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I must have totally missed this.  I knew Tram was the bench coach for Lou Pinella and the Cubs but I didn’t realize that Kirk Gibson got a job as the bench coach for the Diamondbacks.  They bring up his time with Dodgers when during the spring season he had black eye put in his hat and they touch on Gibson’s intensity.

Tigers Minors recently discusses a great interview of Jair Jurrjens by Baseball America.  Be sure to stop by and check it out.

MLB.com’s Jason Beck recently profiled the Tigers rotation.  There’s no doubt that the Tigers’ rotation is their perceived strength and to win another pennant, they’ll have to ride those starters.  He touches on Kenny Rogers age, has some quotes from Jim Leyland and also discusses Justin Verlander’s spring struggles.

Mark TR Donahue at Bad Altitude opines on the Tigers’ chances in 2007.  He brings up some good points although it looks like he still holds a grudge towards some of the vending employees at Comerica Park (I’m assuming it’s at Comerica Park, although he doesn’t say so specifically).  Just like my hotdogs, I prefer mustard on my pretzels so I’m not sure what the big deal is.  Nice read though.

Whether you believe in “clutch” hitting or not, it’s hard to argue with the fact that Craig Monroe had some big hits last year.  With that said, I think Monroe’s clutch ability is a bit overstated.  He hit only .259 last year with runnners in scoring position and he was only a .225 hitter with two outs and with runners in scoring position.  His late and close average is a bit better (.294) but hardly spectacular.  It was the seven homeruns he hit in late and close games that Tiger fans remember.  Will he be able to repeat this in 2007?

Regardless, this MLB.com profiles Craig Monroe and talks about how he hopes to become a more well rounded player.  This includes getting it done in non-clutch situations.  My opinion is, if he just works on becoming a better hitter, things will fall into place a bit better in every aspect of his game.

This really bummed me out when I read about it, but it looks like Edward Campusano’s run for a spot in the Tigers pen might have been derailed when his elbow started bothering him.  There was an MRI yesterday, but there still hasn’t been a diagnosis so it’s probably a wait and see.  I’m pretty sure if he goes on the DL, we can still hold onto him under the Rule Five rules (I remember something similar happening with Chris Shelton) so he migth still have a future with the team even if it is pretty serious.  Hopefully it’s not and he’s back on the mound soon.

The Tigers have been pretty careful with Craig Monroe this spring.  He’s played in a lot of the Tigers spring games but he’s also had his share of time as the designated hitter.  Now Rick Wilton from the Baseball Injury Report sheds some light on Craig Monroe’s injured knee.  It appears to be something he can play through, but it’s also something that will bother him all season and limit his production.  While I’m sure the Tigers are entertaining offers for Marcus Thames, you wonder whether the Tigers might want to hang onto as insurance in the even Monroe misses a significant amount of time.  Then again, with the Tigers depth of outfielders, they could always just call up someone like Brent Clevlen.

David Laurila at Baseball Prospectus recently had a chance to interview JeremyBonderman.  It’s a great read and they talk about everything from what stats Bonderman feels are most important to how he throws his pitches.  Probably the most interesting part is Bonderman’s pregame warm up routine.

My annual Five Questions piece is up on the Tigers today at the Hardball Times.  I’ll be doing a prediction piece here prior to the end of the season where I get a little more specific (and end up making a fool of myself).

Jason Beck at MLB.com wrote up another mailbag column.  He touches on everything from all of the Tigers that have been hit this spring to whether the Tigers can bring in three million fans this year (which would set a franchise record).  Another good read from the Tiger’s beat writer.

The Tigers modifed their deal with Fernando Rodney to a two year, $2.7 million deal.  Rodney still has one of the best changeups in baseball but he needs that fastball working to make it work.  At $1.3 million in today’s market, I call it a bargain though.  I see Rodney doing what he did last year and providing the Tigers with a very good setup man. 

The Tigers want Carlos Guillen to stay past 2007.  Carlos Guillen wants to stay with the Tigers until 2007.  Now they just have to come to an agreement.  The Tigers should be wary because while Guillen played most of 2006, he hasn’t been durable since his injury in 2004 (which also coincides with his breakout year).  And he just turned 31 so he’s no longer a spring chicken either.

Regardless, if we can get Guillen to sign say, a three year extension with a home town discount, that would another huge coup for the Tigers front office.

And speaking of Carlos Guillen, will the trade the Tigers made for him (practically nothing) go down as the best in Tigers history.  I think the trade that brought Dave Bergman and Willie Hernandez to Detroit is up there as is Rocky Colavito for Harvey Kuenn.  Bondeman for Weaver (which is basically what it turned out to be) is a questionable one until Bonderman really has that breakout season.

The Tigers did some winter house cleaning yesterday and signed four of their arbitration eligible players.  Craig Monroe walked away with the biggest paycheck and he’ll make $4,775,000 next year after he hit 28 homeruns in the regular season and five more in the post season.  If Monroe can repeat what he did in 2006, or even better, surpass his numbers then he’ll be a bargain. 

Probably the biggest bargain was Nate Robertson.  Anytime you can get a fourth starter of his caliber, and a left hander no less, for $3.26 million, it’s good for the franchise.  In Robertson’s three full seasons, his numbers have gotten better each season and the only thing that prevented him from 15 wins last year was some run support.  He was second on the team in innings pitcher (208 2/3) and strikeouts (137).

Setup man Fernando Rodney will make a touch over $1 million next year and Infante will make $1.3 million.  The team still hasn’t said much about their plans for Infante and the last I heard, he’d be backing up Curtis Granderson in centerfield as well as providing a third backup in the infield along with Ramon Santiago and Neifi Perez. 

All pretty good news here because the Tigers are getting some pretty good bargains.  Out of this group of four, I think Nate Robertson would be the guy I’d want to lock up longer term but it looks like they’ll wait until he gets one or two more years under his belt before doing so.

Also, my interview with Ernie Harwell, at least part one, is up at the Hardball Times.  I hope you check it out.  Part two will be tomorrow.

I ran across this on my daily trip to Baseball Prospectus.  Jose Mesa was fifth worst in the National League in Inherited Runs Prevented.  Mesa was 6.4 runs worse then average.  When you put that on top of the actual runs he gave up that were credited to him, that makes him a pretty poor reliever.  Not sure he’s the guy I’d want coming in some time in the sixth inning in a close game, especially with runners on base.

Oddly, Mesa was only the fourth worst on the Rockies because four of the bottom five relievers were all Rockies.  You wonder if it has something to do with the park adjustment or whether the Rockies relief pitching was that bad.

No surprises.  Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken, Jr. were the only players to get elected to the Hall of Fame yesterday.  Both have 3,000 hits and both were no brainers.  It was the people who were on the fringe that make the most interesting stories.

Goose Gossage came very close and he lifted his percentage up to 71.2% (75% is required).  Nothing is certain but this should make him a lock next year with no big names coming on the ballot this time next year.  Jim Rice lost a little ground as did Bert Blyleven.  So in just looking at this year’s ballot, you might find Gossage with Jim Rice coming in for 2008.  Blyleven might have to wait a little longer then I thought.

Of course the Wild Card is Mark McGwire, who I felt got the shaft.  He did pick up 128 votes and could make a big jump next year once people realize his numbers warrant admission.

As far as the Tigers, Jack Morris still has a long way to go and Alan Trammell is all but out of the running.  I think Morris is a Hall of Famer but it’s hard to justify his omission as long as Blyleven isn’t in there.

This year, the veterans committee also has a vote although it’s been a while since they’ve voted anyone in.  Ron Santo is the obvious choice out of that group and hopefully he finally gets the recognition he deserves.

In Will Carroll’s latest UTK, he talks about Mike Maroth being ready to come back.  The problem is, we already have a five man rotation and while there was some speculation that the Tigers might go to a modified six man rotation, it looks like Jim Leyland is leaning against it.  Carroll speculates that either one of the Tigers’ current five starters will find himself in the bullpen or even hit the DL.  I don’t want to give away too much because it’s a subscription only column, but the situation bears watching.

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