Thursday, August 17, 2006

Honest Jim

The Detroit News ran a very interesting story today about Leyland and Omar Infante's role as Placido Polanco's replacement. Let's just say Infante shouldn't get comfy in the lineup.

Leyland said he had confidence in Infante, but also noted the team had no other option. If it could find another option, he said they would be willing to explore it. I was thinking Mark Grudzielanek would be a possibility, and wasn't alone in that assumption, but he just signed an extension with KC. I don't see a lot else out there, especially with so many teams still fighting for the postseason. Maybe Aaron Miles of the Cards? That's just a guess.

When Leyland asked what he would most miss about Polanco, he responded that there were "seven things." That tells you how much respect Leyland has for the guy. "He does every little thing for this club that a manager could want," he added.

The seven things are: Steady on every routine grounder, turns every routine double play, can hit-and-run, can hit a fly ball when needed, gets the 2-out hit when needed, can sacrifice, can make the great plays.

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