A quiet question mark for the Tigers this spring has been the quality and makeup of its bullpen.
There was a lot of uncertainty associated with Detroit relievers entering Spring Training and that remains so at the midpoint.
Closer Joe Nathan, signed for the next two seasons, is having a typical spring with a low-velocity fastball. But at age 39, people start to ask questions.
Bruce Rondon has been good and a non-story this spring after going through a 2013 Spring Training in which his every outing was scrutinized because he was the unannounced anointed closer despite having never pitched in the Majors.
One of the biggest questions for Detroit has been Phil Coke. Although he’s seasoned, he hasn’t had the kind of spring a reliever needs to have after having a very poor 2013. The Tigers could wind up trading or releasing him as he’s on a non-guaranteed contract.
Coke is one of two lefties expected to make the roster entering Spring Training but the Tigers can’t afford to carry him if he can’t throw quality strikes.
Joba Chamberlain has been spotty — effective for the most part but still showing some of the wildness that has bothered him in recent seasons.
Al Alburquerque and Luke Putkonen have been decent but it isn’t a sure thing the latter will make the team.
Two pitchers pushing hard are Evan Reed, who is out of options, and Blaine Hardy, a non-roster lefty who was good for Detroit in the minors last year.
The Tigers could determine Hardy is a viable alternative to Coke in the bullpen while Reed has shown improved secondary pitches that fit well with his 97 mph fastball.
So far injuries have not been a factor in the battle for bullpen spots. Effectiveness, however, has been.
NOTES, QUOTES
–RHP Justin Verlander answered a lot of questions with his first start of the spring March 11, throwing 3 2/3 scoreless innings. He gave up one hit, walked two and struck out a pair. His spring timetable is being slowed to make sure there are no setbacks from the January sports hernia surgery he had involving groin muscles in both legs. “I felt good. It felt great to get back out there,” Verlander said. “I wasn’t perfect, but it was good. It’s the direction I want to go.” His curve was sharp, his changeup was decent and he was able to spot a fastball that moved in the low 90s. “Everything looked really great,” C Bryan Holaday said. “It definitely didn’t look like anything was bothering him or that he missed anytime.” “I didn’t feel a thing,” Verlander, 31, said of making a good play on defense. “That’s what I’ve been wanting, to get off the mound and field my spot. To be honest with you, I didn’t even think about it.” He was held to 52 pitches. Verlander’s first scheduled start of the spring was rained out but he was able to throw a strong bullpen and remain on track to start Opening Day.
–SS Jose Iglesias, heading into his third week of inactivity due to shin splints and needing to get back on the field to be able to open the season with Detroit, was scheduled March 14 to see a specialist about his lingering shin splint problems. He was temporarily shut down from all baseball activities prior to seeing the specialist. “We’re not there yet, but it’s getting more and more tenuous,” manager Brad Ausmus said of the diminishing chances that Iglesias will be able to avoid going on the disabled list when the season begins. “The sooner Iglesias is able to play the better it is, not just for him, but for the team in general. Part of that is so he and Ian (2B Kinsler) can work together, because it does take a little bit of time. Now, I’m not saying it takes a season. At this point, they’re going to be learning each other into the season even if he started playing today.”
–2B Ian Kinsler is looking more and more like manager Brad Ausmus’ choice to open the season as Detroit’s leadoff hitter. Kinsler hit first when he is in the lineup with the club’s leadoff man since he is been with the team, CF Austin Jackson, batting lower in the order, mostly sixth. Kinsler led off for Texas during his time with the Rangers.
–LHP Robbie Ray was among Detroit’s first cuts of the spring but may have positioned himself to be the first brought up should the Tigers need someone to fill a spot in their rotation. Ray was sent to minor league camp March 12 when Detroit made its first batch of cuts. “He’s definitely close,” manager Brad Ausmus said of the primary pitcher Detroit got from Washington in the trade of RHP Doug Fister. “I think a lot of it’s going to depend on the secondary pitches. The quicker he commands the secondary pitches, the quicker he’s going to be a major league pitcher, because his fastball plays to the major leagues right now. He’s one of the few guys who has a swing-and-miss fastball. It plays up a couple of miles per hour from the radar gun. But I think it’s important for him to not only go down and gain experience but also to work on his secondary pitches, specifically the breaking ball, and see if he can tighten that up. But I certainly liked how he pitched.” In three Grapefruit League games Ray allowed two hits and walked three in 3 1/3 innings, but without a strikeout.
–CF Austin Jackson appears comfortable batting down in the order — he’s been a hot hitter all spring — and that may lead to more stolen bases this season. Jackson, bothered by a hamstring injury in mid-year, swiped only eight bases a year ago. Some of that was due to hitting above 3B (now 1B) Miguel Cabrera, when he was not inclined to steal because it would open up a base to walk the cleanup man. “You’ve got one of the greatest hitters hitting behind you,” Jackson said. “You’re in scoring position if you can get on base.” Hitting behind cleanup man DH Victor Martinez, or in the sixth spot, means Jackson can feel free to attempt a steal any time he likes. “Brad (manager Ausmus) really wants to bring that to the team,” Jackson said. “That definitely eliminates the fear of getting thrown out.”
–RHP Evan Reed might be out of options but he is clearly not out of chances. Reed has enhanced his opportunity to be one of Detroit’s relievers with a strong Spring Training, which he needed because the Tigers can’t get him to the minors without putting him through waivers. “His offspeed stuff has improved big-time over the last year,” C Alex Avila said. “He’s throwing great this spring. And it’s hard not to like 96, 97 (mph), especially when he’s throwing strikes.” Reed would not get through waivers after having an often-impressive 2013 season in limited time with Detroit. “I feel great, man. I feel very confident every time I take the mound right now,” Reed, 28, said recently. “I know every time I go out there, I’m getting evaluated, so I make the most of every opportunity. I’ve been around long enough where I know every day I have to prove myself. … You can’t think of it as, like, ‘I can’t fail today.’ You have to think of it as, ‘I’m going to make the most of this opportunity today.’” “He’s thrown really well,” manager Brad Ausmus said. “He’s been impressive.”
–LF Rajai Davis may get more playing time in left with the injury and subsequent surgery on LF Andy Dirks’ back but Detroit likes him more as a platoon player. “I’m not locked into it, but probably if I had to choose today, I’d lean that direction,” manager Brad Ausmus said recently when asked if he still sees Davis as a platoon guy. “That doesn’t mean he can’t earn his way into more playing time with us. We’ve gotta fill that position somehow. And if Rajai proves he can play against any starting pitcher, then he’ll play if he helps us win.” Davis is a .300 hitter against lefties but close to .260 against right-handers over his eight-year career. His on-base differential is even greater. Not many teams have thrown lefties against Detroit through the first half of Spring Training and he’s hit well against the right-handers he’s seen. “Again, it’s spring training,” Ausmus said. “With a guy like him, he’s got a little bit of history that you can lean on. You’d probably be more apt to look at that.”
–SS Eugenio Suarez is showing the Tigers he would be a capable alternative if SS Jose Iglesias isn’t far enough along in his recovery from shin splints to open the season with Detroit. He hasn’t hit overly well but Suarez has shown enough glove and is already on the club’s 40-man roster, which would make it easy to have him play short should Iglesias not be quite ready. “You’d like him to have more seasoning, just get more at-bats,” manager Brad Ausmus said Suarez. “He shows power at times. He’s got the ability to really extend through the ball, which can give the baseball carry. I think he’s learning not only his swing, but I think he’s got to learn how to build some consistency into that swing and not try to do too much with the baseball when it’s being thrown to him.” 2B/SS Hernan Perez is considered more of a second baseman and none of the potential stopgap replacements is going to hit a lot. Suarez is “pretty young, but he carries himself pretty well defensively in the field,” Ausmus said. “He doesn’t look like he’s rattled or intimidated by major league camp or major league hitters. “I want him to get more at-bats and more innings. He’s opened some eyes. … If Iglesias isn’t back, we have to have some type of answer at shortstop.”
QUOTE TO NOTE: “Ideally, you’d like to get him in the neighborhood of 50 (at-bats). With that being said, we could send him over to minor league camp and have him lead off every inning for five straight innings. But ideally right around 50. It’s not necessarily a hard number, but it’s kind of a ballpark figure. He certainly needs at-bats and, how many does he have now? Four? He’s got four at-bats. Four’s definitely not enough.” — Detroit manager Brad Ausmus on how much game time SS Jose Iglesias would need to be ready for the regular season. Iglesias entered the weekend having played just one spring game before being sidelined by shin splints.