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Tigers await answers on Iglesias, explore options.
LAKELAND, Fla. -- While trade winds began to build around the Tigers in their search for a fill-in at shortstop, the team did not yet have a definitive answer or a rehab timetable on its starting shortstop, Jose Iglesias.

A Tigers spokesperson said the team would not have an update Wednesday on the status of Iglesias, who visited with foot and ankle specialist Dr. Thomas Clanton on Tuesday in Colorado. Both team president/general manager Dave Dombrowski and Iglesias' agent, Scott Boras, said this week that Iglesias could end up seeing one more specialist after the Colorado visit. However, there was no confirmation Wednesday whether that visit was taking place.

The Tigers are expected to wait for all medical input before announcing anything further on Iglesias. The last medical update came from Iglesias himself, who said he had been diagnosed with "small fractures" in both shins. He, too, was waiting for input from specialists on a rehab schedule. The Tigers have had no comment on what Iglesias said.

A rehab process for shin splints or fractures can involve much more than simple rest, extending into dietary and hereditary conditions. The list of possible factors could explain the extra time being taken.

While that process wore on, the search for Iglesias' replacement at shortstop continued. The in-house candidates were off on the Tigers' lone off-day of camp, but the search for potential options outside of camp rolled on.

ESPN's Jayson Stark tweeted Wednesday morning that several scouts said their clubs had been contacted by the Tigers asking about potentially available shortstops. A rival American League talent evaluator had a similar sentiment, saying Detroit is casting a wide net.

While Rick Porcello made his scheduled start in an intrasquad game against a lineup of mainly Double-A level hitters, Tigers teams at other developmental levels were playing on the rest of the back fields at the Tigertown complex. The audience included a handful of scouts, with the Cubs and Phillies among teams represented.

Meanwhile, Bruce Levine of CBS Chicago reported Wednesday morning that Tigers vice president of player personnel Scott Reid has been in Cubs camp scouting infielder Darwin Barney and outfielder Nate Schierholtz. Barney, a 28-year-old second baseman and shortstop with strong defensive skills, has been mentioned in Tigers trade rumors in the past, including last summer before Detroit traded for Iglesias. Schierholtz is a 30-year-old left-handed hitter who fits the profile of a platoon outfielder, similar to the role Andy Dirks was set to fill before he had back surgery earlier this month.

Rumors have swirled around Phillies camp regarding All-Star shortstop Jimmy Rollins and his future with the franchise, but he has a no-trade clause and has told reporters more than once he wants to remain in Philadelphia.

One option that has not been gaining traction is free agent Stephen Drew, either due to the Draft-pick compensation required to sign him or the multiyear deal he is believed to be seeking to avoid another round of Draft-pick compensation next winter.
from the Tigers official site
 
Porcello at work on the mound during off-day.
LAKELAND, Fla. -- Rick Porcello is getting used to the feeling of a lost off-day and an empty clubhouse. He had it again Wednesday.
While the Tigers had their lone off-day of the Grapefruit League schedule Wednesday, Porcello had to pitch. It was his turn in the rotation, and unlike the regular season, the Tigers line up their starters to throw every five days when healthy in order to build up their arms and stay on turn for a regular-season assignment.

The Tigers always set aside the next-to-last Wednesday of camp for an off-day. And Porcello's day to pitch almost always seems to fall on it.
"I've done it three times," Porcello counted, no doubt noting the lost fishing time.

Thus, the Tigers put together an intrasquad game on the back fields of the Tigertown complex, giving Porcello a lineup of mostly Double-A level hitters to face. He mowed through the lineup the first trip through before giving up some damage the second time around.

Porcello allowed two runs on six hits over six innings, walking one and striking out three. He threw 53 of 84 pitches for strikes, but he was doing more than simply getting his work in.

"I'm definitely working on getting the ball down and being more consistent with my sinker," Porcello said. "I was able to do that today and made some mechanical adjustments to put me back on track with that."

The adjustments involved not leaving the pitching rubber too quickly and putting his body too far out in front of his arm in his delivery. Otherwise, Porcello leaves pitches up. It's an adjustment he might have struggled to make a couple of years ago.

"I think when I'm off, I'm able to recognize some things a little quicker now," Porcello said. "I know my delivery a little bit better. I think the adjustments are definitely quicker. The important thing is for me to be able to make those adjustments in the game and not after the game."
from the Tigers official site
 
March 20 in Tigers and mlb history:

1889 - A New York sporting goods house receives an order for bats, balls, and other baseball equipment from Mr. Hiroka of Tokyo, Japan. In his letter he says that baseball "has been played there for several months" and that a baseball association would soon be organized.

1937 - The Homestead Grays of the Negro Leagues acquire future Hall of Famers Josh Gibson and Judy Johnson for $2,500 in cash and a pair of journeymen players. The trade is considered the largest transaction in the history of the Negro Leagues.

1953 - U.S. Senator Edwin C. Johnson offers a bill to give clubs the sole right to ban radio-TV broadcasts of major league games in their own territory. The antitrust division of the Justice Department outlawed this practice in 1949. Johnson believes that it started the decline of baseball in small towns and cities throughout the country. His bill aims to restore the equity between large communities and the small areas.

1973: Roberto Clemente becomes the first Hispanic American to gain election to the Hall of Fame. The Baseball Writers Association of America announces the results of a special ballot, with Clemente receiving 393 of 424 votes. Clemente died in a plane crash on New Year's Eve. In light of his tragic death, the Hall's Board of Directors waived the five-year waiting period that is normally required before a player is eligible for election. A 12-time All-Star, Clemente batted .317 and won a dozen Gold Gloves over an 18-year career.

1989 - Commissioner Peter Ueberroth announces that he has begun an investigation into the behavior of Cincinnati Reds manager Pete Rose. Ueberroth doesn't identify the allegations against Rose, but the Reds' skipper will eventually be banished for his alleged involvement with gambling.

2002: The commissioner's office announces that Major League Baseball will continue the practice that began after the September 11 attacks of singing God Bless America during the seventh-inning stretch in each team's first homestand. In addition, a Flag of the United States patch will be worn on the jackets of all 30 major league teams this season and special logos will be used on Opening Day, Memorial Day weekend and the Fourth of July, with Canadian versions designed for the Toronto Blue Jays and Montreal Expos.

Tigers players birthdays:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/greenpa01.shtml
Paddy Greene 1903.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Vern_Kennedy
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kenneve01.shtml
Vern Kennedy 1938-1939.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Chuck_Seelbach
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/seelbch01.shtml
Chuck Seelbach 1971-1974.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/brunswi01.shtml
Will Brunson 1998-1999.

Tigers players who passed away:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Bob_Fothergill
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/fothebo01.shtml
Bob 'Fatty' Fothergill 1922-1930.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Gee_Walker
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/walkege02.shtml
Gee Walker 1931-1937.

from Baseball Reference
 
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