Friday, May 20, 2011

Tigers Infield: Rookie Style

We're on to the current Tigers' active infield roster, using non-current Tigers card. It's the ghost of rookie past coming to remind us of a time when these fellas were small and awkward and some of them couldn't even buy a beer yet.

Miguel Cabrera: 1B
I'll start off with the big guy, who doesn't look so big here. Before he started drinking and driving and bashing homers, he started off in 2000 batting .259 with 2 home runs over 251 at bats. Mediocre start to a sterling career. This is one of the favorite rookie cards in my collection, snatched off the bay of E for a couple bucks. I still need the Chrome-tastic version.
Scott Sizemore: 2B
Taking over for little Willy Rhymes, Scott Sizemore tore it up this year in Toledo, batting .408. He's still seeking his stride this year in the majors, and he may be benched if Carlos Guillen ever gets cobbled back together. He has a fine signature and solid defense. I actually pulled this card out of a pack--the auto I wanted the most from my favorite set.
Johnny Peralta: SS
We're glad to have stolen Peralta from the impossibly awesome Indians. Don't get to comfortable, Indians. We're coming for you, and we got your Johnny. So what was Peralta doing in 2002, the year of this card? He was batting .281 with 15 home runs. Not too shabby.

Brandon Inge: 3B
Who else but the Inge? Sure, some seasons he toes the Mendoza line, but we love Inge. And, sure, I groan when he comes to bat and there's two outs and ducks on the pond, but I wouldn't trade him for anyone else on defense. Inge is always smiling, always playing as hard as he can. Early this season, he got a walk-off home run (his only homer this season) and pirouetted like a little ballerina on his way to home plate. That makes watching baseball enjoyable--when there are players out there still having fun. Inge is kind of like our modern-day Coot Veal, so this blog is required by contract to be a fan.
Ramon Santiago: Utility
Gotta have one of these guys. Ramon comes to work and does his job, wherever they need him. His rookie year in the majors, 2002, he had a fielding percentage of .977, which is almost exactly the same as his career average. Well, at least you know what you're getting with Ramon.

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