Tigers manager Jim Leyland was on ESPN Radio’s Mike and Mike in the Morning Friday morning discussing the Prince Fielder deal among other topics the Tigers will be facing this season.
Here are some of the highlights of the interview…
- Leyland mentioned that the Prince Fielder deal was one of the most incredible things he’s experienced as a manager. He said it was amazing in regards to the timeline of events from Victor Martinez going down with an injury to the prospectus of getting Prince Fielder in the fold to actually signing Prince Fielder on Tuesday.
- When asked about the pressure of winning the Prince Fielder signing brings Leyland said that he’s 67 years old and if someone hasn’t learned to deal with the pressure when they’re his age then maybe they’re in the wrong profession.
- In terms of the timeline and his current superstar Miguel Cabrera, Leyland said he discussed the move prior to it actually happening with Cabrera. Leyland approached Cabrera by asking him how he felt about moving to third base in which Cabrera said he was all for and in fact had been wanting to move back across the diamond. Then when Leyland mentioned that it was to get Prince Fielder Cabrera was “100 percent on board” with the idea.
- Defense was a concern with the Tigers and is an even bigger concern now with Cabrera moving third base. Leyland said he is a little worried about the defense but did mention he has a lot of confidence in Cabrera taking to the third base position once again. He (Leyland) further elaborated by saying that Cabrera has tremendous hands and one of the best arms in baseball. The Tigers skipper also said that he would like to get Cabrera down to 255lbs. but no lighter than that. He compared Cabrera to the tremendous athletic ability that a lot of big offensive linemen have in football.
- Leyland was then asked about where Fielder would bat in the lineup. The Tigers manager said that Austin Jackson would lead-off, Cabrera would bat third and Fielder would bat fourth with Delmon Young batting fifth.
- For Victor Martinez, Leyland said that he reached out to him and said that the plan for him was to keep him at the DH spot when he returns to the lineup from his injury. Leyland then went on to say that the Tigers’ batting lineup in 2013 could be even more scary with Cabrera, Fielder and Martinez all healthy.
- Leyland said that the Tigers are getting back to old-time baseball in terms of having power at the corners with Fielder and Cabrera at first and third and Boesch and Young at right and left field.
- For his own future, Leyland said he would like to keep on managing beyond this season. Furthermore he likes the one-year contracts especially at his age (67 years) and said that his return to the team isn’t up to him but would to return.
Ref: ESPN Radio, NY Times (image)
