Right-hander Francisco Cruceta has been worked into the Tigers' bullpen. Now the Tigers have to find out where he fits.
Cruceta worked a scoreless ninth inning Thursday in his Tigers debut, though he did walk the first batter he faced. "If he can pitch, he'll be good," manager Jim Leyland said. "If he can't, he'll just be a nice-looking kid with a good smile."
Leyland's next task will be to find out what role Cruceta can fill.
He originally was signed with the thought he might be able to work seventh innings, in front of setup man Fernando Rodney and closer Todd Jones.
The shoulder problems that have kept Rodney in Florida since the start of spring training forced a reshuffling of bullpen roles.
Righty Denny Bautista inherited the setup role after a solid spring, but he's walked 12 batters in 12 innings. Leyland says that's not acceptable, leading to speculation Cruceta could get a shot at the role.
Cruceta throws three pitches, but a fastball is his chief weapon.
TIGERS 8, YANKEES 4: First baseman Miguel Cabrera hit an RBI triple and a two-run home run to help the Tigers sweep the Yankees in New York in a three-game series for the first time since 1966. Right fielder Magglio Ordonez had three hits including a two-run double. Lefty Nate Robertson gave up a three-run home run in the first but settled down and allowed New York just one more run in his 5 2/3 innings of work.
