Spring Training Players to Watch

As we open the 2011 Spring Training Season with full squad workouts starting today you may find yourself wondering what on earth would the Tigers do if Miguel Cabrerra is out of the lineup?  After his much publicized run in with some of Florida's finest do the Tigers have a replacement for him?

Ryan Strieby

Fortunately the answer is yes.  It appears the Victor Martinez acquisition in the off season is looking even better now.  Martinez, although primarily a Catcher, has also played First Base in 146 games over the course of his career before joining the Tigers.  What some Tigers fans might NOT know however is that there are also two first-rate minor league First Basemen in camp this spring.  Ryan Strieby and Scott Thorman BOTH have hit for power AND for average in the minors.  Scott Thorman comes to us from Atlanta and has some Major League experience with the Braves.  Watch these two young men this Spring.  I wouldn't be surprised to see them both competing to fill in for Cabrerra during his pre-season troubles off the field.

Scott Thorman

Along those lines, this week there is a NEW Tigers SpringTraining(2011) spreadsheet posted to the Spring Training (2011) page which includes updated numbers for all of the Tigers hitters reporting to Spring Training.  Look here to see the career numbers on your favorite Tigers and see how the rookies (minor league numbers shaded) stack up against them.  Strieby and Thorman don't look to shabby.  Watch for them to open some eyes and garner some attention this spring.

Also new this week I will be debuting the "TRENDS" pages.  These pages will keep a running measurement of Tiger Pitchers and Hitters over time with numbers updated weekly.  I will also run a "TRENDS" page for the former Tigers.  Watch these pages to see if your favorite Tiger is getting better, worse, or holding true.  Trending will start with Spring Training and continue until the end of the season.  Spring training games start next Saturday, February 26th, and continue until the season opens on March 31st.


Important Spring dates to consider from MLB.com:

March 2-11, 2011

Contracts of unsigned players may be renewed

March 15

Last day to assign an injured player to a minor league club until the close of the championship season (outright or optionally).

March 31

Opening Day 2011. All clubs are required to reduce rosters to 25 players.

April 6

First date a player placed on the 15-day disabled list during Spring Training may be reinstated.

April 10

First date a player optioned during Spring Training may be recalled. 

So, there is only a little over a month to go before the regular season starts and SPRING IS HERE!

GO TIGERS!   ---Rob

Scott Thorman Photo by: John T. Greilick - Detroit News
Ryan Strieby Photo by: Robin Buckson - Detroit News

Where are they now?

Jeremy Bonderman - Free Agent

A new season for the Tigers starts on Sunday, February 13th, as Catchers and Pitchers report to Spring Training in Lakeland Florida for the 75th anniversary of the annual rite of Spring in Lakeland.  Some new faces will be there and some former Tigers will be missing.  Most notably the near-perfect game winner Armando Galarraga and the 7-year Tiger veteran Jeremy Bonderman. So as the new Tigers report I thought it might be a good time to ask: Where are these former Tigers now, and whatever happened to some of the other former Tigers?

Armando Galarraga - Arizona

Have you ever wondered what happened to Cameron Maybin? Found yourself wondering how "Pudge" is doing? Or asked yourself "Where did Andrew Miller go?"

Cameron Maybin - San Diego

This week I have debuted a new page called "Where are they now?(2011)" On this page are listed some select former Tiger Pitchers and Hitters from the last 5 years. Their career numbers are listed with their current MLB team association.  Along with tracking the 2011 Tigers this year, I will also be tracking these former Tigers, so we can see how they are doing on their post-Tigers teams.  So go right ahead and blow up the WATN(2011) spreadsheet to "fullscreen" and take a gander.  A lot of the notable Tigers from 2009 amd 2010 are listed, as well as some "oldies, but goodies."


Notable pitchers from last year include a young promising reliever Casey Fien who finds himself a non-roster invitee to the Houston Astros Spring camp.  The above mentioned Armando Galarraga has found himself on the 40-man roster for the Arizona Diamondbacks, and Jeremy Bonderman is rumored close to becoming a Cleveland Indian, although there has been little news out of Cleveland on the topic this week.

Other notable pitchers from the 2010 Tigers staff include four pitchers who are all non-roster invitees to their respective clubs: Dontrelle Willis finds himself with an invite to the Cincinnati Reds camp.  Nate Roberston to the Seattle Mariners.  Zach Miner to the Kansas City Royals.  Eddie Bonine is a non-roster invitee to the 2008 World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies camp where he will have a reunion with former Tiger 2nd baseman Placido Polanco who joined the Phillies in 2009.

Marcus Thames - LA Dogers

Notable hitters include our own Curtis Granderson still having good years with the Yankees, and former Tiger-turned-Yankee Marcus Thames finds himself on the LA Dodgers roster this year.  Last year's Tiger catcher Gerald Laird will be behind the plate at St. Louis, and Johny Damon has landed a job with the 2010 AL Division series losing Tampa Bay Rays.

So stay tuned to watch these former Tigers as well as the 2011 Tigers in Spring Training and beyond!


GO TIGERS!  ---Rob

Tigers Jacob Turner Ranks 5th in MLB's "Top 10 right-handed pitcher" prospect list.

Jacob Turner - Tigers right-handed pitching prospect.

The Tigers have pitching..and the pitching prospects this year bode very well for the organization.  In a recent MLB report the top pitcher listed in the Spring Training (2011) report on this blog is listed 5th in the MLB list of top ten right-handed pitching prospects!   Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com says of Turner "He's got the stuff, a feel for pitching and the mound presence to keep moving quickly"..and if he does well "...could hit Detroit with Rick Porcello-like haste."  Watch Jacob Turner closely in Spring Training. He just might get a chance to come north with the team.

Only 20 days left before the first Spring Training game, so be sure to check back here then to see the numbers play out and watch how the new guys are doing.

Pitchers and Catchers report on Sunday, February 13th, with their first full workout on Monday, February 14th.  Position Players report on Friday, February 18th, with their first full workout on Saturday, February 19th.  Games start on Friday, February 25th. 

Also, watch for a new feature coming soon to this blog called "Where are they now?" where I will highlight some past Tigers players and take a look at where they are, and how they are doing.  


GO TIGERS!   ---Rob