Tigers rotation update, how Comerica might affect Fielder’s blasts

According to an interview on ESPN radio this afternoon, Tigers prospect Drew Smyly has a “legitimate chance” to open the season as the Tigers #5 starter.  So said Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski, who was being interviewed (presumably) about Prince Fielder as opposed to Drew Smyly.  

For those of you who don’t know much about Smyly.

The Left-handed Smyly is the # 3 prospect in the Tigers system according to Baseball America. Smyly features a fastball in the 87-92 mph range, with a slider and curve as well as a splitter-like change up, that will allow him to be a #3 or 4 starter in the bigs.

I was wondering about what a difference the dimensions of Comerica Park would play on Prince Fielder’s HR numbers compared to Miller Park and the folks at ESPN’s stats and information department were kind enough to do some number crunching. 

For 2011, 9 of Prince’s 24 HR would not have cleared the fences at Comerica with 1 that might or might not have gone out.  All of the nine were hit from Left-Center field to Right-Center, so Fielder might have to adapt and become a little more pull heavy with his swing to compensate, if he is going to duplicate his one HR every 15.3 AB ratio. 

With Smyly not having quite as much upside as Jacob Turner, who projects out to be a solid #2 or #3 rotation guy, being a LH pitcher might give Smyly the edge needed to finish off a very RH heavy rotation of Verlander, Fister, Scherzer and Porcello.   Also vying for the # 5 slot are fellow LHP’s Andrew Oliver and Casey Crosby, the Tigers #4 and #5 rated prospects by Baseball America respectively. 

Regardless of who ends up with the #5 spot, I am curious to see how Oliver, Crosby and Smyly end up pitching at AAA Toledo and for the Tigers this season, as none of the three LHP’s end up projecting into the Tigers lineup down the road, according to BA. 

Something to keep in mind, regarding Fielder and his power numbers, his HR total might take a  slight dip, at least at home, but I would expect to see a rise in Prince’s Double and maybe the occasional Triple numbers as many of Fielder’s blasts that don’t clear the fences, end up being chased around spacious Comerica Park.  I don’t know about you but seeing the 5’11”- 275lb Fielder headed into second base or rounding it into third is not a sight that the infielders of the AL will look forward to seeing.  I fully expect Prince to keep up his ranking of being in the top 5 in Slugging Pct in all of baseball, in 2011.


(Just a quick reminder, when I post here on Tiger Tizzy, any paragraphs entirely in BOLD font, is my opinion)

Tigers Payroll for 2012.

Taking a look at the potential 25-man roster for the 2012 season I have assembled the payroll for the team for the upcoming season.

Obviously some of the players and roles have yet to be defined with Spring Training reporting date of Feb 19, 2012 still 23 days away, this is a guess on my part of who will be filling what role for the Tigers.

Based on the information listed below, the Tigers will be adding over $9.5-Million  over 2011 to their payroll:  

2012	$116,814,500
2011	$106,953,000
	$9,861,500

25 Man roster

1B	Fielder	23,000,000
2B	Raburn	2,100,000
3B	Cabrera	21,000,000
SS	Peralta	5,500,000
C	Avila	425,000
LF	Dirks	414,000
CF	Jackson	440,000
RF	Boesch	430,000
DH	Young	6,750,000
BN	Kelly	900,000
BN	Inge	5,500,000
BN	Laird	1,000,000
BN	Santiago	2,100,000
SP1	Verlander	20,000,000
SP2	Fister	436,500
SP3	Scherzer	3,750,000
SP4	Porcello	1,344,000
SP5	Turner	1,375,000
CL	Valverde	9,000,000
SU	Benoit	5,500,000
SU	Dotel	3,500,000
RP	Coke	1,100,000
RP	Pauley	422,000
RP	Schlereth	418,000
RP	Balester	410,000
		$116,814,500

Including V-Mart and Alburqueque contracts (injured)

Cabrera	21,000,000
Verlander	20,000,000
Fielder	23,000,000
Valverde	9,000,000
D Young	6,750,000
Benoit	5,500,000
Inge	5,500,000
Peralta	5,500,000
Sherzer	3,750,000
Porcello	1,344,000
Dotel	3,500,000
Raburn	2,100,000
Santiago	2,100,000
Turner	1,375,000
Coke	1,100,000
Laird	1,000,000
Kelly	900,000
Avila	425,000
Boesch	430,000
Fister	436,500
Jackson	440,000
Schlereth	418,000
Balester	410,000
Dirks	414,000
Pauley	422,000
Alburqueque	414,000
V Mart	13,000,000
	$130,228,500

As always please leave your comments and feedback below and thanks for visiting Tiger Tizzy.

Prince Fielder Introductory Press Conference with Photos

Prince Fielder

Yesterday afternoon the Detroit Tigers officially announced the signing of 1B Prince Fielder to a 9-year $214-Million contract.

With his Agent, Scott Boras next to him and the key players of the Tigers brass, including owner Mike Ilitch, GM Dave Dombrowski and Manager Jim Leyland sitting at the table, after passing his physical, Prince Fielder was introduced as a Detroit Tiger in front of a packed crowd of media at Comerica Park.



As Columnist Mitch Albom points out the signing of Fielder is a BIG deal. Meanwhile, Michael Rosenberg points out that the Tigers are trying to keep everyone happy, for now.

Agent Scott Boras and Fielder

Tony Paul of the Detroit News reminds everyone that Fielder isn’t the first of his clients that Scott Boras has brought to Motown, when the Tigers needed, and the News also shows what the Tigers batting order might end up looking like with Fielder and Cabrera.

You will notice that Brandon Inge ends up with the short end of the stick, which is nothing new for the longest tenured Tiger. Jason Beck noted that Inge found out the Fielder news through the media and not from the Tigers brass and he’s not a “happy camper”.

GM Dave Dombrowski, Fielder, Owner Mike Ilitch
and Manager Jim Leyland

Drew Sharp, was critical of the signing as he announced on ESPN on Wednesday, “ Logically this deal, makes not one damn bit of sense for the Detroit Tigers, long term …what your saying is you are going to pay Prince Fielder and Miguel Cabrera, two guys who are basically the same player offensively and unfortunately defensively, close to $45 Million annually, ... and to move Cabrera to 3rd base, they tried that in ’08 when the Tigers first acquired him, it was a disaster”. But he (Sharp) tells everyone that owner Mike Ilitch wants to win a World Series, and will pull out all the stops to do so.

So does the Fielder signing bring an end to the Tigers moves for this off-season?? Dave Dombrowski was asked that question, and he worded his answer carefully, as Beck shows.

For those of you who want to see the transcript of the entire press conference, the folks at Mlive were kind enough to post it, and you can find it here. 

Heavy Hitting Prince joins Tiger$

It’s been a little over 24 hours ago that the shocking news broke that the Detroit Tigers were the team to land the last ‘big” free agent on the market; Prince Fielder.

It’s been 7,008 hours since I updated Tiger Tizzy. That number just might be the same number of errors that get committed by the Tigers infield during 2012.

Obviously the injury to Victor Martinez created a hole in the lineup that GM Dave Dombrowski and Owner Mike Ilitch decided needed to be filled, and fill they did.

Of course, within minutes of the Fielder signing, twitter and Facebook both exploded with the humorous announcements “Little Caesars Hot N Ready pizza’s was $5.99 now $59.99” etc, etc.

The AL Central was the Tigers to lose for 2012, with the Twins and White Sox losing ground to the Tigers in 2011 and in the off-season, with the Twins biggest signing being Josh Willingham, or is it Joel Zumaya?? , and losing Michael Cuddyer, while the Sox only signing (thus far) being Jason Frasor.

Here’s to the start of 2012 on Tiger Tizzy and there’s nothing better than some big news to kick off the baseball season and what I honestly hope will be one of the most entertaining blogs in all of baseball.

My plan for 2012 is to make sure that the 2012 Detroit Tigers season coverage and Tiger Tizzy site gets updated at least once a week. I have NO EXCUSES for not doing so before but the past is just that…the past.

Keep reading and I will keep writing about your favorite baseball team, the Detroit Tigers here on Tiger Tizzy.

Bullpen problems surface as Tigers lose lead and game to O’s 9-5

It wasn’t exactly an implosion, but the bullpen definitely faltered Thursday night in Baltimore. Brad Thomas, took the loss without recording an out, as the Orioles broke a tie game open in a 5-run 7th inning, in which the Orioles sent 10 batters to the plate.

Brad Penny started for Detroit, and pitched better than in his first start against the Yankees in New York. Of course, better is a relative term, as he lowered his ERA on the season from 16.62 to 11.17 as he pitched 5.1 innings allowing just 4 earned runs.

Alex Avila continued his torrid streak as he homered for the 2nd consecutive game, and is now hitting .294 on the season, after a 1-10 start to the season. Austin Jackson and Brennan Boesch both had 2 hits to contribute to the Tigers offense, that scored 5 runs and should have been enough for the win.

In Buster Olney’s blog today he notes that late in Spring Training, Manager Jim Leyland talked about his concerns with the middle of the Tigers ‘pen, and they sure came to the fore-front in last night’s loss. Detroit lost the lead on three separate occasions in last night’s game.

The good news for the Tigers, who stand at 2-4 on the season, is that they return to Comerica Park for the home opener this afternoon with a 3:05pm first-pitch, weather permitting, as rain is in the forecast for Comerica Park this afternoon.

More good news came about last night, and it will hopefully have a positive effect on the Tigers bullpen, as Joel Zumaya, who remains in Lakeland Florida as he rehabs his injured arm, has been given clearance to begin throwing again. It’s not known when Zumaya will return to Detroit and rejoin his teammates.

An interesting theory was bandied about on the internet this morning, as the MLBtraderumors.com is reporting that Russell Branyan who signed a minor-league deal with Arizona might be cut loose at some point, and one of the landing spots “could be” Detroit. You can read the story here.

I hope that the Tigers aren’t tempted to tinker with the lineup just because they are under .500 this early in the season. I think that the Tigers bats will be fine, and once the bullpen situation comes around, the Tigers will play the kind of ball we all expect.

In case you missed it, in the recap of Wednesday night’s game Tiger Tizzy pointed out that Alex Avila became the first Tiger catcher to drive in 5 runs in a single game, since Pudge Rodriguez accomplished the feat against the Philadelphia Phillies back in 2007.

I’m not saying Mario Impemba, the Tigers broadcaster reads Tiger Tizzy, but he mentioned that very fact during last nights Tigers broadcast.

As the Tigers host the Kansas City Royals for the opening series of the season at Comerica Park, Max Scherzer get the start, becoming the 5th different pitcher to start a home opener in Jim Leyland’s 6 years as Manager of the Tigers. Scherzer will be opposed today by the Royals Kyle Davies. In Game 2 of the series, a pair of lefties square off as Phil Coke goes against Bruce Chen, and in the 3rd and final game of the Royals series, Rick Porcello take to the mound against the Royals Luke Hochevar.

Verlander, Avila impressive, as Tigers trounce O’s 7-3

Justin Verlander had never lost to the Baltimore Orioles in his career, and the Orioles were undefeated heading into Wednesday night’s game. Somebody’s streak was going to end. Especially with the O’s off to an impressive 4-0 start, and according to Elias Sports Bureau, they tied a MLB record with 4 consecutive wins to start a season, while not allowing more than 1 run in each game.

With the Tigers ace coming off a season debut in New York where he threw 114 pitches in just six innings of work, Verlander knew he had be more efficient with his pitches.

Mission accomplished. Verlander allowed just 4 hits in 8 IP, in the game where he threw 108 pitches and struck out 9 Orioles, to improve his career record against Baltimore to 6-0. Said Verlander after the game, "Definitely feel like I am throwing the ball better than I did at this point the last couple years."


Offensively for the Tigers Miguel Cabrera (3), Victor Martinez (2) and Alex Avila (1) all homered for Detroit, with, Avila and Martinez adding in a 2-base hit each, to pace the Tigers. Avila set a career high in the game as he drove in 5 runs, becoming the first Tiger catcher to drive in 5 runs in a game since Ivan Rodriguez did so against the Philadelphia Phillies back in 2007. Avila also came a triple shy of hitting for the cycle, for the first time in his career, as he added a single to go along with his double and home run in the game.

Manager Jim Leyland told Avila to “loosen up” prior to the game. Avila and Victor Martinez had been criticized for allowing an AL leading six Wild pitches behind the plate in the Tigers first 4 games. Leyland said after the game that he saw “tension” in his 24-year old catcher as he was working behind the plate in the teams first few games. Obviously Avila took the comment to heart and relaxed.

So, as some in the media are pressing the panic button on the Tigers 2011 season, (see here, here, and here), with Wednesday night’s victory the Tigers improve their record to 2-3 as they finish up their series at Camden Yards, on Thursday night, with Brad Penny, facing Chris Tillman, for the Orioles.

Brad Bergeson started Wednesday night’s game against the Tigers, in place of the scheduled starter, Jeremy Guthrie, who spend Monday and Tuesday in the hospital with a case of pneumonia. The Tigers win on Wednesday, prevented the 2011 Orioles from tying the team record 5-0 start to the season that was set by the 1970 Orioles ball club. The 1970 team won the World Series.

RHP Ryan Perry was placed on the 15-Day DL, and the Tigers recalled RHP Robbie Weinhardt from Toledo to take Perry’s place. Weinhardt saw action in 28 games with Detroit during the 2010 season.

Tigers start the season 1-3, is it really time to panic?

Every morning when I wake up, I drink my morning coffee and hop in the internet and browse the internet for the latest news, sports scores and articles about the Tigers.

It took a 10 run outburst as they beat the Yankees on Sunday, for the Tigers to avoid starting the season 0-3, and then the Tigs lost game one of the series against the Orioles, to fall to 1-3.

But being totally honest, it NEVER occurred to me to start to panic at the Tigers less than great start.

So when I opened up my browser on Wednesday and saw this article, I was a little surprised. Later on I got to THIS, and really became puzzled.

Hey, I am as much of a Tigers fan as ANYONE, and of course I want them to go 162 and 0. DUH! Of course it won’t happen, as even the biggest Tigers fan in the world knows. But is a 1-3 start really cause to question starting lineup choices, or pitching rotations, or even take actions, whatever they may be, to avoid “panic”??

I mean seriously, the season is 162 games long. Heck I could understand panic if we were talking about the Tampa Bay Rays, or Boston Red Sox. I mean the Rays were expected to contend for the AL East, or at least the Wild Card spot in the American League, and the BoSox were picked by ALL of ESPN’s experts to win the AL East title, with 33 of them picking the Sawx to win it all.

Now, if we are on May 1st and the Tigers record stands at 6-21, yeah I would be in panic mode. Heads would roll, changes would be made, the lineup would be completely blown up, minor league recalls would take place, and firings would happen.

Heck, I might even consider re-constructing Tiger Stadium, so the team could move back to the friendly confines of “the corner” just to try and turn the season around.

OK, maybe that was a bit much, but….

Hey, in the mean-time, gang, we are 4 games into the season. Let’s avoid panic, just yet. Give the boys a chance to have a few home games at Comerica before we let panic set in. I mean, we haven’t even seen a 70 degree day yet.

It’s early, relax.

Oh and by the way, congrats to Armando Galarraga, for picking up the win in his debut with the Arizona Diamondbacks, who are managed, lest we forget, by former Tiger great Kirk Gibson, with Alan Trammell as his bench coach.