President doesn't expect big shake-up

By BRUCE LOWITT and Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 24, 2000

Don't look for the Tigers to be a serious shopper in the market for players -- or a salary-dumper -- as the free-agent deadline draws closer. "I think it's more likely we'll be status quo, or a buyer," team president John McHale told the Detroit Free Press.

"We like what we've seen from our club in the last month and a half and we think our club is ready to continue that without significant tweaking," he said.

McHale didn't rule out going after a prominent player, but he said the Tigers won't go the "rent-a-player" route, signing one who will be a free agent at the end of the season.

The Tigers' pursuit of a wild card, not to mention the AL Central title, is a daunting one. Besides the three division leaders, Detroit is well behind virtually every other team in the league save two: the Devil Rays and Twins. Some teams in that position respond by unloading their big-contract players.

"I doubt very much we'd be an active seller because we've been tracking very close to budget," McHale said. The Tigers' payroll this season is about $57-million.

ONE AT A TIME, PLEASE: Players are not thrilled with day-night doubleheaders such as the one the Tigers went through Saturday against the Royals. It's not the playing time so much as the time they're not playing between games. All that time adds up.

"You get to the ballpark at 8:30 in the morning and you leave after midnight," first baseman Tony Clark said. "It's still baseball, but it makes for a long day."

Even longer for Clark. He's on the disabled list, so he is consigned to a day and night in the dugout or clubhouse.

Tigers hitting coach Bill Madlock played in an era when the second game of a doubleheader began within half an hour of the end of the first. He understands the attraction of the day-night games -- separate admissions -- but said, laughing: "It ruins your morning and evening."

A DETROIT SHOCK ABSORBER: Right-hander Danny Patterson is the latest entry on the Tigers' injury front, placed on the 15-day disabled list after Saturday's first game.

Patterson pitched an inning of relief in the 8-5 loss to the Royals, but experienced what he said was a "a shock" that radiated through his arm as he threw his last half-dozen pitches.

He had surgery on his right elbow in 1994 after a stress fracture, but believes Saturday's pain was unrelated.

"I tried to talk them out of (putting him on the DL)," Patterson told the Detroit News. "It's just terrible timing."

This latest problem is believed to be inflammation in his elbow.

"They don't think it's a ligament, or that it's too serious, but they don't want to take chances," Patterson said. "It's not a burning or a stabbing pain."

Patterson's departure bought some extra time for first baseman Eric Munson, who got his first major-league RBI in the first game. He had been expected to be shipped to Double-A Jacksonville to make room for knuckleballer Steve Sparks, brought up to start the night game.

POWER SHORTAGE: Dean Palmer hasn't homered since July 4, and the whole team has been struggling to put a ball into the seats. Until Sunday, when Bobby Higginson and Brad Ausmus homered, Detroit hadn't had a multihomer game since July 9 at Milwaukee.

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.

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