Claggett makes a day trip to Toledo

7/28/2006

For Anthony Claggett, being a Mud Hen for a day is not a bad deal.

Claggett, a right-handed pitcher, was called up from low Single-A West Michigan yesterday to provide the Hens with some bullpen relief. Toledo placed reliever Steve Green on the temporary inactive list retroactive to Tuesday because of an internal issue, but he will return today.

Claggett, 22, was the Tigers' 11th-round draft pick last year out of the University of California-Riverside. He is the setup man at West Michigan - 5-2 with a 1.02 ERA and eight saves this year.

"They pulled me in the office, they said, 'Hey, you're going to Toledo for a day,'●" Claggett said. "I'm having fun already, just sitting in the clubhouse before the game. It's a great experience, to just see how it is, and have fun."

Claggett pitched the fifth inning. He gave up a walk and a hit - but no runs - and struck out two.

The pitching questions continue for the Hens, with the team still unsure who will start tomorrow's game in Louisville. Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski told Detroit reporters Humberto Sanchez would miss his second consecutive start scheduled that day because of elbow soreness, but resume his regular spot in the rotation on Thursday.

"Right now we're having trouble covering all the moves," Hens manager Larry Parrish said. "We picked up [right-hander Brian] Boehringer to cover, and he goes on the DL. Then Colby Lewis gets called up, and Sanchez has missed one. It's tough to cover guys going both ways."

Green, who gave up seven runs in two-thirds of an inning Monday, is not a candidate to start tomorrow. When he returns today, Green will be in the bullpen, where "he is more comfortable," Parrish said.

CATCHING UP: After a Hens wild pitch helped Pawtucket score a run in Wednesday's game, yesterday Parrish worked with catchers Mike Rabelo and Max St-Pierre on blocking balls.

"There was one thing that Max was mechanically doing out of sync," Parrish said.

"We just worked on technique," St-Pierre said. "I'm trying to get my glove at a better angle. You've got to work on it, because if you don't you become lazy."

BUNTS: Tigers designated hitter Dmitri Young came to Toledo yesterday to work on his hitting with Hens coach Leon "Bull" Durham on the Tigers' off day. Alexis Gomez, recently designated for assignment by the Tigers, hit in the Hens batting cages yesterday and worked out in the clubhouse. If Gomez clears waivers he can rejoin the Hens tomorrow. Right fielder Ryan Ludwick, a regular starter, has been out of the lineup the past two games. "We're giving him a couple mental days off," Parrish said.