A couple of announcements that came out today.

1. Virgil Vasquez will officially get the start in the double header tomorrow. (Freep)
2. And promptly be sent back down to Toledo, probably for lefty Tim Byrdak to come back up.
3. Timo Perez was sent back to Toledo. Whew. Nothing against Timo, but I like Ryan Raburn, personally. (Per Jason Beck)
4. Infielder Mike Hessman, having a career year in Triple-A, was called up. (Per Beck)
5. And Hessman will start. (per Knobler, hat tip to Ian)
6. And Matt Wallace of Tigers minor league blog Take 75 North is skeptical.

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Jason Beck first reported late last night Toledo OF Ryan Raburn is reportedly being called up to the Tigers. Raburn (man not typing that ‘y’ is gonna be hard) reported this news himself following a Toledo Mud Hens game. The Tigers haven’t said a word about it yet officially, but John Lowe and Jon Paul Morosi wrote this morning that a Tigers source confirmed it.

However, we’re left out to dry what corresponding move(s) will occur.

The most likely occurrence, it seems to me, is Raburn replaces a position player. The Tigers hardly have the playing time to go around in the outfield as it is, I don’t think they can juggle another too easily. After Craig Monroe’s poor play lately, and the injury that kept him out of the lineup, this seems to be the most popular idea. I don’t think Monroe alone could command enough on the trade market for a stopper relief pitcher, so I’m not going to disagree with those who think he goes to the DL…though he did play yesterday.

Is this a showcase for Raburn then, a legitimate injury to Monroe, or who knows?

Raburn isn’t on the 40-man roster, but he can easily be added by moving someone to the 60-day DL, so that’s not a worry.

Raburn has an OBP of .394 and SLG of .540. His power comes nearly equally against righties and lefties on the mound. He has 17 HR, 3 triples and 21 doubles.

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Just as I thought, Nate Robertson is hurt. The Tigers didn’t disclose what. Just said the mysterious “tired arm.” I don’t know what that means. I have no clue if the Tigers know what that mean, but the last time we heard that Kenny Rogers had surgery for a possibly life-threatening blood clot within days. I’m certainly not saying we’re going to find out Nate has an injury that severe. But I do mean to say, this can pretty much mean anything at all is wrong with him, from light to severe. So who knows. But I’m glad he’s on the DL to find out what’s wrong and rest it.

The good news is Andrew Miller got that call back to Detroit and will start at least twice, depending on the severity of the injury. I always pictured Miller replacing one of the weaker guys at the bottom of the order. But his replacing Robertson is probably not a dropoff at all. Miller pitched great against the Cardinals earlier. If I counted right, he’ll start against the Mets this weekend. Remember, the plan was for Miller to be on the World Series roster if the Mets had taken down the Cardinals in the seventh game of the NLCS, so that is sort of interesting.

In any case, I don’t mean to get excited over an injury to Robertson, but I am tickled — hee hee, like Jim Leyland! — to have Miller back up in the majors.

UPDATE

Long as I’m at it, let me add that Zach Miner also went to the DL, per Danny Knobler:

Rather than go short in the bullpen, the Tigers put Miner on the disabled list. They recalled both Yorman Bazardo and Aquilino Lopez from Triple-A Toledo.

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I thought of using this in a roundup, but I figured I’d just toss it out there right now. Jose Mesa did put the Olde English D on a few more times, but he never got into a game after blowing yet again against the Indians Thursday.

At last, Mesa  is gone. Fernando Rodney will come off the disabled list Tuesday.

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The bullpen is a big problem. That seems to be a popular topic. Todd Jones:

“If we don’t start taking advantage of our opportunities, Dave (Dombrowski) is going to close the door by going with other guys.

“And it’s time for all of us to realize that and understand it and be able to produce. I’m talking about me and everybody.” (Freep)

Whether it’s important contributers getting injured — Joel Zumaya’s finger, Fernando Rodney making a second trip to the DL — important contributers who haven’t duplicated 2006 — Jason Grilli, Wil Ledezma — or a roundup of guys going through the two bullpen positions that remain — Aqualino Lopez, Tim Byrdak, Bobby Seay — the bullpen is shaky at best, awful at worst, during the innings before Jones.

Any visiting Cleveland fans can probably sympathize. It was just a year ago they had solid starting pitching (ERA around 4 if I recall) and similarly strong batting and they were no longer in contention by the time most of us sat down on the beach.

Bullpens are by nature streaky and hard to figure out. But I think we’ve figured out this one is no good and must blown up. Dave Dombrowski must make some big changes, or the Tigers are going to find themselves in an uphill battle the rest of the season. No one should think an ERA above 5 — and the heavy lifters closer to the 6s — is acceptable or an aberration. Many of these guys were slated for Toledo, not a contender. They can’t be expected to pitch for a contender.

Who goes?

Jason Grilli. He just doesn’t have it. Thanks for his service in 2006, but he can’t be carried any more than Chris Shelton could.

Jose Mesa. No brainer.

Wil Ledezma is on the hot seat, but young and has starter potential that makes me not want to just cut strings. I’d rather get something in return.

Bobby Seay or Tim Byrdak. Only one can be a lefty specialist. As is it, there are two specialists and both are used in extended roles that do not benefit them. Both are pretty darn decent, too. I like Byrdak’s strikeout pitch this year, but Seay found good success, too.

By my figuring, that makes 2 or 3 guys who it’s time to ditch. So what are some possibilities?

Promotion from within

The options I’d like to see explored not altogether that different than in the past. For one, you’ve got to get a closer look at Eulogio De La Cruz and his ability to force the ball into the ground. His power pitching comes across as Zumaya-like enough that it brings hope, not desperation. He’s young and he failed as a minor league reliever a few years ago. But now that he’s learned how to pitch, I think the Tigers really have to give a look. Ultimately, he’s going to end up in the pen or starting another team.

Scott Warheit suggests moving Chad Durbin to the bullpen (for his reliability, shockingly) and starting Andrew Miller. On a temporary basis, I’m on board with this. We still have to watch Miller’s innings. Hard to remember, but this is his first year of professional ball. Fortunately, Miller does not need to start all season and give the Tigers 200 innings. He only needs to fill the time until Rogers and Zumaya can step back into their roles. Durbin is an improvement over guys in the bullpen, and Miller is an improvement over Durbin, so I like this.

Free Agents

There’s even some talk of Troy Percival making a comeback. At first I laughed. Now I’m intrigued. Again, that sort of speaks of the desperation of the situation. At least he likes Detroit. I have no idea if he can do the job but Todd Jones said Percy would like to play in Detroit after failing to play for much of his 2 year, $12M contract. He wants to come help. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. Let him try.

Trades

And then there’s the trade route. This may have to be explored. And I have no problem trading young starting pitching for effective bullpen pitching. You want your starters around. But when you consider that by 2009, four of the rotation spots will be held by young guys, that leaves a lot of good, young minor league pitchers switching to the bullpen or being traded. Right now, Eric Gagne is a popular name, as the Texas Rangers continue going nowhere. His injury history scares me away from giving much at all. But as a Rangers salary dump, I wouldn’t be against it. Brad Lidge wants to be a closer, but he’s proven to be a great middle reliever in Houston. He may be on the block. That’s the direction I’d prefer to go, unless the price was too high.

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With Jeremy Bonderman unable to go his scheduled turn Sunay, the Tigers called up Virgil Vasquez from Toledo. I’ve been on that bandwagon for awhile, although I did think Andrew Miller would get a spot start Sunday, Vasquez is the guy I pegged to replace Chad Durbin.

Vasquez has 50 strikeouts in 40 innings, a 4-2 record and 2.88 ERA. His most recent starter against Twins affiliate Rochester, he allowed three runs and struck out nine. He’s had eight, nine, nine and 10 strikeout games already this season.

Sunday’s nationally televised game on ESPN will be the major league debut for the 24-year-old.

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Following the path the Tigers used with Justin Verlander in 2005, Andrew Miller was promoted to AA Erie from high-A Lakeland on Tuesday night. (Hat-tip Jason Beck) Miller is set to make his first start Sunday. His record of 1-4 isn’t all that important, as the Flying Tigers don’t seem to be that good of a team and suffer from weak defense, I’ve read.

This very well could mean nothing at all. This was a promotion expected when Erie warmed up. But Jim Leyland and GM Dave Dombrowski may have an announcement Wednesday about moves to be made in the wake of Joel Zumaya’s injury, so it could portend the promotion of Eulogio da la Cruz or Jair Jurrjens.

Beck’s article:

“We don’t feel that we have that particular need today [to make a move],” said Dombrowski, though he didn’t eliminate it as a possibility.

… De La Cruz has put up back-to-back complete games at Double-A Erie, including a two-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts on Friday night. …

“De La Cruz would be one guy that would jump out [if needed],” Dombrowski said.

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I could have sworn it was April 1 when I checked my feedreader and saw “Rogers put on DL” with a fatigued arm from about a million sources. No such luck. Still March. Crap. Not really the way you want to start the season. It gives Chad Durbin a chance to prove his worth — hmm, I wonder if the Tigers saw this coming. Bobby Seay thus makes the team as the second lefty reliever.

Rogers can return as soon as April 9, Jason Beck reported, as he went on the DL retroactive to March 25. Beck also reported Rogers was not feeling all that well after catching the flu. I know it’s a bad one this year, and our friends on the Pistons have been suffering as well. So I hope that’s all it is.

Ironically, Rogers’ photo is on the front of the Tigers web site still, as he was scheduled to pitch in his final minor league tuneup today.

Crap crap crap.

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I guess you could say these aren’t real surprises. Neifi Perez seems to have walked his way onto the roster as the final infielder, while Chad Durbin, a righty, made the cut for the final relief role that all spring long everyone expected would go to a left-handed.

That means infielders Chris Shelton and Ramon Santiago were sent to Toledo, as were lefty reliever Bobby Seay (on a minor league contract) and righty starter Zach Miner. Felix Heredia was released.

Analysis? Perez, of course, is not going to be a popular choice with Tigers fans. He doesn’t hit particularly well. Doesn’t field particularly well. But he’s a Jim Leyland pick. That, and Ramon Santiago could be sent to the minors for one last time, making him a bit more disposable from that perspective. I think we can fully expect to see Santiago sooner or later. I just hope Perez being the final infielder to make the team means Omar Infante is ahead of him on the substitution list for when a guy needs a day off. With Leyland, I don’t know if we can read too much into that.

I know some people wanted to see Chris Shelton, too. Shelton is a good player. Realistically, as soon as Sean Casey was re-signed this offseason, 2007 became a year Shelton would work on stuff at Toledo. He’s still young and needs his daily swings. This does make me cringe a bit the for first time I see Marcus Thames playing first in a real good. Hope the best for him.

Chad Durbin is a voyageur who spent a lot of time in the minors after making the Royals several years back. His spring stats — you know the disclosure — have been good. He pitched well in Toledo last year and looks to be a guy who has figured it out. I assume he’ll be used as a long reliever. It does leave a bit of a pile-up in the righty reliever depth chart, especially if Jason Grilli is going to be fine. I assume Jose Mesa will be used to give Fernando Rodney and Joel Zumaya a day of of short relief. (By the way, I do have this fear that if anyone happens to Jones, Mesa will be used as a closer, because that’s the way Leyland works).

Dombrowski quoted by Jason Beck:
“I don’t really look at it as a 25-man roster,” president/general manager Dave Dombrowski said. “I really look at it as a 30- or 32-man roster with the depth we need as an organization. So when you look at it this way … I’d rather keep the depth if we’re close [on two players].”

In all, it gives everyone a little something to bicker with, but from a management standpoint with waivers and playing time for younger players, I do think you can make an argument for the moves they made. Fortunately if there’s stumbles, all these guys are available to make the move to Detroit.

For further analysis: Jason Beck has a story on all the cuts. And the Freep. And the News. And Knobler.

And my fellow bloggers: Detroit Tigers Weblog

Here’s the 25-man roster:

Catcher: Ivan Rodriguez
1st base: Sean Casey
2nd base: Placido Polanco
3rd base: Brandon Inge
shortstop: Carlos Guillen

C backup: Vance Wilson
IF backup: Omar Infante
IF backup: Neifi Perez

OF: Craig Monroe
OF: Curtis Granderson
OF: Magglio Ordonez
OF backup: Marcus Thames (and some 1st base)

DH: Gary Sheffield

SP1: Jeremy Bonderman
SP2: Kenny Rogers
SP3: Justin Verlander
SP4: Nate Robertson
SP5: Mike Maroth

RH relief: Chad Durbin, Jason Grilli, Jose Mesa
LH relief: Wil Ledezma
setup: Joel Zumaya, Fernando Rodney
Closer: Todd Jones

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Jason Beck of MLB.com reports Jeremy Bonderman signing a four-year deal worth about $38 million.

Obviously this is great news, as Bonderman is among the top defense-independent pitchers in baseball as a 23-year-old and should only get better and better over the next four years as he develops. And at less than $10 million a year over that time period, he’s a real steal.

I’m tickled, as I’m sure all Tigers fans are, that he’ll be around for at least that long.

Update: while you’ve doubtlessly read this elsewhere while I was busy, the terms of the contract were released. May as well get them in for posterity sake!

Bonderman gets $4.5 million next year, $8.5 million in 2008 and $12.5 million in each of the following two seasons.

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