casimir

Prince was effective no doubt. I don’t think he had the same energy about him as Rodman did or Thompson does. Oh, sure, there was the block which was that kind of moment by itself. Maybe it’s because Prince didn’t have the top gear quickness that Rodman/Thompson had/have?

I know he’s missed some time. I think by and large all of the younger guys have improved (Sasser gets an incomplete here). Thompson seems to be the guy that’s improved the most from last season.

I think Duren has been making strides as the season has gone along, too. There’s still more for him to learn. Maybe he needed a coaching change as much as anybody?

I get Dennis Rodman defensive energy vibes when he's out there.

Don’t yell at me, dude. I ain’t in charge.

Dickerson mentioned the Yankees handout out to the media the starting lineup as well as the substitutes for those starters.

Quite the close out to win it. I simply cannot believe the turnaround this team has had.

Gesundheit.

When the jersey numbers are 60 or higher and Dickerson struggles to figure out who is out there, I usually drift off. It’s ok though. Players are building up their game day stamina throughout the spring, and I can do the same. I’ll be ready for 9 innings by end of camp, don’t none of you worry about that.

Sounds like he hit the weights this off-season. Peña mentioned he looks more muscular and there was a brief discussion on bulk vs flexibility.

Judging by Dickerson’s voice, it wasn’t close.

You made a good pitch, but…. … it got crushed over the wall.

Seems weird to me to be playing spring training games in MLB home ballparks, but props to the Rays for loaning theirs out for this game.

You must be new here.

Hmmmm..... Both Tiger Territory and Locked on Tigers podcasts speculating that Sweeney may not be as much of an Opening Day guarantee as many of us (myself included) might believe.

Fun time to be a Mavericks fan.

Baez won’t live up to the contract. I think we’ve all accepted that as fact. At this point, he needs to find his health, field as he did before understanding that there probably will be some age related decline, and rebound offensively. Just be a league average overall bat, providing some pain in the butt vs LHPs to help the lineup balance out.

Open in Los Angeles and Seattle. 3 games, off day, 3 games, off day. They can probably skip a SP in there. Home vs the White Sox and then the Yankees, 3 day games, 3 night games, then an off day. Probably not skipping a SP there. But those night games in the first home stand are eye opening compared to what we're used to. At Minnesota for 3, at Milwaukee for 3, host Kansas City for 4, host San Diego for 3, then an off day. No skipping SPs in there, only 3 games where weather shouldn't be an issue. Its tough creating a schedule, I understand the flip flop nature of interleague series from year to year, I don't want to criticize too much. San Diego at Detroit in April just has to make you laugh a little bit. Who knows, it could be anywhere from 30 degrees to 75 degrees for a daytime high. After the day off, its host Baltimore for 3, at Houston for 3, at the Angels for 3, off day, at Colorado for 3,..... They leave Denver on May 8, so maybe by then they've held Jobe in reserve enough that he can be assigned to the rotation? As well, if Maeda makes it out of camp with the Tigers, this time might be another milestone at which he's sunk or he's swimming? And of course, health of other Ps come into play, although its tough to forecast that. There's probably better depth this season to handle that if needed. As I type this in semi response to baseball and weather, I will note that there are snowflakes as big as canned hams falling outside the window on the other side of the desk that I sit at.

Get a couple of NBA players to drop their gloves and fight at tip off?

There’s probably room for Jung, McKinstry, and Baez on the roster at the same time in a not so unbelievable scenario.

That was good, thanks for sharing.

Stavenhagen mentioned something about 3B that we might be missing at the 10,000 foot level. Maybe there’s more of a Jung/Ibanez platoon at 3B than we think at this point. So, ok, let’s think about the IF…. They played Keith vs LHPs last season (somebody had to with all of the LHHs). Torres is the everyday 2B. Sweeney/Baez at SS. McKinstry (versatile defensively) and Ibanez (to hit vs LHPs) probably make the team. OK, sure, nothing new here. 6 players there. The OF of Greene and Meadows in LF and CF. Probably close to everyday, but they still will need days out of the OF (DH day or rest day for Greene, day off for Meadows vs certain LHPs). Carpenter who they won’t hit vs LHPs. 3 players there. So now up to 9 non C and non P. Room for 1 more because Vierling takes a spot. But to whom does that last spot go to, and how will that dictate Vierling’s usage? If it’s one of Malloy/Torkelson, we’ll that probably pushes Vierling to more OF time (although theoretically McKinstry could get a little time). If it’s Perez, than that probably allows Vierling to get more time on the dirt. But it likely wouldn’t be at the expense of Ibanez, although when you think about him, he’s probably going to be am option at 1B vs LHPs.

I would guess Jobe is slated for a maximum of 150 innings based off his previous seasons and how teams try to build younger arms up. How they accomplish this, I’m not sure. As far as cold/climate, that might be a factor in the approach to this season. I suspect it’s going to be more about how his forecasted innings are gated throughout the season. Do they start his season out with shorter outings? Do they have him miss a start here and there when the schedule allows or when Hinch tries a pitching chaos game? Some sort of combination of the two? I know he debuted last season and pitched in the playoffs. I’m glad the depth is such to where they shouldn’t feel compelled to starting him in Detroi on Opening Day if there isn’t a need to. They can afford to be patient with him. At the same time, if his stuff is ready, then how do they find a way to not waste those pitches while watching his stamina? Maybe that’s where he opens and goes through a lineup once or maybe 3 innings total and then he’s done for earlier in the season starts? It’ll be interesting to see how it plays out.

That’s fantastic trivia. You win the day.

For a 26 man roster.