Bullpen news

[gunderdood.livejournal.com]

First off - great showing today Tigers bullpen! A lot of BP news has surfaced over the past few days, so I figured I'd condense it for those who hadn't heard it all yet.

Cruceta's visa was approved a couple days ago. He was able to pick it up Thursday and then travel, though I'm not sure when he's supposed to be here.

Rapada's tendinitis is almost gone, and he was called up. He's taking the place of Bazardo who is out of options.

Apparently unhappy he wasn't the lefty to get the call up, Fultz asked for an unconditional release just two weeks after the Tigers signed him. The Tigers granted his request.

Rodney had another good BP session. No return is projected yet, however, another article said on the 10th that the organization should know within a couple of days. His next session is Monday.

Mcbride is getting Tommy John's.

The Tigers signed lefty Casey Fossom to a minor league contract with the Mud Hens.

So, in short, we have added to our available players Cruceta, Rapada, and Fossum. We lost Bazardo (assuming he doesn't clear wavers, or pack for somewhere else), Fultz and McBride (for the season). Also, we hopefully will have a return date for Rodney soon.

Comments

[dodgers-pwn.livejournal.com]

nice work, definitely a lot more than I was able to track.

thoughts:
Cruceta needs to get ready in extended spring training, but it sounds like the scouts are high on his stuff and that we might see him sooner rather than later. Also, Miner is thought to be on the chopping block due to his having an option left.

I don't have any faith in the slightest in Rapada, but who knows. Still wish they hadn't ditched Byrdak though. I'm surprised they dumped Bazardo so quickly. I thought he had a lot of potential.

Fultz sucks, but I'm still surprised they opted for Rapada over him. This team is pretty low on veteran bullpen arms. Oh well, not going to miss much.

I'd love to see Rodney come back and get some big time innings. He's still got all the tools to be a formidable arm. As far as McBride, eh, if he needs it, he needs it. Nothing else to say about that.

Casey Fossum really doesn't have anything left. I'd hate to see him up here, honestly.

[gunderdood.livejournal.com]

I'm definitely excited to see what Cruceta can offer. Everything I heard made him sound like the surest lock for a spot outside the class of '07. Hadn't heard the Miner stuff, thanks.

Why don't you like Rapada. If he can replicate it looks like he'll be a good situational lefty - though please let us never use him against righties (http://www.minorleaguesplits.com/cgi-bin/pl.cgi?pl=449060&tm=IowPCL&bp=p). I was surprised Bazardo was out of options. Maybe they're hoping he'll clear waivers and they can outright him.

I've heard a lot of hate piled on Fultz from Indian's fans - that he was never the same after his surgery. Sure his spring training numbers blew, but so did Byrdak's, and he had an ERA of 4.24 (about career avg) coming back from his injury, but, well, that's better than nothing in our system certainly. Is there a particular reason for your dislike that I've missed? I've barely looked at the guy.

And... as far as Casey Fossum - did he really ever have anything to begin with?

[dodgers-pwn.livejournal.com]

I just haven't seen a lot of encouraging things, stuff-wise, out of Rapada. Certainly Tigers scouts know a lot more about it than I do, so hopefully I'll be proven wrong.

Fultz is one of those guys whose ERA is misleading cause he lets in a lot of inherited runners. He had an ERA in the 2s last year but just about everyone I've talked to agrees that he's not nearly that effective. I'm still surprised he didn't get a shot with the big club this year, however.

[thecrazedhermit.livejournal.com]

Thanks for that, really helpful!

[gunderdood.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I totally thought he had options left - was really surprised by that one. Hopefully he clears waivers.

[cnn-newsroom.livejournal.com]

So THIS is what you were doing last night instead of being in bed with moi. ;)