Scottsdale, Ariz. ? Tigers No. 10-rated prospect JaCoby Jones was pulled from the Arizona Fall League lineup Thursday for what was said to be flu-like symptoms. Turns out, it was much more serious. Jones was suspended for 50 games for violating the terms of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. It was the second time he tested positive for a drug of abuse violation. Which means, the positive test was for a recreation drug not a performance enhancing drug. David Littlefield, the Tigers vice president of player development who was at Scottsdale Stadium Thursday, would not comment on the situation. ?The Detroit Tigers recognize the suspension of JaCoby Jones for violating Minor League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program as a measure taken in the best interest of the game, and the ball club continues to fully support this policy,? said general manager Al Avila in a statement. ?The Tigers' organization will provide no further comment on Jones? suspension.? The suspension takes effect immediately and the 12 games remaining in the Arizona Fall League will count toward the suspension. Jones, who was hitting .280 this fall, was selected to play in the league?s All-Star Game Saturday. He will be replaced by Tigers outfield prospect Mike Gerber. Jones, a right-handed hitting infielder the Tigers acquired from the Pirates for closer Joakim Soria at the trade deadline, has hit 40 home runs with 160 RBI in his first two professional seasons, climbing quickly through Low-A and High-A, finishing at Double-A Erie last season. He was expected to play shortstop for either Double-A Erie or Triple-A Toledo next season.
who was it that said this guy is a cancer in the clubhouse, has a bad attitude and trading for him was a bad move?
k Ill try and break down the key offseason moves that I would make if I was Avila. some moves have already been made and Kimbrel wouldve been one of my targets but the Red Sox got him and DBRow is already showing what he can do. for what its worth I dont thinkwe had a prospect package that couldve matched what they gave up and the Soz are loaded on the farm, anyhow. heres my priority list 1. Starting pitcher, a front end guy thats no less than a top 3 -first target would be one of my favorite Notre Dame players ever in Jeff Samardzija. hes 30 I think but doesnt have a lot of miles on his arm due to playing football throughout college and having partial minor league seasons early on. hes the epitome of a horse and has great stuff, hes kind of like David Price in that he never seems to tire. his numbers were skewed in the wrong direction last year and playing in a bandbox didnt help. Comerica is much more suited to his style. he pitches hard with solid breaking away stuff which will fit our spacious outfield well. he'll give you 200+ with no problem, a very healthy kid too that has had no injuries and is good for 30+ starts. also book a K per inning, he walks a lot but thats part of package -Im also inquiring about David Price and Grienke although I think the pricetag will be much too high. their obviously both studs but Id look more for the 1A types and try to get two if possible. - Mike Leake is another option and more affordable, he had some injury issues so he will probably come much cheaper. he was a very highly touted prospect and Im a big fan of him. diesnt throw the hardest but is compact in his delivery which helps in that the batters cant see whats coming. nice curve to go with a dancing fastball. hes small but in his prime years. solid -Yei Wen Chen and Fister. two solid guys who would be great fits here. Fister was mad when we traded him and Im sure hed like to come back. Chen gave the Tigers fits in the playoffs, hes got great mechanics and keeps the ball down. he may not wow you but he gets the job done - I also put feelers out on some guys that may be under the radar more and even offer minor league contracts to if need be. Chad Billingsley, Josh Johnson and maybe even Brad Penny. if any pan out you have your #5 and a lot of experience. Lackey and Lincecum for the right price 2. Closer -Joakim Soria would be my first get. he wants to come back and was a good fit here. he was very close with VMart and hes a solid citizen. nothing fancy but makes it happen and is consistent -Darren ODay, this guy to me has always been better suited to short relief but hes been closing lately and thats what hes looking to do. always like the sidearm/submariners. does what most sidearmers do and throws a ton of fastballs and sliders. doesnt throw hard but he changes arm angles constantly and has more deception than most. intriguing 3. Bullpen, this is 3 but is very important and will make or break this team depending on what starters they get - first two guys Im going after is Ryan Madsen and Sean Marshall. both have great stuff and are at the age where their not over the hill but have been around long enough to make a pen really good(both mid 30's). Madsen can also fill in the closer role if need be but hes gonna be pricey - Clippard and Qualls are next, Im a big fan of short relief guys that have closed before just in case I need them to. Qualls will be cheaper but Clippard is more effective and probably more expensive due to his age. DBrow loved this kid and tried atleast 3 times that Im aware of to get him to no avail - Bastardo who Ive always liked and has great gas, Joe Beimel and Eric O FLaherty are all decent fillers here. I really think the Tigers should load up here and spend if need be, bullpens are critical to success and Ive always believed that long before teams like the Royals were proving it. being able to alter the game late by having options is worth its weight in gold. Avila proves how smart he is with what he does here IMO 4. Leftfielder - Yoenis Cespedes, depending on how much they blow on starters(and theres not much there to me) you throw the bank at this kid. love him, cannon for an arm, can rake and you shore up whats been a sore spot for the Tigers defensively since Higginson left and thats a leftfielder who can play defense. this guy singlehandedly won games for us last year just by making runners hold. hes gonna cost you but if Mr I is serious this is a move Im making. to be honest this is the only LF on the open market Id even bother with. Gordon is grossly overrated and Upton will want the key to the city. the rest of the guys are floaters, worse case scenario you lowball Rajai and bring him back. Go for broke here if need be
I'll definitely respond when i have more time and read it over again. Im selling a car in a couple minutes so i got to run.
that's more than we can say about the vast majority of this year's staff. know nothing about him, but love the name. make it so.
there arent too many things Id enjoy more. Gibby, Kaline, Tramm and Brookens would all get a spot. only catch is, Im the pitching coach *THUMBSUP* - then we'd probably really suck Im mad I forgot about one guy, my fave and would love to have him back and hed be great in left.....Austin Jackson. I actually am wearing his jersey T Shirt right now, wore it to work and people say all the time, 'why dont they get him back'. hard to bitch when we got Price basically for him but David is gone and we need OF help. If Avila gets him back Ill never say a bad thing about him again
The car was sold and i let it go for real US cash. Sif anyone is coming off with Lulzbucks in this economy.
I like AJ also, I also like Curtis 'Grandy' Granderson. Tigers sure let some players go over the years that land up having decent careers. _______________________ Im fine with you as the pitching coach, especially with the cutter background. That is the bread and butter these days. Major league hitters can usually crush a fast ball, but hard, breaking stuff can make ya look retarded at the plate.
I like Jeff too. I think he still has great potential and can give you some innings. Great ideas. I like Leake also, he is a hard onr to figure out tho. Chen would be a decent option also, he has good stuff and can go all season. Again, innings are what im looking for out of the starters, so the Bully doesnt have to be over worked. This is a must! Tigers have to close out ballgames or nothing else they do matters. I want a guy like they old fashioned days... a left fielder with speed and pop in the bat. I want a sound defense of course, but i want some gawdy offensive numbers too. ________________________________ Overall, the Tigers better get and stay real busy. They need a lot of help. Great core, just need a supporting cast.
Yes, yes they did. Or, its a hoax and they hired a hot dog vendor by the name Kienta Maracandes Alfredo Rodriguiz III. I sure hope its the pitcher dood tho. *DONT_KNOW*
alright Ill give you my two cents on this guy. first off I love the move, this guy is established and is very cheap considering what he can do at 5 and a half per and team option at 6 in 2017. heres what he brings - Im going off the top of my head but I think hes been in the AS game 6 times, I know he got on the last two year - he was incredibly dominate for a stretch a few years back, to the point he was like top 4 or 5 in MVP voting - and thats for a freakin closer! he also was in the Cy Young Discussion, thats unheard of for a closer. he also led the AL 3 or 4 times in saves, including and whopping 62 to break Bobby Thigpens save record back in like I think '08. very impressive resume - he has a strange delivery to me, it almost looks uncomfortable and Kevin Appier like. he comes over the top but what makes it wierd to me is over the top pitchers dont get the movement he does. hes what we'd call a feel/ finger pitcher, when you have the type of movement he gets on his pitches and be as small as he is its because of the release point and his feel on his release. thats confidence and that ball dances like crazy. at one time he had the best slider in baseball and Id still put it near the top. the whole reason when I played that I changed arm angles and went 3/4 to sidearm was I couldnt generate the movement and keep the velocity. K Rod does. hes also not afraid to run one in on you which I love and hes nails against right handed batters. he exudes confidence and I dont know it the plan here is to have him as the closer but hes more than capable. If hes the setup guy - holy crap will the bullie be solid. I they get Soria to close this will be the best backend bullpen Ive seen since Guillermo/ Henneman. hes smart, he doesnt try to overpower you anymore like 10 years ago when he repeatedly threw 96-97. he mixes in a nice change and his slider although probably not as effective with the his FB topping out in the low 90's now is still a very good pitch and misses a lot of bats - hes also closing in on 400 saves and the last couple years he really hasnt been the primary closer, again impressive - hes Venezuelan and this team has its share. hes gonna have an easy transition here with all the latino players. this also gives us arguably two of the best slider pitchers in the league with Albuquerque I love this move, very good start to the offseason. this guy is cheap and you gave up a middling prospect that I wouldnt even put in the top 15(although publications are putting him at 11)
