Coop Scoop

A few thoughts from Thursday

The Mud Hens returned home Thursday and claimed a 4-2 victory over Charlotte. Here are a few thoughts that may have slipped through the cracks Thursday ...

• Avisail Garcia is an impressive athlete. He showed a lot of his talents in his first game for the Mud Hens, both at the plate and in the field. He showed some speed chasing down a hard liner to right to make a good catch and end the second inning, and he would have easily stolen a base had not a Mud Hens hitter put the pitch in question in play.

In terms of arm strength, he nearly threw out a Charlotte baserunner on what should have been an easy double -- had Argenis Diaz held onto the throw, the runner would have been out easily.

At the plate, Garcia went 2-for-4 with two hard singles. It will be interesting to see if he makes an adjustment after the Knights pitchers seemed to adjust to him -- and struck him out in his last two at-bats. From what I saw of Garcia late last season with Detroit, his hitting is the main area he needs to work on.

• Brayan Villarreal looked sharp in his inning of work. Villarreal pitched the eighth, and he collected two strikeouts in his 1-2-3 inning (the other out was a groundout). Villarreal threw 11 pitches, eight of which were strikes, and got ahead of two of the three hitters he faced. Most impressive? Of his eight strikes, four were swings and misses, two were taken (including a called third strike), one was fouled and one was put in play. Don't have pitch speeds (gun wasn't on until game's end), but Villarreal was impressive.

• Bruce Rondon wasn't quite as sharp in his inning of work. Rondon got the final three outs to record the save, true, but there were cautions about his work. For example, he threw just four strikes among his 13 pitches (the first six pitches he threw were all outside the strike zone). He fell behind all three hitters he faced -- 3-0 to the first batter, 2-0 to the second (who hit into a double play) and 3-0 to the third (who flew out on a 3-1 pitch). Simply put, Rondon needs to throw more strikes. It's interesting to note that with the last hitter, he threw nothing but fastballs (one at 102 mph, one at 101 and three at 99), and threw three straight pitches outside the strike zone, a called strike and a ball that ended up as a harmless flyout. So those clamoring for work on his breaking stuff will have to wait until he gets fastball command back.

• A quick injury report on Danny Worth and Pat Misch. Mud Hens IF Danny Worth worked out in cleats yesterday, which is the first step in trying to come back from his heel problem. The next step will be determined by how the heel feels today. As for LHP Pat Misch, he played catch yesterday, and if his arm is up to it he will throw a side session today.

• The Mud Hens will add C Ramon Cabrera to the roster today. The player the Tigers received in trade for Andy Oliver, Ramon Cabrera hit extremely well for Double-A Erie to start this season. Cabrera batted .351 -- second-best in the Eastern League -- with no home runs and 20 RBIs in 24 games for the SeaWolves. He also had 12 walks -- giving him a .421 on-base percentage -- and just seven strikeouts. His average of a strikeout every 15.29 plate appearances was the best in the Eastern League.

Cabrera's promotion brings the Mud Hens roster to the limit of 25 players (by releasing John Lindsey, the Hens had a roster spot open). But it also gives Toledo three catchers, with isn't typical for a minor-league team.

Click here to read Thursday's game story. Click here to read Thursday's in-game blog. Click here to view the photo gallery from Thursday's game, courtesy of The Blade's Andy Morrison.

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Mud Hens in-game blog -- May 2

Two roster moves for Hens: Garcia added, Ortega promoted

Rondon returns to Toledo, Putkonen promoted to Tigers

Week in review - April 29

Below claimed by Marlins

On Wednesday the Miami Marlins claimed LHP Duane Below off waivers. The Tigers put Below on waivers to make room on the 40-man roster for RHP Jose Valverde.

Duane Below had started this season very well for the Mud Hens, posting a deceiving 1-2 record and 2.10 ERA in four starts. Below allowed just 15 hits and four walks while striking out 15 in 25.2 innings.

The native of nearby Britton, Mich., has a WHIP (walks plus hits per innings pitched) of 0.74 for the Hens, which ranked fourth in the International League, and his 6.66 baserunners per nine innings ranked third-best amongst IL starters. Below allowed opponents to hit just .167 against him, and that ranked fifth-best in the league.

All four of Below's starts have been "quality" starts, meaning he allowed three earned runs or fewer while covering at least six innings.

The 27-year-old lefty has split time between Toledo and Detroit the past two seasons. In 2011 he began the year with the Mud Hens and posted a 9-4 record with a 3.13 ERA to earn a promotion to Detroit, where he went 0-2 with a 4.34 ERA.

Last season he was scheduled to again begin the season in Toledo but instead was called up to Detroit, where he was 2-1 with a 3.88 ERA before being demoted to the Hens, where he posted a 1-2 record and 6.23 ERA.

Here is a look at Below's April 17 start against Indianapolis ...

In that contest Below suffered a tough loss despite giving up just three hits and one walk in seven strong innings (the Mud Hens got shut out in a 2-0 loss). Below struck out five and threw 91 pitches, 62 of which were strikes (my counts); he threw first-pitch strikes to 15 of the 25 batters he faced, including 11 of the last 13 (all of which he retired, which probably isn't a coincidence).

Below threw a fastball that sat in the 86-89 mph range (one at 85, six at 86, six at 87, 18 at 88 and nine at 89 as well as one at 92). He threw strikes with 27 of the 41 fastballs charted (65.9 percent) and got eight of his outs with fastballs (three strikeouts) and gave up one hit with the fastball.

Below's change-up sat in the 80-83 mph range (five at 80, eight at 81, six at 82, six at 83 and two at 84). He threw strikes with 18 of the 27 change-ups charted (66.7 percent) and got four outs with the change-up (one strikeout) while giving up two hits (including the double down the third-base line that was the deciding hit in the contest).

Below's curveball sat in the 76-78 mph range (one at 74, two at 75, six at 76, two at 77, seven at 78 and two at 79). He threw strikes with 16 of the 20 curveballs charted (60 percent) and got six outs (one strikeout) while not allowing a hit with the curve.

I think it's also worth noting that Below got a swing-and-a-miss on just 11 of the 91 pitches he threw (12.1 percent of his pitches); six came on the fastball, four came on the change-up and one came on the curveball.

In short: Below commanded his curveball very well in this start, and he didn't give up a lot of well-struck balls. But he also didn't get many swings and misses. When he got ahead in the count early, he had significantly more success.

What will the Mud Hens do to fill Below's spot in the roster and in the rotation?

Let's handle the rotation first, because the answer (for now) is LHP Ramon Garcia, who is expected to take Below's scheduled start Saturday in Norfolk.

Garcia made his first appearance this season for the Hens Wednesday in Durham, allowing four hits and two walked that turned into a pair of earned runs in two innings, striking out one along the way?

This "spot starter" role is something Garcia has done for the Mud Hens the past two seasons.

As for filling the roster spot, my understanding is that Luis Marte is not ready to come off the disabled list, so he is not an option.

Looking at the Double-A Erie roster, there are a couple of veteran names worth looking at. My guess is that, because it is early in the season, the Tigers will not promote a young pitcher so early in the season unless they are dominating -- and so far, nobody is dominating (although several are doing well).

A few logical choices to look at are RHP Derek Hankins and LHP Will Startup.

Hankins has made three starts for the SeaWolves this season (his next start would be Sunday) and has a 1-1 record and 3.06 ERA. Hankins has allowed 16 hits and just two walks in 17.2 innings, striking out 12.

Hankins, who will turn 30 in July, spent much of his career in Pittsburgh's organization. He pitched briefly for Indianapolis in 2010, then spent most of the past two years with Round Rock in the Pacific Coast League. In '11 he was 7-6 with a 5.89 ERA with the Express, while last year he was 6-7 with a 4.99 ERA.

Startup has been used in relief by the SeaWolves and has three saves and a 1.65 ERA in six appearances. Startup has given up 14 hits and four walks in 16.1 innings, fanning 15.

The 28-year-old Startup has pitched in Triple-A with Richmond (2006-07), Portland in the PCL (2007-08) and Norfolk (2011). Last year he pitched for Sugarland, Texas, in the independent Atlantic League, posting a 3-2 record and 2.79 ERA.

 

Post-game look at Mud Hens loss to Indianapolis Monday

The Mud Hens saw Indianapolis score three times in the eighth inning and claim a come-from-behind 5-4 victory over Toledo at Fifth Third Field Monday.

Here are a few notes and numbers from the game, starting with a warning ...

• Consider yourselves warned, Brandon Inge haters. There will be a story about Inge in Tuesday's Blade.

Inge's numbers for the day: He was 1-for-4 at the plate in the contest with an RBI double high off the wall in int he first inning (nearly a home run). He walked in the third, then struck out three times -- once by Pat Misch, once by Evan Reed and once by Bruce Rondon.

On the season Inge is hitting .139 for Indianapolis. But that number is somewhat misleading, because Inge missed a portion of spring training because of a fractured scapula.

• With the struggles of Brayan Villarreal and the potential of an injury to Octavio Dotel, I've had several people ask me who the most-likely call-up is to replace one, the other or both. Before I reply, let me start with a disclaimer: At this point, there's no indication that a move is happening. OK?

So what I'm about to answer is the question, "IF the Tigers decided to make a move, who is most likely to be called up?" First, I would think it would be someone on the 40-man roster, which leaves six possibilities: LHPs Duane Below and Casey Crosby and RHPs Jose Ortega, Luke Putkonen, Evan Reed and Bruce Rondon.

Here are some numbers for each with the Hens ... Below has started twice and is 1-0 with a 2.19 ERA, having allowed six hits and one walk while fanning nine in 12.1 innings. Crosby has started twice and is 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA, having given up seven hits and eight walks while striking out nine in 7.0 innings. I'd say Below is a candidate, and Crosby is not at this point.

Among the four relievers, Ortega is 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA in five appearances, having given up three hits and two walks while striking out six in 6.2 innings. Putkonen is 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA in four appearances, having given up six hits and four walks while fanning eight in 8.1 innings. Reed is 0-1 with a 4.05 ERA in five appearances, giving up four hits and five walks with eight strikeouts in 6.2 innings. And Rondon is 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA in five appearances, giving up three hits and two walks while striking out seven in 5.2 innings. I'd say Ortega is clearly the strongest of the four candidates, and Reed is the weakest of the four candidates.

Something else to consider ... Putkonen went 1.1 innings Monday (and threw 25 pitches), Reed got one out Monday (on 14 pitches) and Rondon went 1.2 innings (and threw 32 pitches). All three will need at least one day off before they can pitch. Crosby is Tuesday's scheduled starter, Below would start Wednesday.

As for other options ... First, a reminder that Luis Marte is on the disabled list. As for non-roster candidates, Shawn Hill pitched Sunday and Pat Misch pitched Monday. Among the non-roster relievers, Kenny Faulk has allowed three hits and two walks while striking out eight in 4.1 innings in three games -- his first above the Double-A level. Matt Hoffman has given up two hits and one walk with four strikeouts in 2.1 innings. And Jess Todd, who does have major-league experience, has given up three hits but no walks with three strikeouts in 4.1 innings.

Remember, if a player who isn't on the 40-man roster has his contract purchased by the Tigers, Detroit must make room for him on the 40-man roster (and potentially lose a player). That makes it tougher for non-roster players to get called up.

Summary: I'd say Ortega or Below are the top options. Do you need a righty (Ortega) or a lefty (Below)? Do you need innings (Below) or a quick burst (Ortega)? Those are the criteria to decide.

• Saw Rondon pitch for the first time on Monday, and he was OK. But only OK, as he gave up three hits in 1.2 innings. He did strike out four, but he came in with three inherited runners -- and all three scored.

Rondon's pitch count was 32 pitches, 19 of which were strikes. He threw 18 fastballs (12 for strikes), and 14 breaking pitches, seven for strikes. Unfortunately, I'm about to start guessing -- remember, I'm charting pitches from the press box -- that five of those pitches were change-ups (two for strikes) and nine were sliders (five for strikes).

The fastball sat at 97-98 mph (five at 97, six at 98) and touched 99 twice, 100 three times and 101 once (there also was one at 95). The fastball produced two singles, one strikeout and one flyout. The change-up sat at 87-89 mph (two at 87, one at 88 and two at 89) and produced one strikeout. The slider sat at 84-86 mph (two at 84, four at 85, three at 86) and produced two strikeouts.

If you have comments and/or questions, leave them in the "post a comment" area below. I'm heading home momentarily ... I promise to respond Tuesday!

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Mud Hens in-game blog -- April 15

Week in review - April 15

Indianapolis defeats Mud Hens

What does it mean? Tigers sign C Brayan Pena

THE MOVE: The Tigers signed C Brayan Pena to a one-year contract. To make room for Pena on the 40-man roster Detroit designed for assignment LHP Matt Hoffman.

THE BACK STORY: The native of Cuba originally joined the Braves organization in 2001. By 2005 Pena had earned a spot in Atlanta, playing in 18 games in the majors that season but never more than 23 with the Braves before he was claimed off waivers by Kansas City in 2008. In 2009 he became the Royals back-up catcher, playing in a high of 72 games in 2011. Last season Pena played in 68 games with Kansas City and hit .236 with two homers and 25 RBIs.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE TIGERS: Pena presumably solves the question of who will back up Alex Avila in 2013. Pena, who will turn 31 in January, is a switch-hitter, so he gives the Tigers lefty-righty balance behind the plate. Defense has never been Pena's strength, though last season he threw out 23.5 percent of would-be base-stealers (16 of 58), which would have ranked among the top 10 catchers in the American League had he caught enough games. In 2011 he was even more impressive, throwing out 36 percent of would-be base-stealers (27 of 75), which would have been second-best in the AL had he played enough games. Pena had two errors and four passed balls in 2011 and last season committed four errors and allowed five passed balls in 52 games.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE MUD HENS:  First, let's discuss the catching situation. In the past week the Mud Hens suddenly have become very deep behind home plate: With Pena presumably in Detroit, Bryan Holaday will likely be the lead catcher for the Hens. That's not a certainty, though, as Detroit traded for Ramon Cabrera from Pittsburgh in the Andy Oliver trade. Cabrera is young and also should get consistent playing time -- perhaps for Double-A Erie? Perhaps not, because one of the Tigers more highly regarded prospects is James McCann, who caught for the SeaWolves last season. The Tigers also signed veteran catcher Brad Davis, who spent the second half of last season in Toledo.

Let's not forget the other part of this move, which saw Hoffman designated for assignment. That means other major-league teams now have a chance to claim him off waivers if that team can add Hoffman to the 40-man roster. Last season Hoffman posted a 1-2 record and 3.69 ERA in 43 appearances for Toledo. But he showed marked improvement, especially with his control, after the All-Star Break. Before the break he had 10 walks, three hit batsmen and four wild pitches in 24.1 innings; after the break he gave up six walks, one hit batsman and no wild pitches in 22.0 innings. As a left-hander who is young (he turned 24 in November) and throws hard (his fastball sat in the low 90s), it's hard to imagine some team would not take a chance on him, especially since he has options remaining (which means he can be sent to the minors without fear of losing him to another club).

Potential Mud Hen call-ups to Detroit -- Position players

On Saturday, Sept. 1, rosters at the major league level can expand from their current 25-man limit up to 40 players. That means some of the players on the Mud Hens current roster can expect to be called up to Detroit on Saturday.

But which players? Good question. Let's explore the possibilities.

IF YOU READ THURSDAY'S STORY, YOU CAN SKIP TO THE DOTS. If not, please continue ...

Before we start looking at particular players, let's repeat one important element in this process: Any player who is called up to Detroit when rosters expand must be on the 40-man roster. During the regular-season that is a two-edged sword, at times knocking minor-league players out of action to create space to add a major-league player (perfect example: Thad Weber a short time ago).

In short, if the player is on the 40-man roster, his chances of being promoted to the Tigers is MUCH better. If he's not on the 40-man, another move must be made to create room.

Clear? OK, then let's look at some position players, presented in alphabetical order. After each player's name I'll have a "yes" or "no" to tell you if they are on the 40-man, following be some thoughts on each player. Here we go ...

• JUSTIN HENRY (NO): The positives include a .298 batting average, 22 stolen bases, a .370 on-base percentage and the versatility to have played second base, third base and all three outfield positions. The negatives include just one home run and 12 caught stealing. Unfortunately, the biggest negatives are that he is not on the 40-man roster and there are other versatile options in front of him (two others on this list, not to mention Ramon Santiago). I think he will NOT be promoted to the Tigers this September.

• BRYAN HOLADAY (YES): I could tell you that his numbers are .239 with two home runs and 23 RBIs. I could give you any number of other metrics. I'd be wasting our time: he WILL be promoted to Detroit to give the Tigers the flexibility a third catcher provides.

• DONNY KELLY (NO): In the same way it was hard for me to decide on Adam Wilk, I'm really struggling with this one. There are a lot of things working against Kelly, not the least of which is that he's not on the 40-man. But he's only hitting .233 for the Mud Hens and right now is in a 1-for-14 funk. He also has struck out 17 times in just 73 at-bats, meaning he strikes out once every 4.3 at-bats. He does have a .341 on-base percentage thanks to 12 walks. I know the Tigers really like him as a player ... but that is a lot of obstacles to overcome. I think he will NOT be promoted, but I would not be surprised if he was.

• JOHN LINDSEY (NO): I know the chances are slim here, but I want to use this opportunity to highlight how well he has played for the Mud Hens. In 61 games Lindsey has hit .274 with 17 doubles, 14 home runs and 43 RBIs. Even if he played on ONLY 122 games (double his totals) out of 144, his season totals would be 28 home runs and 86 RBIs. Not bad, eh? He also has a .373 on-base percentage and a .916 OPS. In short, the dude can hit. He will NOT be promoted to Detroit, but the 35-year-old also is a great presence in the clubhouse, so hopefully he will get an opportunity to return next year -- or perhaps be offered another job in the organization.

• RYAN RABURN (YES): Technically, Raburn isn't on the Mud Hens roster -- he is on a rehab assignment with the team. In 15 games with Toledo he has batted .250 with four home runs and 12 RBIs. I am confident Raburn WILL be promoted to Detroit and taken off the disabled list when Sept. 1 arrives.

• DANNY WORTH (YES): A few weeks back I think it was a slam-dunk that he would return to Detroit. He has hit .266 in 59 games for the Mud Hens, collecting five home runs and 24 RBIs while stealing 10 bases. He also is solid defensively at third base, shortstop and second base. But there is a lot of competition for his job, which is to back up spots around the infield. I don't feel a lot of confidence in this prediction, but I will say that he WILL be promoted to Detroit.

Also, I know it's not my place ... but there has been some conversation about other potential call-ups. I'm not going to name players like Nick Castellanos, Avisail Garcia or Hernan Perez by name, but I will make a prediction: NONE of those players gets promoted to Detroit. Just a gut feeling, mind you, but I've got a pretty substantial gut.

And one other thought: That's not a slam on those guys. In fact, I look forward to having the opportunity to watch Castellanos and Garcia play for the Mud Hens in 2013, if that's where they begin the season.

If you missed it Thursday: Click here for a look at potential pitcher call-ups by the Tigers.

Potential Mud Hen call-ups to Detroit -- Pitchers

On Saturday, Sept. 1, rosters at the major league level can expand from their current 25-man limit up to 40 players. That means some of the players on the Mud Hens current roster can expect to be called up to Detroit on Saturday.

But which players? Good question. Let's explore the possibilities.

Before we start looking at particular players, let's understand one important element in this process: Any player who is called up to Detroit when rosters expand must be on the 40-man roster. During the regular-season that is a two-edged sword, at times knocking minor-league players out of action to create space to add a major-league player (perfect example: Thad Weber a short time ago).

In short, if the player is on the 40-man roster, his chances of being promoted to the Tigers is MUCH better. If he's not on the 40-man, another move must be made to create room.

Clear? OK, then let's look at some pitchers, presented in alphabetical order. On Friday I'll look at some position players on the Mud Hens roster and handicap their chances.

After each player's name I'll have a "yes" or "no" to tell you if they are on the 40-man, following be some thoughts on each player. Here we go ...

• AL ALBURQUERQUE (YES): Alburquerque is 1-0 with a 1.69 ERA with the Hens, having allowed nine hits and four walks in 10.2 innings while striking out 18. In his last six appearances? Six hits and two walks in 7.2 scoreless innings with 15 strikeouts. Based on his recent pitching, he WILL be called up.

• DUANE BELOW (YES): After spending most of the season with the Tigers, Below has struggled since coming to the Mud Hens. He has posted an 0-2 record and 5.73 ERA in three starts, allowing 16 hits and nine walks in 11 innings with just six strikeouts. But I'm going to go against the numbers here and say he WILL be called up ... based on his season of work with the Tigers and the struggles of Phil Coke in the bullpen. He would give Detroit a left-handed bullpen option.

• CASEY CROSBY (YES): For the season Crosby is 7-8 with a 3.77 ERA for the Mud Hens. He didn't throw particularly well on Sunday, but his two prior starts were very sharp. I could be wrong here, but I think the answer is that he will NOT be called up. Here's nearing his innings total from last season, which shows he has overcome the arm troubled that plagued him early in his career -- but still are a cautionary tale. And there isn't a need for a left-handed starter because of Drew Smyly and Adam Wilk.

• MATT HOFFMAN (YES): The 23-year-old lefty has bounced back from a rough start to move his season's numbers to 1-2 with a 3.86 ERA. In nine August appearances Hoffman has a 2.70 ERA with nine hits and three walks in 10 innings to go with eight strikeouts. Hoffman has been named as one of Detroit's pitchers in the Arizona Fall League, so I think he will NOT be called up to save his arm for Arizona.

• LUIS MARTE (YES): On the season Marte is 3-2 with a pair of saves and a 3.97 ERA for the Mud Hens with 10 walks and 23 strikeouts in 22.2 innings. Lately he has been sensational: In his last six appearances he has given up just two hits and four walks in 8.1 innings while fanning 11. Based on his recent numbers and his success with Detroit, I think he WILL be called up.

• ANDY OLIVER (YES): For the season Oliver is 5-9 with a 4.98 ERA. He has allowed just 100 hits while striking out 109 in 115.2 innings, but 87 walks in that span is just too many. Recently he moved to a relief role and gave up 15 hits and 11 walks in 14.1 innings while striking out 17. Because of the walks, I think he will NOT be called up, and instead will begin to prepare for a relief role when spring training begins next season.

• JOSE ORTEGA (YES): The 23-year-old right-hander is 5-7 with a 5.88 ERA with the Mud Hens, having allowed 72 hits and walked 50 in 59.2 innings. Despite those numbers, there is a lot to like about the pitcher International League managers said had the league's best fastball. But that is down the road ... I think he will NOT be called up.

• LUKE PUTKONEN (YES): For the season the 26-year-old is 3-2 with a 4.42 ERA with the Hens. He has made some mechanical adjustments that have improved his numbers significantly: In August he has allowed just seven hits and four walks in 11 innings, and IL batters have hit just .184 against him this month. But like Hoffman, he is slated to pitch in the AFL, so I think he will NOT be called up and instead will prepare for Arizona.

• BRUCE RONDON (NO): Here is an example of where not being on the 40-man has an effect. Rondon has been amazing all season, and that hasn't stopped in Toledo as he brings a fastball that sits comfortably at 100 mph. He has allowed four hits in six innings, striking out seven but walking five. My guess is he will NOT be promoted, but trust me when I tell you he will be in Detroit's plans for next season.

• DANIEL SCHLERETH (YES, BUT NO): This is a tricky one. Schlereth is technically NOT on the 40-man since he is on the 60-day disabled list. To activate him, the Tigers would need to make room on the 40-man roster. Also, he's on a rehab assignment, but that doesn't mean anything here. His numbers haven't been good with the Hens, but he hasn't been pounded by any means. My guess is that he will return to Detroit but will NOT be activated unless there is a need.

• ADAM WILK (YES): Wilk has been the Mud Hens' best starter this season, posting a deceiving 7-11 record but also notching a 2.76 ERA (fourth-best in the IL) as well as allowing just 119 hits and 28 walks in 143.2 innings while fanning 120. All of the metrics are good for Wilk -- opponents batting average of .222 is league's fourth-best among starters, 9.21 baserunners per nine innings is best among IL starters, and 1.69 walks per nine is third -- but I just have a negative feeling about this. I've only got Detroit calling up three pitchers so far, but Jim Leyland's words about having just a limited number of call-ups keep ringing in my brain. If it were my call, I would bring him up. It's not my call, and for some unexplainable reason I think he will NOT be called up.

By the way, I've completed scouting reports on a parade of Mud Hens pitchers over the past few days. Click here to read about Saturday's pitchers (four), click here to read about Sunday's pitchers (four) and click here to read about Tuesday's pitchers (six, but really five).

Friday: A look at potential position-player call-ups by the Tigers.

An inside look at six (!) Mud Hens pitchers Tuesday v. Indianapolis

LHP Duane Below and five relievers pitched for the Mud Hens in their 5-0 loss to Indianapolis at Fifth Third Field Tuesday. Here's a look at all five of those pitchers – Below, Jose Ortega, Daniel Schlereth, Al Alburquerque and Matt Hoffman – against the Indianapolis. Sorry, Zach Miner fans, he threw two pitches, both strikes, and got a double play. On to the rest ...

LHP Duane Below made his third start of the season for the Mud Hens Tuesday versus Indianapolis and struggled, allowing six hits and four walks in four innings of work. Below did strike out three, but he was tagged with the loss.

Below threw 87 pitches, 52 of which were strikes (59.8 percent). Here’s how Below’s pitches and strikes broke down by inning:

• First inning: 22 pitches, 15 strikes (68.2 percent)
• Second inning: 32 pitches, 15 strikes (46.9 percent)
• Third inning: 12 pitches, 9 strikes (75 percent)
• Fourth inning: 21 pitches, 13 strikes (61.9 percent)

A few more numbers – including one that I think best explains Below’s struggles. The 26-year-old lefty threw first-pitch strikes to just nine of the 20 batters he faced (45 percent). Here’s the crazy part: those nine first-pitch strikes led to two singles, a double and two walks with only one strikeout, one double play and two other outs.

While Below struggled with first-pitch strikes, he only went to 2-0 on one batter all night: Tony Sanchez, whom he walked in the second. Below reached an 0-2 count three times, which resulted in a single, a strikeout and another out.

Ready for pitch speeds? Here we go ...

Below’s fastball sat at 89-91 mph (six at 88, 14 at 89, 14 at 90, 15 at 92, one at 93). His slider sat at 85-86 mph (three at 85, five at 86, one at 87), while his curveball sat at 78-79 mph (one at 76, two at 78, four at 79). Finally, his change-up sat at 83-84 mph (two at 81, two at 82, 10 at 83, five at 84).

Of the 51 fastballs I charted, 33 were strikes (64.7 percent). Having just checked my math, I just don’t believe it … It felt as if Below was missing a lot with his fastball. Three of the hits came on fastballs, and there were only three swings-and-misses on the fastball (although there were 12 foul balls).

Of the seven curveballs I charted, NONE came after the second inning although four were for strikes (57.1 percent). Of the nine sliders, six were strikes (66.7 percent), including five called and one swinging. Of the 19 change-ups, nine were strikes (47.3 percent), including three swings-and-misses and two fouled off.

RHP Jose Ortega relieved Below to start the fifth and clearly was the Mud Hens' most effective reliever on Tuesday. Ortega retired six of the seven batters he faced, and the only hit he allowed was an opposite-field bloop single by Dallas McPherson with two outs in the fifth. Ortega struck out two and didn't walk anyone.

Ortega threw 28 pitches, 21 of which were strikes (75 percent). Here’s how Ortega’s pitches and strikes broke down by inning:

• Fifth inning: 19 pitches, 15 strikes (78.9 percent)
• Sixth inning: 9 pitches, 6 strikes (66.7 percent)

Here is the most impressive part of Ortega's effort tonight: He threw first-pitch strikes to all seven batters he faced. He went to 0-2 on four of the seven, which resulted in two strikeouts, the single and another out. When he gets ahead of hitters, he has the stuff to be effective, as tonight showed.

On to the pitch speeds ...

Ortega's fastball sat at 96-98 mph (two at 94, one at 95, four at 96, nine at 97, five at 98), while his slider sat at 86-88 mph (three at 86, one at 87, two at 88, one at 90). Of his 21 fastballs, 18 were strikes (although four were swing-and-miss strikes, while four were fouled off and five were taken). Of his seven sliders, three were strikes (one swing-and-miss, two fouls).

LHP Daniel Schlereth made his second rehab appearance with the Mud Hens Tuesday and struggled with a bit of bad fortune, eventually giving up a run on three hits and a walk. His only out came on a strikeout.

Schlereth threw 20 pitches, 15 of which were strikes (75 percent). In fact, Schlereth threw only one pitch that was called a ball until his final batter faced, McPherson -- a left-handed hitter -- drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch.

Schlereth threw first-pitch strikes to all five batters he faced, and moved to an 0-2 count on three of them. But one resulted in a high hopper that fell behind the mound and second base and went for a single, the second was lined to center for a single (that was the bad pitch, I thought), and the third ended in a strikeout (of a good hitter for this level, Matt Hague -- who is right-handed).

More pitch speeds ...

Schlereth's fastball sat at 88-91 mph (two at 88, four at 90, seven at 91), while his curveball sat at 78-81 mph (one at 78, one at 79, three at 81 and two at 83). Of his 13 fastballs, 10 were strikes (including three swings-and-misses and three fouls, both good numbers). Of his seven curveballs, five were strikes (including the strikeout pitch and a foul ball).

RHP Al Alburquerque pitched in the eighth and gave up only one hit, which came on a slow roller down the third-base line, along with one walk. He did not have any strikeouts.

Alburquerque threw 21 pitches, 12 of which were strikes (57.1 percent). He threw first-pitch strikes to three of the five batters he faced and reached an 0-2 count on two of those hitters. He did reach a 2-0 count on one hitter, which yielded the single.

Let's move on to the pitch speeds ...

I missed a few pitches with Alburquerque (sorry), but I counted seven fastballs ranging from 91-96 mph (one at 91, one at 92, two at 93, two at 94, one at 96) and 10 sliders ranging from 83-88 mph (one at 83, three at 84, one at 85, four at 86, one at 88). I also had one pitch register at 74, but I don't think he throws a curveball, so I'm inclined to ignore it.

Of the seven fastballs, four were strikes, and of the 10 sliders, seven were strikes. There were two swings-and-misses, both of the slider (both by Jeff Larish, by the way), and only one foul ball (on a 94 mph fastball).

And finally, LHP Matt Hoffman came on in the ninth and gave up a run on three hits -- one of which was by a left-hander. All three were solidly struck. Hoffman was aided by a double-play ball with the infield in to choke off a run (the runner at third stayed there), but Hoffman gave up a two-out single to score the run.

Hoffman threw 22 pitches, 12 of which were strikes (54.5 percent). Hoffman threw pitches called a ball to the first four hitters he faced before finally getting a first-pitch strike to the fifth hitter. He fell behind 2-0 to two of the hitters, both of whom got singles (including Brandon Boggs on the two-out RBI hit).

In fact, the counts on the balls that were put in play were 1-0 (single), 3-2 (after falling behind 2-0 and 3-1, leading to a single), 2-2 (, fell behind 2-1, double play), 2-0 (RBI single), 2-1 (out).

Last batch of pitch speeds ... Hoffman's fastball sat at 91-92 mph (one at 89, one at 90, three at 91, three at 92, one at 93, one at 94), and seven of those 10 fastballs were strikes. But the breaking stuff was another matter, as it sat at 81-82 mph (one at 80, four at 81, two at 82, one at 83, one at 84) and there were just four strikes among those nine pitches (one swinging, one foul, two put in play).

An inside look at four Mud Hens pitchers Sunday vs. Louisville

LHP Casey Crosby and three relievers pitched for the Mud Hens in their 4-3 loss to Louisville at Fifth Third Field Sunday. Here's a look at all four pitchers – Crosby, Daniel Schlereth, Luis Marte and Zach Miner – fared against the Bats ...

Let’s start with a look at LHP Casey Crosby, starting with his raw numbers: he covered the first six innings and allowed seven hits and one walk that turned into four earned runs. Crosby gave up a pair of two-run homers, one to Didi Gregorius in the first and the other to Denis Phipps in the fifth.

I think it’s worth noting that with Sunday’s pair of home runs, Crosby now has given up eight home runs in his last seven starts. The 23-year-old lefty had allowed just four home runs in his first 14 starts with the Mud Hens.

Crosby threw 85 pitches, 57 of which were strikes (67.1 percent). Also worth noting: Crosby’s pitch-count has been lower in his last three starts (86 pitches Aug. 15 at Syracuse, 88 pitches Aug. 21 at Lehigh Valley), but I don’t read much into that because those were doubleheader games that the Mud Hens lost on the road, so by going just six innings Crosby threw a complete game.

Here’s how Crosby’s pitches and strikes broke down by inning:

• First inning: 14 pitches, 10 strikes (71.4 percent)
• Second inning: 12 pitches, 9 strikes (75 percent)
• Third inning: 13 pitches, 9 strikes (69.2 percent)
• Fourth inning: 15 pitches, 7 strikes (46.7 percent)
• Fifth inning: 21 pitches, 14 strikes (66.7 percent)
• Sixth inning: 10 pitches, 8 strikes (80.0 percent)

A few more numbers – one that I think means a lot, two that I struggle to explain. The one that makes sense: Crosby’s first-pitch strikes. He finished with first-pitch strikes to 15-of-26 hitters he faced (57.7 percent), but that needs to be explained further. In the first three innings Crosby threw first-pitch strikes to 10-of-12 hitters (83.3 percent), and allowed just three baserunners. In the fourth through sixth he threw first-pitch strikes to just 5-of-14 (35.7 percent) and allowed one walk and four hits.

Now, the two that don’t make as much sense: Crosby had a 2-0 count to three hitters and got a strikeout, a walk and a single. He reached an 0-2 count three times and got a strikeout and two singles. How can those be so similar?

Rhetorical question, I guess. Ready for pitch speeds? Here we go ...

Crosby’s fastball sat at 87-90 mph in the first inning and got a little faster as the game went on, eventually spiking at 94 mph once (one at 94, three at 93, five at 92, three at 91, four at 90, 13 at 89, six at 88 and four at 87). He didn’t throw his change-up much – four times, judging by the pitch speeds on the scoreboard (one at 84, one at 82 and two at 81). He threw a whopping 41 curveballs that ranged from 73 (once) to 79 mph (twice); the others were seven at 78, six at 77, nine at 76, four at 75, and 12 at 74). I missed a few pitches, but even at 41 of 85 pitches being curveballs that means at least 48 percent, or nearly half, of Crosby’s pitches were curves.

Of the 39 fastballs I charted, 23 were strikes (59 percent). Four of the hits, including the home run by Didi Gregorius in the first, came on fastballs, and three of the strikeouts came on fastballs. Of the 23 strikes, seven were foul balls, four were called strikes and five were swings and misses.

Of the 41 curveballs I charted, 31 were strikes (75.6 percent, which is a very good percentage). Three of the hits, including the home run by Denis Phipps in the fifth, came on curveballs, and five of the strikeouts came on the curve. Of the 31 strikes, six were foul balls, four were called strikes and 11 were swings and misses – and that also is a lot.

In the seventh inning LHP Daniel Schlereth came on for an inning in his first rehab appearance with the Mud Hens. Schlereth retired all three batters he faced, striking out Denis Phipps (who had gone 3-for-3 versus Crosby).

Schlereth threw 15 pitches, nine of which were strikes (60 percent). He fell behind the first batter he faced 2-0 but got the out on the next pitch. Schlereth then threw first-pitch strikes to the other two batters he faced.

Of his 15 pitches, six were fastballs in the 89-91 mph range (four at 89, one at 90, one at 91). Of those six, two were strikes (one was fouled off, one was put in play). Schlereth threw nine curveballs that ranged from 79-82 mph (three at 79, one at 80, four at 81, one at 82). Of those nine, seven were strikes; three were swung at and missed, three were fouled off, and one was put into play.

In the eighth inning RHP Luis Marte came on in relief of Schlereth and also retired all three batters he faced, striking out Devin Mesoraco and Henry Rodriguez.

Marte threw 13 pitches, nine of which were strikes (69.2 percent). He threw a first-pitch strike to the first batter he faced, and that was all. He never reached a 2-0 court or an 0-2 count.

Of his 13 pitches, four were fastballs in the 89-91 mph range (one at 89, one at 90, one at 91 and one at 93). Of those four, three were strikes (two were fouled off and one was taken for a strike). Marte threw nine sliders that ranged from 81-86 mph (three at 81, two at 83, one at 84, two at 85, one at 86). I think it's interesting to note that his first two sliders were 81 mph, and the pitch picked up velocity from there. Of those nine sliders, six were strikes; four were swung at and missed, one was fouled off, and one was put into play.

One final word on Marte: He has been pitching well lately. In his last six outings he has allowed just two hits and four walks in 8.1 innings, which has resulted in just one earned run. Obviously that means five of his last six outings have been scoreless. In those 8.1 innings Marte has struck out 11 and has stranded all seven runners he has inherited.

In the ninth inning RHP Zach Miner came on for an inning and retired all three batters he faced without incident.

Miner threw eight pitches, six of which were strikes (75 percent). He threw a first-pitch strike to just one of the three batters he faced, but didn't fall behind 2-0 to any of the three (nor did he reach 0-2).

Of his eight pitches, three were fastballs in the 93-94 mph range (two at 93, one at 94). Of those three, two were strikes (one was fouled off, one was taken). Miner threw two change-ups, one at 82 mph (that was put in play) and one at 84 (that was called a ball). He also threw three curve balls, two at 79 (one taken for a strike, one put in play) and one at 77 (that was put in play).

One final word on Miner: Like Marte, he has been pitching well lately. In his eight August appearances Miner has posted a 1-0 record with one save and a 2.00 ERA. He has allowed just seven hits in nine innings, but he has walked seven and only struck out three. One more plus for Miner: In his last nine appearances he has inherited nine baserunners ... and none of them have scored.

An inside look at Toledo's four pitchers Saturday v. Louisville

LHP Andy Oliver combined with three relievers to lead the Mud Hens to a 5-1 win over Louisville at Fifth Third Field Saturday. Here's a look at all four pitchers – Oliver, Luke Putkonen, Al Alburquerque and Bruce Rondon – against the Bats ...

First, the raw numbers for Andy Oliver, who was making his first start since July 12: he went 4.0 innings and allowed just two hits and two walks while fanning three. Oliver faced four batters with runners in scoring position and allowed just one hit, a two-out RBI single by Henry Rodriguez that scored the Bats’ lone run in the fourth inning.

An aside: Jerad Head nearly threw the batter out at home plate. The ball seemed to arrive just before Didi Gregorius reached home, but Gregorius used a nifty slide to beat the tag and score the run.

Back to Oliver, who threw a total of 59 pitches, 32 of which were strikes (54.2 percent). It’s interesting to note how the pitches and strikes broke down:

 

• First inning: 18 pitches, 9 strikes (50 percent)
• Second inning: 12 pitches, 9 strikes (75 percent)
• Third inning: 11 pitches, 5 strikes (45.4 percent)
• Fourth inning: 18 pitches, 9 strikes (50 percent)

Oliver was behind batters in the first inning, threw much better in the second – it’s no coincidence he notched two of his three strikeouts in that inning – the struggled with command in the other two innings.

Oliver threw first-pitch strikes to just five of the 16 batters he faced, including two of the three in the second, again his best inning. Oliver fell behind 2-0 to six of the 16 batters he faced, which resulted in four outs and two walks. The lefty got ahead of two batters 0-2, and both of those at-bats resulted in strikeouts.

Ready for pitch speeds? Here we go ... Oliver's fastball sat at 92-94 mph (four at 91, seven at 92, six at 93, eight at 94, five at 95 and two at 96). His slider sat in the 83-86 mph range (he had four at 83, seven at 84, six at 85, five at 86 and two at 87). It wouldn’t surprise me if some of those were sliders and some change-ups, but it’s hard to tell the difference upstairs. He also threw one pitch that registered 78, and I assume that to be a curve.

Here are a few interesting things to note … of the 31 fastballs, 18 were strikes of some sort (including three swings and misses), which means he threw strikes with 58.1 percent of his fastballs. Of the 24 breaking pitches, only 11 were strikes (45.8 percent), but there were five swings and misses.

Next is RHP Luke Putkonen, starting with the raw numbers: he went 3.0 innings and allowed two hits and two walks while fanning one. Putkonen faced two batters with runners in scoring position after giving up two-out doubles in both the fifth and sixth, but both times he got the out.

Putkonen threw 44 pitches, 25 of which were strikes (56.8 percent), which broke down this way:

• Fifth inning: 17 pitches, 9 strikes (52.9 percent)
• Sixth inning: 14 pitches, 9 strikes (64.3 percent)
• Seventh inning: 13 pitches, 7 strikes (53.8 percent)

Putkonen fell behind all four batters he faced in the fifth and threw first-pitch strikes to just five of 11 hitters. Putkonen fell behind 2-0 to four of the 11 batters he faced, and that almost always was bad news as he gave up a walk and two doubles while getting just one out after falling behind. The right-hander got ahead of just one batter 0-2, and that ended up in his lone strikeout – which took six pitches, by the way.

Ready for pitch speeds? Here we go ... Putkonen’s fastball sat at 94-96 mph (one at 98, 10 at 96, eight at 95, six at 94, one at 93 one at 92, and one at 89). Note that Putkonen also throws a split-finger fastball, and I’m not sure where that falls here. I’d guess that the slower fastballs were the split-finger, but I’d be guessing. His change-up sat at 85-88 mph (one at 88, two at 87, four at 86 and one at 85), and I’d suppose that could be the split-finger as well. Again, please remember it’s hard to determine up in the press box. He threw four curveballs at 81 and two at 79.

Here are a few interesting things to note … of the 27 fastballs, only 12 were strikes of some sort, which means he threw strikes with 44.4 percent of his fastballs (of those, there was not a single swing and miss and only one “take,” meaning 11 were either put in play (five) or fouled off (six)). Of the 16 “off-speed” pitches, nine were strikes (56.3 percent), and there were three swings and misses (18.8 percent).

Now let’s take a look at RHP Al Alburquerque, starting with the raw numbers: he went 1.0 innings and faced four batters, striking out the first two before giving up a bloop double to Devin Mesoraco and then getting an inning-ending ground out.

Alburquerque threw 13 pitches, 10 of which were strikes (76.9 percent), and there were no good swings against him.

Alburquerque threw first-pitch strikes to the first two batters he faced, got ahead of both 0-2, and struck both of them out -- on a total of three pitches. The two batter he did not throw first-pitch strikes to resulted in the double and the groundout, although he didn't fall behind either batter 2-0.

Ready for pitch speeds? Here we go ... Alburquerque’s fastball sat at 91-95 mph (two at 91, one at 94, two at 95). Of the five fastballs he threw, three were strikes -- one swing and miss, one foul and one put in play (the groundout). The right-hander's slider sat at 83-87 mph (one at 83, three at 84, one at 85, one at 86, one at 87). Here's the fascinating part: Of those seven sliders, FIVE were swung at and missed, one was a ball and one was put in play (the bloop hit). Alburquerque also had one pitch register at 78 mph (a curve?), and it was called a strike.

Finally, a look at Bruce Rondon. This was the first time Rondon had really pitched at Fifth Third Field (if you remember, he had one appearance here and threw only one pitch -- a 102 mph fastball behind former Mud Hen Will Rhymes that triggered an ejection -- and Rondon did not disappoint.

Rondon threw seven pitches, and ALL SEVEN were strikes (I didn't pull out the calculator here, so I may be wrong, but I believe that's 100 percent). Rondon got a flyout, a groundout and a game-ending strikeout.

Obviously Rondon threw first-pitch strikes to all three hitters. He only got ahead of one batter 0-2, and that ended with a strikeout.

And here is the moment you've been waiting for ... pitch speeds. Rondon did NOT throw any pitches at 100 mph -- but he DID throw one at 101 and one at 102. The 101 was a swing and miss, the 102 was a called strike. He threw three fastballs at 99 (two called strikes, one put in play) and one fastball at "only" 97 (also put in play). He also threw one curveball, and that 87 mph pitch was swung at and missed.

In short: He was impressive.

Your questions, my answers – Aug. 2

Todd tweeted to me: Any chance that [Mud Hens manager Phil] Nevin will be gone at the end of the season?

Dear Todd: You are not the first person to ask me that question. So you won’t be the first person to whom I say this: I would imagine the Tigers are pleased with the work Phil Nevin has done as Hens manager this season.

And before I get buried under an avalanche of tweets and e-mails, let me say that I know the numbers. On May 7 Toledo stood in first place in the International League’s West Division with a 19-11 record, and since that time the Mud Hens have posted a 25-57 mark and are just one game ahead of Louisville, the team with the IL’s worst record. Toledo was 11-20 in May, 8-21 in June and 11-18 in July.

But your perspective – and the perspective of all Mud Hens fans, in all likelihood – is different from the Tigers’ perspective.

Toledo followers want the Hens to win games, make the playoffs and win the Governors’ Cup. The Tigers’ perspective is that Nevin’s job is get Toledo players ready to play in Detroit first and foremost. And if preparing players keeps you from winning a few more games, well, that’s OK – and don't misunderstand, that's the view of EVERY major-league team, not just the Tigers. Winning games in Toledo is preferable to the alternative, but getting players ready is Job 1, to steal a line from the old Ford ads.

And judging by this season, Nevin and his coaching staff -- hitting coach Leon “Bull” Durham and pitching coach A.J. Sager -- have done good work in that regard.

For example, Quintin Berry hit .270 with 19 stolen base in 39 games with the Mud Hens, but has been even better with the Tigers. He came into Wednesday’s game at Boston with a .283 batting average in 57 games along with 15 stolen bases (and had not been caught stealing once).

But Berry is far from the other player to make the transition from Toledo to Detroit this season. …

• Bryan Holaday held his own in a brief audition with the Tigers and probably will return to Detroit in September;
• Danny Worth continues to hit well in Toledo, prompting some observers to say that he should have been given a shot at the second base job (before the trade for Omar Infante, of course);
• Darin Downs has a 2.35 ERA in six appearances with the Tigers, to go with 10 strikeouts and four walks in 7.2 innings;
• Brayan Villarreal has become a promising bullpen arm, posting a 1.36 ERA in 29 outings thanks in part to 43 strikeouts in 33 innings.

Do players, especially six-year free agent signees such as Berry and Downs, deserve the credit for taking advantage of an opportunity with Detroit? Absolutely. Do Nevin and his staff deserve credit for having the players ready when the opportunity presented itself? Again, absolutely.

I talk with Nevin nearly every day when the team is at home, so trust me when I tell you he is unhappy with the season record. But the facts are these: Toledo has a .246 team batting average that is the worst in the 14-team IL (it was .271 in April), a 4.38 team ERA that is 11th-best (it was 3.88 in April), and a team fielding percentage of .976 that ranks 12th.

Do you think this team would be a playoff contender with a different manager?

Me neither.

I can't tell you with certainty that Nevin will return as manager next season, but that's only because most Triple-A managers have a short tenure. They often get promoted to the big leagues and become coaches, which is what happened to the three Mud Hens managers prior to Nevin.

In fact, only four IL managers have been on the job longer than two seasons, which is how long Nevin has been in Toledo. This season, six of the league's 14 managers are in their first season in their current position.

So perhaps Nevin will return next season, and perhaps he won't. But I would be surprised if Detroit cited the Mud Hens' losing record this year as the reason to make a change.

Thanks for writing. John.

Have a commend on this blog post? Post it as a comment (click on the "comments" link below), tweet to me at @jwagnerblade 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!