FIVE FOR FRIDAY

/ totallytigersblog

by Holly Horning

There are less than 2 weeks left until Opening Day and opinions about the Tigers still remaining in camp are starting to gel.  For most of these players, we’re seeing enough of them to make educated decisions about their value on the roster.

Many of the positions have already been determined but there are still legitimate battles going on in starting pitching, the bullpen, infield and outfield.  But there are still a number of players on the cusp of making the roster.  It’s not a given that someone who made it last year will make it again this year due to increased competition.

So which of those players right on the edge am I rooting for to make the roster for Opening Day?  I’ve got my top 5 who are not locks – but should be.

1. ALEX FAEDO – He completely reinvented himself during the off-season and it shows.  He’s got the best WHIP after Tarik Skubal.  Oh, and more K’s than any other pitcher in camp.

2. ANDY IBANEZ – He’s a plus defender and only the best hitter in Lakeland so far.  The Tigers are going to need both his bat and glove this year, esp. in the iffy infield.

3. RYAN KREIDLER – He was a plus defender back in 2022 (derailed in 2023 w/2 surgeries) and hitting .286/.483/.429/.911 this spring.  I simply don’t see the Tigers playing Javy Baez much in 2024 given his continued decline and even more shocking spring training.  Kreidler offers both a solid glove and bat.

4. REESE OLSON – He’s the baby-faced assassin.  After 1 bad outing, he’s been on fire and locating his pitches as well as Tarik Skubal. Unlike Casey Mize, there’s no rust to knock off.

5. MATT MANNING – He’s in the middle of refining his delivery and arsenal. His overall stats are currently on the higher side but he’s got one of the best WHIPs out of all the starting pitchers.  After Maeda and Flaherty, he’s got more of a veteran presence than any other SP which is desperately needed given that the rest of the starting rotation is very inexperienced.

Is there another player on the verge of making/not making the roster that you’d like to see at Comerica on Opening Day?

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11 thoughts on “FIVE FOR FRIDAY”

  2. I would add Zach McKinstry, who is hitting .300 in spring training with an OPS of 1.000.  If the Tigers can put together some wins in April and show some promise early on, I can’t see them playing Baez regularly if he kills rallies. With McKinstry, Kreidler, and Ibanez able to play 3B or SS among the three of them, I think we could package Baez and Torkelson in a trade (Torkelson being the sweetener to make the trade more appealing).

    Liked by 4 people

    • Remember that McKinstry had a very good regular season beginning last year and then stopped hitting, so I wouldn’t make any firm conclusions based on a few weeks of spring training.

      Liked by 5 people

  3. Both Eddys Leonard and Wenzeel Perez (both on the 40 man) should have made the team. Justin-Henry Malloy and Justice Bigbe should made the team but that would mean roster cuts of guys not able to be transferred to Toledo because they are out of options..Some of the relievers like Drew Anderson should take a spot ifVest or Diaz had options left.

    Liked by 2 people

  4. Things are busy at the office so I haven’t watched much of Spring Training but I have followed box scores and do my reading. A week or 2 ago I saw that Olson had an outing where he threw 19 pitches and 19 strikes. That is impressive.

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    • A few years ago Fetter, when he was still at U of M, spoke at a local SABR meeting, so I was pleased when they brought him on. He seemed to be able to think about what he was doing and he mentioned several things he’d changed based on experience. And the results are showing.

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  6. I haven’t seen Casey Mize mentioned yet. He has done everything necessary to open the season in Detroit. Some excellent pitching performers are going to be left out next week…cool!

    Liked by 2 people

  8. Those 5 are most interesting but the position 13 is done with 9 starters, Zach, Andy, Carson and 4th outfielder, Vierling. Pitching is where it gets exciting because Joey and Diaz are out of options and probably wouldn’t make it through waivers. Some starter with options will start for the Hens be it Matt, Olson or Casey.

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  9. Kreidler is the “we’ve run out of ideas how to fix Javy Baez” first option in Toledo. The Tigers will give their $98M short-of-power, short-of-walks, too-many-whiffs shortstop every opportunity in at least April and probably May to show any signs of life. But the clock is definitely ticking loudly.

    Liked by 1 person

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