Opening Day in Six Days.. Four will be cut

And then there was one...

Duane Below had a rough outing walking four and only striking out one during his outing Friday the 30th.  In the process he gave up three hits and three runs in three innings.  So we can expect either Drew Smyly to get his first start in the Major Leagues, or the Tigers will make a late move to pick up a fifth starter.  It is looking more and more like Smyly has won the job.

Luis Marte

The Tigers are down to 29 players in camp with only 25 spots on the Roster.  There are 6 starting and 8 relief pitchers in camp. Last year they came north with 5 starters of course, and 7 relief pitchers. Look for Below to be sent to Toledo, finalizing the starting rotation.  Expect Smyly to get his first taste of the Major Leagues from the bullpen since a 5th starter will not be needed until 2 weeks into the season.  The bullpen is short of left-handed long relief, and so far Phil Coke has had a dismal Spring.  Smyly may play a role in long relief from the left side until his rotation spot comes up.  The Tigers may find it rough going against the Red Socks to start the season without good lefties in relief.  Can the only other left-handed reliever, Daniel Schlereth, keep up the good numbers he has posted this Spring?  If not, it will be a rocky start to the Season.  Expect the one cut in the bullpen to be Brayan Villarreal.  After a hot start the first 2weeks this Spring, he has suffered against the better hitters in the last week or so, while Luis Marte is getting stronger, and mowing down opposing batters striking out 16 batters in only 13 innings of relief this Spring.  The only pitchers with more strikeouts in camp are Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer.  He has clearly earned the last spot open in the bullpen (see Spring Training numbers below).

Clete Thomas

Projecting only only 2 pitchers to be cut, that leaves 2 interesting moves to be made with the remaining position players.  Last Spring the Tigers went north with 13 position players.  There are still 15 in camp.  In the outfield Andy Dirks has clearly out-hit Clete Thomas.  It will be interesting to see what happens to Clete, since Dirks earned his stripes last year, but Clete out-performed Dirks defensively this Spring.  The Tigers can't send Clete to Toledo, but they could trade him if they bring Dirks north.  Dirks has earned the spot. On the infield, utility player Danny Worth has out-hit Brandon Inge, who now has groin trouble.  Worth may make the team if Brandon goes on the disabled list.  If not, the Tigers will start the season with Brandon and send Worth down.  Brandon out performs both Worth and Raburn at 2nd base, but his hitting has been anemic.  Something will happen with Inge.  You can bet on it.
Tigers SpringTraining(2012)See: "About ADJ OBA and ADJ AVG"

Concerns?  Hitting..  Raburn has been in a tail-spin after starting the Spring strong (see hitter trends graph).  Will it continue into the season?  Avila has had trouble hitting this Spring as well.  Prince Fielder doesn't hit nearly as well when Cabrerra is out of the lineup.. will Fielder hit as advertised?

Pitching concerns are the bullpen.. and Max Scherzer.  Max has had trouble this Spring when runners are on base.. keep an eye on Scherzer when the season starts.  The bullpen is an unknown.  There are no really good options should a starter falter and long relief is needed.  Will the back end of the bullpen perform the way it did last year?  The Spring Training numbers are better this year than last year so let's hope so.

Is it Porcello time?

Good signs?  Brennan Boesch is trending up (see hitter trends graph).. Cabrerra as well.. and lets hope it continues right into the start of the season next week.  Watch Rick Porcello this year.  He has quietly put together his best Spring Training in a Tigers uniform.   Watch him this year.  

GO TIGERS!   ---Rob





Photo Credits:
Luis Marte and Clete Thomas by Robin Buckson - Detroit News 
Rick Porcello by John T Greilick - Detroit News