After the Tigers made their recent and last cuts before Opening Day 2007 the biggest name, at least in Detroit, that didn’t make the initial team was Chris Shelton. He has a large number of fans, myself included, who rooted for him to be on the bench to begin the season. Some even went so far as suggesting he replace Sean Casey at first as starter but that was never going to happen.

This cut was particularly hard for Chris after a stellar start last year, a sudden demotion and rounded out with a strong Spring Training start where he hit .388/.436/.633. Many publications covered his disappointment: Free Press, Detroit News, MLB.com. Rob Parker was gracious enough to let us know “Chris Shelton didn’t cry when he heard the news Monday.” which is a good thing because:

There is no crying in baseball! - Tom Hanks (A League of Thier Own)

However, this is a good thing for Detroit regardless of their future plans for Shelton. Leyland had the option to either sit Shelton on the bench where he would be put in to cover on off days or when the Tigers are so far up or behind that the regulars start coming out. Or he can go to Toledo, play for the Mud Hens, and get regular at-bats and play everyday.

It does not matter if Dombrowski and Leyland mean it when they say he is the first baseman of the future, though I do believe them. It doesn’t matter if they want to put him out there as eventual trade-bait. Whatever scenario they have in mind is best facilitated by Chris Shelton actually playing baseball rather than sitting on the bench getting few precious at-bats.

So regardless of how you feel about Shelton, this is a good move; one that is good for Chris, for Detroit and maybe just not so much for Shelton fans who want to see him out there. We will see Chris out there in a starting role in Detroit at some point, we just need some patience.