Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
March 22, 2007
I Came for the Justin Verlander and Stayed for the Neifi Perez

Around the Majors points out Justin Verlander's up and down spring, and there's some good comments on how Justin's increased innings pitched in 2006 might mean he's in for a rough time in 2007. But in the Detroit Free Press article that starts the discussion, something even more interesting appears:

Neifi Perez did his stubborn best to save Justin Verlander from defeat Tuesday.

Batting with two out in the ninth, Perez fouled a parade of two-strike pitches, then singled, keeping a rally going that ultimately put the potential tying run at second.

The threat ended there, and Verlander and the Tigers lost to Pittsburgh, 3-1. Earlier in the game, Perez had drawn his ninth walk of the exhibition season -- one more than he drew all of last year in the regular season.

Based on those walks and that ninth-inning at-bat Tuesday, the Tigers could see a different, more effective Perez this season.

Old habits are tough to break, but the Tigers coaches are trying:

In his 10 seasons, Perez has never drawn a lot of walks. Lloyd McClendon, the Tigers' hitting coach, has been talking to Perez in spring training about laying off pitches out of the strike zone.

"The credit goes to Neifi," McClendon said. "He's very patient at the plate. He has a good idea what he's trying to accomplish.

"One thing I've tried to stress to him about hitting in spring training is to be a bit more patient, see pitches, get your rhythm. Get yourself ready for the season."

Of course, the fact that Perez isn't being handed a job any more might provide him with some motivation to improve his offense.


Posted by David Pinto at 08:21 AM | Spring Training | TrackBack (0)
Comments

Great headline.

Posted by: robustyoungsoul at March 22, 2007 01:03 PM

Neifi Perez ... the man who the Hardball times once called one of the worst offensive players in the history of baseball and put up stats to prove their point (I think they had a VURP system for him) is finally expected by someone to improve his offense before making a team?

Good God. Logic has invaded baseball.

Posted by: Rich B at March 23, 2007 12:21 AM
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