Tigers call Monroe, leaving Toledo outfield thin

4/18/2002

The Mud Hens lost another player when outfielder Craig Monroe was called up by the parent Detroit Tigers before yesterday's game.

Monroe, who was in uniform for Detroit's game with Tampa Bay last night, replaced Damion Easley on the Tigers' roster. Easley was placed on the disabled list after re-injuring his left oblique muscle Tuesday. That game marked Easley's return to the lineup after missing six games with the injury.

Monroe had an eight-game hitting streak with the Hens and posted a .319 batting average with four home runs and 10 RBIs in 13 games. Monroe was tied for third in the International League in homers and ranked sixth in RBIs at the time of his call-up.

Monroe is the second outfielder the Tigers have plucked off the Hens' roster without providing a replacement. Detroit called up Andres Torres on April 9 when Damion Jackson was placed on the disabled list.

The Hens currently have only 10 position players available.

The Tigers probably will put Dean Palmer on the disabled list with the idea of sending him to Toledo on a rehab assignment. That would allow Palmer to play third base so that he can get his arm as well as his bat in shape.

Pitcher Nate Cornejo will be recalled to Detroit on Saturday.

STILL SEARCHING: The Tigers still have not found a pitching coach for the Mud Hens to replace Jeff Jones, who was named the Tigers' bullpen coach on April 9.

But an interesting name - and a familiar one - did surface during the Tigers' search.

Detroit had discussions with former Tiger Jack Morris to fill the position vacated by Jones. According to a report in today's Detroit Free Press, the team approached Morris about the position, but Morris declined the opportunity before a formal offer was made.

Morris won 198 games as a Tiger and served as the ace on the 1984 team that won the World Series. The right-hander won 254 games in his career and also led Toronto and Minnesota to World Series triumphs.

Last year Morris received 97 votes in his third year on the Hall of Fame ballot. That equaled 20.6 percent of the vote; 75 percent is needed for enshrinement.

Morris spent the past spring training serving as a special pitching instructor for the Tigers.

Jon Matlack, the Tigers' roving minor league pitching instructor, will likely wind up with the Hens. He served as pitching coach during the Hens' first homestand.