Early top 25 for college football

College football season is two months away, so to ease everyone's anxiety, here is my Early top 25 for 2012.

A couple of notes: this is largely based off of Mark Schlabach's way to early top 25 on ESPN.com. Also, any team that is facing a bowl ban is ineligible from being ranked (see Ohio State).

Without further ado...

11.   USC Trojans. The Trojans are finally eligible for postseason play. With nineteen starters back led by QB Matt Barkley and WR Robert Woods, they should be the favorite to win it all.

22.       LSU Tigers. New QB Zach Mettenberger will give the Tigers much needed offensive balance in terms of throwing the ball.

33.       Alabama Crimson Tide. The defending champs lost a lot to the NFL. Can Nick Saban reload for another title?

44.       Oregon Ducks. LaMichael James is gone, but RB’s Kenjon Barner and DeAnthony Thomas still give the Ducks plenty of firepower.

55.       Oklahoma Sooners. Injuries derailed the Sooners’ BCS chances last season. Landry Jones may be the best QB not named Matt Barkley.

66.       Georgia Bulldogs. The SEC slate is easy (No LSU, ‘Bama, or Arkansas). QB Aaron Murray is the best Georgia has had since Matt Stafford (or STAFFORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

77.       West Virginia Mountaineers. Now in the Big 12, the Mountaineers look to score a lot of points on some weaker defenses.

88.       Florida State Seminoles. Will the real Florida State Seminoles please stand up? If QB EJ Manuel can stay healthy, the ‘Noles will live up to lofty expectations.

99.       South Carolina Gamecocks. RB Marcus Lattimore is back after tearing his ACL last season.

110.   Michigan State Spartans. Defense will be the strength of the Spartans as Andrew Maxwell takes over at QB.

111.   Michigan Wolverines. We won’t have to wait long to see if Michigan has returned to national prominence. Season opener vs. Bama looms large.

112.   Arkansas Razorbacks. New coach John L. Smith inherits a team led by QB Tyler Wilson and RB Knile Davis

113.   Wisconsin Badgers. The Badgers got another transfer QB (Danny O’Brien), but it will be RB Montee Ball carrying the load.

114.   Stanford Cardinal. All that QB Brett Nottingham has to do is replace some guy named Andrew Luck.

115.   TCU Horned Frogs. Another newcomer to the Big 12 with plenty of offensive firepower.

116.   Clemson Tigers. An offense led by QB Tajh Boyd and WR Sammy Watkins will score a lot of points. New defensive coordinator Brent Venables will make sure the Tigers don’t give up a lot of points

117.   Texas Longhorns. The Longhorns’ defense made major improvements last season. The offense needs to do the same.

118.   Kansas State Wildcats. QB Colin Klein accounted for 40 touchdowns last season. Can he sustain that success?

119.   Florida Gators. Brent Pease replaces Charlie Weis as offensive coordinator. Will he help the Gators get back to the top of the SEC East?

220.   Oklahoma State Cowboys. Mike Gundy chose freshman Wes Lunt to replace Brandon Weeden at QB. Who will step up and replace Justin Blackmon at receiver?

221.   Nebraska Cornhuskers. QB Taylor Martinez has to improve his passing to balance with RB Rex Burkhead’s running.

222.   Virginia Tech Hokies. The Hokies have won ten games for the last eight seasons. The defense will carry the team until the offense gets their footing.

223.   Boise State Broncos. Chris Petersen is one of the best coaches in the country. He faces a hefty rebuilding job if he wants to sustain the Broncos’ success.

224.   Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Year 3 could be Judgment Year for Brian Kelly. The Irish play the nation’s toughest schedule.

225.   Missouri Tigers. One of two newcomers to the SEC. QB James Franklin will be more comfortable with a year of starting under his belt.

Jim Delany is a Clown

Finally, I have some time to do a post. I have been busy with working my regular job at Lone Star Steakhouse in Dundee, and coaching church league softball.

One of the hot issues going on is the discussion of playoffs in college football (insert Jim Mora remark here). This has been a big discussion at the Big Ten Spring Meetings. While I myself have made my beliefs loud and clear toward my hatred of the BCS and would LOVE a playoff, the words and actions of Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delaney do not help the B1G's cause.

In an article on Yahoo! Sports by Dan Wetzel, the Big Ten's love affair for the Rose Bowl is brought to light. How crazy is the Big Ten about playing in Pasadena? Crazy enough that it seems to be the only reason that will keep Big Ten teams from playing for a national championship. Crazy enough that by keeping the Rose Bowl ties, the "dirty" conference in the south still is able to reap the benefits of dominance.

For more about Delaney's exploits, listen to Mike Valenti rant about them here.

In the end, the only way that the B1G will get to a level of dominance without playing dirty is to let go of the Rose Bowl. Better yet, get rid of Delany. To quote Valenti, "Jim Delany is a boob."

Old Mr. Illitch Has A Farm (Edition 2, Part 1)

For this edition of Old Mr. Illitch Has A Farm, I would like to do something a little bit different.  I will give you an update on some/most of all of the Tiger's top minor leaguers, but I would also like to do a sort of stock up/stock down approach.  Part 1 will feature West Michigan and Lakeland, with Part 2 focusing on Erie and Toledo.

West Michigan Whitecaps (A)

Stock Up:

Curt Casali/Patrick Leyland (Yes, that Patrick Leyland) C:

The 2-headed catching monster for the Whitecaps is putting up very good offensive numbers thus far.  Leyland and Casali are splitting the catching duties pretty evenly, with one or the other occasionally filling in at DH while the other suits up behind the plate.  All of a sudden, a position that once featured Alex Avila and Alex Avila alone as its minor league depth is chalked full of solid prospects; including Leyland, Casali, Holoday, McCann, and Brantly.
Casali: 18G, 61AB, 19H, 3 2B, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 7 R, 10 BB, 10 K.  .311/.408/.508/.916
Leyland: 16G, 64AB, 19H, 3 2B, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 5 R, 1 BB, 12 K.  .297/.308/.391/.698


Eugenio Suarez 2B/SS:

Never heard of him?  Don't feel bad, neither had I, but it's hard to ignore the number's he is putting up thus far.  Saurez won't turn 21 until July, so he's about right on in terms of age for the Midwest League, and is more than holding his own both with the bat and with the glove.  He has been splitting time between SS and 2B, rotating with Brandon Loy between those two spots.  He is striking out in more than a quarter of his at bats, but walking at better than a 10% clip as well, so his strike zone discipline, while needing refinement, is slightly more advanced at this stage than you would traditionally see from a prospect in A ball for the first time.
31G, 121AB, 37H, 8 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 17 RBI, 19 R, 13 BB, 33 K, 4 SB. .306/.381/.438/.819


Stock Down

Danry Vasquez OF:

Calm down people.  This is Vasquez's first season in A ball, and he still only 18 years old.  He has all the tools and still has all the potential in the world, but the bottom line is that he is struggling right now.  But he could literally repeat A ball 2 more times and still be young for the league, so if you're panicking, you're about 4 years too soon.
27G, 93AB, 16H, 3 2B, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 5 R, 7 BB, 19 K.  .172/.231/.237/.468


Aaron Westlake 1B/DH:

The 2011 3rd Round selection was billed as having huge raw power to go with capable defense at 1B, and as a college senior, was someone who would have to hit, and hit quickly, to hold any sort of esteem with the Tigers' brass.  At 23, Westlake is indeed old for A ball, and has done very little in the way of trying to outplay his advanced age title.  Westlake has hit for very little power, and while his 8 doubles would usually lead to the "wait until he gets older and stronger, those will turn into homers (a la Castellanos)" sentiment; Westlake is 23 years old and is about as big and as strong as he is going to get.
31G, 116AB, 25H, 8 2B, 1 HR, 12 RBI, 12 R, 12 BB, 26 K.  .216/.292/.310/.603


Lakeland Flying Tigers (A+)

Stock Up

Nick Castellanos 3B:

That's right, everyone's seemingly favorite Tiger prospect is absolutely raking at High-A Lakeland.  Before anyone asks, NO, HE CAN'T BE MOVED TO 2ND BASE AND BROUGHT UP NOW!  Ok, moving on, Castellanos is still only 20 years old, which is about 2 years young for High-A, and the Florida State League is widely considered a pitcher's league.  All of these factors should lead to Castellanos struggling right now, but the fact of the matter is that he is leading all of the minor leagues in hitting, along with showing much more advanced plate discipline and pitch recognition than he did last year at West Michigan.  He is still more doubles-power than home run-power at this point, but as I hinted at above, let the kid's body develop.  His frame projects to that of an above-average to plus power hitter (15-25 HR), and his swing is already quick, smooth, and powerful; generating very good backspin on the baseball, which, as he gets stronger, will lead to more balls carrying over the fence as opposed to landing in the gaps.  It's now officially OK to get excited about this kid, but again, he's not moving to 2nd base, and he's not ready to come up now.
29G, 114AB, 48H, 10 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 22 RBI, 17 R, 11 BB, 20 K.  .421/.469/.596/1.065


Avisail Garcia RF:

Garcia is finally starting to put it together at the plate here in 2012, and is just barely scratching the surface of his offensive potential.  As we have established here at Ab(r)andon Inge, Garcia is the type of prospect that makes scouts drool and hand over blank checks.  He's a massive human being (6'4", 240), with plus raw power, plus defense, and a plus-plus arm from right field.  He also has above-average speed, which, for a man his size, is quite impressive indeed.  His biggest issue thus far in the minor leagues has been strike zone recognition/discipline, which lead to atrociously high strikeout rates and incredibly low walk rates; which diminished his offensive impact substantially.  Remember, he is still only 20 years old (turns 21 in June), and is repeating A+ ball.  He is still striking out too much and walking too little, but he has definitely made significant gains just in the past year.  Last season his strikeout rate was at a staggering 27%, while he was only walking around 3% of the time.  Thus far in 2012 he has improved both numbers, striking out at just under 21%, and walking at a nearly 5% clip.  He still needs to improve, obviously, but the numbers show a better approach at the plate indeed.
28G, 115AB, 37H, 4 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 14 RBI, 18 R, 5 BB, 24 K, 5 SB.  .322/.366/.452/.818


Stock Down

Dixon Machado SS:

Probably the best shortstop in the Tigers system (although I have some sort of fascination with Brandon Loy), Machado has struggled both with the bat and with the glove so far in 2012.  He has made 9 errors through only 26 games, and is hitting only .196.  There are a few silver linings; however.  For 1, he is still only 20 years old.  As we have established, 20 is quite young for the FSL.  Furthermore, the FSL is still a pitchers league, and this is Machado's first go-round in Lakeland.  Aside from the terrible batting average, Machado has shown easily the most advanced plate discipline and strike zone recognition on the team, as he has walked 16 times compared with only 13 strikeouts.  This leads me to believe that Machado's BA has been hampered by some bad luck, as he is obviously putting the ball in play.  His OBP is sitting at .312, which isn't very good, but when compared with a .196 BA, it's pretty remarkable.  He has also stolen 7 bases, good for 2nd on the team behind only Daniel Fields.  He will improve, just give him time.
26G, 92AB, 18H, 4 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 9 RBI, 14 R, 16 BB, 13 K, 7 SB.  .196/.312/.261/.573


Alex Burgos LHP:

After bursting onto the scene last year in West Michigan as a somewhat diminutive left hander who struck out nearly a batter an inning at 20 years old, Burgos has struggled so far in 2012.  His command, which was very solid at only about 3BB/9IP last season, has seemingly eluded him, as his BB/9 ratio has doubled in 2012.  His strikeout rate has also gone down, furthering his issues.  Burgos is only 5'11', and while I am partial to shorter pitchers (my school's ace is only 5'10"), his numbers are not going to be overlooked because of a projectable frame, a la Casey Crosby (sometimes).  This is Burgos' first time in the FSL, and he is still only 21, so he has plenty of time on his "prospect clock" left to figure it out.
7GS, 1-4, 5.67 ERA, 33 1/3 IP, 32H, 21BB, 1.59WHIP, 23K.


Erie and Toledo to come tomorrow evening

Future Wings?

Now that I have moved back across the state and recovered from the finals week/graduation hangover, I can actually fulfill my duties here at Ab(r)andon Inge (which by the way, with him gone should we update the name?).  Since the Wings were eliminated in the first round, they will have a pretty lengthy off-season when compared to years past.  Although this sucks from a fan perspective, I'm sure some of the older players might benefit from it (Lidstrom especially).  Due to this early playoff exit it is pretty clear the Wings are going to use some of their estimated $22 million in cap space to lure in some big names this off-season.  Although two have been floated around, Parise and Suter, there are some other possibilities that the Wings may be interested in.  So, once or twice a week I will be typing up a profile of one people that the team might try to be in.

Up first, Zach Parise.  With the injury to Helm, it was pretty clear that the Wings lack depth up front.  Just imagine Parise lining up to the left of Datsyuk with Franzen as the top line.  Parise played in every regular season game this year, while amassing 31 goals, 38 assists, and only 32 PIM.  He also has more than 30 goals in 5 out of the last 6 seasons.   With Parise able to score or set someone up, this should be one of the top priorities this off-season (at least until Brad Stuart does the obvious and goes to California and we need a defenseman not named Kyle Quincey to replace him).  Another added benefit of adding Parise, he's 27 (28 as of July), so they can get several good years out of him, especially as the team continues to age.  I'm not really a gambling man, but I think the Wings do pretty much everything they can to get Parise, or Babcock might falcon punch Holland.  Here's to hoping the Wings can land one of the top free agents this summer.

Next profile will be: Ryan Suter

Lions Draft Recap

After selecting Riley Reiff in the first round and Ryan Broyles in the second round, it was obvious that the Lions needed to focus on the defensive side of the ball. They did just that. They're next six picks were all defensive players. The Lions made multiple trades throughout the day, and here is the final list of players they selected:

• Riley Reiff, OT (23rd Overall Pick)
• Ryan Broyles, WR (54)
• Dwight Bentley, CB (85)
• Ronnell Lewis, OLB/DE (125)
• Tahir Whitehead, OLB (138)
• Chris Greenwood, CB (148)
• Jonte Green, CB (196)
• Travis Lewis, OLB (223)

Ryan Broyles, Ronnell Lewis and Travis Lewis all played their college football at Oklahoma. Chris Greenwood is a local product, playing his college football at Albion College. The breakdown of two offensive players and six defensive players is a good split. After the last two games of the 2011-2012 season, it was painfully obvious that the Lions needed help in the secondary and they certainly tried to address those needs through the draft.

Martin Mayhew has lost his mind

Lions take Ryan Broyles. Nobody knows why. Matt Millen has entered the building. I'm not going to do anymore breakdown of this pick. This is absolutely ridiculous.

Introducing....Riley Reiff

In the weeks leading up to the draft, the Lions were thought to be looking to upgrade the defense either through a defensive end or a cornerback. As it turned out, all the cornerbacks worthy of the 23rd pick (without significant baggage) were off the board. There were an abundance of defensive ends available, but the Lions chose to address a more long-term need of offensive line.

The Lions chose Riley Reiff who was widely thought of to be a top 20 pick by most mock drafts:

• Mel Kiper ($): 13th to Arizona
• Todd McShay ($): 13th to Arizona
• Peter King: 18th to San Diego
• Mike Mayock: 13th to Arizona

When we looked at possible first round picks for the Lions earlier this month, I was operating under the assumption that Reiff would already be off the board. Reiff was a three year starter at Iowa. He started at right tackle and moved over to left tackle after Bryan Bulaga moved on to the NFL.

I don't think the first round played out like anyone thought it would. The amount of trades was something that I had never seen before and was a product of the new collective bargaining agreement. Martin Mayhew stayed true to his word when he said he would take the best player available. Reiff could play either tackle spot long-term, but I think it's pretty obvious that he'll be groomed to take over for Jeff Backus. For the upcoming season, don't be surprised if he slides over to the right side to give Gosder Cherilus some competition along with Corey Hilliard before moving over to the left side after next season.

Looking Ahead

The second and third rounds of the draft will be tomorrow night, and the Lions have one selection in each round. Their priorities for tomorrow have got to be to bring in at least one cornerback who can compete for a starting position. Addressing the offensive line was a perfectly logical choice with the way the draft fell tonight. However, if we're sitting here at this point tomorrow and the Lions have yet to draft a corner, feel free to hit the panic button. As it stands now, the group of Houston, Lacey, Berry and Smith is not going to produce two quality starters at cornerback.

Names to Watch (All Cornerbacks)

• Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama
• Trumaine Johnson, Montana
• Josh Robinson, Central Florida
• Josh Norman, Coastal Carolina
• Brandon Boykin, Georgia

Weber down, Putkonen Up

Today the Tigers announced that they have optioned RHP Thad Weber to Toledo and have purchased the contract of RHP Luke Putkonen and added him to the 40 man roster.

This move does a couple things IMO. It provides a bit more clarity into who will start in Fister's rotation spot in 4 days, as Weber will now not be considered for the job. That pretty much narrows it down to Duane Below and an unnamed other pitcher. I outlined my thoughts on the subject in my post last night. Furthermore, the move adds another bullpen arm to the Tigers somewhat depleted staff, in addition to Villarreal who was recalled last night

Putkonen was a starter for the entirety of his professional career up until this year. He was a sinkerballer as a starter, but like most sinkerballers, when he left his fastball up in the zone it straightened out considerably an got hit hard. He made the move to the pen in spring training this year and received rave reviews; mostly citing the increased velocity on his fastball and improved sharpness on his breaking ball.

Putkonen is pretty much a 2 pitch pitcher, featuring a sinking fastball and a curveball. His fastball was clocked in the mid to upper 90's following his move to the pen, with average-solid life at the plate so long as he keeps the ball down in the zone. His curve is inconsistent from the tape I've seen, but when it's on, it's definitely an out pitch.

Pretty much, Putkonen could either be boom or bust IMO. I don't see a lot of middle ground potential here. If he's on, keeping his fastball down where the late life and increased velo can generate swings and misses in addition to ground balls; in addition to his curve staying sharp with good command, then he can potentially be a very good late innings guy. If hes not on, and his fastball stays up in the zone and straight, then he's going to get hit around, plain and simple.

Detroit Tigers Thoughts and Musings through 18 Games

The Tigers lost this evening 9-1 to the Seattle Bleeping' Mariners to drop to 10-8 on the young season.

-Adam Wilk got beat up because he throws a mid 80s fastball that is straight. Yes, he's left handed. Yes, he's got outstanding control. Yes, he throws several different pitches. That's all well and good. But unless every single pitch is at the knees on one corner or the other, you're gonna be seeing a lot of balls end up in the seats. I'm sorry, I like Wilk, I really do. I'm sure he's a great guy to be around. But throwing consistent strikes and throwing consistently GOOD strikes at two different things. Wilk did not do the latter.

-Following the game, Wilk was optioned to Toledo and Bryan Villarreal was called up. Villarreal is not a starter, so he will presumably take the long man role occupied usually by Balester over the next few days, considering that Balester has pitched 2 straight days.

-This leads to the question: Who will start for the Tigers in 5 days? Most believe it will be Duane Below, who has been incredibly effective out of the bullpen. That's not set in stone, however, because 1) Leyland loves Below out of the pen, and 2) no one really knows how Doug Fister's health will be in 5 days.

-Here is where I might meet a bit of backlash. I have 2 opinions on who should start for the Tigers in 5 days, both dependent on Doug Fister's bullpen session tomorrow.
1) I don't believe that Fister will make his next scheduled start, even if he comes out of the session tomorrow pain-free. I think he would make a rehab start, and be back in 10 days. Should that be the case, I would call up Casey Crosby and let him make a SINGLE spot-start in Fister's place. I would do this because I believe that Below has been absolutely wonderful out of the pen, and starting him may mess that up not only for him but also for the team. Also, as I said it would be for a single start, and Crosby has been pretty good in his last 2 starts in Toledo. This could be a good thing for him to get a taste of big league action.
2) Should Fister have to miss more than 1 more start, I believe the Tigers should start Below and give him that spot in the rotation until Fister is healthy. I just think that moving Below from the pen to the rotation for a single start then back to the pen could mess him up big time, and that's the last thing I or the Tigers want considering how effective he's been.

-I've been impressed so far with Dotel. He's been very good and will be viewed as an incredibly under valued signing

-Jackson still looks better at the plate, regardless of the cooling off he's had since his hot start. He's still striking out, yes, but he also leads the Tigers in walks. His strike zone recognition has vastly improved since last year, and his 2 strike approach truly is night and day

-Boesch shouldn't hit 2nd. I love Brennan, and I felt that 2nd would be a good spot for him at the beginning of the season, but he just hasn't been effective there. Bad strike-zone recognition, etc, are not the makings of a 2 hole hitter. I know Leyland loves some "pop" in the 2 hole, so I would recommend moving Peralta there. Bat Boesch 7th, behind Avila and Young

-Cabby has been exactly how I thought he would be at 3B. I was one of the few who thought he would be fine over there, and he has been. Suck it, haters. He's an incredible athlete for a man his size, and his instinctual baseball ability is that of a left-side infielder.

-Prince's power shortage has been somewhat concerning, but I wouldn't worry too much about it. Water finds its level. It could be worse ya know? We could have signed Pujols

-Young might be the most infuriating Tiger on this roster, including Inge, Raburn, Lamont, Valverde, etc. At least with Inge you know he's going to strike out on a check swing. Young is a horrendous outfielder and should have his glove taken away and burned. But as a hitter, he's a mystery. Yes, we know he's going to swing at terrible pitches and never take walks. But when I think he's going to do something good, he pops out on a slider 4 inches off the plate at his shins; and then when I think he's going to do something bad, he takes 3 pitches and then laces one in a gap. Oh well.

-Peralta and Avila are Peralta and Avila to me. Avila may be the best catcher in all of baseball, he just does everything well.

-Verlander is Verlander. Moving on

-Drew Smyly what? My pick (slaps self on back) for Tiger's fifth starter in spring training has been all we could ask for and more. Keep it up kid.

-Porcello has also impressed. My pick for breakout player of the year; he got roughed up against Texas but I think that was more fluke than rule. His sinker has had increased velo along with increased life, leading to more swings and misses in addition to the usual ground balls.

-Maxwell is still bipolar. When he pitches out of his blue eye, he can dominate the 1927 Yankees. When his brown eye takes over, he gets shelled by the 12 and under Michigan Hawks baseball team.

-Bullpen has been good, but not in the expected way. Below, Dotel, and Coke have been very good-great. Benoit and Valverde have been terrifying yet mostly effective. Schlereth was a grease fire and sent down. Balester has been what Balester was traded for to be: An innings eater with a good arm that has off days and bad days. Anyone who expected dominance from him needs to violently face palm themselves, a la what I do every time Jose Canseco tweets.

-Inge and Raburn have been terrible, but you don't need me to tell you that. Raburn will pick it up, he always does, and luckily we have Santiago to HELP (not take over, morons) at 2nd base u t he does. Inge should be released, plain and simple. Hes not good at baseball anymore. Everyone knows how I feel about Inge, I mean look at the damned name of the blog. But I have something to say: Anyone who boos Inge as he walks to the plate, or when he strikes out, or when he GIDP, or when he makes an error; or actually roots for him to fail should be subject to a violent encounter involving their extremities and a wood chipper. Although we don't like it, he plays for the Tigers. Baseball is a TEAM GAME. When you root for someone on your team to do badly, you are rooting for the team to do badly. And if you root for the Tigers to do badly, I will be forced to consider you either A) A terrorist, or B) an Indians fan (not sure which is worse). So yes, I want Inge DFA'd 3 weeks ago, but I will never cheer for him to fail.

Beer, Broads, and Tigers Baseball

Roundtable Discussion #3-NFL Draft

This weeks roundtable discussion centers around this weekends upcoming NFL Draft. The draft is a giant crapshoot, with trades, stupid decisions, etc, all playing a role in screwing up even the most knowledgeable "insiders" out there.

This weeks question: "Who will the Detroit Lions select with their 1st round pick (#23 overall) in Thursday's draft?

Brian:

I believe the Lions will select CB Dre Kirkpatrick out of Alabama. They are in desperate need of secondary help, and Kirkpatrick is a speedy corner with size and athleticism that will provide an excellent complement to Chris Houston. I would do terrible, terrible things for Mark Barron or David DeCastro to slide to 23, but obviously that won't happen.

Ryan:

Cordy Glenn, OG/OT, Georgia. The Lions are in need of serious offensive line help, in particular from a run-blocking standpoint. Glenn could come in and immediately start at RG or RT, with the potential to slide to LT when Backus either retires or cannot play LT anymore.

Phil:

With the 23rd pick, the Detroit Lions will select Whitney Mercilus, DE, from Illinois. Mercilus had an outstanding year last season, leading the nation in sacks on a terrible Illinois team. He is a pass-rushing machine, and with the aging of Kyle Vanden Bosch and the possible departure of Cliff Avril, the Lions will do well to add depth/possible replacement at DE. I think they could go CB/S here, but feel that Mercilus is too good to pass up

Frank:

With the 23rd pick in the NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions select….(insert player name here)
The Lions have plenty of options with their first pick. The glaring needs are at DE, ILB, and CB. Though they could potentially trade up and grab Stanford OT Jonathan Martin, given that Jeff Backus is getting old, I think Martin will be off the board at 23, and the Lions will address a need on defense. They can go with DE/OLB Courtney Upshaw, ILB Don’t’a Hightower, S Mark Barron, or CB Dre’ Kirkpatrick (notice the aforementioned are from Alabama.) Martin Mayhew will be saying, “Roll Tide” on Thursday night when he decides to go with Courtney Upshaw

Ab(r)andon Inge Top 15 Tiger's Prospect Countdown: #15

As a self-confessed prospect junkie, aspiring scout, and Tigers obsessive; I decided that I would use this blog as a sort of "jumping off point" in terms of my scouting career.  I will be doing my personal opinion on the Tiger's top 15 prospects for the 2012 season, as well as providing MY OWN scouting opinions.  I want to stress that I am not a scout, nor have I ever been one.  I could be egregiously off in terms of how I see these particular prospects, but everyone has to start somewhere right?

Without further ado, I give you my number 15 prospect in the Detroit Tiger's organization:

Brandon Loy, SS/2B, Class A West Michigan


My Grades:
Hit: 45
Power: 40
Speed: 50
Defense: 60
Arm: 55/60 (SS/2B)

As you can see from my grades, Loy is definitely a defense-first prospect.  From the film I was able to watch, it's easy to notice how incredibly quick his feet are and how much range he has from the shortstop position.  He easily has plus range, and an above average arm from shortstop.  He has been playing some 2nd Base with West Michigan, and from 2nd Base is arm is definitely plus.  I noticed that Loy displays a very quick and smooth exchange when throwing to 1st, but the exchange and release can get a bit sloppy when he throws to 2nd for a double play.  This may or may not be me hallucinating, but it seems that he gets a bit lazy on the shorter throws; which of course is easily correctable.  As far as offense goes, I was most impressed with Loy's recognition of and discipline within the strike zone.  This is a guy who is not afraid to take a walk, which is definitely a positive.  He still has a tendency to get long in his swing, which will present problems as he faces increased velocity.  When he keeps his swing short, he makes solid contact, generating decent-average backspin on the ball, which could project to average extra base power.  He runs pretty well, but he'll never be a big base stealing threat like his fellow SS Dixon Machado (we'll get to him) is.

Overall, I think Loy's ceiling in the major league is heavily dependent on his bat.  If he can hit major league average, then he will become a starter in the middle infield of a big league team because he really is that good defensively.  Should he never be able to figure it out fully with the bat, then he could definitely make an impact in the majors as a Danny Worth-type defensive first utility player.  Either way, I think Loy will make an impact in the major leagues somewhere, and I can only hope it is with the Tigers.

Old Mr. Illitch Had A Farm...(1st Edition, Part 2)

Lakeland Flying Tigers (A+)


The Usual Suspects...




Nick Castellanos 3B-


Castellanos, widely considered the Tiger's best positional prospect, is still only 20 years old in the Advanced A ball Florida State League.  Castellanos plays 3rd base currently, but has also been profiled as a future corner outfielder due to his already 6'4" 225lb frame, which has the potential to get bigger.  Castellanos did well at West Michigan last season, hitting at a .312 clip with good extra base power that profiles to above-average HR power once his body develops.  He has been absolutely tearing apart FSL pitching so far this year, batting third in a loaded Lakeland lineup.  He is still displaying good XBH power with moderate HR power, as well as maintaining a relatively high strikeout percentage which I (and the Tigers) would like to see cut down.  Regardless, he is absolutely establishing himself further as a top prospect, hitting as well as he is in an advanced league at such a young age.
14 G, 53 AB, 21 H, 5 2B, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 8 R, 4 BB, 12 K.  .396/.441/.547/.988




Daniel Fields CF-


Fields is in Lakeland for his 3rd season; and while this is some cause for concern, he is still only 21 years old.  Drafted out of HS in 2009, Fields was once the top positional prospect in the Tiger's system before having a very down year last season.  A potential 5 tool player, Fields has struggled mostly with his strikeout percentage, resulting in poor BA and OBP.  He came out of the gate hot this year, but has cooled off considerably while still posting decent numbers (Austin Jackson anyone?)  He is still striking out way too much and not walking nearly enough, but so far it looks like he is at least taking a small step forward this season, batting leadoff in Lakeland.  A positive is that Fields has already swiped 4 bases in 14 games, something he has struggled with the past 2 seasons despite the fact that he has plus speed.
14 G, 60 AB, 15 H, 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 7 R, 4 SB, 4 BB, 18 K.  .250/.297/.383/.680




Jacob Turner RHP-


The Tiger's very top prospect, and potential future ace (although very good #2 starter is more realistic) was considered the front runner to win the Tiger's #5 starter job in Spring Training this season before he was shelved with "dead arm", which was an apt description as his velocity had dropped considerably.  Turner will be making his first start of the season tonight for Lakeland, and I will do my best to keep you all updated on twitter.  Turner flashes plus potential on 3 pitches (fastball, curveball, change) and has said he is working on a slider just as a complement (Verlander?)  Turner's fastball velo (velocity) usually sits at around 92-93 with excellent life, with the ability to gas up to 95-96 with a 4 seamer.  This spring, however, he was clocked at 89-91 with less life and even less command, which led many to believe that he was hurt.  Hopefully all of that is behind him, and we see a dominant Turner return to the mound today.  Should Turner return to his dominant self, I have no doubt we will see him in Detroit at some point this season.




You May Not Have Heard Of...




Tyler Collins OF-


Collins has been on the radar of several scouts and Tiger's prospect junkies (like myself) for some time now.  He was drafted last year in the 6th round out of junior college after having attended Baylor University for his freshman year.  He as always been able to hit the holy hell out of the baseball, displaying above-average to plus hit and power tools.  He hit the ball well at Connecticut last season, and was assigned to Lakeland this year, skipping West Michigan.  An aggressive assignment to be sure, but one he has handled very well thus far.  Should Collins keep hitting all season at Lakeland as he has throughout his career, he will skyrocket up prospect lists and probably earn the title "blue chipper".
13 G, 51 AB, 17 H, 3 2B, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 8 R, 2 SB, 3 BB, 10 K.  .333/.404/.392/.796




Avisail Garcia RF-


Garcia is a real favorite of mine.  He absolutely oozes potential and projection, and is perhaps the most "toolsy" of the Tiger's prospects.  He stands 6'4', weighs 240lbs, and won't turn 21 until June.  He has been mistaken for Miguel Cabrera because of his stature, but here is the scary thing: The kid has above-average speed, stealing 20 bases in 2010 and 14 last year.  He also has the best arm in the entire organization, scoring probably a 65-70 on the scout scale.  Also plays above average defense, and displays the ability to hit for power.  As is true with most young super-prospects, Garcia struggles most with plate discipline, striking out 132 times last season while only walking 18 times.  He has gotten off to a similar start this season, boasting a horrendous 12:1 K:BB ratio, but he also leads the team with 5 stolen bases and is second only to Nick Castellanos in terms of slugging percentage and OPS.  This kid could absolutely explode, so watch closely.
13 G, 52 AB, 18 H, 0 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 8 R, 5 SB, 1 BB, 12 K.  .346/.393/.404/.797




Brian Flynn LHP-


Standing 6'8" and weighing 240lbs, Flynn is the kind of imposing left hander the Tiger's have sorely lacked in recent years (he still has a ways to go, obviously).  Flynn pitched very well last season at West Michigan, throwing 67 2/3 innings with a 3.46 ERA, and 23 BB/57 K (HOLY CRAP A LEFTY THAT THROWS STRIKES!!!).  Flynn just turned 22, so he is about on par (maybe a little young) with the FSL, making him a real sleeper prospect to watch.  He has come out of the gate blazing hot in 2012, anchoring a Lakeland staff that is light on pitching talent in comparison to its murderers row of offensive talent.  I would personally like to see his strikeout totals increase a bit, but if he keeps up a 6:1 K:BB ratio then I won't complain.  I will be watching Flynn closely this season, as he could potentially make a Drew Smyly-esque rise through the minors should his success continue.
3 G, 3 GS, 3-0, 19 2/3 IP, 0.92 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, 12 K, 2 BB.




West Michigan Whitecaps (A)


The Usual Suspects




Danry Vasquez OF-


Vasquez has been on Tiger prospect junkies radars for a couple years now, since he was signed out of Venezuela at the age of 16.  He spent his first season in the United States last season, playing for the GCL Tigers (A-) at the ripe old age of 17.  He hit .272 with moderate extra base power that is expected to blossom to good gap-to-gap power as he matures and fills out his body.  What was really impressive was his strike zone discipline, as he struck out only 34 times in 206 at bats, while walking 7 times.  That is incredibly advanced plate discipline, especially for a 17 year old kid playing professional baseball for the first time.  Vasquez has been tabbed by some as the most "projectable" Tigers prospect, but he is a solid 4-5 years away still.  He has started slowly at West Michigan, but that is to be expected as he is only 18 years old in A ball, by far one of the youngest players there.
15 G, 55 AB, 12 H, 2 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, 4 BB, 9 K.  .218/.267/..309/.576




Aaron Westlake 1B/DH-


Westlake was the Tigers 2nd selection (3rd Round) in the 2011 draft out of Vanderbilt.  Widely renowned for his raw power and above-average defensive skills, Westlake was seen as someone who could be a quick riser through the minor leagues and potential trade bait, seeing as the Tigers are pretty set at 1B.  Westlake performed decently last season with both the GCL and Connecticut Tigers, hitting .250 over 124 ABs.  He has been rotating at 1B and DH this season with fellow power prospect Dean Green, and has done decently so far, with one exception: He has displayed zero power through the first dozen or so games.  Westlake will have to pick up his power numbers, as at age 23, he is at an advanced age for A ball.
17 G, 68 AB, 18 H, 5 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 8 RBI, 7 R, 5 BB, 12 K.  .265/.320/.338/.658




You May Not Have Heard Of




Steven Moya OF-


Moya is another Latin-America prospect signed by Dombrowski when he was a teenager, groomed abroad, then brought over here to start the minors at a young age.  Moya won't turn 21 until after the season, yet stands 6'7" and weighs 230lbs, yet looks rail thin.  He has the potential to develop plus power as his body fills out, seeing as he hit 10 2B and 13 HR last season at West Michigan, despite being only 19 years old.  He struggled last season mightily, hitting a paltry .204 while striking out 127 times versus only 12 walks.  He has started this season off scorching hot, however, hitting the cover off the ball while showing excellent plate discipline, as evidenced by his .404 BA and 6 BB vs. 8 K.  Like Avisail Garcia in Lakeland, if Moya can stay hot, he could absolutely explode up prospect lists and through the minor leagues as well.
16 G, 62 AB, 25 H, 6 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 5 R, 6 BB, 8 K.  .404/456/.548/1.004




Brendan Loy SS/2B-


Loy is another 2011 draftee, taken in the 5th round out of Texas.  Every scouting report I have read on Loy has described him as a plus defender who just makes it look easy in the infield, but with questionable hitting skills.  The basis consensus was that if Loy ends up never hitting, he could be a quality utility player in the majors in the mold of Adam Everett, but if he can hit at least average, then he will be an everyday starter at SS or 2B; his defense is just that good.  Loy will turn 22 in May, so he, like Westlake, will need to advance somewhat quicker than one would like, but at 21-22 in A ball, that's not too bad.  Loy has been a very pleasant surprise thus far, hitting 5th in West Michigan's lineup, rotating between SS and 2B.  His defense has been very apparent as it was in Spring Training, but his offense has been a surprise.  Look for Loy to move quickly if he keeps hitting, as I have said, his defense isn't an issue at all.
17 G, 68 AB, 21 H, 6 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 7 RBI, 8 R, 1 BB, 11 K, 4 SB.  .309/.310/.397/.707






***As I said, I will try to do these every 10-14 days or so, just to keep everyone updated on how the Tiger's prospects are doing.

Old Mr. Illitch Had A Farm...

This post is the first in probably a bi-weekly series.  I'm going to be updating you all on how some of the Tiger's top prospects are performing in the minor leagues.  I will cover all of the names that everyone knows (Turner, Castellanos, Oliver, etc), but will also throw in several names you guys may not have heard; but should be aware of.

Toledo Mud Hens (AAA)

The Usual Suspects:

Andy Oliver LHP-

Oliver hasn't been good.  Guess why?  Go ahead--guess.  Give up?  Because he has no command.  Big surprise right?  Through 3 starts, Oliver has pitched 14 1/3 innings, surrendering 12 hits and yielding 16 walks.  16 WALKS!!!!  That's good for a WHIP of 1.95, which is off the charts horrendous.  He has struck out 15 batters, which is a great number, but it does nothing to make up for the walks.  At this point you have to wonder if he'll ever figure it out.
3 GS, 14 1/3IP, 12H, 16BB, 10ER, 15K, 6.28ERA, 1.95WHIP

Casey Crosby LHP-

Crosby got off to a rough start, struggling with, you guessed it, command.  He rebounded nicely though, going 5 innings while surrendering 5 hits, 2 walks, and only 1 run while striking out 5 in his last start.  Let's hope he keeps trending in the right direction.  Crosby has been SLIGHTLY better than Oliver in terms of success thus far; but he's still getting hit pretty hard in addition to issuing far too many free passes.  Remember though, his last start was encouraging.
3GS, 12IP, 14H, 8BB, 8ER, 12K, 6.00ERA, 1.83WHIP

Ryan Strieby 1B-

For those unfamiliar with Strieby, he was once considered the best hitting prospect in the Tigers system after belting 29 HR in 2008.  Wrist issues have hampered his progress, and he took a major step backwards last season, sliding down many top prospect lists to out of the top 20.  Strieby had a strong spring with the Tigers, and Leyland said he looks like "a different guy" due to finally being healthy.  Watch out for Strieby, he could be a viable candidate for a call up should the Tigers seek a power-hitting lefty bat off the bench or at DH.  He has been OK thus far in Toledo, second on the team in RBI with 12 but also tied for the lead in K's with 15.  He has drawn 8 walks already though, which is encouraging in terms of keeping his OBP elevated.
15 GP, 61AB, 16H, 6 2B, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 11R, 8BB, 15K.  .263/.357/.492/.849

You May Not Have Heard Of:

Brad Eldred 1B-

A journeyman minor leaguer, Eldred is not going to be found on any prospect lists, seeing as he's at an advanced age and is in his 4th organization.  However, Eldred has opened some eyes so far because he's on a season long offensive tear.  Through 15 games, Eldred leads the minor leagues with 8 HR and 21 RBI, while maintaining a .350 BA.  Don't be surprised to see Eldred get some run with Detroit this season as an injury replacement/bench bat.
15 GP, 60AB, 21H, 8 2B, 8 HR, 21 RBI, 15R, 5BB, 14K.  .350/.418/.883/1.301

Erie Seawolves (AA)

The Usual Suspects

Rob Brantly C-

Many (including myself) consider Brantly to be the best catching prospect in the Tiger's organization.  He's more advanced offensively than defensively at this point; but profiles as a hit-first MLB backup or average MLB starter.  He's splitting time with John Murrian behind the dish at Erie, but still getting the majority of PT.  Erie is not particularly stocked with top prospects this season; as Lakeland is chalked full of them.  Brantly has done well to begin the season; however, and could potentially be in Toledo as the season wears on.
10G, 41AB, 13H, 5 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 5R, 1BB, 7K.  .317/.333/.585/.919

Robbie Weinhardt RHP-

We all remember Robbie from his brief stints in Detroit.  He profiles as a sinkerball pitcher that can get swings and misses out of the bullpen.  That profile hasn't exactly been fitting thus far in 2012, however.  I liked Weinhardt's stuff when I saw him in Detroit, but much like Rick Porcello, if your sinker is belt high its going to get launched.  This is essentially Weinhardt's make-or-break season, and he hasn't started on a positive note.
5G, 10 1/3 IP, 11H, 6BB, 5ER, 3K, 4.35 ERA, 1.65 WHIP

You May Not Have Heard Of

Jordan Lennerton 1B-

Wow, look everyone, another first base prospect!  Lennerton was drafted in the 33rd round in 2008 by the Tiger's, and is slowly but surely making his way through the minor leagues.  Unfortunately, he is at an advanced age (26) for Double-A, but as a left-handed hitter he is making a name for himself.  Splitting time with Rawley Bishop at 1B, Lennerton has provided pretty much the only pop in Erie's lineup (except for Brantly).
13G, 48AB, 15H, 2 2B, 6 HR, 11 RBI, 9 R, 4 BB, 16 K.  .313/.352/.729/1.081


Lakeland and West Michigan will be covered in a separate post done tomorrow.

Changes coming

After falling short of the Western Conference Finals each of the past three years, this offseason will definitely produce changes in the Red Wings dressing room. Here’s my list of the five players may not be suiting up in the winged wheel next season.

1. Brad Stuart – It’s been fairly well-documented that Stuart is leaving for a west coast team. His family still lives in California, and I don’t think anyone would blame him, or be too upset when he leaves. Odds of returning: 5% 
2. Tomas Holmstrom – Holmstrom has been with the Wings since 1996. If he were to return, he would turn 40 next January. Considering the beating that he takes on a usual basis in front of the net, he’s had a surprisingly long career. All of the attention has been on the possibility of a Lidstrom retirement, but I think it’s more likely we won’t be seeing Homer next year. Odds of returning: 15%
3. Kyle Quincey – Quincey was traded for a first round pick earlier this season. He scored a goal in his first game as a Wing, and didn’t play terribly. He’s a restricted free agent this summer, but I don’t see how they can realistically bring him back. He didn’t perform up to expectations in his short time here, and had a boneheaded play yesterday that ended up leading to the first goal. With Brendan Smith having spent what seems like a decade in Grand Rapids, and the hopes of adding Suter, Quincey is expendable. Odds of returning: 25%
4. Jiri Hudler – After a regular season that was surprisingly productive (25 Goals, 50 Points) in the eyes of most Red Wings fans, Hudler followed it up with two goals vs. Nashville in the postseason. Hudler is a free agent this offseason, and could try to cash in somewhere else. He was paired with Zetterberg and Filppula for the majority of the season and may have been the most consistent line throughout the regular season. However, Hudler is far from irreplaceable and the Wings would probably rather have his cap space to sign someone like Suter or Parise. Odds of returning: 40%
5. Nick Lidstrom – In the postgame show last night, Nick said he’s going to take his usual 3-4 weeks when deciding on next season. Don’t be shocked if he returns, or if he retires. Lidstrom has accomplished just about everything a defenseman can in the NHL outside of the Hart Trophy. Regardless of his decision, it won’t be long before he’s enshrined into the HHOF in Toronto and his jersey is hanging in the rafters of the Joe. Odds of returning: 60%

Regardless of who returns, who leaves for greener ($$) pastures, or who retires, the Red Wings will have a different look next season. This current core of players has been together for the past three early playoff exits. The players mentioned are the players most likely to be somewhere else next season, but there are very few untouchable players on the roster (Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Howard) as it stands now.

LOLWUT?

It's being reported by numerous sources that the Michigan Marching Band will NOT be traveling to Dallas for the Michigan vs. Alabama season opener.

All I can say about this is "Lolwut"? Dave Brandon really shit the bed here, folks. I don't know about the rest of the Michigan fanbase, but when I think of Michigan football, one of my first thoughts is of the Michigan fight song playing. Hail to the Victors is more than a line from a song, it's a rallying cry, it's a calling card, it's a musical representation of millions of people! The fact that Michigan football will be on center stage in Dallas being watched by millions and millions of people, WITHOUT THEIR MARCHING BAND CHORUSING "The Victors" is an absolute travesty.

I urge all of our readers to tweet Dave Brandon (@DaveBrandonAD) to express your displeasure.

Go Blue!

Don't Stop Believin'

How in the hell does a team who went a league best 31-7-3 at home during the regular season drop 2 at home?  Detroit started this game out like they were on a mission but couldn't fire anything past Rinne.  Nashville got on the board first early in the 3rd period, with Bourque getting the goal.  Detroit tied it about 90 seconds later on a Hudler tip-in goal on a blast from Kronwall.  Klein got a gift wrapped goal, as 3 wings followed Erat into the corner.  Detroit had ample chances to tie and win this game, but couldn't get anything to go in.  With the Wings desperately rallying to tie the game, Zetterburg was called for a high stick on Weber, giving Nashville a power play in which they converted to reach tonight's final score of 3-1.  Some things to take from tonight's game:

• I've said it before but Detroit has been an absolute dumpster fire at converting the many chances they have had.  I stopped counting after 5 tonight, but if you can't bury these opportunities you don't deserve to win.  
• Detroit has had mental lapses at the worst possible time throughout this series.  I mean how the hell do 3 FUCKING PLAYERS TAKE 1 GOD DAMN GUY INTO THE CORNER.  Howard followed the play and there was an empty net for Klein.  With plays like this, Detroit is pretty much spotting Nashville a goal.  The worst thing was Filppula half-assing his way down the ice when he could've/should've been able to stop Klein on that shot.  
• Where the hell was Nyquist this game?  I mean I understand he's a rookie and all, but in a game that was a must win, couldn't he be bumped up or something, its not like the Wings could spare anything.  They scored 1 goal, even though Rinne was out of his mind, they had a ton of chances.  
• Will the Wings show the resolve they had last year when they came back down 3-0 against San Jose to force a game 7?  I know its a long shot, but hey, it's not impossible.  I have absolutely no idea what to expect in game 5, but I don't think Nashville wants to come back to Detroit for a game 6.  

Here's to hoping that the Wings pull their heads out of their asses and flip the proverbial switch.  It's tough but I'm keeping faith.  LGRW

Coach Mike Abdo Power Player of the Game Predictions

For Game 4 of the Wings-Predators series, the Ab(r)andon Inge staff will again be making their predictions for the Coach Mike Abdo Power Player of Game.

Phil: Valterri Filpulla, because why the hell not?

Ryan: Henrik Zetterberg, big game from him tonight

Frank: Johan Franzen, because he can't be useless forever

Brian: Gustav Nyquist, because I fucking love Gustav Nyquist

Andrew: Todd Bertuzzi, because he's a hardass

Michigan State Spring Football Practice

After a devastating loss in the Big Ten Title game to Wisconsin, the Michigan State football team rebounded with a triple-overtime victory over Georgia in the Outback Bowl. After posting the first back-to-back 11 win seasons in program history, the Spartans are hoping to build on their recent success. Let’s take a look at some of the battles/question marks as the team gets into the heart of their Spring Practice.

Quarterback

Kirk Cousins will go down as one of the most successful Spartan quarterbacks in recent memory. Not only did he put up impressive stats, but he provided invaluable leadership. The overwhelming favorite to take over for Kirk is redshirt junior Andrew Maxwell. A highly touted prospect out of high school, Maxwell has been groomed to take over for Cousins since he stepped foot on campus. From all reports, he has all the physical tools to be successful, but his lack of game experience is the biggest question going into next fall. Look for Maxwell to rely heavily on the running game early on as he begins to develop a rapport with the receivers.

Wide Receiver

The top three receivers from last year have all graduated after having very successful seasons last year. So who will step in to the fill the void?

• DeAnthony Arnett (SO) - After spending his freshman season at Tennessee, Arnett decided to transfer closer to home so he could be with his ailing father. He posted 24 catches last year at Tennessee as a true freshman and could step in and contribute right away. If the NCAA accepts his waiver to play this season, expect Arnett to play a large role in the offense this year.

• Tony Lippett (r-SO) - After spending his redshirt freshman season primarily as the third cornerback, Lippett will move over to the offensive side of the ball. He played sparingly at receiver last year, but was listed as a starter on the depth chart released prior to the start of spring practice. Lippett is out the rest of the spring with an ankle injury, but should be fine by the start of fall practice.

• Bennie Fowler (JR) – After sitting out most of last season with a foot injury, Fowler is actually the most experienced receiver returning. He had 14 catches as a freshman in 2010, but only 2 last year as he battled the foot injury. If he manages to stay injury-free, he could be the most reliable target that Maxwell has this fall.

• Keith Mumphery (r-SO) – Mumphery was slotted as the other starting wide receiver going into spring practice. He’s most notably known for his speed, but has had limited game action.

Others to keep an eye on: Juwan Caesar (r-FR), Andre Sims Jr. (r-FR), Aaron Burbridge (FR), Monty Madaris (FR), Macgarette Kings (FR)

Defensive Tackle

Jerel Worthy left early following an All-American season last year. Along with Worthy, the Spartans also lose Kevin Pickelman who proved to be a valuable contributor by the end of his senior season. Similar to the Wide Receiver position, there are an abundance of candidates to take over, but only one (Anthony Rashad White) has the game experience to ease the minds of Spartan faithful. White played outstanding in the bowl game vs. Georgia and should fill in admirably on the defensive line for Worthy.

Along with Rashad White, Tyler Hoover moves to the defensive tackle position after spending the past 3+ seasons at Defensive End. He’s added some bulk and started the spring as the starter along with ARW on the inside of the d-line. His biggest weakness could be his height. It’s not too often that you see a defensive tackle that 6’ 7” tall.

Two other candidates likely to receive playing time this season are James Kittredge and Micajah Reynolds. Kittredge  is a transfer from Vanderbilt who will be entering his redshirt sophomore season. He’s a bit undersized at 6’4” and 271 pounds, but will certainly be in the playing rotation this fall. Reynolds has gone from defense, to offense, and is now back on defense. He has the size and skill set to be a solid contributor on the defensive line, but the fact that he’s floated back and forth between the offensive and defensive line leaves some questions as to whether or not he will finally settle in on the defensive line.

Safety

Isaiah Lewis is penciled in to start at the Free Safety spot. Barring an injury, he will be the starter come August 31^st when the Spartans take on Boise State. There is however, a battle going on for who will start along Lewis at safety. The candidates are redshirt sophomore Kurtis Drummond, redshirt freshman RJ Williamson, and redshirt junior Jairus Jones.

From all reports, the leader right now is Kurtis Drummond. Williamson is still learning the defense, though he was listed as a starter going into spring practice. A quote from defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi described Williamson as someone who is, “eating baby food right now who’s not ready for whole food.” Needless to say, I think Drummond has a leg-up on Williamson.

The wildcard in the defensive secondary is Jairus Jones. He is currently listed as the backup to Lewis at the Free Safety position. He was actually ahead of Lewis on the depth chart at this point last year, but blew out his Achilles and came back to play late last season. If Drummond struggles early on in the season, and Jones has proven to be fully rehabilitated from his injury, don’t be shocked if Jones is starting alongside Lewis by the start of Big Ten Play.

Top Ten Players Heading into the Spring Game

1.       William Gholston, DE- Gholston is an athletic freak who has shown flashes of brilliance throughout his two years at Michigan State. Look for him to build on his strong showing late last year. Don’t be surprised if Gholston is preparing for the NFL Draft at this point next year.

2.       Le’veon Bell, RB- Bell is the unquestioned starter at running back this year. At 6’ 2” and 238 pounds, Bell is a load to bring down. He’s not just a power back though. He has a fantastic stiff arm and can run through tacklers, as well as jump over them.

3.       Johnny Adams, CB- Adams is one of the biggest trash talkers in the nation. He can pull it off though, because his play can back it up. Known for being a great cover corner, Adams could very well be the best at his position in the Big Ten next year.

4.       Max Bullough, MLB- Bullough stepped in last season with huge shoes to fill. He was a consistent player all year in 2011 and should be the leader of the defense next year.

5.       Denicos Allen, OLB- Allen put up staggering numbers last year. He proved to be a pass rush specialist, posting double digit sacks in his first year as a starter. Oh yeah, and he can fly. 

7     6.    Isaiah Lewis, SS

8     7.       Chris Norman, OLB

6          8.   Darqueze Dennard, CB

9     9.    Marcus Rush, DE

1     10.   Chris McDonald, OG

Ab(r)andon Inge Staff Predictions: Major League Baseball (Part 1)

Editors Note: Again, this post was supposed to be up last week Wednesday or Thursday, but I haven't had time.  These predictions were done prior to anything that has taken place in baseball since Tuesday, April 10th.

Ab(r)andon Inge Staff Predictions: Major League Baseball 2012

Brian:
AL Central-Detroit Tigers
AL East-Tampa Bay Rays
AL West-Texas Rangers
AL Wild Card #1-New York Yankees
AL Wild Card #2-Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

NL Central-St. Louis Cardinals
NL East-Philadelphia Phillies
NL West-Arizona Diamondbacks
NL Wildcard #1-Washington Nationals
NL Wildcard #2-Cincinnati Reds

AL Playoffs-

Wild Card-
Angels over Yankees

Divisional-
Texas over Tampa
Detroit over Los Angeles

ALCS-
Detroit over Texas

NL Playoffs-

Wild Card-
Washington over Cincinatti

Divisional-
Arizona over Washington
Philadelphia over St. Louis

NLCS-
Arizona over Philadelphia

World Series
Detroit over Arizona in 6

AL Awards-

MVP-Miguel Cabrera, DET
Cy Young-Justin Verlander, DET
Rookie of the Year-Matt Moore, TB

NL Awards-

MVP-Troy Tulowitski, COL
Cy Young- Clayton Kershaw, LAD
Rookie of the Year- Bryce Harper, WAS

Phil-
AL Central- Detroit Tigers
AL East- Tampa Bay Rays
AL West- Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
AL Wildcard #1- New York Yankees
AL Wildcard #2- Texas Rangers

NL Central- Cincinnati Reds
NL East- Philadelphia Phillies
NL West- San Francisco Giants
NL Wildcard #1- Atlanta Braves
NL Wildcard #2- Chicago Cubs (Ed: lolwut?)

AL Playoffs-

Wildcard-
Texas over New York

Divisional-
Detroit over Texas
Tampa over Los Angeles

ALCS-
Tampa over Detroit

NL Playoffs-

Wildcard-
Atlanta over Chicago

Divisional-
Philadelphia over San Francisco
Cincinnati over Atlanta

NLCS-
Philadelphia over Cincinnati

World Series
Tampa over Philadelphia in 5

AL Awards-
MVP- Robinson Cano, NYY
Cy Young- Justin Verlander, DET
Rookie of the Year- Matt Moore, TB

NL Awards-
MVP- Joey Votto, CIN
Cy Young- Roy Halladay, PHI
Rookie of the Year- Bryce Harper, WAS

Ab(r)andon Inge Roundtable #2

Editors Note: I aplogize for my lack of posting the last several days.  I've been incredibly busy with school and baseball.  Not to worry, I have returned.  Also, this post was done last week Tuesday, I just haven't been able to post it.

Ab(r)andon Inge Roundtable #2: Who will be the Tiger's breakout performer in 2012?

Brian:
I've got to go with Rick Porcello.  After 3 years of seasoning in the majors, figuring out what works, what doesn't work, etc; and spending 3 full years with a major league pitching coach, I feel like he definitely will break out this year.  He's got all the stuff to be a very good #3 or solid #2 in the majors.  His 2 seam fastball (sinker), when working, can absolutely dominate hitters.  When the velocity on it is up (91-93) rather than down (88-90), you see a lot more late life and distinctly more "bite" on the pitch.  He has improved his breaking stuff tremendously, and his changeup is working it's way up towards being a quality pitch.  Porcello has my vote

Phil:

My pick for breakthrough Tigers player this year is Daniel Schlereth. After having a couple of ho-hum seasons to start off his career here in Detroit, I think this is the year that he puts it together and becomes more than just a situational lefty out of the bullpen. His K/BB ratio is a pedestrian 1.55/1 during his major league career. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that this is the year where he: A) Learns how to throw strikes consistently and B) Makes sure those strikes don't end up in the outfield bleachers.

(Ed: Phil is a moron)

Frank:

I’m going to go with Rick Porcello. Brian said in an earlier post that Porcello would have a great year and cement himself as the number 3 starter. I happen to agree 100% with him. The main reason is the fact that in years past, Porcello had started slow, but toward the end of the season he got a lot better. I remember hearing Dan Dickerson and Jim Price (the radio announcers for the Tigers) talking about Porcello start working on his pitching earlier in spring training than he had in the past, putting him more in midseason form when he started against the Rays on Tuesday.

Ryan:

My pick for the Tigers Breakout performer of the 2012 season is Austin Jackson.  I know we’re only 3 games into the series but I was thoroughly impressed with his improvement at the plate.  Even though he struck out twice in the series, he still provided some clutch moments, in the walk off single on opening day, as well as getting on base for Cabrera to drive in the tying home run in the bottom of the 9^th.  While I don’t predict ridiculous stats, his success should help the Tigers win a few more games and improve the numbers of Cabrera/Fielder.  Since he will be on base they will be in more RBI opportunities, hopefully leading to more Tigers runs, as evidenced by their 26 run outburst this weekend.