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Perry Will Make Bullpen Not Lean So Far To Left

Detroit's bullpen isn't nearly "all right" as it has been much of the past couple of seasons but it's a little less left-handed than it has been.

The Tigers had been carrying four southpaws in their bullpen and manager Jim Leyland said that was a bit much, at least one too many.

Some balance was restored when Leyland announced after Detroit's 7-5 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers that right-hander Ryan Perry was being recalled from Toledo and southpaw Adam Wilk was going back to the Triple-A team.

That leaves Detroit with left-handers Charlie Furbush, Daniel Schlereth and David Purcey, while southpaw Brad Thomas is on a rehab assignment with Toledo.

Detroit has been drafting southpaws like crazy for years, but still in recent seasons has scrambled to find more than one reliable left-hander it could use in relief.

Last year the club operated in effect with no southpaw in the rotation. To alleviate that it, shifted left-hander Phil Coke to the rotation. Coke has only one victory, but just as easily could have a couple more.

Thomas, who was sidelined May 21 when his elbow locked up, has been pitching well for Toledo on his rehab assignment but the organization hasn't indicated when, even if, he will be back.

Purcey's position is solid, but one could make a case for sending either Furbush or Schlereth out when Thomas is deemed ready to return. One could also make a case for trading Thomas, or designating him for assignment to draw a trade, but the timing does not appear right for that move.

Schlereth has had problems walking hitters, especially left-handers, again. But where last year it was his curve ball that was giving him problems, this year it's the fastball. In the main, though, he's been useful.

Furbush has pitched well in long relief, but as a rookie it would make sense and it would be easiest to send him back to Toledo to get in more innings.

Copyright (C) 2011 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.

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