Coop Scoop

Opening Day -- Probable Mud Hens roster

As best as I can determine, here is the Opening Day roster for the Mud Hens:

Pitchers: RHPs Al Alburquerque, Jose Ortega, Chris Oxspring, Thad Weber, Robbie Weinhardt and Brendan Wise; LHPs Duane Below, Charlie Furbush, Ramon Garcia, Fu-Te Ni, Andrew Oliver and Adam Wilk.

There won't be many teams in professional ball at any level that have six lefthanders like the Mud Hens probably will.

The rotation could lean hard to the left. Southpaws Oliver and Furbush are pretty sure bets for the rotation, while the other options include two lefties -- Below and Wilk -- and two righties -- Oxspring and Weber. Even if both right-handers are chosen, there will be three southpaws in the rotation.

The closer's role in the bullpen also is an interesting decision: I think the best options are Alburquerque, Oxspring -- assuming he's not in the rotation -- Weinhardt and Wise. Looking forward to hearing the decision-making process.

Catchers: Omir Santos and Max St-Pierre.

I would speculate that the toe injury that Santos suffered in spring training -- and the fact that Opening Day is a week away -- is the reason the roster has not been announced. This is the pairing I expected before spring training began; if Santos is hurt, I would guess that John Murrian would take his place.

Infielders: Argenis Diaz, Cale Iorg, Scott Sizemore, Ryan Strieby, Scott Thorman and Danny Worth.

The only difference between power-hitting first basemen Strieby and Thorman is that Strieby hits right-hander and Thorman bats left-handed. Sizemore and Iorg are expected to see most of the action at second base and shortstop, respectively, but expect Worth and Diaz to see some time at both positions as well. Third base will be a puzzle: the only players here who will NOT see action there for sure are Iorg and Strieby.

Outfielders: Andy Dirks, Timo Perez, Clete Thomas and Clay Timpner.

Dirks and Thomas were among the last cuts in Tigers' training camp, so expect them to see plenty of action for the Hens. Perez is a veteran hitter with experience at this level, while Timpner is an inexperienced player for this level.

NOTE: Click here for added information on the Mud Hens' Opening Day roster.

Mud Hen Mindbender – March 31

In an effort to have a little fun with the Coop Scoop blog, I have started a (mostly) daily trivia quiz called "Mud Hen Mindbender." No prize; this is just a way to get your morning moving. Ready? Let’s finish off the month of March with a series of questions based on “threes” – March is the third month, groups of three, get it? Oh well ...

Let’s end the month with a really easy one: What do 1967, 2005 and 2006 have in common?

The answer to Wednesday’s question? This is a really tough one: What do Roger Bresnahan, Bill Terry and Freddie Lindstrom have in common? All were are Hall of Famers who were involved with the Mud Hens in 1922: Bresnahan was the team’s owner/president, while Terry actually pitched for the Hens that season before moving to first base and Lindstrom hit .272 that season despite being just 16 years old.

Do you think you know the answer to today’s question? Click on the "comments" link below and let's find out! I'll post the answer tomorrow along with another trivia question. Looking forward to hearing from you!

Mud Hen Mindbender – March 30

In an effort to have a little fun with the Coop Scoop blog, I have started a (mostly) daily trivia quiz called "Mud Hen Mindbender." No prize; this is just a way to get your morning moving. Ready? Let’s finish off the month of March with a series of questions based on “threes” – March is the third month, groups of three, get it? Oh well ...

This is a really tough one: What do Roger Bresnahan, Bill Terry and Freddie Lindstrom have in common? I’m looking for a NUMBER in this answer …

The answer to Monday’s question? What do Curtis Granderson, Gary Ward and Mike Hegan have in common? This trio have the three highest triple totals in Mud Hen history since 1965; Granderson had 13 triples in 2005, while Ward had 12 three-baggers in 1978 and Hegan had 11 triples in 1966.

Do you think you know the answer to today’s question? Click on the "comments" link below and let's find out! I'll post the answer tomorrow along with another trivia question. Looking forward to hearing from you!

Mud Hen Mindbender – March 28

In an effort to have a little fun with the Coop Scoop blog, I have started a (mostly) daily trivia quiz called "Mud Hen Mindbender." No prize; this is just a way to get your morning moving. Ready? Let’s finish off the month of March with a series of questions based on “threes” – March is the third month, groups of three, get it? Oh well ...

This one isn’t quite as tough: What do Curtis Granderson, Gary Ward and Mike Hegan have in common?

The answer to Sunday’s question? This one wasn’t very tough: What do new manager Phil Nevin, Jeff Jones and Skeeter Barnes have in common? I’m looking for a Toledo connection, by the way – the fact that all three once played for the Mud Hens, then coached (or managed) in Toledo.

Do you think you know the answer to today’s question? Click on the "comments" link below and let's find out! I'll post the answer tomorrow along with another trivia question. Looking forward to hearing from you!

Mud Hen Mindbender – March 27

In an effort to have a little fun with the Coop Scoop blog, I have started a (mostly) daily trivia quiz called "Mud Hen Mindbender." No prize; this is just a way to get your morning moving. Ready? Let’s finish off the month of March with a series of questions based on “threes” – March is the third month, groups of three, get it? Oh well ...

This one isn’t quite as tough: What do new manager Phil Nevin, Jeff Jones and Skeeter Barnes have in common? I’m looking for a Toledo connection, by the way …

The answer to Friday’s question? This one definitely was a tough one: What do Brennan Boesch, Jeff Larish and Ryan Ketchner have in common? All three were named Tigers’ minor league player or pitcher of the month last year: Boesch won the player award in April, while Larish (player) and Ketchner (pitcher) both shared their respective awards in June.

Do you think you know the answer to today’s question? Click on the "comments" link below and let's find out! I'll post the answer tomorrow along with another trivia question. Looking forward to hearing from you!

Tigers make final cuts

On March 26 the Tigers made the final round of roster cuts to set their 25-man Opening Day roster. Here’s what those cuts mean for the Mud Hens in 2011.

OPTIONED TO TRIPLE-A TOLEDO: Detroit optioned to the Mud Hens SS Danny Worth.

REASSIGNED TO MINOR-LEAGUE CAMP: Detroit reassigned LHP Adam Wilk and OF Andy Dirks.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN? First, from the Tigers standpoint, is the obvious fact that the 25-man roster has been set. On the pitching side, that means RHPs Brayan Villareal and Enrique Gonzalez have made the roster, as have OFs Brennan Boesch and Casper Wells.

Gonzalez would have been a valuable veteran in the Mud Hens' rotation had he come to Toledo, and Villareal is a hard thrower who had a 3.47 ERA in 16 starts for Hi-A Lakeland last year, not to mention a 3.71 ERA in eight starts for Double-A Erie.

Both Boesch and Wells would have been experienced hitters for the Hens, and their further development may be delayed unless manager Jim Leyland can find consistent playing time for them. But we're picking nits here; both outfielders deserve the opportunity.

There is one more decision that needs to be made: how will the Tigers make room for Gonzalez on the 40-man roster? Their two choices are to put a player on the 60-day disabled list (Carlos Guillen? Joel Zumaya?), but that would delay the return of the DL'ed player to the active roster. The other is to remove a player from the 40-man roster, which would make that player available for waivers. The Tigers are expected to announce this decision early next week.

As for the players who were sent down, you have to feel for Worth: he played well enough to earn a spot on the Tigers' roster. But Will Rhymes played well in earning the job at second base, and Ramon Santiago is an experienced reserve infielder. The Tigers' loss is the Mud Hens' gain, at least until Worth is recalled to Detroit.

Dirks will start the season with the Hens, and since he has just 22 games of Triple-A experience, that move probably will help his development. The fact that he hit .375 in those 22 games here suggests that he will help the Mud Hens as well.

Wilk presents an interesting challenge: his entire career has been spent as a starter, but he nearly made the Tigers' roster as a reliever. Will he start or relieve for the Hens? If I had to guess, I would say he will start in the Mud Hens' rotation to stretch his arm (if he is recalled to Detroit, his role would probably be long relief) and to give him innings to aid his development.

If Wilk is in Toledo's rotation, that group will have a surprising lefty lean since the Hens also probably will start Andy Oliver and Charlie Furbush, two other southpaws.

Another round of cuts by Tigers

On March 25 the Tigers made another round of roster cuts. Here’s what those cuts mean for the Mud Hens in 2011.

RELEASED: The Tigers released RHP Scot Drucker, LHP John Bale, C Andy Bouchie and OFs Chris White and Brandon Tripp, among others.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN? Just as there have been some surprises at the major-league level in terms of cuts, there have been surprises at the minor-league level, too.

Drucker is one of the surprises, even though he had a 5.61 ERA in 42 appearances with Toledo last season. The previous year he was 8-3 with a 4.78 ERA in 29 appearances that included 16 starts. His versatility -- his ability to both start and relieve -- will be missed, as will his presence in the Hens' clubhouse, since he was well-liked by his teammates.

Bale also is a surprise release, based on his major-league experience. But he was squeezed by the number of left-handers already in the upper levels of the organization, especially youngsters such as Adam Wilk and Charlie Furbush.

White's release was a bit of a surprise, seeing as he is just 23 years old. But he had struggled offensively the past two seasons, hitting just .187 in 42 games for Hi-A Lakeland last season and .211 in 27 games for Double-A Erie. White did bat .284 in 23 games for the Hens, collecting a homer and five RBIs.

But White and Tripp both were the casualties of the organization's glut of outfielders. Tripp never played above the Double-A level in his career, although the 26-year-old did hit .289 with eight homers and 46 RBIs in 118 games for Jacksonville in the Southern League last year.

Bouchie was caught up in the glut of young catchers the Tigers have. Last season Bouchie played in two games for the Hens; he spent most of the season with Double-A Erie, where he batted .205 in 59 games. He also saw action in 16 games for Hi-A Lakeland and hit just .135.

Reading room: Possible Mud Hens in spring training

Here's a look at some of the recent spring training stories featuring players who may be Mud Hens this season ...

Jason Beck of MLB.com's Detroit Tigers web site wrote about Will Rhymes and the consistency he has shown at the plate during his minor-league career. ... Beck also wrote about how Adam Wilk has used a unique superstition in his rise up the pro ladder.

John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press wrote about Will Rhymes and his confidence in his ability to do the job at second base for Detroit. ... Lowe wrote that Detroit manager Jim Leyland may have sent them to Toledo, but he believes the four players -- Fu-Te Ni, Scott Sizemore, Clete Thomas and Robbie Weinhardt -- are major leaguers. ... Andy Dirks talked about his chances of making the Tigers' Opening Day roster.

Lynn Henning of the Detroit News wrote about Brayan Villareal and his aggressive style of pitching. ... Tom Gage talk about manager Jim Leyland and the final roster decisions that will be announced soon. ... Henning wrote about LHP Casey Crosby, who has thrown in the high-90s but also battled arm problems.

Dick Scanlon of the Booth Newspapers wrote about Will Rhymes earning the starting second base job when Scott Sizemore was optioned to Toledo. ... Steve Kornacki wrote about some of the interesting stories surrounding the Tigers this spring. ... Kornacki also wrote that manager Jim Leyland knows he is going to break some hearts when the final roster cuts are announced this weekend.

Enjoy!

Mud Hen Mindbender – March 25

In an effort to have a little fun with the Coop Scoop blog, I have started a (mostly) daily trivia quiz called "Mud Hen Mindbender." No prize; this is just a way to get your morning moving. Ready? Let’s continue the month of March with a series of questions based on “threes” – March is the third month, groups of three, get it? Oh well ...

This one definitely is a tough one: What do Brennan Boesch, Jeff Larish and Ryan Ketchner have in common? And I’m looking for something more than they played in Toledo last season. Here’s a hint: check your Tigers game notes …

The answer to Wednesday’s question? I thought this may be a tough one, but you guys came through: What do George Selkirk, Cal Ermer and Larry Parrish have in common? I was looking for a little something more than they managed in Toledo; namely, the fact that they were Toledo managers who served as All-Star Game managers: Selkirk in 1954, Ermer in 1984 and Parrish in 2006.

Do you think you know the answer to today’s question? Click on the "comments" link below and let's find out! I'll post the answer tomorrow along with another trivia question. Looking forward to hearing from you!

Your questions, my answers -- March 23

Steven asked: How surprising was it that Will Rhymes won the second base job in Detroit? Doesn't Scott Sizemore have more upside, or is this purely for defense because of Jhonny Peralta at shortstop?

Dear Steven: I was mildly surprised by this decision, but not nearly as shocked as when I was told that Robbie Weinhardt was cut. But that's another question for another day, eh?

To answer your main question -- namely, Why did the Tigers name Rhymes the starter at second base? -- you have to understand one thing about Tigers manager Jim Leyland: he is a "here-and-now" guy.

By that I mean a player's potential to be a star three years from now means nothing when Leyland is picking out this year's team. It's the same reason Alex Avila made the roster last season, even though he could have used more minor-league experience: Leyland judged he was the best guy for the job, so Avila went to Detroit.

As an aside, since Leyland is judged on the team's performance this season, I totally understand that thought process. I believe someone in every organization needs to be the voice of the team's "long-term" interests, though, to make sure players become the best player they can be.

But again, I digress. My point: the thought that Sizemore has more "upside" wouldn't play into the decision one bit.

Rhymes was the better hitter in Detroit last season, and he had a strong enough spring to win the job. Pure and simple.

Defensively, I think Rhymes and Sizemore are close enough to be considered a wash. Personally, if you were going to choose your starting second baseman based on defense, you'd choose Danny Worth.

But one prediction: at some point this season, Scott Sizemore will be playing second base in Detroit -- or somewhere.

Thanks for writing, John.

Have a question you would like me to answer? Post it as a comment (click on the "comments" link below) or send me an e-mail to jwagner@theblade.com. I will edit for clarity, length and style, but I promise you will recognize your question when you read it. Looking forward to hearing from you!