tOfficial 2015 Detroit Tigers thread

[Floyd Robertson]

Biggest news out of spring training is Brad Ausmus joining twitter with the intention of starting an Internet feud with Taylor Swift.

http://m.espn.go.com/general/blogs/blogpost?blogname=spring-training&id=2338

[steveschneider]

The morons at the freep think the bull pen has improved.

My response to them is bull shit.

[Floyd Robertson]

Cespedes hits a grand slam for first HR of spring. 11-0 over Orioles in bottom 4th.

[steveschneider]

Cespedes hits a grand slam for first HR of spring. 11-0 over Orioles in bottom 4th.

I love the pick up. Our outfield D is going to be great and I think our lineup is vastly improved with him in it.

[Watch Out Pylon!]

So is Verlander back to being the ace of the rotation? Yikes.

[HT]

I love the pick up. Our outfield D is going to be great and I think our lineup is vastly improved with him in it.

Oakland really struggled without him. By advanced metrics, Hunter was atrocious in RF, so adding Cespedes was already a big win there. His bat will really help the lineup as well, so it was a tremendous addition.

[steveschneider]

Oakland really struggled without him. By advanced metrics, Hunter was atrocious in RF, so adding Cespedes was already a big win there. His bat will really help the lineup as well, so it was a tremendous addition.

Yeah, I could see him really sparking the team. I think Castellanos is going to be greatly improved as well. Hoping Iggy is back in full form at short stop.

[HT]

Yeah, I could see him really sparking the team. I think Castellanos is going to be greatly improved as well. Hoping Iggy is back in full form at short stop.

Castellanos, I believe was near-historically bad with the glove. Hopefully having Iggy back full-time helps alleviate left infield defense.

I'm most interested in how Verlander's recovered. Been a lot of positive buzz about him out of the Tigers' camp.

[WhiteBoyHatcher]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Eyebrows isn't necessarily a great RF, right? He just has a great arm?

[steveschneider]

Castellanos, I believe was near-historically bad with the glove. Hopefully having Iggy back full-time helps alleviate left infield defense.

I'm most interested in how Verlander's recovered. Been a lot of positive buzz about him out of the Tigers' camp.

Nick c put on a ton of muscle and I guess he's been working on his defense. Just saw he left today with a hand injury and is day to day. Shit!

Verlader should be good again. Would love to see some classic outings from him this year.

[By-Tor]

There ain't a whole lot to playing RF at Comerica. Nothing really tricky out there. He will be an upgrade to Hunter and will be able to keep guys from taking extra bases just on reputation alone.

[HT]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Eyebrows isn't necessarily a great RF, right? He just has a great arm?

I believe he rates as a plus defender in RF. Even if he wasn't, it'll still be a marked improvement over a very old Hunter.

[Floyd Robertson]

Jason Beck ‏@beckjason 2 minutes ago
Joel Hanrahan will have 2nd Tommy John surgery.

Well, that FA pickup worked well.

[Floyd Robertson]

MLB Trade Rumors ‏@mlbtraderumors 23 seconds ago

The #Tigers have released RHP Joel Hanrahan, who will undergo his second Tommy John surgery, per @anthonyfenech. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/03/joel-hanrahan-to-undergo-tommy-john-surgery.html

Good luck in rehab.

[Floyd Robertson]

Analysis: Deeper look at Alfredo Simon numbers could be cause for concern for Detroit Tigers fans

LAKELAND, Fla. -- There is no doubt that Alfredo Simon has had a rough spring. He has allowed 13 runs on 19 hits in 16 2/3 innings pitched. He hasn't missed many bats. His ERA is above 7.00.

Not exactly giving me a warm and fuzzy here.

[Floyd Robertson]

While I'm at it....

Detroit Tigers player preview: Can Bruce Rondon fulfill his promise in 2015?

For three seasons, the Detroit Tigers have opened spring training hoping for big things from Bruce Rondon. Those sizable expectations may fit the flame-throwing righthander's 6'3", 275-pound frame, but injury and bouts of poor command have seen those hopes go unfulfilled. Yet, the potential is still strong for Rondon to significantly influence the bullpen. If his recovery from Tommy John surgery is as successful as it appears, he will have plenty of chances to seize a late innings role with the Tigers in 2015.

[Floyd Robertson]

anthony fenech ‏@anthonyfenech 55m55 minutes ago
Joe Nathan’s second pitch of his second consecutive game goes off the light tower in leftfield.

[steveschneider]

anthony fenech ‏@anthonyfenech 55m55 minutes ago
Joe Nathan’s second pitch of his second consecutive game goes off the light tower in leftfield.

Ha! Our bullpen is going to be a flaming pile of garbage this year.

[HT]

anthony fenech ‏@anthonyfenech  55m55 minutes ago
Joe Nathan’s second pitch of his second consecutive game goes off the light tower in leftfield.

Ha! Our bullpen is going to be a flaming pile of garbage this year.

Lynn Henning said something about there being a chance he doesn't go back to Detroit with the team.

[steveschneider]

anthony fenech ‏@anthonyfenech  55m55 minutes ago
Joe Nathan’s second pitch of his second consecutive game goes off the light tower in leftfield.

Ha! Our bullpen is going to be a flaming pile of garbage this year.

Lynn Henning said something about there being a chance he doesn't go back to Detroit with the team.

Should just move him into a setup man role like what Al Al is. Have him come in as a SO specialist.

He wasn't that bad last year the second half of the season, but just picking him up at age 39 thinking he'd be an ace was pretty f'n dumb.

[Floyd Robertson]

Sad to see the Luke Putkonen era come to and end.

Jason Beck ‏@beckjason 3m3 minutes ago
Tigers have released reliever Luke Putkonen. He had been outrighted this offseason, sent to minor league camp March 17.

Nah, not really.

[Floyd Robertson]

Jason Beck ‏@beckjason 3m3 minutes ago
Bryan Holaday optioned to Toledo. Looks like James McCann becomes Tigers backup catcher.

Jason Beck ‏@beckjason 3m3 minutes ago
Tyler Collins also optioned to Toledo. Looks like Andrew Romine and Hernan Perez both headed to Detroit, unless Tigers swing a trade.

Good to see McCann getting his chance.

[steveschneider]

Jason Beck ‏@beckjason 3m3 minutes ago
Bryan Holaday optioned to Toledo. Looks like James McCann becomes Tigers backup catcher.

Jason Beck ‏@beckjason 3m3 minutes ago
Tyler Collins also optioned to Toledo. Looks like Andrew Romine and Hernan Perez both headed to Detroit, unless Tigers swing a trade.

Good to see McCann getting his chance.

I bet we make a trade at some point in the season for another catcher. I saw a bold prediction that tigers trade cesspedes to Detroit for Navarro and some other player I forget who. Not sure it will go down like that but I think that's a position where they may make a move.

[Floyd Robertson]

I'm convinced that Rondon is just never going to be healthy.  The sky is falling.

Jason Beck ‏@beckjason 21s22 seconds ago
Bruce Rondon had a sore shoulder this morning. Was not available to pitch. Went back to Lakeland for treatment.

[HT]

I don't think this team is making the playoffs. I'm amazed that Dombrowski has been so bad at assembling a good bullpen when you look at how many early round draft picks he's used on relief pitchers.

[Floyd Robertson]

Rondon diagnosed with right shoulder tendinitis

Could have been worse, I guess.

[Floyd Robertson]

Jason Beck ‏@beckjason 4m4 minutes ago
Justin Verlander will start the season on 15-day DL. So will Bruce Rondon.
18 retweets 0 favorites

[Floyd Robertson]

MLB Trade Rumors ‏@mlbtraderumors  19s20 seconds ago  
Red Sox Sign Rick Porcello To Four-Year Extension http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=50829

Alex Speier reporting 82.5 mil starting in 2016, so when the contract ends he'll be an old man of 32.

[steveschneider]

Some early thoughts on this team...With Price yesterday on the mound we looked like a team that could compete for the World Series. Granted he shut down Minnesota, but I was thoroughly impressed with our defense.

Iglesias is a huge improvement on d. Just watching the sixth inning where Price last year would have gotten into trouble he was bailed out by Iglesias' amazing defense.

Having a Cespedes in our line up is huge. I think this has the potential to be another acquisition that could make Dombrowski look like a magician.

Kinsler, Davis, Iglesias and Cespedes can all steal bases. If any of those guys get on you are going to have a RISP.

If the gamble that our bullpen somehow improves this year we should get our 5th straight central division title.

[HT]

Some early thoughts on this team...With Price yesterday on the mound we looked like a team that could compete for the World Series. Granted he shut down Minnesota, but I was thoroughly impressed with our defense.

Iglesias is a huge improvement on d. Just watching the sixth inning where Price last year would have gotten into trouble he was bailed out by Iglesias' amazing defense.

Having a Cespedes in our line up is huge. I think this has the potential to be another acquisition that could make Dombrowski look like a magician.

Kinsler, Davis, Iglesias and Cespedes can all steal bases. If any of those guys get on you are going to have a RISP.

If the gamble that our bullpen somehow improves this year we should get our 5th straight central division title.

One game is a small sample size, but...

I think the additions of Cespedes and Iglesias make this team markedly better. I don't think it can be understated how much the mediocre defense last year hurt the team (like easily cost them 4-5 wins).

I don't think the lineup is much worse without Hunter (though I don't see VMart replicating last year's performance). I do think the rotation and bullpen probably are worse than last year, but hopefully the improved defense compensates for that.

I am sticking with around 85-86 wins for this team, at least until I see more. Should be a competitive ballclub, but I just think Cleveland's the team to beat this year.

[steveschneider]

Some early thoughts on this team...With Price yesterday on the mound we looked like a team that could compete for the World Series. Granted he shut down Minnesota, but I was thoroughly impressed with our defense.

Iglesias is a huge improvement on d. Just watching the sixth inning where Price last year would have gotten into trouble he was bailed out by Iglesias' amazing defense.

Having a Cespedes in our line up is huge. I think this has the potential to be another acquisition that could make Dombrowski look like a magician.

Kinsler, Davis, Iglesias and Cespedes can all steal bases. If any of those guys get on you are going to have a RISP.

If the gamble that our bullpen somehow improves this year we should get our 5th straight central division title.

One game is a small sample size, but...

I think the additions of Cespedes and Iglesias make this team markedly better. I don't think it can be understated how much the mediocre defense last year hurt the team (like easily cost them 4-5 wins).

I don't think the lineup is much worse without Hunter (though I don't see VMart replicating last year's performance). I do think the rotation and bullpen probably are worse than last year, but hopefully the improved defense compensates for that.

I am sticking with around 85-86 wins for this team, at least until I see more. Should be a competitive ballclub, but I just think Cleveland's the team to beat this year.

Both Vmart and Cabrera look like they are going to take some time to get back into form. I do think this lineup has potential to be better than last years. Too many holes last year, I just think with all that speed at the top and bottom of the lineup it should make a difference.

Yeah, definitely a super early assessment. With Sanchez pitching Wednesday we should get a look at the bullpen.

I also agree with you I haven't seen enough to put the Tigers past the Tribe.

[HT]

One game is a small sample size, but...

I think the additions of Cespedes and Iglesias make this team markedly better. I don't think it can be understated how much the mediocre defense last year hurt the team (like easily cost them 4-5 wins).

I don't think the lineup is much worse without Hunter (though I don't see VMart replicating last year's performance). I do think the rotation and bullpen probably are worse than last year, but hopefully the improved defense compensates for that.

I am sticking with around 85-86 wins for this team, at least until I see more. Should be a competitive ballclub, but I just think Cleveland's the team to beat this year.

Both Vmart and Cabrera look like they are going to take some time to get back into form. I do think this lineup has potential to be better than last years. Too many holes last year, I just think with all that speed at the top and bottom of the lineup it should make a difference.

Yeah, definitely a super early assessment. With Sanchez pitching Wednesday we should get a look at the bullpen.

I also agree with you I haven't seen enough to put the Tigers past the Tribe.

Remember, it took Martinez a good half a season in 2013 to get back to where he was before missing 2012. I'm not going to expect too much from those two until late May; hopefully the pitching and rest of the lineup can handle things enough until they're good to go again.

Really curious to see the outfield when Gose is playing, and some of the defensive substitutions Ausmus will deploy. Loved the defense the Tigers had in 2009, and that actually might be my favorite recent Tigers team to watch.

[Floyd Robertson]

Game 2 of 162: 7-0 Tigers in the bottom of the 4th

[steveschneider]

9-0 now. Are you watching it Floyd? Would love a brief summary.

[Floyd Robertson]

9-0 now. Are you watching it Floyd? Would love a brief summary.

Just following on my phone's MLB app and twitter.

Last I checked Gose had a triple, Iglesias is 3/3 with a double, Avila has three walks and Castellanos is batting .000 for the season.

[The Pantry]

10 hits for Tigers. 6 walks. No home runs.

3 hits for Twins. Got their first runner to 2nd top of 6th and he got stranded there. Sanchez has 5 K's and no walks

[Floyd Robertson]

First time since 1914 that the Tigers have opened a season pitching back-to-back shutouts.

#MaxWho?

[steveschneider]

I really like this team. I think Dombroski has improved the Tigers....

Early last year we got a glimpse of the speed vs longball.

This year we see the speed all year long.

[steveschneider]

Twins are a dumpster fire, wtf were they thinking firing Gardenhire?

[Guest]

Back to back shut outs to start the season, ample runs scored and Nathan to the DL for 15 or more days. Life is good right now.

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