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Jones wants to be a Marlin?

Yea, I know who wants to play for them? Well, apparently Jacque Jones REALLY wants to play for the Florida Marlins. The Detroit Tigers designated the outfielder for assignment last week, and have till this Friday to make a decision on whether or not to trade or outright release him. The Tigers will obviously hold out until Friday to see if they can squeeze ANYTHING out of an interested team. Because of this the Marlins could consider a trade. Read more

The Garcia sweepstakes begin

Free Agent pitcher Freddy Garcia is almost ready to start working out for Major League Baseball teams. Garcia had surgery back on August 30th to repair his throwing shoulder. Starting Thursday, he’ll be officially working off a mound, so soon to follow comes team work outs. Lets take a look at what teams could use his services. Read more

With Jones out, does Inge now have a role?

The Detroit Tigers decided to designate left fielder Jacque Jones for assignment, effectively ending his time with the team, even with the $3 million still owed to him this season. To replace Jones on the roster, minor league outfielder Matt Joyce was called up from AAA-Toledo. According to manager, Jim Leyland, Joyce will spend time in both left and right. So where does, undefined position, Brandon Inge stand with the team?

There were rumors just a few weeks ago, that Brandon Inge was not happy at all when the Tigers moved Miguel Cabrera to first, and Guillen to third. Can’t blame him, his natural position is third base, but with Gary Sheffield at DH, a move of that sort was just not possible. Cabrera and Guillen’s bats are also much more valuable to the team, Cabrera would also be an even bigger liability playing left in their spacious ballpark.

Well if that upset him, I wonder how infuriated with this move he is. The Tigers have announced Gary Sheffield will be replacing Jones as the starting left fielder. The same Sheffield who hasn’t played in the outfield since July 21st, the same Sheffield who has had serious shoulder issues this season and even contemplated retirement. Sheffield’s already had two cortisone shots in the arm, and that was with him being solely a DH, now he’s got to throw the ball a couple times a game? When not in left, you could expect Marcus Thames and Matt Joyce to get some time in left. A position, the Tigers originally thought of putting Inge this season.

So basically, Cabrera is to fat and slow to play left, but Sheffield with a dead arm can play out there, even thou he probably won’t be able to gun anyone down. If they really want Sheff in left, why not send Miggy to DH, Guillen back to first, and let Inge play third base? It would actually give the Tigers the best lineup possible.

So it begs to ask, does Inge have a role with this team? Does, Jim Leyland even want him here?

Sheffield wants shoulder checked out

Detroit Tigers DH Gary Sheffield is still being bothered by his surgically-repaired shoulder and wants team doctors to check it out. Sheffield is not in the lineup today against the Toronto Blue Jays. “It was major surgery, and I have to get it to a point where I’m comfortable. Obviously I’m not,” he said.

Sheffield is off to a pretty bad start with a .192 average, a homer and 2 rbi. The balky shoulder most likely has something to do with this. Everyone knows that Sheffield’s strength is his fast, powerful swing. “It doesn’t hurt as much as it did, but it still doesn’t give me the range of motion that I need,” he said. “When I try to swing harder, it slows it down even more. I didn’t know it was going to be this tight.”

Sheffield did admit to rushing back from the surgery. Sheffield said “when you have the surgery I had, you’re going to have your good days and bad days. I kind of rushed it. I have work to do. I’m just trying to get it stronger.” Overall, it does sound like he just needs to work on strengthening the shoulder and breaking down the scar tissue.

Sheffield no DL, but 6 weeks recovery

Detroit Tigers DH Gary Sheffield, at the moment, should avoid any time on the disabled list with his torn tendon in his left ring finger. Because of the swelling thou Sheffield has not been able to try and pick up a bat yet, he’s hoping to do so within the next 2 days. Currently he’s still got swelling above the knuckle which is keeping things pretty painful. “You don’t need the tip of your finger to hit,” said Sheffield, “Right now, because of the swelling, it’s a little sore. Once we get the swelling out — that could be a day or two — I could try to grab a bat.”

Sheffield will have to wear a splint on the finger for approximately 6 weeks. He’ll be alternating between two types of splints in that time. While at the plate, he’ll have to switch to a shorter one because when he bats “because the tip of the finger won’t straighten out.” Sheffield doesn’t feel the injury will affect him at the plate, but I’m not to sure as this is the first time in his career he’ll attempt to bat with one.

Injuries around baseball

As spring training ends, injuries tally up and some stars wind up missing opening day. Here’s a run down of some of the more notable injuries this past weekend.

• Detroit Tigers - OF Curtis Granderson - What was originally believed to be just a bruise on his right hand, he wound up breaking his middle finger. Technically he has a non-displaced fracture of the metacarpal at the base of the middle finger. This injury has already sent him to the DL, so he’s guaranteed to miss the first week of the season. While Granderson is on the DL, look for Brandon Inge to be the starting centerfielder.
• Atlanta Braves - SP John Smoltz - Smoltz has missed time due to a sore shoulder and it looks like the team may put him on the DL as well. If that happens he’d miss his first start of the season. The Braves could back date his DL start as he hasn’t appeared in any games, which would make him available April 6th against the New York Mets. That would also be the first time the Braves actually need a fifth starter. “I don’t know how the scenarios are going to shake out to,” Smoltz said. “But whatever it is, it is and I’m going to embrace it.”
• New York Yankees - SP Andy Pettitte - The back spasms that forced Andy to miss Saturday’s start, have not gone away. “I felt real positive about how I was progressing, and I was hoping today I’d come in and feel great, but I can’t,” Pettitte said. “I’m definitely optimistic, because I think it’s going to clear up.” Pettitte had a similar situation last spring after working out, and the pain went away just a few days later. He fully feels he’ll be ready to go April 2nd in the Yankees second game against the Toronto Blue Jays. If his start gets pushed back from Thursday to Friday, you can expect him to start the Yankees 4th or 5th game instead. No DL will be needed.
• Boston Red Sox - SP Josh Beckett - Beckett will not be making the trip to Japan, but should be ready for the Red Sox around April 8th. Beckett threw 2 innings in a minor league contest on Saturday, throwing 32 pitches and feeling no pain. In 5 days, he’ll pitch again this time 4 innings, and then most likely need one more start to get ready for the season. If he does make it back in time for the 8th, his first starts will be against the Yankees and Tigers.
• Milwaukee Brewers - SP Chris Capuano - OUT FOR THE SEASON. Capuano needs to undergo Tommy John surgery as he has a tear in his UCL. He’s not officially out for the year, but I have a feeling he will be. Capuano has already had Tommy John in his career so this would be the second surgery of this kind for him. What it comes down to, is it a full or partial tear. If its partial, he could theoretically be ready to go in just a few months, with rehab. Definitely look for him to start on the DL, and if you have him in fantasy I’d cut him and just look at him out for the year.

Tigers Granderson sent for xrays

Detroit Tigers center fielder Curtis Granderson was sent for precautionary x-rays today after being hit by a pitch. Granderson was hit by a Travis Blackley pitch on his right hand during today’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies. Granderson did stay in the game after being hit, but shortly after being plunked the game was called due to rain. He thinks he could of continued thou even if the rains had not come.

“Just for precautionary reasons, go check it out,” Granderson said. “My reactions, I guess, made them think [it was more serious], but I grimace at anything. They think it’s more [of a bruise].” That’s pretty good news for Tigers fans as the team has had its fair share of injuries to start the spring. Reliever Fernando Rodney will most likely be starting on the DL with a sore shoulder thats effected him most of the spring. Gary Sheffield’s spring was delayed due to leg cramps. While Marcus Thames missed a little more then a week with a strained left pectoral muscle.

Like I said again, luckily for you Tigers fans this sounds less serious then any of those others.

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