Roster Projection Update - March 10

There's been a few more events occurring in the past week that have changed the projections, and the domino effect that ensues will change everything.

First, Brandon Inge has backed off of his catching statements, leading me to believe he is still in line to be the backup catcher come opening day. Jim Leyland has confirmed that Vance Wilson will not be ready for the season. I am now projecting Brandon Inge is a backup catcher/super sub, allowing Ryan Raburn to make the roster. The bench may be a bit right-handed heavy, but these guys are the most deserving players. While I am on the topic of Ryan Raburn, there's an interview with him up on Baseball Prospectus. I continue to be impressed with his attitude, especially when you consider he did everything he could last year to earn a spot.

Two injuries occurred during last Thursday's game against the Braves. Wilkin Ramirez dislocated his shoulder trying to make a shoe-string catch in left field. Jordan Tata also had problems throwing a strike, at one point throwing several pitches over the batter's head. As if that wasn't enough, he broke his hand in frustration after the outing. That link says that Tata's shoulder injury last spring was a torn labrum. That's the first I've heard of that actually being the injury, but I don't know of any labral tears being healed with rest. It's something worth keeping an eye on if he pitches this year. In the meantime, both Tata and Ramirez are starting on the disabled list.

I'm still projecting Fernando Rodney to start on the DL. The same is true of Clay Rapada, who is on roughly the same timetable as Rodney. Jeff Gerbe and Matt Joyce are also battling with tendinitis. Joyce played yesterday, so I am assuming all is good with him. I will still push him back to Erie. With the Ramirez injury and the logjam in the outfield, it seems Joyce may start the year there. We'll need to keep an eye on Gerbe. I will bump him back to Lakeland for now. He did have lingering shoulder problems last year, so this is a bit of a worry.

Francisco Cruceta is still not in the country, and I am going to assign him to Extended Spring Training. It does look like the Government is cracking down on international steroid users though.

I moved Deik Scram, Duane Below, and Brett Jensen from Lakeland to Erie as a result of all of the injuries. Given all the playing time he is getting, it wouldn't shock me to see Scott Sizemore there either. He seems to be making a good impression.

Detroit:
SP:
Jeremy Bonderman
Nate Robertson
Kenny Rogers
Justin Verlander
Dontrelle Willis

RP:
Todd Jones
Bobby Seay
Tim Byrdak
Zach Miner
Jason Grilli
Yorman Bazardo
Denny Bautista

C:
Ivan Rodriguez

IF:
Carlos Guillen
Placido Polanco
Edgar Renteria
Miguel Cabrera
Brandon Inge
Ramon Santiago

OF:
Jacque Jones
Curtis Granderson
Magglio Ordonez
Gary Sheffield
Marcus Thames
Ryan Raburn

Toledo
SP:
Armando Galarraga-R
Chris Lambert-R
Macay McBride-L
Virgil Vasquez-R
Eddie Bonine-R

RP:
Francis Beltran-R
Preston Larrison-R
Aquilino Lopez-R
Anastacio Martinez-R
Matt Rusch-R
Danny Zell-L
Danny Christensen-L

C:
Dane Sardinha
Max St. Pierre

1B-Jeff Larish
2B/SS/UT-Michael Hollimon
SS/UT-Erick Almonte
3B/4C-Mike Hessman
UT-Caonabo Cosme
UT-Henry Mateo

OF:
LF-Timo Perez
CF-Freddy Guzman
RF-Brent Clevlen
OF/DH-Jason Perry

Erie:
SP:
Ben Fritz-R
Luke French-L
Andrew Kown-R
Jon Connolly-L
Duane Below-L

RP:
Juan Cedeno-L
Brett Jensen-R
Freddy Dolsi-R
Anthony Tomey-R
Brendan Wise-R
Ian Ostlund-L

C:
Nick Trzesniak
Jeff Kunkel

1B-Ryan Roberson
2B-William Rhymes
3B-Kody Kirkland
SS-Danny Worth
IF-Mark Haske

OF:
LF-Deik Scram
CF-Clete Thomas
RF-Matt Joyce
OF/DH-Jackson Melian
1B/OF-Pedro Cotto

Lakeland
Angel Castro-R
Charlie Furbush-L
Jonah Nickerson-R
Rick Porcello-R
Guillermo Moscoso-R

RP:
Casey Fien-R
Eleazar Aponte-R
Ed Clelland-L
Josh Rainwater
Marcelo Perez-L
Gabriel Benitez-R
Jeff Gerbe-R

C:
James Skelton
Dusty Ryan

1B-Ryan Strieby
2B-Scott Sizemore
3B-Max Leon
SS-Cale Iorg
3B-Mike Bertram
UT-Joe Tucker
UT-Louis Ott
OF-Jeramy Laster
OF-Justin Justice
OF-Luis Arlet
OF-Brandon Timm

West Michigan
SP:
Mark Brackman-R
Brandon Hamilton-R
Brandon Johnson-R
Jon Kibler-L
Alfredo Figaro-R

RP:
Noah Krol-R
Eric Cricton-R
Kelvin Cedano-R
Wilton Garcia-R
Lauren Gagnier-R
Zach Piccola-L
Derek Witt-R

C:
Devin Thomas
Jordan Newton

1B-Chris Carlson
2B-Justin Henry
SS-Audy Ciriaco
3B-Ron Bourquin
UT-Roger Tomas
3B-Santo De Leon
OF-Casper Wells
CF-Kyle Peter
RF-Kody Kaiser
OF-Marc McBratney
OF-Michael Sullivan

Cut:
Luis Gil
Paul Hammond
Chris Homer
Jeremy Johnson
Collin Mahoney
Orber Moreno
Matt O'Brien
Matt Righter
Adriano Santos
Jay Sborz
Adrian Casanova
Derek Wathan
Miguel Linares
Chris Maples
Jorge Patino
Orlando Rodriguez
Cory Middleton

EST:
Dario Carvajal
Francisco Cruceta
Rudy Darrow
Sean Finefrock
Santo Franco
Aaron Fuhrman
Ramon Garcia
Matt Hoffman
Santo Mieses
Sendy Vasquez
Justin Miller
Richard Zumaya
Angel Flores
Kris Rochelle
Derek Lehrman
Craig Maddox
Brandon Harrigan
Joe Bowen
Wade Lamont
Shawn Roof
Eric Harryman
Carlos Ramirez
Hayden Parrott
Ryan Seawell
D'Andrea Vaughn
Londell Taylor
Chris White

DL:
Erik Averill
Casey Crosby
Brent Dlugach
P.J. Finigan
Andrew Graham
Paul Nardozzi
Gary Perinar
Orlando Perdomo
Luke Putkonen
Wilkin Ramirez
Clay Rapada
Fernando Rodney
Jordan Tata
Vance Wilson
Brayan Villareal
Joel Zumaya