Since Craig Monroe's implosion last year, several players have gotten time in left field for the Tigers. Ryan Raburn, Marcus Thames, Timo Perez, Cameron Maybin, Mike Hessman, Jacque Jones, Clete Thomas, Brandon Inge, Gary Sheffield, and Matt Joyce are some guys just to name a few. Is Matt Joyce finally the answer? If not, is there help on the way? Let's find out.
Detroit:
Matt Joyce, 23
Actual: .212/.276/.519 (.299/.367/.536 Toledo)
Expected: .231/.293/.538 (.289/.358/.526 Toledo)
Joyce has never been known for his plate discipline, and that has been exposed lately. He can handle the position defensively, but if he can't right this ship soon, one of the several other options will have to be ready.
Marcus Thames, 31
Actual: .246/.310/.415
Expected: .277/.338/446
Ryan Raburn, 27
Actual: .214/.298/.381
Expected: .214/.298/.381
Jacque Jones, 33
Actual: .165/.244/.253
Expected: .165/.244/.253
Gary Sheffield, 39
Actual: .213/.344/.338
Expected: .206/.338/.331
Marcus Thames needs to face mostly lefties. If he gets an everyday job, he will be exposed. I may have been a bit wrong about Raburn, as he looked way overmatched the other night. He still should be next in line. Yes, Jacque Jones was that bad. I've got nothing more to say on Sheffield.
Toledo:
Jackson Melian, 28
Actual: .260/.287/.385
Expected: .218/.247/.343
Timo Perez, 33
Actual: .223/.280/.382
Expected: .280/.331/.439
Melian is just filler, and it turns out he's not doing much of a job filling a spot. Timo Perez hasn't fallen off of a cliff as it may seem. He'll turn it around in time, but still doesn't deserve a big league spot.
Erie:
Wilkin Ramirez, 22
Actual: .316/.365/.556
Expected: .199/.257/.439
A closer look really takes all of the shine off. Strikeouts have always been a problem with Ramirez. This year, he just happens to be getting very lucky. You don't hit .427 on balls in play and sustain it. The "expected" .199 batting average may seem harsh, but given his track record, the line looks fairly reasonable. It could get ugly if this mirage leads to a spot on the major league roster.
Lakeland:
Brandon Timm, 23
Actual: .239/.317/.376
Expected: .211/.293/.348
Pedro Cotto, 25
Actual: .169/.243/.200
Expected: .184/.257/.215
Timm, the 9th round pick in 2004, has moved up a level every year and really hasn't done anything to impress. Pedro Cotto is the Tigers' Toby Flenderson. He's apparently a very nice guy, but he is just awful at everything. Justin Justice was in left for Lakeland, but moved to center field upon his promotion to Erie.
West Michigan:
Marc McBratney, 23
Actual: .186/.260/.279
Expected: .151/.229/.244
Joe Tucker, 24
Actual: .289/.360/.355
Expected: .231/.310/.297
McBratney has been shipped off to extended spring training. For the undrafted free agent, the end of the road is probably near. Tucker is a utility man without much utility. Kody Kaiser is also getting some time out in left field, and Jordan Newton has long been rumored to be headed to the outfield.
VSL Tigers:
Ivan Espinoza, 19
Actual: .250/.298/.269
Expected: .154/.210/.173
The other Espinoza is one of the many Tigers in Venezuela struggling right now. The unrelated Alexis has graduated from the VSL and will likely be playing in the Gulf Coast League starting in June.
Like third base, left field is a position that is very thin throughout the organization. Also like third base, not many players who end up in left field play there in the minor leagues. If you are looking for left field help, next week's rundown of centerfielders may give a better idea of what is in the pipeline. The most disappointing part of this analysis was the revelation that Wilkin Ramirez probably isn't for real. Considering all of the hype around him for so long, it seemed like he has finally turned a corner. I'm not so sure he's anything more than trade bait at this point.
Showing posts with label Free Ryan Raburn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Free Ryan Raburn. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Monday, May 05, 2008
Postgame Thoughts
- 10 walks and 5 singles will only net you three runs. A lot of anti-sabermetric people will scream "Walks only clog the bases!" The problem today wasn't the walks, it was the pop-outs and the weak contact. What is often misunderstood by the Dusty Bakers of the world is that you get 27 outs, and those walks don't cost you any of those 27 outs.
- On the subject of bashing small ball: how about when Steve Phillips was gushing over Magglio Ordonez being able to hit the ball the other way, and he immediately bounces into a 4-6-3 double play? Ground balls to second base have been glorified to no end when they move a runner up, but they are hardly an example of doing the job. If somebody says a player "did his job" by moving the runner up, you can kindly point to a win expectation chart and show that in most cases you are better off with a runner on second and N outs compared to a runner on third with N+1 outs.
- Gary Sheffield was loafing his whole time in left field. If he wants to play out there to get his bat going, he needs to act like he wants to play out there. There was a liner in the left-center gap, where he stopped as soon as he saw Granderson was running after it. There was a catchable blooper into shallow left field, that I thought he may have had a chance at, but he was merely jogging after the ball. Even the catch against the wall involved a lolly-gagging pre-amble. This was an unacceptable defensive effort by Sheffield, and I shudder to see him try to throw a winning run out at the plate. For a while now, all he has needed is about a month's rest to get the shoulder and finger healthy while getting him healthy. Playing him in the outfield, when there are capable offensive and defensive players who can fill his spot, is an unacceptable decision.
- It really was an interesting moment when Hideki Okajima was brought into the game to face Matt Joyce. It was one of the rare moments where a left-handed pitcher is brought into face a left-handed hitter and both have reverse platoon splits. It was either a brilliant move by Terry Francona to induce the right-handed pinch hitter, or a poor decision by both managers that happened to pay off for the Tigers. I'd have left Joyce in. The decision to bring in Thames was an interesting one. It seemed to pay off with a single, but who's to say Joyce wouldn't have done better?
- A comparison I thought of for Matt Joyce: Bobby Higginson without plus plate discipline.
- One quick note on service time. Orel Hershiser was repeatedly saying that Aquilino Lopez is "a 32 year-old with just over 1 year of service time." Had I not remembered him spending an entire season as Toronto's closer five years ago, I wouldn't have looked it up, but Lopez came into the season with 1.152 years of service time according to the Media Guide. That's not 1 year plus another 152/1000 years. That figure means 1 year plus 152 days of service, with 172 days constituting a full season. It's an easy mistake to make at first glance, and I'm not going to chastise Hershiser, who is one of ESPN's best commentators, but wanted to point out a warning when looking at service time numbers. At some point when I get better at computers, I plan to have a roster on the site with every player's up-to-date service time included. The estimated time for arrival on that is roughly 2014.
- I was very disappointed to see no Erin Andrews tonight. I thought she had Monday games, and was looking forward to her... insight.
- Free Ryan Raburn!
Removing the Jacque Strap
Jacque Jones has been designated for assignment. Matt Joyce has been called up to replace him. It's interesting to me that Joyce gets the call instead of Thomas, who faired well in his time with the big club.
Joyce bats left-handed, and plays a strong defense anywhere in the outfield. Like Clete Thomas, he has a tremendous arm, but he's a different type of hitter. While Thomas is more of a spray hitter, Joyce has hit for power in his career. He's off to a fast start in Toledo, hitting .299/.367/.536.
I'm not sure how the left field situation will shake out. I'd still like to see Raburn get a lion's share of the playing time, but they probably didn't bring Joyce up to ride pine. There will likely be some sort of time share between Raburn, Joyce, Marcus Thames, and Brandon Inge for the time being. Regardless, it's a step up from the punch-less Jones.
Okay, now it seems as if Gary Sheffield is playing left field at his own request to get his bat going. That seems like a shock, especially without the corresponding move of Carlos Guillen to designated hitter. I'll let some time go by to pass judgement, but it's a peculiar move to say the least.
Joyce bats left-handed, and plays a strong defense anywhere in the outfield. Like Clete Thomas, he has a tremendous arm, but he's a different type of hitter. While Thomas is more of a spray hitter, Joyce has hit for power in his career. He's off to a fast start in Toledo, hitting .299/.367/.536.
I'm not sure how the left field situation will shake out. I'd still like to see Raburn get a lion's share of the playing time, but they probably didn't bring Joyce up to ride pine. There will likely be some sort of time share between Raburn, Joyce, Marcus Thames, and Brandon Inge for the time being. Regardless, it's a step up from the punch-less Jones.
Okay, now it seems as if Gary Sheffield is playing left field at his own request to get his bat going. That seems like a shock, especially without the corresponding move of Carlos Guillen to designated hitter. I'll let some time go by to pass judgement, but it's a peculiar move to say the least.
One Man's Drastic Changes
Much has been made over the drastic changes to the lineup that will be debuted tonight. I'm not convinced that changes to the lineup are the answer any more than I am that a team can get away with one lineup. I have two sets of three lineups to use. One set of lineups for right-handed opponents, one set for left-handed opponents. One lineup is the "everyday" lineup, and the other two account for days off by Pudge Rodriguez and Gary Sheffield. Those two should each be seeing at least one off day every week.
vs. RHP, Everyday
Granderson CF
Polanco 2B
Cabrera 1B
Ordonez RF
Guillen 3B
Sheffield DH
Renteria SS
Rodriguez C
Raburn LF
I like the dynamic of Granderson and Polanco 1-2. Polanco hits a lot of ground balls, which would be double plays with a singles hitter in front of him. For all the talk of Granderson's power being wasted in the leadoff spot, he's only guaranteed to lead off one inning per game. His extra-base hits are an unconventional and effective way of setting the table, and I see no reason to move him. Everything else is pretty straight forward. Brandon Inge isn't in this lineup, but I still see him playing roughly four games per week. He really doesn't hit right-handers well, and he fits best in a part time role. I've already laid out the case that Ryan Raburn has earned an every day job in left field.
vs. RHP, Sheffield Off
Granderson CF
Polanco 2B
Cabrera 1B
Ordonez RF
Guillen DH
Renteria SS
Rodriguez C
Raburn LF
Inge 3B
vs. RHP, Pudge Off
Granderson CF
Polanco 2B
Cabrera 1B
Ordonez RF
Guillen 3B
Sheffield DH
Renteria SS
Raburn LF
Inge C
vs. LHP, Everyday
Renteria SS
Guillen 3B
Cabrera 1B
Ordonez RF
Sheffield DH
Rodriguez C
Thames LF
Polanco 2B
Inge CF
It's a bit unconventional to platoon a right-handed bat with another righty. While Ryan Raburn has little if any platoon split, Marcus Thames has always hit lefties well and belongs in this lineup. Until Granderson shows he can hit lefties on a regular basis, Inge gets to be his platoon partner. I've moved Polanco down in the lineup so he is behind another power hitter, and will likely be batting behind Granderson later when he comes in as a defensive replacement.
vs. LHP, Sheffield Off
Polanco 2B
Guillen DH
Cabrera 1B
Ordonez RF
Renteria SS
Rodriguez C
Thames LF
Inge 3B
Granderson CF
If Sheffield's off days can be scheduled, I would advise scheduling them against right-handed pitchers. If Granderson is to be completely sheltered against righties, Raburn can start here. I have Granderson in there for the defense. Once again, I bat Polanco behind Granderson, which happens to be in the leadoff spot here.
vs. LHP, Pudge Off
Polanco 2B
Guillen 3B
Cabrera 1B
Ordonez RF
Sheffield DH
Renteria SS
Thames LF
Inge C
Granderson CF
Overall, I think these lineups are the best. I haven't run simulations or anything to test them, but they pass basic tests. They each deploy the best available personel, and try to stack the top of the lineup with the team's best hitters, while preserving succesful lineup dynamics such as the Granderson/Polanco combination. Jacque Jones and Ramon Santiago are absent from all of these lineups. I see Santiago getting his typical weekly start in place of Polanco or Santiago. Jones, on the other hand, is just an extra bench bat until he proves he can contribute. You could make the case for releasing him, but with the Tigers on the hook for about another $2.5-million, that's not likely. Also, the player who would replace him would likely rot on the bench. You are better off having Jones rotting the bench than a prospect like Clete Thomas or Jeff Larish.
I know that these aren't going to be the lineups, but I think they are the best the team can throw out there.
vs. RHP, Everyday
Granderson CF
Polanco 2B
Cabrera 1B
Ordonez RF
Guillen 3B
Sheffield DH
Renteria SS
Rodriguez C
Raburn LF
I like the dynamic of Granderson and Polanco 1-2. Polanco hits a lot of ground balls, which would be double plays with a singles hitter in front of him. For all the talk of Granderson's power being wasted in the leadoff spot, he's only guaranteed to lead off one inning per game. His extra-base hits are an unconventional and effective way of setting the table, and I see no reason to move him. Everything else is pretty straight forward. Brandon Inge isn't in this lineup, but I still see him playing roughly four games per week. He really doesn't hit right-handers well, and he fits best in a part time role. I've already laid out the case that Ryan Raburn has earned an every day job in left field.
vs. RHP, Sheffield Off
Granderson CF
Polanco 2B
Cabrera 1B
Ordonez RF
Guillen DH
Renteria SS
Rodriguez C
Raburn LF
Inge 3B
vs. RHP, Pudge Off
Granderson CF
Polanco 2B
Cabrera 1B
Ordonez RF
Guillen 3B
Sheffield DH
Renteria SS
Raburn LF
Inge C
vs. LHP, Everyday
Renteria SS
Guillen 3B
Cabrera 1B
Ordonez RF
Sheffield DH
Rodriguez C
Thames LF
Polanco 2B
Inge CF
It's a bit unconventional to platoon a right-handed bat with another righty. While Ryan Raburn has little if any platoon split, Marcus Thames has always hit lefties well and belongs in this lineup. Until Granderson shows he can hit lefties on a regular basis, Inge gets to be his platoon partner. I've moved Polanco down in the lineup so he is behind another power hitter, and will likely be batting behind Granderson later when he comes in as a defensive replacement.
vs. LHP, Sheffield Off
Polanco 2B
Guillen DH
Cabrera 1B
Ordonez RF
Renteria SS
Rodriguez C
Thames LF
Inge 3B
Granderson CF
If Sheffield's off days can be scheduled, I would advise scheduling them against right-handed pitchers. If Granderson is to be completely sheltered against righties, Raburn can start here. I have Granderson in there for the defense. Once again, I bat Polanco behind Granderson, which happens to be in the leadoff spot here.
vs. LHP, Pudge Off
Polanco 2B
Guillen 3B
Cabrera 1B
Ordonez RF
Sheffield DH
Renteria SS
Thames LF
Inge C
Granderson CF
Overall, I think these lineups are the best. I haven't run simulations or anything to test them, but they pass basic tests. They each deploy the best available personel, and try to stack the top of the lineup with the team's best hitters, while preserving succesful lineup dynamics such as the Granderson/Polanco combination. Jacque Jones and Ramon Santiago are absent from all of these lineups. I see Santiago getting his typical weekly start in place of Polanco or Santiago. Jones, on the other hand, is just an extra bench bat until he proves he can contribute. You could make the case for releasing him, but with the Tigers on the hook for about another $2.5-million, that's not likely. Also, the player who would replace him would likely rot on the bench. You are better off having Jones rotting the bench than a prospect like Clete Thomas or Jeff Larish.
I know that these aren't going to be the lineups, but I think they are the best the team can throw out there.
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Time for the Jacque Jones Era to End
I really did not like the Jacque Jones acquisition at the time it was made. Sure, Omar Infante wasn't that big of a loss, and the Cubs were covering the salary difference, so it was worth a shot. After a while, I bought into the fact that Jones played a really good outfield last year. My main beef at the time wasn't with the trade or Jones' defense, he really isn't any better than the internal alternatives: Ryan Raburn, Marcus Thames, and the now displaced Brandon Inge. The misplay on the line-drive double in the 7th inning was the final straw to me. While I'm not one to tolerate a poor offensive performance, it can be justified with a great defensive performance. Jones has been inferior in the field to every one of his positional competitors this year, even Marcus Thames.
It was an open debate as to whether Jacque Jones' bat was in decline last season or if it was merely a one year slump. At age 32, either could have been true. The biggest decline from 2006 to 2007 was his power. He fell from 27 home runs to a meager five in 2007. His isolated power dropped from an acceptable .214 to a ghastly .115. It was worth seeing if his bad could rebound (it hasn't), especially if he can play better defense than his alternatives (he hasn't). When you have a career OBP of just .327 and you are playing a power spot, you need either your power or your defense to keep you in the lineup. The fact that a superior hitter in Ryan Raburn is coming in as a defensive replacement is a paradox to say the least.
The Tigers are on the hook for $3-million dollars. It's getting to the point where they have to decide if that money is best spent giving Jacque Jones and his .522 OPS time to straighten out an offensive game that may not exist, or if they should cut bait and go to a time share between superior options in Marcus Thames, Brandon Inge, and especially Ryan Raburn. If the concern is to have a left-handed bat in the lineup, here are the batting lines for all of the candidates against right-handed pitchers the past two seasons:
'07
Raburn 84 PA, .338/.349/.563
Jones 375 PA, .283/.332/.397
Thames 193 PA, .209/.249/.456
Inge 447 PA, .209/.281/.340
'08
Raburn 22 PA, .278/.409/.556
Jones 82 PA, .183/.268/.282
Thames 27 PA, .240/.296/.240
Inge 85 PA, .265/.381/.471
Ryan Raburn's numbers stand out, while Inge and Thames have had problems hitting right-handed pitchers in their careers. While the sample size issues apply, it's not like Raburn was struggling against right-handed pitchers in the minors. It's pretty clear that Jacque Jones is in the lineup because he bats from the left side, but his raises a question over the point of having a left-handed bat in the lineup. If the reason is to have somebody who hits from the left side, Jones is your guy. If the motive is to have somebody who can do damage against right-handed pitchers, it's probably best to finally give the every day job to the guy who is long overdue for the opportunity. Raburn has done everything in his power to have earned the starting left field job over the past year. It's high time he gets what he deserves.
Free Ryan Raburn!
It was an open debate as to whether Jacque Jones' bat was in decline last season or if it was merely a one year slump. At age 32, either could have been true. The biggest decline from 2006 to 2007 was his power. He fell from 27 home runs to a meager five in 2007. His isolated power dropped from an acceptable .214 to a ghastly .115. It was worth seeing if his bad could rebound (it hasn't), especially if he can play better defense than his alternatives (he hasn't). When you have a career OBP of just .327 and you are playing a power spot, you need either your power or your defense to keep you in the lineup. The fact that a superior hitter in Ryan Raburn is coming in as a defensive replacement is a paradox to say the least.
The Tigers are on the hook for $3-million dollars. It's getting to the point where they have to decide if that money is best spent giving Jacque Jones and his .522 OPS time to straighten out an offensive game that may not exist, or if they should cut bait and go to a time share between superior options in Marcus Thames, Brandon Inge, and especially Ryan Raburn. If the concern is to have a left-handed bat in the lineup, here are the batting lines for all of the candidates against right-handed pitchers the past two seasons:
'07
Raburn 84 PA, .338/.349/.563
Jones 375 PA, .283/.332/.397
Thames 193 PA, .209/.249/.456
Inge 447 PA, .209/.281/.340
'08
Raburn 22 PA, .278/.409/.556
Jones 82 PA, .183/.268/.282
Thames 27 PA, .240/.296/.240
Inge 85 PA, .265/.381/.471
Ryan Raburn's numbers stand out, while Inge and Thames have had problems hitting right-handed pitchers in their careers. While the sample size issues apply, it's not like Raburn was struggling against right-handed pitchers in the minors. It's pretty clear that Jacque Jones is in the lineup because he bats from the left side, but his raises a question over the point of having a left-handed bat in the lineup. If the reason is to have somebody who hits from the left side, Jones is your guy. If the motive is to have somebody who can do damage against right-handed pitchers, it's probably best to finally give the every day job to the guy who is long overdue for the opportunity. Raburn has done everything in his power to have earned the starting left field job over the past year. It's high time he gets what he deserves.
Free Ryan Raburn!
Friday, May 02, 2008
Scanning the System - Second Base
Detroit:
Placido Polanco, 32
Actual: .226/.337/.345
Expected: .321/.418/.440
Ryan Raburn, 27
Actual: .238/.360/.476
Expected: .238/.360/.476
Ramon Santiago, 28
Actual: .375/.483/.708
Expected: .333/.449/.667
Polanco has already started to break out of his slump, and should continue to. He's simply been hitting balls right at guys. Ryan Raburn is a solid player and should at least be getting his fair share of time in left field. I touched on Santiago yesterday, and it's not like he's been lucky so far. The extra-base power is something new.
Toledo:
Michael Hollimon, 25
Actual: .238/.304/.571
Expected: .262/.326/.595
Ryan Raburn, 27
Actual: .316/.435/.737
Expected: .211/.348/.632
Caonabo Cosme, 29
Actual: .353/.368/.765
Expected: .353/.368/.765
Hollimon came back rather quickly from his shoulder dislocation. If Polanco's back flairs up again, he could be the guy. I've got Raburn's ridiculous stint on here. Because it lasted under ten days, he didn't use an option. Cosme has been demoted to Erie. I didn't list Henry Mateo, who started at second base while Hollimon was injured. I'd be remissed if I didn't mention that Hollimon was ranked seventh among 2B prospects by PECOTA.
Erie:
William Rhymes, 25
Actual: .209/.293/.326
Expected: .220/.303/.338
Caonabo Cosme, 29
Actual: .313/.353/.313
Expected: .313/.353/.313
Lakeland:
Scott Sizemore, 23
Actual: .269/.340/.409
Expected: .204/.283/.344
There was clamor early that Sizemore was destined to move up and take Rhymes' spot. I don't know if I got around to posting it, but Sizemore's early start was a mirage, and it looks like he's still got some falling to do. Rhymes is what he is, and if Sizemore can step forward, Rhymes won't be standing in his path.
West Michigan:
Justin Henry, 23
Actual: .242/.324/.319
Expected: .187/.276/.264
I'm sad to say that I did predict doom and gloom for Henry this year. I didn't expect him to be quite this bad. I did see him in person a couple weeks ago, and saw a couple of very weak ground balls. While he didn't look as bad as the completely lost Ronnie Bourquin, it was hard to predict much success for him.
Overall, at second base, things seem to be reasonably strong. Polanco seems a bit fragile right now, but Raburn and Hollimon should be able to fill in during an injury. Under contract through next season, Polanco has no real need for a replacement. Hollimon and Raburn should be around and in their prime at that point. I'm becoming less convinced that Sizemore will be in that picture, but it's not out of the question just yet.
Placido Polanco, 32
Actual: .226/.337/.345
Expected: .321/.418/.440
Ryan Raburn, 27
Actual: .238/.360/.476
Expected: .238/.360/.476
Ramon Santiago, 28
Actual: .375/.483/.708
Expected: .333/.449/.667
Polanco has already started to break out of his slump, and should continue to. He's simply been hitting balls right at guys. Ryan Raburn is a solid player and should at least be getting his fair share of time in left field. I touched on Santiago yesterday, and it's not like he's been lucky so far. The extra-base power is something new.
Toledo:
Michael Hollimon, 25
Actual: .238/.304/.571
Expected: .262/.326/.595
Ryan Raburn, 27
Actual: .316/.435/.737
Expected: .211/.348/.632
Caonabo Cosme, 29
Actual: .353/.368/.765
Expected: .353/.368/.765
Hollimon came back rather quickly from his shoulder dislocation. If Polanco's back flairs up again, he could be the guy. I've got Raburn's ridiculous stint on here. Because it lasted under ten days, he didn't use an option. Cosme has been demoted to Erie. I didn't list Henry Mateo, who started at second base while Hollimon was injured. I'd be remissed if I didn't mention that Hollimon was ranked seventh among 2B prospects by PECOTA.
Erie:
William Rhymes, 25
Actual: .209/.293/.326
Expected: .220/.303/.338
Caonabo Cosme, 29
Actual: .313/.353/.313
Expected: .313/.353/.313
Lakeland:
Scott Sizemore, 23
Actual: .269/.340/.409
Expected: .204/.283/.344
There was clamor early that Sizemore was destined to move up and take Rhymes' spot. I don't know if I got around to posting it, but Sizemore's early start was a mirage, and it looks like he's still got some falling to do. Rhymes is what he is, and if Sizemore can step forward, Rhymes won't be standing in his path.
West Michigan:
Justin Henry, 23
Actual: .242/.324/.319
Expected: .187/.276/.264
I'm sad to say that I did predict doom and gloom for Henry this year. I didn't expect him to be quite this bad. I did see him in person a couple weeks ago, and saw a couple of very weak ground balls. While he didn't look as bad as the completely lost Ronnie Bourquin, it was hard to predict much success for him.
Overall, at second base, things seem to be reasonably strong. Polanco seems a bit fragile right now, but Raburn and Hollimon should be able to fill in during an injury. Under contract through next season, Polanco has no real need for a replacement. Hollimon and Raburn should be around and in their prime at that point. I'm becoming less convinced that Sizemore will be in that picture, but it's not out of the question just yet.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Random Thoughts after a Victory
As much as I thought Friday's performance would catapult the team, it turns out that wasn't the case. Monday night's comeback, on the other hand, should provide the spark the offense needs. As if they haven't been huge yet, tonight's game will be a big one for the offense, as it will be important to follow up on today's comeback.
Ryan Raburn was brought in as a defensive replacement last night. Talk about mixed signals. I was under the impression that the reason he had been getting the shaft over the past year was because of his defense. We know that Leyland can't possibly think Jacque Jones is a better hitter, can we?
The Disabled List Informer points out that Gary Sheffield's current shoulder problems may linger, suggesting that signs point to a possible rotator cuff issue. I'm really not well versed in the anatomy of the shoulder, so check that link out for some information.
Ryan Raburn was brought in as a defensive replacement last night. Talk about mixed signals. I was under the impression that the reason he had been getting the shaft over the past year was because of his defense. We know that Leyland can't possibly think Jacque Jones is a better hitter, can we?
The Disabled List Informer points out that Gary Sheffield's current shoulder problems may linger, suggesting that signs point to a possible rotator cuff issue. I'm really not well versed in the anatomy of the shoulder, so check that link out for some information.
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