MVN: Most Valuable Network

Today, we move on to shortstops. This is obviously a position where the Tigers will need to see progress - preferably huge steps forward - from the players listed. If the Tigers go with Jack Wilson or Julio Lugo, let's hope it's sooner than later.

Cale Iorg, Lakeland
6'2", 182, Bats: R
Born: September 6, 1985        

PA: 431
AVG: .251
OBP: .329
ISO: .154
XBH%: 33.3
BB%: 8.1
K%: 25.8
BABIP: .328

Perhaps you've heard of this kid. A pretty common refrain I see about Iorg is that his numbers weren't even that good in Lakeland and why should we be getting excited about him. Well, I've said on here before the key to me is that his stats are a little better than league average for the Florida State League. Shortstops who are young, cheap and can do that are quite valuable, especially if they can flash some leather.

Hopefully, now that he's back in the baseball groove and has cleared the cobwebs, he can get to work on cutting down those Ks. Or at least make up for them with more walks and power. I'd be stunned if he didn't start the season as Erie's everyday shortstop, and there's really no reason for him to go to Toledo. Worth will be getting reps there, and if the Tigers want him, they're comfortable pulling in players from Double A.

Danny Worth, Erie
6'1", 180, Bats: R
Born: September 30, 1985

PA: 336
AVG: .254
OBP: .331
ISO: .132
XBH%: 34.7
BB%: 9.5
K%: 17.6
BABIP: .303

Born the same month as Iorg. I wonder if they talk about how each of their senior songs was Coldplay's Clocks. Worth had to have a cyst removed from his shoulder and that cut his season short. He had a surprisingly good season at the plate for a guy his age in Erie who's supposed to be an all glove, no bat shortstop. His numbers were a touch below average for the league, but not so much that you'd notice.

The unfortunate thing was the fact that it was a strong start and some tapering off afterward. I don't know if that can be attributed to the cyst, but scouting reports from when he was drafted suggest more valleys than peaks at the plate wouldn't be a huge surprise for this kid. Still, he's smart enough at the plate to get his walks and smart enough on the basepaths to where he's yet to be caught as a pro. A player like that can carve out a nice niche in the majors if a manager or two likes him.

He should be the starting shortstop for the Mud Hens, but could split his time with the next guy.

(Oh, and I didn't forget about his two at bats in Toledo. I just didn't think that one game was significant enough to bother figuring into his season stats.)

Brent Dlugach, GCL Tigers
6'4", 200, Bats: R
Born: March 3, 1983

PA: 18
AVG: .200
OBP: .278
ISO: .133
XBH%: .667
BB%: 11.1
K%: 22.2
BABIP: .273

Dlugach will be interesting to watch this spring. He was injured most of last season (which is why his few at bats were in the GCL) and he's coming back to fight for jobs with the Tigers' two best shortstop prospects in Erie and Toledo. The things written and said about Dlugach are that he's similar to Worth in that he's going to earn a job with his glove and not his bat.

That was pretty obvious most of his career and then in 2007, when he was finally showing some promise with the bat (although it was partly thanks to a .435 BABIP) he went down with a shoulder injury. As a result of that and some other injury problems, he has 96 whole plate appearances the last two seasons. That's scary when you're 26.

His problem won't be solved by shifting over to second base, either. Over there he'll be competing with the Tigers' top second base prospects - Hollimon (eventually), Rhymes and Sizemore. Luckily for him, one of the things Larry Parrish is good at is juggling his lineups to get guys in. He may just have to expand beyond his usual position to get those at bats.

Others to note: It was kind of gutless for me to go with Dlugach over Brandon Douglas (.328/.364/.445, 292 PA, in his first pro season) and Audy Ciriaco, but I've not heard rave reviews about the defense of either (Douglas - 23 E in 59 G, Ciriaco - 41 E in 107 G). So if they ever make the majors, I wouldn't be surprised if it was as something besides a shortstop.