Biggest Game of the Year?

• When the team is on the brink of mathematical elimination, it's a bit weird to be calling a game the biggest of the year. What makes it so important is Dontrelle Willis' return to the Major League mound. After a year battling knee, mechanical, and forearm injuries, Willis has a shot to earn back the rotation spot that was supposed to be his. While I remain skeptical that he is healthy, the only way he will prove his readiness is through pitching effectively. I look forward to tonight because I have no idea what is going to happen.
• When he was put into the bullpen, I initially thought Gary Glover was brought in to help the team lose and gain draft position. On top of that, I had assumed he would be non-tendered, and not locked into next year's bullpen. Then I saw Jason Beck's piece on him this weekend entitled "Glover making impression with Tigers" Yikes. I know he has pitched well (about as well as could be expected), but I would hate for the Tigers to guarantee this guy a spot in next year's bullpen. His hot streak should be treated as just that: a hot streak. After all, it was a hot streak that led to this team committing guaranteed money to Francisco Cruceta, and it is frequently a hot streak that is responsible for mistakes made by big league teams. The Tigers would be on the hook for at least $860,000 next year. While that can be reduced to severance pay if dropped in spring training, I don't see how it can be justified. Glover's track record just doesn't point to this being a legit turnaround. Non-tender him, and get him signed to a minor league deal if you so desire.
• On the topic of crappy relievers, during one of the broadcasts last week I heard one of the announcers (I don't remember which one) saying Leyland said he was impressed with Casey Fossum this year. I hope that was just nice talk. There was no excuse for Fossum to be on this team over Rapada this year, and he shouldn't be next year. A large part of the Rays' improved bullpen this year has been the addition by subtraction of guys like Fossum and Glover. Take a cue.
  

Casey Fossum and Options

Doing the same thing as we did yesterday with Aquilino Lopez, I searched for hidden options in players. One player I had assumed was out of options is Casey Fossum. Because his assignment to Pawtucket in 2001 lasted only three days, it turns out he's still got one left, but it's not that simple. While he doesn't have to clear waivers, as a player with over five seasons of MLB Service Time, Fossum must accept an optional assignment in order to be sent to the minors. He enforced this last year with the Rays, refusing assignment and requesting his release in August. This is a unique situation, with a borderline contending team lacking starting pitching depth while overflowing with relievers. It would seem that he should accept an assignment if optioned out, but he may overvalue himself.

I would hope that Fossum is sent out soon. Whether it is the corresponding move to Joel Zumaya's return or if it is to make room for a superior second lefty (Hello, Clay Rapada and Ian Ostlund!) this is another proverbial bullet that needs to be taken out of Jim Leyland's gun before he shoots the team in the foot anymore.

Roster Turnover

Tons of moves today, as expected.

Aquilino Lopez is on the berevement list with Denny Bautista getting recalled from his rehab.
Clete Thomas heads to the DL with a sprained ankle with Brent Clevlen coming up from Toledo.
Ramon Santiago was placed on the DL after his shoulder seperation and Michael Hollimon is up in his place.

Lopez's berevement stay should be short lived, at which point the Casey Fossum experiment will likely be over. Brent Clevlen was hitting the ball hard in Toledo and has earned this call up for the time being, and Hollimon was the likely choice to fill in as the utility infielder. Could he now have a shot at winning the 2009 starting shortstop gig?

Cruceta for Fossum

Francisco Cruceta goes from high leverage innings to the waiver wire as he was designated for assignment today. It turns out the problems with his control haven't gone away, as he has struggled mightily. It's just interesting to me that he goes straight from pitching in the late innings to off of the team. Maybe this was a case of Dave Dombrowski taking a bullet out of Jim Leyland's gun. He has 10 days to clear waivers or get traded. I'll bet he clears waivers and heads to Toledo, although somebody may want to take a flier on his arm.

Casey Fossum has been dominant in Toledo and had a July 1 out clause in his contract. There have been concerns about his fastball velocity, but this gives the Tigers a second lefty in the pen while Seay is struggling and Willis returns to the rotation. Still, Fossum has been pretty bad in the bigs the past couple of seasons. The one time Red Sox ace of the future is now a mopup guy for the Tigers.