Notes: German's last chance
Promising Tigers reliever out of options
LAKELAND, Fla. -- Franklyn German used to be the Tigers' closer of the
future. This camp will probably determine whether he has any future with the
Tigers.
Of the three players Detroit received from Oakland in return for Jeff Weaver
nearly three years ago, German is the only one who spent time in the minor
leagues last year. In fact, he spent the vast majority of his season at
Triple-A Toledo, notching just 14 2/3 innings for the Tigers over two brief
stints.
The reason is the same that left the A's willing to give him up back in 2002.
He has a brilliant splitter, but not enough control of anything else. He is
the example Trammell uses when making the point that a big, intimidating
presence isn't enough to get outs.
"The guy's so big, you just assume that everything's supposed to be so easy,"
Trammell said. "But it's not."
German is no longer a prospect to close with Troy Percival, Ugueth Urbina,
Fernando Rodney and Kyle Farnsworth ahead of him, but Trammell still sees a
valuable middle man. But if he's going to make the club, this has to be the
year. German is out of minor league options, and 6-foot-4, 270-pound
relievers who throw nasty splitters and mid-90s fastballs don't usually sneak
through waivers.
The problem is that Major League relievers don't usually walk 58 batters in
66 career outings, including 11 passes over his 14-plus innings last year.
His performance since the tail end last season gives the Tigers hope that
he's made the step. German and newcomer Farnsworth impressed Trammell with
their throwing sessions Sunday. His solid start follows an encouraging winter
league season in the Dominican Republic and a run of 4 1/3 scoreless innings
with two hits allowed over his final four appearances. In between, he made a
stop at the Tigers' instructional league.
"He's really done everything we've asked. He really has," Trammell said.
"He's trying to implement what Bob [Cluck] and Jon Matlack, everybody has
been trying. What he'll have to do is get people out during Spring Training,
but he has done everything that we've asked him to do."
That willingness to learn and his options situation won't make Trammell's
decision any easier when he considers German, Fernando Rodney, Steve Colyer
and others for what is likely one open spot in a six-man bullpen. Rodney
passed German as the Tigers' closer prospect of choice by the end of 2003,
while the left-handed Colyer is also out of options.
"The goal is that when we leave here, we want to leave with the guys that we
think are the best," Trammell said. "I'm sure as we go on, as we were hoping
for, that our decisions each year will be tougher. I expect [this one] to be,
to be honest with you. I like what I see so far. And when you get into these
situations with competition, you can see guys pushing each other."
Farnsworth dazzles: Virtually every coach on the field watched Farnsworth
throw to live hitters Sunday morning. It helped that he was the last of the
five pitchers to work, but for the second straight time, he left Trammell
impressed.
While he's still working his way up towards his game velocity, his other
pitches looked like they were ready. He left Chris Shelton swinging and
missing at a nasty breaking ball after he put a solid swing on a fastball.
"When he's got a good fastball like that, it's tough to hit the slider,"
Shelton said. "It doesn't have to be a great slider. You can't hit it,
because you're looking for that slider. If he throws a decent slider, you're
in trouble. It comes in fast and hard and it's late. It's hard to pick up."
Day off for Pudge: Ivan Rodriguez had an excused absence from camp Sunday.
He's expected back Monday.
Nothing yet from Ugie: No word to the Tigers yet from Ugueth Urbina, whose
mother was rescued late Friday night. The team will give him all the time he
needs.
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