Ugueth Urbina still Detroit Closer?

[AT]

I've heard numerous things regarding the situation in Detroit now that Percival is back and I don't know what to believe. What is Trammel saying about how these 2 will be used?? Any Detroit homers have the inside track? Thanks...

[jblank]

Urbina is still the closer. Percival will work middle relief/setup until he is proven to be healthy. What I am reading says that Urbina still has the inside track to the job if he keeps up this performance level.

[bronxxbomber]

I think Det will keep him in the role as long as it takes to find someone take him off their hands for some nice prospects.

[AT]

That's the impression I'm getting as well. I wouldn't be surprised in the least if Percival has a relapse based on his history of injuries. I like Urbina's long term prospects and I may even try trading for him now that his owners may be selling him.

[kimchi_chigae]

yep...trammel is saying that percy will be used in non-save situations and urbina will be the closer, but he didn't say uggie would close for the rest of the year.

DET is 10 games out of first and 6.5 out of a wild card spot...if their situation doesn't improve in the next month or so...someone might get traded...and i believe that someone would be urbina...isn't he a free agent next year? now...if the uggie man gets traded, he could close or he could be the set up man, so i think it's a bit of a gamble trading for urbina thinking that he'll def close somewhere else. i think percy will get the job eventually, if healthy. if you got percy...hang on to him...if you goit urbina...good luck.

[thomasps3]

Without substantiation, I think once percy gets the rust off, he'll be the closer. Trammell will definitley let him earn i tthough, however, the main reason he isn't closing immediately is because he didn't do a rehab assign lkike the Tig's wanted him too.

[reynolds80]

Ugueth Urbina still Detroit Closer?

As Dane Cook would say, "Oh yeah!"

[jblank]

A little birdie has told me that the odds are good that Urbina ends up with the Braves or Cubs.

[d18Mike]

I'm in Detroit and follow the Tigers closely -- the situation is similar to that in FLA. The annointed closer needs to earn his way back into the role. Don't underestimate the fact that Trammell is kind of in the hot seat. His job is not secure and he has made a lot of questrionalble personnel calls. With Uggy pitching as well as he is, he'd be absolutely foolish to hand it over to Percy. I don't think Percy's psychological need to feel loved and respected as the "closer" really play into it. Not with the manager's job on the line.

[Yoda]

I'm in Detroit and follow the Tigers closely -- the situation is similar to that in FLA. The annointed closer needs to earn his way back into the role. Don't underestimate the fact that Trammell is kind of in the hot seat. His job is not secure and he has made a lot of questrionalble personnel calls. With Uggy pitching as well as he is, he'd be absolutely foolish to hand it over to Percy. I don't think Percy's psychological need to feel loved and respected as the "closer" really play into it. Not with the manager's job on the line.

While I agree with you, I still don't think a player should lose his job due to an injury.

Uggie's pitching very good right now and he may finish the season as DET closer. However, a couple of bad outings and/or blown saves will put Percy right back in the role.

If DET was smart, they would continue to let Uggie close and then shop him. I think he can still be an effective closer as he has demonstrated thus far and he should fetch some nice prospects.