Earlier I found myself compelled to write a FanPost over at Royals Review after a conversation about Brian Cashman died off. If you feel so compelled and haven’t already read it, it is here. Seeing as though I’ve already written one 1,300+ word baseball piece today (I’ve been writing all of these on Sunday night), I don’t anticipate this entry being especially long.
On Thursday afternoon, the Royals signed Pedro Feliz …

Robbie Aviles – Right-handed PitcherBorn: 12/17/1991 – Height: 6’4” – Weight: 195 – Bats: Left – Throws: Right

(Photo: LoHud.com)

History: The Indians selected Aviles in the 7th round of the 2010 Draft out of Suffern High School (NY). The Indians signed him for $150,000 which was much lower than the bonus he was originally anticipated to command in the draft because he tore ligaments in his elbow just days before the draft. …

Since 1995 the number of pitchers who saw big league action at age 19 or 20 has not been large.  We average no more than 3 such rookies each year.  What this means, in part, is less that Rick Porcello is in ‘elite’ company as it does that Rick Porcello is hard to find comparables for.  We understand the progression of pitchers in normal circumstances a bit better, …

Since 1995 the number of pitchers who saw big league action at age 19 or 20 has not been large.  We average no more than 3 such rookies each year.  What this means, in part, is less that Rick Porcello is in ‘elite’ company as it does that Rick Porcello is hard to find comparables for.  We understand the progression of pitchers in normal circumstances a bit better, …

Tom Gage recently published an article for the Detroit News arguing that Rick Porcello is 2011′s most important Tiger. While we might split hairs over the (perhaps) equal importance of Jhonny Peralta‘s glove or Austin Jackson‘s strikeouts, I doubt you’ll find anyone around here that downright disagrees. You don’t win division crowns because your studs do what’s expected of them (unless you were expected to …

The Indians have had discussions with
Tigers free agent pitcher Jeremy Bonderman
(Photo: AP)

Some news, notes, and thoughts from my Tribe notebook…
Indians still searching for veteran pitcher
While pitchers and catchers report in just eight days, the Indians are still doing some last minute bargain hunting in free agency to fill an offseason need to add a veteran starting pitcher.
Rumors swirled earlier in the week that they were close to signing right-hander Jeremy …

Phil Coke seems all set to join the Tigers starting rotation this spring, but does he “have what it takes” to be a successful starter? I’m not sure anyone can know that answer for sure, but we can look at how Coke attacks hitters to get an idea of what he’ll need to do in order to find that success.
We can use pitch selection data (available on FanGraphs) to …

Jess Todd – Right-handed PitcherBorn: 04/20/1986 – Height: 5’11” – Weight: 210 – Bats: Right – Throws: Right

(Photo: Tony Lastoria)

History: Todd was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2nd round of the 2007 Draft out of the University of Arkansas. The Indians acquired him in July of 2009 from the Cardinals as the player to be named in the Mark DeRosa trade. He was the Cardinals Minor League …

Pre-order your copy today

As I mentioned earlier, the 2011 Maple Street Press Tigers Annual will hit newsstands on March 1. Kurt Mensching of Bless You Boys fame headed up the project and he has revealed the table of contents.

This project features two pieces authored by yours truly as well as one from our own Matt Snyder. You’ll also find tons of minor league features, prospect rankings by the Bless You Boys …

Ezequiel Carrera – OutfielderBorn: 06/11/1987 – Height: 5’10” – Weight: 185 – Bats: Left – Throws: Left

(Photo: Tony Lastoria)

History: Carrera was signed by the New York Mets as an undrafted free agent out of Venezuela in April of 2005. In December of 2008 he was traded by the Mets to the Seattle Mariners as part of a nine player deal that sent reliever J.J. Putz from the Mariners to the …

“I always turn to the sports pages first, which records man’s accomplishments. The front page has nothing but man’s failures.” – Earl Warren
Today marks my one year anniversary with the FanSided Network and as the lead writer for this site. I was a bit of an internet nomad before coming “home” for the first time on February 3, 2010.
I had launched two independent blogs, written for a couple of random sites. I even spent …

This is all sorts of wonderful with this ice, ya know?
[WHAT KIND OF NICKNAME CAN I GET OUT OF BONDERMAN?!]
Well, we’ve gone all this time without signing a starting pitcher to a minor league deal. I mean, I figure Anthony Reyes is enough fodder for us.
But it looks like the Indians are trying hard to get one in the fold.
Bastian says the Indians are close to an agreement with Jeremy …

Vinnie Pestano – Right-handed PitcherBorn: 02/20/1985 – Height: 6’0” – Weight: 205 – Bats: Right – Throws: Right

(Photo: Ken Carr)

History: Pestano was selected by the Indians in the 20th round of the 2006 Draft out of Cal-State Fullerton. He was one of the top relief prospects in the country going into the 2006 Draft, but a serious elbow injury early in the season sidelined him. The Indians drafted him even …

OK Tigers fans, who is your most hated team? Is it the evil empire of the New York Yankees? Those pesky Minnesota Twins? Both would be good answers, however one will become an ally for the next couple weeks.
Spring Training is just around the corner but we have to keep those competitive juices back for a little longer for a collaborative project with the other AL Central FanSided …

Tony Dischler – Right-handed PitcherBorn: 03/06/1989 – Height: 6’3” – Weight: 198 – Bats: Right – Throws: Right

(Photo: Lianna Holub)

History: Dischler was selected by the Indians in the 23rd round of the 2010 Draft out of Louisiana State University-Eunice Junior College. As a draft eligible sophomore he had a commitment to attend Louisiana-Lafayette next year, but chose to sign with the Indians for $255,000. He transferred to LSU-Eunice from Louisiana-Monroe …

3. Miguel Sano, Third Base, 17 years old
(courtesy twinsdigest.com)
2010 stats: .291/.338/.473 with the GCL Twins (Rookie)Last year’s rank: 10Acquired: Signed out of the Dominican Republic for $3.15 million in September of 2009.
Is there ever an instance where a team’s #3 ranked prospect is considered under-rated? Besides the Brewers system of course, which may not have 3 quality prospects. I submit the case of Miguel Sano. Just ask a Twins fan …

3. Miguel Sano, Third Base, 17 years old
(courtesy twinsdigest.com)
2010 stats: .291/.338/.473 with the GCL Twins (Rookie)Last year’s rank: 10Acquired: Signed out of the Dominican Republic for $3.15 million in September of 2009.
Is there ever an instance where a team’s #3 ranked prospect is considered under-rated? Besides the Brewers system of course, which may not have 3 quality prospects. I submit the case of Miguel Sano. Just ask a Twins fan …

Such is life during the hot stove season I suppose, but mere hours after I waxed philosophical about the Tigers odds of re-signing Jeremy Bonderman, Tom Gage dropped this nugget today. Bonderman will not be returning to Detroit.
Gage’s post today talks about his recent conversation with Dave Dombrowski, who said “We are not signing Jeremy Bonderman.” Gage took that to mean that Bonderman has (or will) come to an agreement …

Word filtered out late yesterday afternoon that the New York Yankees have signed former Tigers hurler Freddy Garcia to a minor league contract. The Yankees have been seeking low cost rotation depth in hopes that one of their reclamation projects can turn into a reliable starter in the Bronx this year.
Their rotation begins with perennial Cy Young candidate CC Sabathia, but it goes south in a hurry from …

Word filtered out late yesterday afternoon that the New York Yankees have signed former Tigers hurler Freddy Garcia to a minor league contract. The Yankees have been seeking low cost rotation depth in hopes that one of their reclamation projects can turn into a reliable starter in the Bronx this year.
Their rotation begins with perennial Cy Young candidate CC Sabathia, but it goes south in a hurry from …