Not Too Late To End Neifi Charade
How much will Sean Casey be able to play in the World Series? If his injured calf doesn't allow him to start, he surely provides a proven stick off the bench, but why not add Chris Shelton to the mix, and delete Neifi Perez?
I've made no bones about the questionable inclusion of Neifi Perez on the Tigers' playoff roster. I've said that Dave Dombrowski did the best he could to obtain some insurance, just in case Placido Polanco was done for the season, which I really feared several weeks ago. Craig Counsell was a possibilty back then, but the price must have been too high, and he was a fan favorite in Arizona, in spite of being phased out for a budding star at shortstop. Dombrowski did the best he could do then; he did something, and hoped it worked out.
Neifi Perez was worth the risk back then, but has proven to be virtually washed up. Why he was included on the roster, when Polanco came back where he left off? It is a complete mystery; the mystery of the season. I just question why the local media hasn't really questioned management about that move, as it is obvious, what a liablity he has proven to be. Fans question it, and it is responded to with, "Chris Shelton just hasn't been hitting." This is not any kind of justification why Perez was put on the roster, as he has never produced in his time as a Tiger! He has no history here, as Shelton does, and hasn't made any significant contributions EVER, to have snubbed Shelton as the 25th player, when his value would have had the opportunity to increase, no matter what next season brings.
Still, the sports media in this town refuses to ask the obvious question; WHY??? This criticism is all about having an extra stick on the bench, and no rational sports fan say the Perez is a better choice than Shelton, yet the writers and radio commentators give the Tigers' organization a pass on this one, while a player who started the ball rolling is villified for one bad month in June. Let's not forget that Shelton batted .289 for July, while other regulars, such as Inge, Granderson, Ordonez, and Thames all hit below that; only Ordonez hit better over the entire season, and other regulars, such as, Monroe and Casey hit below Shelton.
Chris Shelton isn't the only player who hit around .200 for a month, and his .273 for the season is much better than Neifi's .200, no matter what side of the plate he's swinging that signature souvenier bat from. Let's not even get into comparing OBA or SLG%; why deepen the ill feeling over this travesty! Instead, we hear that Sheldon may have lost favor in this organization, and is destined to be outsourced before next season. FINE, but let's just deal with THIS SEASON! It has been brought up that Perez is a switch-hitter, but I'd put Nate Robertson's left-hand stick in there as a pinch-hitter, before I'd tap Neifi's shoulder; it's pure folly to suggest that he bats left-handed - or right-handed for that matter! Anyway you look at it, Shelton is a better choice for a pinch-hitter than Perez, but the Neifi decision is still propped up without challenge, while the fans twitch; we know better, and we've been vocal about it! It's obvious that Mike Iilitch has truly stepped back; he also has to perplexed as a fan in this instance, while he maintains his silence.
After Casey was acquired, and Shelton sent to Toldeo, both Jim Leyand and Dave Dombrowski hailed him as the Tigers' first-baseman of the future; he just needed a break to work on a few things. Granted, he did not respond, nor did he after the September call-up in token appearances. Still, how does Neifi Perez rank higher on the food chain? As, we enter the World Series, where the value on pinch-hitters increase for the American League, Detroit has a Neifi Perez to look upon, instead of a proven cold weather hitter in Chris Shelton, who can put the ball in the seats late in a game. I'm not talking about a starting position, I'm talking about a pinch-hitter. You have to carry 25, and Shelton provides more than Neifi Perez. With Omar Infante and Ramon Santiago on the roster, why in the world do you need NEIFI PEREZ???: This isn't about what Chris Shelton hasn't done, it's more about WHAT HAS NEIFI PEREZ DONE PERIOD, to warrant a spot on the playoff roster? Can anyone explain this love affair, the repeated chance after chance... LET IT GO; IT WAS A BIG MISTAKE! Let's hope the Tigers don't get into a game that goes deep into extra innings, we need a run, Neifi is the only one left on the bench, and Detroit ends up losing the World Series. I don't want to hear the media questioning the decision then! At that point, talking the Lions will even be more comfortable.
It's hilarious hearing the jokes of Neifi emerging as the Fall Classic MVP being repeated now, just because there aren't any nads to talk or write about the nonsense of it. I'd like to hear once from someone in the media that Perez just doesn't belong, as much as the talk about how Shelton, Young, and Maroth didn't belong, after the fact! Perhaps there is this feeling that Detroit will sweep the Cards or Mets, no matter who is on the roster. No one will answer the basic question; with the game in balance in the bottom of the 9th or extra innnings, do you want Shelton or Perez available as a pinch hitter? The defense is covered with Infante and Santiago; why is Perez an extra defensive piece, when we need more pitch hitters to insert for the pitchers, now that that matters?
Call it what is is; it is a case of arrogance, and gutlessness. Any Tiger postseason roster with Neifi Perez is not your best roster, and no way can that be defended. Screw next year; deal with it when this season is over. Shelton brings more potential than Perez, and especially in temperatures where he is proven. Why wouldn't he, opposed to someone who has been given everything on a silver platter, and still failed miserably?!! As some Tigers have delivered beyond their expectations, Shelton has that same capability. While Perez was being force-fed into the lineup that limped down the stretch, Shelton only received token appearances that deprived him of regaining his confidence for money time. Sean Casey worked out; Neifi Perez did not, so why all the media walking on eggshells regarding his place on the roster? There is no crying in baseball, and there is no place for politics with a championship on the line. Everyone knows this move was wrong, but yet, the folks of influence have their lips sealed when it comes to pointing out that Shelton is a better bat off the bench than Neifi Perez. We all love Leyland, The Legend, and he has the Midas Touch. Why risk the magic running out though, if this gets down to having the wrong 25th man?
I've made no bones about the questionable inclusion of Neifi Perez on the Tigers' playoff roster. I've said that Dave Dombrowski did the best he could to obtain some insurance, just in case Placido Polanco was done for the season, which I really feared several weeks ago. Craig Counsell was a possibilty back then, but the price must have been too high, and he was a fan favorite in Arizona, in spite of being phased out for a budding star at shortstop. Dombrowski did the best he could do then; he did something, and hoped it worked out.
Neifi Perez was worth the risk back then, but has proven to be virtually washed up. Why he was included on the roster, when Polanco came back where he left off? It is a complete mystery; the mystery of the season. I just question why the local media hasn't really questioned management about that move, as it is obvious, what a liablity he has proven to be. Fans question it, and it is responded to with, "Chris Shelton just hasn't been hitting." This is not any kind of justification why Perez was put on the roster, as he has never produced in his time as a Tiger! He has no history here, as Shelton does, and hasn't made any significant contributions EVER, to have snubbed Shelton as the 25th player, when his value would have had the opportunity to increase, no matter what next season brings.
Still, the sports media in this town refuses to ask the obvious question; WHY??? This criticism is all about having an extra stick on the bench, and no rational sports fan say the Perez is a better choice than Shelton, yet the writers and radio commentators give the Tigers' organization a pass on this one, while a player who started the ball rolling is villified for one bad month in June. Let's not forget that Shelton batted .289 for July, while other regulars, such as Inge, Granderson, Ordonez, and Thames all hit below that; only Ordonez hit better over the entire season, and other regulars, such as, Monroe and Casey hit below Shelton.
Chris Shelton isn't the only player who hit around .200 for a month, and his .273 for the season is much better than Neifi's .200, no matter what side of the plate he's swinging that signature souvenier bat from. Let's not even get into comparing OBA or SLG%; why deepen the ill feeling over this travesty! Instead, we hear that Sheldon may have lost favor in this organization, and is destined to be outsourced before next season. FINE, but let's just deal with THIS SEASON! It has been brought up that Perez is a switch-hitter, but I'd put Nate Robertson's left-hand stick in there as a pinch-hitter, before I'd tap Neifi's shoulder; it's pure folly to suggest that he bats left-handed - or right-handed for that matter! Anyway you look at it, Shelton is a better choice for a pinch-hitter than Perez, but the Neifi decision is still propped up without challenge, while the fans twitch; we know better, and we've been vocal about it! It's obvious that Mike Iilitch has truly stepped back; he also has to perplexed as a fan in this instance, while he maintains his silence.
After Casey was acquired, and Shelton sent to Toldeo, both Jim Leyand and Dave Dombrowski hailed him as the Tigers' first-baseman of the future; he just needed a break to work on a few things. Granted, he did not respond, nor did he after the September call-up in token appearances. Still, how does Neifi Perez rank higher on the food chain? As, we enter the World Series, where the value on pinch-hitters increase for the American League, Detroit has a Neifi Perez to look upon, instead of a proven cold weather hitter in Chris Shelton, who can put the ball in the seats late in a game. I'm not talking about a starting position, I'm talking about a pinch-hitter. You have to carry 25, and Shelton provides more than Neifi Perez. With Omar Infante and Ramon Santiago on the roster, why in the world do you need NEIFI PEREZ???: This isn't about what Chris Shelton hasn't done, it's more about WHAT HAS NEIFI PEREZ DONE PERIOD, to warrant a spot on the playoff roster? Can anyone explain this love affair, the repeated chance after chance... LET IT GO; IT WAS A BIG MISTAKE! Let's hope the Tigers don't get into a game that goes deep into extra innings, we need a run, Neifi is the only one left on the bench, and Detroit ends up losing the World Series. I don't want to hear the media questioning the decision then! At that point, talking the Lions will even be more comfortable.
It's hilarious hearing the jokes of Neifi emerging as the Fall Classic MVP being repeated now, just because there aren't any nads to talk or write about the nonsense of it. I'd like to hear once from someone in the media that Perez just doesn't belong, as much as the talk about how Shelton, Young, and Maroth didn't belong, after the fact! Perhaps there is this feeling that Detroit will sweep the Cards or Mets, no matter who is on the roster. No one will answer the basic question; with the game in balance in the bottom of the 9th or extra innnings, do you want Shelton or Perez available as a pinch hitter? The defense is covered with Infante and Santiago; why is Perez an extra defensive piece, when we need more pitch hitters to insert for the pitchers, now that that matters?
Call it what is is; it is a case of arrogance, and gutlessness. Any Tiger postseason roster with Neifi Perez is not your best roster, and no way can that be defended. Screw next year; deal with it when this season is over. Shelton brings more potential than Perez, and especially in temperatures where he is proven. Why wouldn't he, opposed to someone who has been given everything on a silver platter, and still failed miserably?!! As some Tigers have delivered beyond their expectations, Shelton has that same capability. While Perez was being force-fed into the lineup that limped down the stretch, Shelton only received token appearances that deprived him of regaining his confidence for money time. Sean Casey worked out; Neifi Perez did not, so why all the media walking on eggshells regarding his place on the roster? There is no crying in baseball, and there is no place for politics with a championship on the line. Everyone knows this move was wrong, but yet, the folks of influence have their lips sealed when it comes to pointing out that Shelton is a better bat off the bench than Neifi Perez. We all love Leyland, The Legend, and he has the Midas Touch. Why risk the magic running out though, if this gets down to having the wrong 25th man?
posted by garold at 12:38 PM
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