OT - Andy Dirks out 12 weeks after needing back surgery
Unfortunate setback given this year's expectations, although he was probably the most dispensable of any starter (even though he was platooning with Davis). Hopefully speedy recovery.
http://www.freep.com/article/20140304/SPORTS02/303040122/andy-dirks-det…
Davis seems like a guy who would play best if Ausmus only used him in the right spots (only batting against lefties, pinch-running at the right times, etc.) Hope he can make for a good every day player. Don Kelly simply doesn't cut it and I'm embarrassed he is still on the roster.
all you want, but good teams need the versatility that a good utility ballplayer like Don Kelly brings. He can play practically every position on the diamond, is an average-to-plus defender in several of those positions, and has decent speed and good base-running instincts. And while he's never going to be anything great with the bat, he's a better contact hitter than Brandon Inge, the man who used to have the role Kelly fills now. Injuries happen to starters over a 162-game season, so would you rather call up a minor leaguer and have him start over Kelly, who knows the pressure of being a Major-leaguer?
Face it, if he were better with the bat, he wouldn't be a career utility guy.
You simply don't have enough roster spots to have a solid back-up available that specializes in just one or two positions. Pitchers take up nearly half the roster (what do most teams carry, 11 or 12 these days?), which leaves just 13-14 spots at most for position guys. 8 of those roster spots go to starting position players, one to a back-up catcher, another to a 4th outfielder, and suddenly you're looking at the last 3 spots on the bench.
Complain all you want about him, but give me some names of potential upgrades over Kelly at the utility spot...
Hopefully he has a speedy recovery. I had high hopes for a bounceback year from Dirks.
Wow, this is surprising. He looked fine over the weekend.
Sign Kendry Morales to play 1st, move Miggy back to 3B, move Castellanos back to LF?!
/s
Our defense should be much improved this year with the new infield configuration. I think Davis will be servicable out in left field and should give us some great speed lower in the lineup.
Honestly, I prefer Rajai Davis in left over Dirks, so this isn't the end of the world. He may not have the best BA, but he makes you pay when he gets on base. Still, it would've been nice to start off the season with those two playing the matchups, but I think Davis will make for a decent everyday LF until we're back to full strength. Here's to a speedy and thorough recovery!
Rajai Davis is .228/.273/.321 career against righties (Dirks .260/.327/.371). That is NOT an everyday player. His value comes through hitting against lefties and his speed on the bases.
Rajai Davis hitting for 3 months against righties would be a disaster. Someone in the organization needs to step up or Dombrowski's' gonna have to go out and make a trade, otherwise left field is not going to be pretty.
If Davis plays every day he has a good chance to be the worst (every-day) LF in all of MLB.
I can't see any trade happening. Don "Giraffe" Kelly and Lombo...however you spell it will have to step up and get some time in left if Rajai lives up to his reputation against righties. Maybe it might be worth considering shuffling around the infield as needed to get Castellanos back at LF...
within the past few days.
From a roster standpoint, I dare say we should be OK, but Dirks can and does contribute when he is in there, so it is a blow. That's no way to start a season, and I am sure it is certainly not how he envisioned it. Hopefully, the surgery goes well and the recovery is full and he gets back out there as soon as possible.
With Dirks, Avila, and Iglesias hurt already, that's 1/3 of the expected everyday starters out with boo boos.
Bring back Bobby Higginson
the chemical enhancement?
I think Pierre is still unsigned. He isn't a TON better than Davis and is old, but his career numbers vs RHP are at least tolerable: .294/.339/.369. He plays good defense and can still run, but has a noodle arm. I be the Tigers could get him pretty cheap at this point if he is really still unsigned.
No thanks, there has to be somebody out there who is under the age of 52 that is MLB ready.
rested and ready and...
oh, you said under 52.
Never mind.
but this list of FA's is ugly.
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions/free-agents/position?&_1:col_1=4
And I think our farm system is empty.
They can wait till teams have to cut down their rosters to see who's available. Maybe a prospect will step up by then.