Tigers#1
09-28-2006, 02:24 PM
Shelton probable for playoff roster
Thursday, September 28, 2006
By Danny Knobler
DETROIT - Mike Maroth isn’t on the Detroit Tigers’ playoff roster, but Chris Shelton very likely will be.
Maroth’s exclusion makes sense, because the left-hander hasn’t been effective since returning from left elbow surgery. Shelton’s inclusion makes some sense, too, even though he has been ineffective at the plate since returning from Triple-A Toledo.
Shelton was in the Tiger lineup Wednesday night against Toronto left-hander Ted Lilly, but he struck out in both of his at-bats in the Tigers’ 7-4 loss. Since he was recalled from Toledo on Sept. 2, Shelton is 4-for-18 overall, but more disturbingly, he’s 1-for-9 with five strikeouts against left-handed hitters.
“It’s got to be better than that,” manager Jim Leyland said Wednesday night. “That’s just the way it is.”
Wednesday afternoon, Leyland called Shelton probable for the playoff roster, because the Tigers would like to have another right-handed bat to play against either New York left-hander Randy Johnson or Oakland lefty Barry Zito. Left-handed hitters are hitting just .194 against Johnson, and Sean Casey, the Tigers’ regular first baseman, is a left-handed hitter.
Shelton has two hits in four career at-bats against Johnson, and one of them was a home run.
The other reason that Shelton probably gets the final position player spot on the playoff roster is that the other option is utility infielder Ramon Santiago. The Tigers will already be carrying two other utility infielders, Omar Infante and Neifi Perez.
Leyland hasn’t set the roster yet, but he suggested Wednesday that it was almost done. The one spot that remains somewhat up in the air is for the 14th pitcher, with Zach Miner and Andrew Miller the two candidates. Miller’s inability to throw strikes to left-handed hitters would suggest that the Tigers will go with Miner, who pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief Wednesday night.
Leyland did tell several players that they won’t be on the roster, including Maroth, who will still travel with the team. He told pitcher Jordan Tata and outfielder Brent Clevlen that they will leave Sunday to go to the Arizona Fall League, and he told catcher Mike Rabelo, pitcher Chad Durbin, infielder Kevin Hooper and first baseman Matt Stairs (who isn’t eligible to be on the playoff roster) that they won’t be traveling with the team in the playoffs.
“It’s not really a party,” Leyland said. “We’re going to work. . . . It doesn’t make sense (to carry all the extra players), because it clutters things up for no reason.”
*****
Having right-handed hitters in the lineup wouldn’t seem to matter as much against Zito as against Johnson. Lefties are actually hitting better than right-handers against Zito this year, .260 to .255. . . . With Lilly starting for the Blue Jays, Leyland had Placido Polanco lead off, and batted Curtis Granderson eighth. He said that Granderson will play against both right-handers and left-handers in the playoffs, but that he likely won’t lead off against lefties. . . . Leyland had Infante play two innings in center field Wednesday night, his first action in the outfield since July 26. With Clevlen not on the playoff roster, Infante could be needed in the outfield if the Tigers pinch-hit for Granderson, as they did Wednesday. . . . Of the career-high four home runs allowed by Nate Robertson Wednesday night, one was hit by Bengie Molina and another by Aaron Hill. That should come as no surprise, because Molina is now 5-for-9 against Robertson, with three homers and a double, while Hill is 6-for-7, with a homer and a double. . . . The Tigers really do owe thanks to the Kansas City Royals, who beat Minnesota Wednesday night to keep the Tigers’ division lead at one game. The Royals are 1-14 against the Tigers (with three more games this weekend). Meanwhile, Kansas City has seven wins over the Twins, and eight against the Chicago White Sox. . . . The Tigers announced that tickets for the American League Championship Series (the second round of the playoffs) will go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday, at tigers.com or by phone at 248-25-TIGER. As they did in the first round, the Tigers are limiting tickets to six per customer. The Tigers also said that they’ll put a few more Division Series tickets on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, via the same outlets.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
By Danny Knobler
DETROIT - Mike Maroth isn’t on the Detroit Tigers’ playoff roster, but Chris Shelton very likely will be.
Maroth’s exclusion makes sense, because the left-hander hasn’t been effective since returning from left elbow surgery. Shelton’s inclusion makes some sense, too, even though he has been ineffective at the plate since returning from Triple-A Toledo.
Shelton was in the Tiger lineup Wednesday night against Toronto left-hander Ted Lilly, but he struck out in both of his at-bats in the Tigers’ 7-4 loss. Since he was recalled from Toledo on Sept. 2, Shelton is 4-for-18 overall, but more disturbingly, he’s 1-for-9 with five strikeouts against left-handed hitters.
“It’s got to be better than that,” manager Jim Leyland said Wednesday night. “That’s just the way it is.”
Wednesday afternoon, Leyland called Shelton probable for the playoff roster, because the Tigers would like to have another right-handed bat to play against either New York left-hander Randy Johnson or Oakland lefty Barry Zito. Left-handed hitters are hitting just .194 against Johnson, and Sean Casey, the Tigers’ regular first baseman, is a left-handed hitter.
Shelton has two hits in four career at-bats against Johnson, and one of them was a home run.
The other reason that Shelton probably gets the final position player spot on the playoff roster is that the other option is utility infielder Ramon Santiago. The Tigers will already be carrying two other utility infielders, Omar Infante and Neifi Perez.
Leyland hasn’t set the roster yet, but he suggested Wednesday that it was almost done. The one spot that remains somewhat up in the air is for the 14th pitcher, with Zach Miner and Andrew Miller the two candidates. Miller’s inability to throw strikes to left-handed hitters would suggest that the Tigers will go with Miner, who pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief Wednesday night.
Leyland did tell several players that they won’t be on the roster, including Maroth, who will still travel with the team. He told pitcher Jordan Tata and outfielder Brent Clevlen that they will leave Sunday to go to the Arizona Fall League, and he told catcher Mike Rabelo, pitcher Chad Durbin, infielder Kevin Hooper and first baseman Matt Stairs (who isn’t eligible to be on the playoff roster) that they won’t be traveling with the team in the playoffs.
“It’s not really a party,” Leyland said. “We’re going to work. . . . It doesn’t make sense (to carry all the extra players), because it clutters things up for no reason.”
*****
Having right-handed hitters in the lineup wouldn’t seem to matter as much against Zito as against Johnson. Lefties are actually hitting better than right-handers against Zito this year, .260 to .255. . . . With Lilly starting for the Blue Jays, Leyland had Placido Polanco lead off, and batted Curtis Granderson eighth. He said that Granderson will play against both right-handers and left-handers in the playoffs, but that he likely won’t lead off against lefties. . . . Leyland had Infante play two innings in center field Wednesday night, his first action in the outfield since July 26. With Clevlen not on the playoff roster, Infante could be needed in the outfield if the Tigers pinch-hit for Granderson, as they did Wednesday. . . . Of the career-high four home runs allowed by Nate Robertson Wednesday night, one was hit by Bengie Molina and another by Aaron Hill. That should come as no surprise, because Molina is now 5-for-9 against Robertson, with three homers and a double, while Hill is 6-for-7, with a homer and a double. . . . The Tigers really do owe thanks to the Kansas City Royals, who beat Minnesota Wednesday night to keep the Tigers’ division lead at one game. The Royals are 1-14 against the Tigers (with three more games this weekend). Meanwhile, Kansas City has seven wins over the Twins, and eight against the Chicago White Sox. . . . The Tigers announced that tickets for the American League Championship Series (the second round of the playoffs) will go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday, at tigers.com or by phone at 248-25-TIGER. As they did in the first round, the Tigers are limiting tickets to six per customer. The Tigers also said that they’ll put a few more Division Series tickets on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, via the same outlets.