's top pick a year ago and the second player taken overall, will anchor Lakeland's seasonopening six-man starting rotation.

The 22-year-old from Old Dominion was a 2004 finalist for the Roger Clemens Award and possesses a 97-mph fastball.

California right-hander Virgil Vasquez, who enjoyed a solid year at West Michigan, will follow Verlander in the starting rotation.

Vasquez was 14-6 with a 3.64 ERA for the Whitecaps. LSU graduate Nate Bumstead will followed Vasquez in the rotation.

Texas right-hander Jordan Tata, whose had an impressive turnaround at West Michigan in the second half of last season, will have the fourth slot in the rotation.

Although Tata's final record was only 8-11, his ERA was an impressive 3.35.

The fifth spot in the rotation will be shared by Marty Martinez and Eulogio De La Cruz, a pair of Dominican right-handers who were signed as free agents out of high school.

Reportedly De La Cruz has a 99-mph fastball.

The responsibility for closing games belongs to right-hander Chris Homer. He earned 15 saves for Oneonta in 03 and came back with 12 saves for West Michigan last year.

Joining Homer in the L-Tiger bullpen will be southpaws Kevin McDowell, Brian Hensen and Danny Zell, and right-handers Brian Rogers, Mike Kobow, and Andy Baldwin.

Danilo Sanchez will be the team's top catcher. At West Michigan last year he hit .294. Sanchez will be backed up by Russ Cleveland, who has spent time at each level of the Detroit organization since being drafted out of high school in 1998.

Joining the team as hitting coach this year will be 14-year major league veteran Larry Herndon, who played on Detroit's 1984 World Championship team.

[redshark63]

De La Cruz in the rotation? I assume he meant 4th spot in the rotation, since he only listed 3 starters (Verlander, Vasquez, Tata) prior.

Is the thinking to stretch De La Cruz out and get him some innings?

I would think Zell would be better for this.

[cruzer1]

OU stated earlier it was so he could develop other pitches. He'll be under a strict pc, I gather.

[redshark63]

Thanks. I forgot/missed that and the recent restate of that by Mark.