Watch CBS News

Stoney's Blog: Sizemore Demotion Does Not Solve Problem At 2nd

The Tigers sent Scott Sizemore to Toledo Tuesday. I don't think this means that the Tigers issues at second base are over. In fact it raises more questions. Who is going to open the season at second base? Will it be Will Rhymes? The little sparkplug is having a pretty good spring, hitting .289. Will it be Danny Worth? He can play a variety of positions and is hitting .323. Will it be veteran Ramon Santiago? Maybe it will be none of the above. Maybe the Tigers will realize that none of these guys are exactly all-stars and will make a trade. With the abundance of bullpen and outfield depth, couldn't the Tigers take a chance and moving a guy like Brennan Boesch or Casper Wells, Charlie Furbush and Andy Oliver for Michael Young? You may say Andy Oliver is an untouchable, but I say the future is now. Michael Young would be the bat that could put the Tigers over the top, and yes I think Young could play second.

Sizemore's demotion also raises the question of, what happens to Scott Sizemore. Here was a guy the Tigers pegged as their second baseman of the future and now at age 26 is back in Toledo. Unfortunately the Tigers might be forced in going Back to the Future and have Carlos Guillen play second base when he is healthy and that is a movie I don't want to see.

If forced to play Jim Leyland here and there is no trade, I would start Rhymes and see what happens. I think he can play in the big leagues; I am just not convinced he can be effective every day. The bottom line is that second base was a question mark in October of 2010 and is still a question mark with opening day 2011 just nine days away.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.