A lifetime .304 hitter with no errors this season now looks
like he will be the Tigers’ starting first baseman.
To make room for Casey, the Tigers optioned Chris Shelton to
Triple-A Toledo. It seems that Shelton has gone from the
biggest hero on the team in early April to the largest goat just three months
later.
Throughout May, the Tigers implored their fans to vote for Shelton for the American League All-Star Team on their website. Now, just a couple months removed, he is back in AAA, with the man who’s
spot he someday hoped to take in Pittsburgh moving into his.
This was the only move the Tigers could make, however. With Casey at first base, and a whole slew of players who could take over for him (Young, Guillen, Rodriguez to name a few),
there was less reason to keep the struggling Shelton than anyone else on the team.
This may be just what Shelton needs, however. He can work out his kinks for a month in the minors, and then come back in September when the roster is expanded and contribute. It is also what the Tigers need as well. In Casey, they get the 7th best active hitter in the majors, a left-hander, and a guy who wouldn’t rush a short hop with the game on the line in the eighth inning against a division rival.
It makes one feel for Shelton a bit. He showed a lot of promise this season, and was beginning to hit the ball a bit in the last couple of weeks (though with much less power). But if the Tigers get to the World Series with Casey, they might have someone they can trade next season in Shelton
