September Call-Ups: Who's Likely Headed To Detroit?

The Sept. 1 roster expansion is typically an exciting time for fans of teams going no where fast. At last, a couple of those prospects they've been hearing about might finally get the call to the major leagues for a preview of the future. For fans of teams in the thick of a pennant race, it's not quite as exciting, though the proper moves could prove to be the difference as things come down to the wire.

On top of that, your team is set. It's winning. It's familiar with most opponents. And suddenly there's new faces in Cleveland, or Kansas City, or elsewhere. You're trying to win a flag, and you're facing a guy with no major league scouting report.

For that reason, Tigers manager Jim Leyland has often said in Detroit he's not a huge fan of roster expansion. So don't expect many moves. It's not Detroit's way. Leyland doesn't like a lot of extra bodies hanging around that he has no use for. He doesn't take people along for the ride.

But there is certainly room for Leyland's team to shore up a few things. I think they'll be looking to grab a few familiar faces more than anything at all.

Pitchers

Detroit amazed by successfully going about half the month of August with 11 pitchers. (That's a real testament to the starting pitching, as well as to the bullpen's role players doing their jobs.) But there's no reason they'll feel limited to that now.

I don't feel like Detroit is going to tap Casey Fien for a September assignment after the rather unimpressive results earlier, but he has been pretty decent in Toledo lately (16 strikeouts, three walks in 11 2/3 innings), so the coaching staff may feel like he deserves another look. I don't feel like they'll go for a third lefty specialist in Clay Rapada either. I don't rule either pitcher out mind you, but I'm not certain they're must-haves when you look at the Tigers' bullpen. 

• Jeremy Bonderman: I'm about 100 percent on this one. He's spent most of August working on his rehab assignment in Toledo, but he can be recalled and should be. He's got 13 strikeouts and two walks in the past 13 innings, but he's allowed 19 hits. To be fair, six hits came in one early August game. Given his recent appearances, I think he'll be more of a one-inning reliever.
• Eddie Bonine: I'm probably 75 percent on this one. While Toledo really could use him in the rotation, he's a guy Detroit really would have liked to keep around if it could have. He's a guy you can trust. The problem for Bonine is that Zach Miner and Armando Galarraga are also right-handed long relief. Galarraga may actually return to the rotation, but I'd rather see someone piggyback with Nate Robertson as a starter. Still I think Bonine is going to be back.
• Freddy Dolsi: Unremarkable, but effective. That pretty much sums up Dolsi. He can also give the Tigers either long or middle relief, and he had a great experience in his most recent time in the big leagues. All those work in his favor. I'd lay chances at better than 50 percent on him.

Yup. That's it. Two, possibly three pitchers. But they should all be able to contribute without making the skipper sneak away for a cigarette in the middle of an at-bat. When you're in a pennant race, you really need that confidence.

Positional players

You'd think with the problems Detroit has scoring runs, there'd be reason for excitement down on the farm. Unfortunately, they are rather lacking for anyone useful down there, because any players capable of helping the Tigers are already in the big leagues. The prospects they do have on the 40-man roster seem to fall behind positions that are already strong. (Meanwhile, as much as the Tigers need a backup for aching third baseman Brandon Inge, there's no real help in the minors).

So I'll throw out the three  most likely names, though I have my reservations about all three. Detroit just seems a lot more likely to tap pitching than positional guys.

• Wilkin Ramirez: I'm not sure how likely this is. He is not a real whiz with the glove. He's got some wheels and power, though, and would be a good candidate for giving Curtis Granderson a day off (so long as he is coupled with Clete Thomas in center field). Ian of BlessYouBoys.com pointed out Ramirez played center field for the first time this season on Thursday. Working against him is his recent struggles. Hitting .189 with .229 on-base percentage and .387 slugging average is not exactly a guy knocking the door down. Given the Tigers have a glut of outfielders already, he's probably a long shot, but definitely a possibility. I'll call it 50/50.
• Scott Sizemore: He's not on the 40 man roster. And the Tigers currently have all 40 slots filled. However, Jeff Larish is on the roster, and he's been shut down for the year after having wrist surgery. Sizemore, while viewed as the Tigers' second baseman of the future, also battles the fact that without any injuries, the Tigers have both a pretty good starter and pretty good backup, so there's really no spot for Sizemore. But his bat has sparkled (.307 avg/.382 obp/.475 slg) and Detroit could use a push in that department. Lemme call him 33 percent.
• Dusty Ryan: Of the three, I find Ryan most likely because you'd always like to have an insurance catcher hanging around the dugout. He's proven capable behind the dish, though not as good with a bat as he had been last September. Of course, the organizational depth has taken a hit with the promotion of Alex Avila earlier in the month, and the injury to Max St. Pierre of Double-A Erie shelving him. But that should not be a real concern for the Tigers.
  

Kurt Mensching writes for MackAvenueTigers.com