QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, KUDOS & CONCERNS

By:  Holly Horning & Kurt Snyder

As we bide our time waiting for the regular season to get kicked off, there are still plenty of issues to chew on.

Saturday’s segment is a day to touch on as many issues as possible. Let’s see what Holly and Kurt have on their minds this week. They don’t share their Saturday topics and it’s only for the readers’ benefit. So, expect a wide array of thoughts.

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HOLLY

COMMENT

Last year’s incident with Adam LaRoche quitting his team over not allowing his son into the clubhouse has set off debate and a chain reaction among other clubs. It appears that enough players are not comfortable with having children in the clubhouse and owners are now responding to their requests based upon December’s newest labor agreement – including Chris Ilitch. The Tigers now have a revised policy and VMart will be none too happy that his son, Victor Jose, will no longer be a presence.

KUDOS

After his impressive stint as the USA’s manager in the WBC, Jim Leyland may finally be leaving Detroit after this season. Joe Torre, MLB’s Chief Baseball Officer and long-time friend of Leyland, was the one who convinced JL to run the USA team. Now that the WBC is growing in popularity, Torre wants him to oversee the development and growth, as well as help solve the issues of concern, as MLB looks to further expand interest in baseball worldwide.

CONCERN

It’s happening again as the Tigers keep offering shelter to former players and managers. Several weeks ago, Don Kelly returned to the team as a pro scout and assistant to player development. And this week, after teams began cutting rosters in earnest, both Joba Chamberlain and Ryan Rayburn are returning to the Tigers as minor league coaches. Could Brandon Inge be far behind?

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KURT

COMMENT

We all agonized together over the dilemma that the Tigers have had all spring deciding who would replace Cameron Maybin in centerfield – the candidates were all well-documented. But we are now finding out that Avila and Ausmus actually discussed the potential of an occasional platoon with Cabrera and Castellanos at third base. This unique but equally disturbing idea would allow Castellanos, with his improved quickness and previous (albeit brief) experience in the outfield, to be yet another player to help bring some stability to the centerfield position.

COMMENT

If you are like me, there is a fair amount of concern with KRod’s reduced fastball velocity heading into the regular season. With the fastball not reaching past 86 mph over his last 2 outings, pitching coach Rich Dubee decided to have him throw a bullpen session so he could try a few knuckle balls; something he had been experimenting with earlier in the spring. Even more unnerving was the report on Twitter that they were being clocked at an incredible 88 mph!

CONCERN

I have to say I am both surprised and impressed that the Tigers did not let salary dictate their roster decisions when it came to Anibal Sanchez and Mike Pelfrey. But apparently moving Sanchez to the bullpen does come with an agreement that has the potential to cause a rift within the ranks of the bullpen. Apparently, in the agreement to move to the bullpen, Anibal will be allowed to sit in the dugout with the starting pitchers, moving only to the pen when it is anticipated that he will be needed.

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Totally Tigers presents the best articles, videos, pictures and radio/tv interviews for the most relevent news on the Tigers not found easily or locally.  We do all the work for you and bring you the latest news as it breaks.  And we’ll always leave you thinking.  Read us in the morning and get updates on the latest news throughout the day on Twitter.

–      Tons of video on all the top Tigers

–      In the batting cage with Nick(olas)

–      More CF shopping rumors

–      Good news on Bruce Rondon

–      Jones imitating Kinsler

–      Updates on all the news and injuries hours before the newspapers report it

–      JV’s killer commercial

–      What JV and Lolich have in common

–      The New Kaline mural

–      Bat flips have been replaced with ????

–      McCann’s interview evaluating all the young pitching talent