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On Jeff Larish, TO, Rodney Stuckey And NHL Trade Deadline
Jeff Larish has had a good spring for the Tigers. He had a pretty good season in the Arizona Fall League. There were times last season in the minor leagues that he showed promise.
He is a left-handed hitter, which the Tigers badly need in a lineup that tends to be balanced too much toward the right side.
Having said that, I’m not sure if Larish is the answer to any of the Tigers’ needs. First of all, he lacks a position. He is a first baseman. Miguel Cabrera will be there every day. Larish did play some third base in Arizona, and has played the outfield, but putting him in either of those positions is like fitting a square peg into a round hole.
Also, his swing is long. It’s why he may show promise at lower levels, but not be able to perform nearly as well in the major leagues. When he got a shot in the major leagues last year, he showed little power nor patience at the plate - and he struck out a lot.
Larish is not a young prospect, either. He is 26 - and will turn 27 in the fall. He will likely get an opportunity this season, but must make the most of it. And it has be hitting extraordinarily well. Larish can’t marginal hitter because of the position issue. But if he hits - really hits - they’ll find a way to get him in the lineup.
Random Thoughts
- Terrell Owens will get signed by some team, somewhere. He will immediately make that team better. He will then falter and throw the quarterback under the bus and depart with hurt feelings. It is his modus operandi. But forget about Owens’ age. It is non-factor. He can still play.
- Ask yourself this question? In three years will Rodney Stuckey be a perennial All Star? Two months ago, I would have definitely said yes. Right now, I’m not so sure.
- To me, Calgary was the big winner at the NHL trade deadline. Olli Jokiken should obviously be motivated come playoff time. Don’t be surprised if what transpired in his first game with the Flames carries on. He is a world-class player, who has been buried on non-playoff teams. Jordan Leopold is one of the best pointmen on the power play in the game. In an ideal world, the Red Wings would want to avoid the Flames in the playoffs until the conference finals. Or don’t play them at all. The Flames seem more threatening than the Sharks because Miikka Kiprusoff is a better money goalie than Evgeni Nabokov.
He is a left-handed hitter, which the Tigers badly need in a lineup that tends to be balanced too much toward the right side.
Having said that, I’m not sure if Larish is the answer to any of the Tigers’ needs. First of all, he lacks a position. He is a first baseman. Miguel Cabrera will be there every day. Larish did play some third base in Arizona, and has played the outfield, but putting him in either of those positions is like fitting a square peg into a round hole.
Also, his swing is long. It’s why he may show promise at lower levels, but not be able to perform nearly as well in the major leagues. When he got a shot in the major leagues last year, he showed little power nor patience at the plate - and he struck out a lot.
Larish is not a young prospect, either. He is 26 - and will turn 27 in the fall. He will likely get an opportunity this season, but must make the most of it. And it has be hitting extraordinarily well. Larish can’t marginal hitter because of the position issue. But if he hits - really hits - they’ll find a way to get him in the lineup.
Random Thoughts
- Terrell Owens will get signed by some team, somewhere. He will immediately make that team better. He will then falter and throw the quarterback under the bus and depart with hurt feelings. It is his modus operandi. But forget about Owens’ age. It is non-factor. He can still play.
- Ask yourself this question? In three years will Rodney Stuckey be a perennial All Star? Two months ago, I would have definitely said yes. Right now, I’m not so sure.
- To me, Calgary was the big winner at the NHL trade deadline. Olli Jokiken should obviously be motivated come playoff time. Don’t be surprised if what transpired in his first game with the Flames carries on. He is a world-class player, who has been buried on non-playoff teams. Jordan Leopold is one of the best pointmen on the power play in the game. In an ideal world, the Red Wings would want to avoid the Flames in the playoffs until the conference finals. Or don’t play them at all. The Flames seem more threatening than the Sharks because Miikka Kiprusoff is a better money goalie than Evgeni Nabokov.
Labels: Olli Jokiken Jeff Larish Terrell Owens Rodney Stuckey Detroit Tigers
posted by Pat Caputo at
3:13 PM
8 Comments
