Published: 8/14/2012

Call-ups a point of contention

Leyland would prefer not to have expanded roster

DETROIT FREE PRESS

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Healthy scratches in baseball?

That would be something Tigers manager Jim Leyland would support when it comes to September call-ups.

Leyland has never favored expanding the rosters for the stretch run for multiple reasons.

Leyland said the idea of having an active 30-man roster each day has been discussed. Those not on the active roster would not be eligible to come into a game.

"If they do that, then OK," Leyland said.

Even though he'd support that idea, he would prefer to not have the call-ups at all.

"It doesn't make any sense to me to play by certain rules for five months and then the biggest month of the season, particularly this year with all the teams involved in the wild card, one team has 10 extra guys and another team has five. They say, well you can bring up 10 if you want. That's not the point. The point is you work all year as a manager to get a matchup; you can't get a matchup in September. When you bring in a left-handed pitcher to face a left-handed hitter, they got six guys. You bring in a right-hander, then they pinch-hit a left-hander. It doesn't make sense to me. I think it's a foolish rule."

Leyland said he has mentioned his objections to commissioner Bud Selig.

"This is just an opinion," Leyland said. "It doesn't make it right."

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