Trots
07-24-2003, 07:11 PM
Bobby is close to being ready to play, but doesn't care for the sound of a little practice with the MudHens first. I appreciate Higgy's desire to play, but for some reason this just annoys me.
Higginson balks at time in Toledo
By Tom Gage / The Detroit News
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CLEVELAND -- They're both stubborn. They also both think they are right.
So when the time comes -- and it's coming soon for Manager Alan Trammell and outfielder Bobby Higginson -- that a decision has to be made about whether Higginson will first go to Toledo for an injury rehabilitation assignment before he rejoins the Tigers, it's not going to be a unanimous one.
In fact, it looks like they might butt heads.
Higginson is close to feeling strong enough to come off the disabled list. It could happen as early as Friday if he feels fine after a session of running the bases today. He's been on the DL since June 29 because of a pulled left hamstring, but it had been bothering him long before that. From May 26 until the day he went on the DL, Higginson hit .141 (13-for-92).
"I want to come back when I'm able to run without dragging my leg along," he said. "That's what I was doing and my stride wasn't right because of it. The strength level might not be the same as it is in my other leg, but it's strong enough where I can do what I'm capable of doing.
"I'm tired of cheerleading. I'm going to put my pompons down. If it feels good on Friday, let's go ahead and play."
Trammell said he will try to impress upon Higginson why it would be smart for him to play a few games with Toledo before he rejoins the Tigers. Higginson, however, doesn't have to accept such an assignment if he doesn't want to, and it certainly sounds like he doesn't want to.
"We haven't talked about that yet," Trammell said, "but I know, basically from even before, how he's inclined. Now that we're getting to this point, where it's very close, I think it's time to have a little discussion."
That might be all it turns out to be -- a "little" discussion. Higginson says he isn't planning on going to Toledo or on being the designated hitter: "If I'm going to play, I'm going to be in the field."
For the Tigers, though, not the Mud Hens. Unless Trammell prevails.
"I think a few days (in Toledo) would be best," Trammell said. "For his sake and ours. It's the player's right in this one, though. He will have the final say."
And if that final say goes against what Trammell wanted? No problem, Trammell said. "I'd throw him right back into the fire," he said. "I'd put him right back in the outfield."
Higginson balks at time in Toledo
By Tom Gage / The Detroit News
Comment on this story
Send this story to a friend
Get Home Delivery
CLEVELAND -- They're both stubborn. They also both think they are right.
So when the time comes -- and it's coming soon for Manager Alan Trammell and outfielder Bobby Higginson -- that a decision has to be made about whether Higginson will first go to Toledo for an injury rehabilitation assignment before he rejoins the Tigers, it's not going to be a unanimous one.
In fact, it looks like they might butt heads.
Higginson is close to feeling strong enough to come off the disabled list. It could happen as early as Friday if he feels fine after a session of running the bases today. He's been on the DL since June 29 because of a pulled left hamstring, but it had been bothering him long before that. From May 26 until the day he went on the DL, Higginson hit .141 (13-for-92).
"I want to come back when I'm able to run without dragging my leg along," he said. "That's what I was doing and my stride wasn't right because of it. The strength level might not be the same as it is in my other leg, but it's strong enough where I can do what I'm capable of doing.
"I'm tired of cheerleading. I'm going to put my pompons down. If it feels good on Friday, let's go ahead and play."
Trammell said he will try to impress upon Higginson why it would be smart for him to play a few games with Toledo before he rejoins the Tigers. Higginson, however, doesn't have to accept such an assignment if he doesn't want to, and it certainly sounds like he doesn't want to.
"We haven't talked about that yet," Trammell said, "but I know, basically from even before, how he's inclined. Now that we're getting to this point, where it's very close, I think it's time to have a little discussion."
That might be all it turns out to be -- a "little" discussion. Higginson says he isn't planning on going to Toledo or on being the designated hitter: "If I'm going to play, I'm going to be in the field."
For the Tigers, though, not the Mud Hens. Unless Trammell prevails.
"I think a few days (in Toledo) would be best," Trammell said. "For his sake and ours. It's the player's right in this one, though. He will have the final say."
And if that final say goes against what Trammell wanted? No problem, Trammell said. "I'd throw him right back into the fire," he said. "I'd put him right back in the outfield."