Jacque Jones DFA’d
posted in 2008 season, roster moves |Yup, that’s a pretty drastic start.
Danny Knobler is reporting that the Tigers designated for assignment Jacque Jones and recalled OF Matt Joyce from AAA Toledo.
Jones, as anyone who watched the Tigers knows, wasn’t cutting it. He was a left handed batter. That’s about all you can say about him. His arm was inconsistent in left field. He did show a lot of effort, running himself into the fans in a painful looking attempt at a foul ball. That deserves praise. But he just wasn’t helping the team all that much.
This allows the Tigers to think with some flexibility about moving Gary Sheffield to the outfield, putting Carlos Guillen at DH and putting Brandon Inge at third base, for instance. That’s a popular opinion among Tigers fans though I’m not sure I agree with putting Gary Sheffield in left field. Besides, the Tigers didn’t call up a catcher, so I don’t think we’ll be seeing Brandon Inge at third base for good quite yet either.
I’m disappointed Clete Thomas didn’t get called back up. I loved his defense and he could hit fine. However, Joyce is a fellow left-handed batter.
23-year-old Joyce is batting .299 AVG, .367 on-base percentage and .536 slugging according to First Inning.com. (Updated 4:19)
In April, Matt at my favorite Tigers minor league blog, Take 75 North, opined:
Matt Joyce could be a very valuable outfielder as a left-handed power bat who plays a good outfield.
Matt also profiled Joyce further over the winter. (Update 4:25)
Sphere ItThe big jump in strikeouts is a little worrisome, but if he can keep up with the walks and the power, his defense in the outfield (voted Eastern League’s Best Defensive Outfielder by Baseball America) should make him a very useful player for the Tigers. He’ll be one of the reasons I go to watch the Mud Hens in 2008.
