Big Moves for the Tigers

The Detroit Tigers have promoted 20-year old Cameron Maybin to the major leagues. He is starting tonight in New York against the Yankees in left field. I went to Maybin's first professional game in Grand Rapids last year and he looks like a great baseball player in the making. He played for the low-A West Michigan Whitecaps all season last year and spent the first part of this season at high-A Lakeland. After a brief six-game stop in double-A Erie, he's in the Show. Here is a picture of his very first at bat.

The tradeoff for bringing the youngster up is that the Tigers designated Craig Monroe for assignment. This essentially ends Craig's time with the Tigers. He either has to agree to go to the minor leagues (unlikely) or they have to trade him or release him outright. He was one of Magi's favorite Tigers, just for the fact that he took so much of his time to sign autographs for little kids. He was one of my favorites last season because he always seemed to come through in the later innings. He hit a very dramatic home run when we were at the American League Division Series last year. We were sitting in the left field stands when it happened and when he returned to his position in left field in the top of the
next inning, we all gave him a rousing standing ovation, to which he reacted by patting his hand over his heart. I wish him all the success in the world with whichever team he ends up with. Okay, except if it's the White Sox. I hate the White Sox.

Here's Craig's home run from my camera. You can see the ball against the background of the stairs.