With that in mind, we asked MLB.coms beat reporters to rank the top five players by position in the history of the franchise they cover, based on the players career with that club. html{line-height:1.15;-webkit-text-size-adjust:100%;}/*!sc*/ At his peak, he averaged 30 homers and just under 100 RBIs per season from 1982 to 1985, capped by 114 RBIs in 1983. .mHQYb .mlb-header__login-menu__link:hover{background-color:#e2e2e2;color:#002867;border-radius:3px;}/*!sc*/ window.appId = '' .hHLkAw input[type='search']{height:32px;-webkit-appearance:none;}/*!sc*/ One of the most fascinating battles this spring could be between Akil Baddoo and Kerry Carpenter. data-styled.g160[id="newsletterOptinstyle__InputWrapper-sc-d7sh2p-5"]{content:"hYmwpY,"}/*!sc*/ Lance Parrish, 1977-86Key fact: One of four catchers in history with three or more Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards. Eduardo Rodriguez, Matthew Boyd, Matt Manning, Spencer Turnbull and Michael Lorenzen are all big leaguers. Even worse, his contact is not great at all, especially on breaking balls. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top [class$='__nav-item__text']{color:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ .hedPca{color:#666666;font-size:0.833rem;font-weight:500;margin-bottom:24px;padding-top:8px;}/*!sc*/ They played their home games at Comerica Park (Park Factors: 98/98) where 2,461,237 fans witnessed their 2010 Tigers finish the season with a .500 winning percentage. Charlie Bennett 4. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__button .header__nav-top__nav-item__text{display:none;}/*!sc*/ If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. The decision was a minor surprise at the time, but perhaps not unwarranted. There were 12 hits in the game. We could see a legitimate competition for the Tigers second catcher spot. The strength of the Tigers in the 1980s was up the middle, from Chet Lemon in center field to Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker as a double-play combo to Jack Morris on the mound. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item--spotlight .header__nav-top__nav-item__text{color:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb .p-search__list--multiple-type .p-search-item--team:first-of-type:before{content:'Teams';}/*!sc*/ WebThe Detroit Tigers played their first Major League game on April 25, 1901. data-styled.g22[id="imagestyle__Placeholder-sc-xw1tzz-3"]{content:"jehbss,"}/*!sc*/ He earned Silver Slugger awards for both the 1991 and 92 seasons. Not too shabby. W. L. Pct. .dLQAwR .contributor__text--twitter{font-size:0.8rem;font-weight:600;}/*!sc*/ @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-regular.woff2') format('woff2'),url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-regular.woff') format('woff');font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-display:fallback;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header[data-is-club] .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__tagline img,.mHQYb header.mlb-header[data-is-microsite] .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__tagline img{height:56px;max-width:512px;line-height:56px;}/*!sc*/ But theres a long list of young arms waiting for a shot. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__button-menu--icon{background:none;padding:0px;width:24px;height:18px;position:relative;margin:0px auto;-webkit-transform:rotate(0deg);-ms-transform:rotate(0deg);transform:rotate(0deg);-webkit-transition:0.5s ease-in-out;transition:0.5s ease-in-out;cursor:pointer;}/*!sc*/ But it all depends on what happens with Jake Rogers, the player who was once viewed as the Tigers catcher of the future. Michael Lorenzen 4. However, that left a hole at third base for the 2023 season, as hot hot-corner prospect Colt Keith isnt quite ready for the Tall Buildings. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. From the high expectations of last spring to an adjusted reality as the Tigers try to find their footing and chart the best path forward. data-styled.g144[id="Styles__StickyHeaderContainer-sc-1wye7kw-0"]{content:"ggWmAj,"}/*!sc*/ Each infielder will receive a grade on the scale from A to F. Some determinants for the grade included performance, expectations, value, and general fun factor. Tigers Roster & Staff. article ul,article ol{padding:0;margin:0 0 0 2.5rem;}/*!sc*/ Parrishs Big Wheel nickname wasnt just a reference to his size; it was a tribute to his role in making the Tigers go. Gambling problem? ","type":"markdown"}],"storyType":"news","subHeadline":"Detroit's excellence behind the plate extends from 1930s to 2000s","summary":"No one loves a debate quite like baseball fans. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-items--spillover{display:none;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__logo a{-webkit-flex:1 0 auto;-ms-flex:1 0 auto;flex:1 0 auto;}/*!sc*/ Parrish also won three Gold Gloves and three Silver Sluggers in that stretch, in addition to becoming a perennial All-Star selection (eight times from 1980 to 1990). .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__main-nav .scroll-buffer,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__subnav .scroll-buffer{padding-bottom:200px;}/*!sc*/ Hell have competition from Ryan Kreidler, minor league addition Andy Ibnez, prospect Andre Lipcius, and perhaps even Vierling himself against lefties. The Detroit Tigers have won 7 of their past 10 games, and catcher/left fielder Eric Haase has played key roles in the past two wins over the Mariners. 5. He was an All-Star in each of his four full seasons in Detroit, and he earned three Gold Gloves to boot, throwing out more than half of would-be stealers in 2005 and 2006. .dMKvOx{line-height:1.2;}/*!sc*/ I mean, how do you even consider taking him out of the lineup? .blLcNM .content .share-btn button{font-weight:600;}/*!sc*/ Watch Eric Haase and Kerry Carpenter go yard against the Yankees. Heres how good of an athlete Rodriguez was: When the Tigers were left without a second baseman after Placido Polanco was injured during a critical mid-August game in Boston in 2006, Rodriguez moved from catcher to second -- and he ran down a pop fly in the ninth inning as the Tigers rallied to win. update=copyright.getFullYear(); body.side-nav-open{max-height:100vh;overflow:hidden;overscroll-behavior:none;touch-action:none;position:fixed;top:0;width:100vw;}/*!sc*/ Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Whether they choose to stand pat or move forward, there most certainly wont be a dull moment. Thats what happened when the Tigers trade Cameron Maybin after their last competitive season in 2016. That really leaves the Tigers in a rough situation behind the plate. .mHQYb .p-search-item__container:hover{background-color:#e6f2ff75;color:#333333;}/*!sc*/ Give me a glove, Rodriguez once said, and I can play anywhere. 4. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__group-title{color:#aaaaaa;font-weight:700;font-size:12px;background-color:#ffffff;text-transform:uppercase;}/*!sc*/ Their opponent was Milwaukee and they defeated the Brewers 14-13 at Bennett Park in front of 10,023 As recently as 2010, he was plus-10 defender behind the plate. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. @media only screen and (min-width:568px){.kwDmpG{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-flex:1;-webkit-flex-grow:1;-ms-flex-positive:1;flex-grow:1;margin-right:8px;}}/*!sc*/ .hUHmCp > article .ad-top-right-container::before,.hUHmCp > article .ad-bottom-right-container::before{font-family:"proxima-nova";content:"ADVERTISEMENT";display:block;position:absolute;top:-17px;text-align:center;width:100%;color:#888888;font-size:0.694rem;line-height:13px;}/*!sc*/ He was really the leader of our ballclub. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item__link{width:100%;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;padding:14px;}/*!sc*/ .blUWSx .share-list__item{position:absolute;}/*!sc*/ window.adobeAnalytics = {"reportingSuiteId":"mlbglobal08,mlbcom08","linkInternalFilters":"mlb"} data-styled.g146[id="Styles__StickyHeadline-sc-1wye7kw-2"]{content:"cHcHkC,"}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb .p-search__list:focus{outline:0;}/*!sc*/ .dLQAwR a:hover{color:#0048AB;}/*!sc*/ @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-medium-it.woff2') format('woff2'), url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-medium-it.woff') format('woff');font-weight:500;font-style:italic;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-container__revenue{display:none;}/*!sc*/ Hes not likely to develop into a major power threat at this point, but the chance for average power production is still present. .mHQYb .p-search__form svg{width:16px !important;height:16px !important;}/*!sc*/ But even if you shrink his Tiger tenure by which to judge, he was an offensive force as a catcher, and one of Detroits shrewdest acquisitions in the decade. @media (min-width:768px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__secondary-logos{-webkit-flex-basis:75%;-ms-flex-preferred-size:75%;flex-basis:75%;}}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-side__nav-item[aria-expanded='true']{-webkit-overflow-scrolling:touch;}/*!sc*/ details{display:block;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g140[id="sharestyle__Label-sc-9nfkvu-0"]{content:"ezZJVn,"}/*!sc*/ \n","providerName":"Twitter","providerUrl":"https://twitter.com","type":"rich","width":550},"type":"oembed"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":"_Here is MLB.coms ranking of the top five catchers in Tigers history. @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-medium-it.woff2') format('woff2'),url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-medium-it.woff') format('woff');font-weight:500;font-style:italic;font-display:fallback;}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:768px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header{font-size:14px;}}/*!sc*/ .blLcNM .content{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-wrap:wrap;-ms-flex-wrap:wrap;flex-wrap:wrap;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;grid-column:1 / span 12;}/*!sc*/ Either player could be a solid platoon option. Rodriguez* 18. .hHLkAw input::placeholder{color:#aaaaaa;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb .p-search-item__container--sm{font-size:12px;height:30px;min-width:150px;}/*!sc*/ *{box-sizing:border-box;}/*!sc*/ Part of the Baseball Almanac Family. Keon Coleman is fresh off a career season and hes getting some recognition. data-styled.g170[id="Styles__TimestampContainer-sc-8rwtua-0"]{content:"hedPca,"}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g162[id="Styles__NewsletterOptinContainer-sc-10yslsy-0"]{content:"sczZi,"}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__logo{-webkit-flex:0 1 auto;-ms-flex:0 1 auto;flex:0 1 auto;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;text-align:left;height:56px;padding:0 16px 0 0;}/*!sc*/ Part of this finish comes from the strong play from their positional corps. .hspSPq{height:32px;padding-left:10px;padding-right:10px;font-size:13px;-webkit-transition:0.2s;transition:0.2s;border-radius:5px;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#057AFF;border:none;color:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ He hit 25 home runs to go with a career-best 84 RBIs in that 68 season, along with 24 doubles, and he was hit by 24 pitches. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__item,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__group-title{display:block;padding:10px;width:100%;-webkit-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid;word-wrap:break-word;word-break:break-word;}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:1024px){.blLcNM .content{grid-column:1 / span 8;}.blLcNM .content .share-btn{-webkit-align-self:flex-end;-ms-flex-item-align:end;align-self:flex-end;margin-bottom:16px;top:0;}}/*!sc*/