Detroit has taken full advantage of roster expansion, calling up RHP Matt Anderson, RHP Jason Beverlin, RHP Nate Cornejo, LHP Eric Eckenstahler, RHP Franklyn German, SS-R Omar Infante, RHP Shane Loux, OF-R Craig Monroe, 1B-L Eric Munson, C-R Mike Rivera, RHP Fernando Rodney, SS-S Ramon Santiago, OF-S Andres Torres, and LHP Andy Van Hekken this month.

The Tigers activated Anderson from the disabled list September 20th and have used him out of the pen twice since that time, though not in save situations. His injury is similar to that of Tom Gordon, which is promising, as the much older Gordon appears to have fully recovered. Anderson will likely pitch a few more innings out of the pen before the season ends, and provided he keeps up his conditioning over the winter, he should be fine for next season.

Considering Anderson's signed through 2004, Detroit would be wise to at least have him open next season as their closer, no matter what they think of Franklyn German. German can work set-up for the first half of the season while Anderson closes, and the Tigers can deal Anderson at the break after he's re-established his value. German's performed excellently since joining Detroit as a part of the three-way Jeff Weaver trade between the Tigers, A's, and Yankees earlier this season. At AAA Toledo, German compiled a 31:7 K:BB with 15 H allowed in 22.2 IP for a 1.59 ERA. Over 6 innings in the majors, he has a 5:1 K:BB with 3 H allowed, and perhaps more impressive than his strikeouts or low numbers of baserunners, German hasn't allowed a homer this season at any level at which he pitched. I expect him to finish the season with a few more relief appearances and break camp in the Detroit pen next spring.

The Tigers snatched Jason Beverlin off waivers from Cleveland in mid-August. While he's already 28, Beverlin put up a good season between AAA Buffalo and Toledo, which are both in the International League. In 137.1 IP, he compiled a 119:45 K:BB with 124 H and 11 HR allowed for a 3.60 ERA over 23 starts in 27 appearances. During his brief stint in the majors with the Indians, he posted a 9:4 K:BB with 9 H and 1 HR allowed in 7.1 innings of relief. Unfortunately, Berverlin's been less successful in the two starts he's made this month with Detroit, so unless he picks it up in his last start of the season, his chances of a rotation spot next year are slim.

Cornejo shouldn't have been in the majors last season other than for a September cup-of-coffee. He should have spent the time in AAA, but Detroit rushed him to the majors and his barely acceptable skills collapsed. The same thing happened this spring when they again tried to use him in the rotation, so they finally decided he could use some AAA time. Regrettably his time in AAA has confirmed that he doesn't have the skills to start in the majors. In 132.1 IP, Cornejo compiled an 86:31 K:BB with 163 H and 11 HR allowed for a 4.42 ERA. His strikeout rate is below acceptable levels, and despite a solid walk rate, he allows too many baserunners. Fortunately he only turned 23 yesterday, so perhaps another year of AAA will help him regain the promise he showed in 2000. He's made two starts this month, and if his second start hadn't been called due to rain, his ERA would have been assaulted by 7 earned runs in .1 IP.

Detroit drafted Eckenstahler out of Illinois State University in the 32nd round of the 1999 draft. He started a few games in 2000 but has worked as a reliever since that time, allowing him to move quickly through the system. After splitting 2001 between A+ Lakeland in the Florida State League and AA Erie in the Eastern League, Eckenstahler advanced to AAA Toledo this year. In 67 IP, he compiled a 69:35 K:BB with 57 H and 8 HR allowed. Although I'm concerned about his AAA walk and homer rates, he's dominated in the majors, posting a 10:1 K:BB in 6.1 IP with 10 H but no homers allowed, so I think the 25-year-old's earned a place as a lefty reliever in the Detroit pen next season.

The Tigers signed Infante out of Venezuela as a nondrafted free agent in 1999. After spending last season at AA Erie, Infante advanced to AAA Toledo this season despite questionable plate discipline. Consequently, the 20-year-old only hit .268 with a .309 OBP and .369 SLG on 117 H, 16 2B, 8 3B,and 4 HR with a 28:49 BB:K and 19/34 SB% in 436 AB. While he possesses potential, he's not ready to start in the majors. He needs to return to AAA in 2003 to further improve his strike zone judgment and baserunning skills, as his triples indicate speed, but his success rate when stealing is unproductive. However, despite his young age, the Tigers likely won't give him the additional time in AAA. They are already discussing whether they want him or Ramon Santiago at second next season, with the other presumably at short. Infante is starting regularly this month, splitting his time between short and second.

Santiago may have remained with the Tigers the entire season if he hadn't fractured his hamate bone, requiring mid-July surgery. However his rapid promotions began to catch up with him before the injury, lowering his productivity below acceptable level. If left in the majors rather than sent to AAA for a couple hundred at-bats, Santiago will likely struggle for a couple years before regaining his plate discipline skills, which severely hurts his potential considering his speed is his primary asset. The Tigers have shut him down early due to soreness in his wrist. He's also planning surgery to tighten up his shoulder capsule; he had surgery to repair a torn labrum in 2001.

Detroit drafted Loux out of high school in the second round of the 1997 draft. Due to overall struggles, he returned to AAA Toledo in 2002 after spending all of 2001 at the level. The 23-year-old at least improved his control problems in his second attempt, but his other numbers remained similar to last season. In 158.1 IP, he compiled an 87:38 K:BB with 196 H and 11 HR allowed for a 4.72 ERA. As with Cornejo, he may be able to salvage his career with a move to the pen, but I don't think he's cut out for a place in a major league rotation. Hopefully, the Tigers will move him to relief after this month of starts.

Despite four call-ups this season, Monroe only had four at-bats this year before September. He had a good season at AAA, hitting .321 with a .379 OBP and .511 SLG on 115 H, 30 2B, 4 3B, and 10 HR with a 35:57 BB:K and 7/10 SB%. This season was the second year in row Monroe's displayed solid skills at AAA. He appears fully prepared for at least a reserve outfield position. With Bobby Higginson sidelined with a strained abdominal muscle, Monroe is receiving regular playing time for at-least a few days. He should play consistently for the last week of the season and receive a shot to earn a roster spot in Spring Training next season.

With first base blocked by Carlos Pena, the Tigers plan to attempt to move Munson to third base. Detroit drafted Munson out of the University of Southern California with the 3rd overall pick in the first round of the 1999 draft. He's moved quickly through the Tigers system because he's signed to a major league contract and will be out of options as of next spring. At AAA Toledo this season, he hit .262 with a .367 OBP and .493 SLG on 125 H, 30 2B, 4 3B, and 24 HR with a 77:114 BB:K and 1/4 SB% in 477 AB. The plate discipline and power are both there but he needs to work on making better contact, which will be more difficult with the pressures of playing in the majors. Munson's receiving consistent playing time this month and will be in the majors in some capacity on Opening Day 2003.

Rivera needed time in AAA before he was thrown into a starting job in the majors, so his mid-season demotion was a good idea. In 265 AAA AB, he hit .249 with a .341 OBP and .525 SLG on 66 H, 11 2B, 1 3B, and 20 HR with a 35:64 BB:K and 0/1 SB%. Brandon Inge dislocated his shoulder, so Rivera is the Tigers' primary catcher for the remainder of the season. Rivera is clearly a better offensive backstop than Inge and should start over him regardless of the circumstances. Mitch Meluskey should be better than both of them if he can ever stay healthy for a whole season, but after missing almost two seasons with injuries, he should spend some time in AAA before returning to the majors.

The Tigers really should have been more patient with Rodney, as he had only 6 innings at AA and no experience above that level when the season started. During his time with AAA, he compiled a 25:9 K:BB with 13 H and 1 HR allowed in 22.1 IP for a .81 ERA, but in the majors he's allowed 23 H and 2 HR with a 6:10 K:BB in 16 IP. Their bullpen will likely be full without him, so I'd send him back to AAA for at least an uninterrupted half season.

Torres needed time in AAA before thinking about even a reserve job in the majors, yet the Tigers foolishly attempted to use him in April. Over the course of the rest of the season at AAA, he hit .266 with a .345 OBP and .364 SLG on 123 H, 17 2B, 8 3B, and 4 HR with a 53:116 BB:K 42/54 SB% in 462 AB. While he's probably Detroit's best starting option for centerfield next year, they need to look for someone with more offense or Torres needs to improve his contact. He will start regularly for the rest of the season.

Seattle drafted Van Hekken out of high school in the third round of the 1998 draft and traded him to Detroit with Jerry Amador for Brian L. Hunter. After splitting last season between A+ and AA, Van Hekken returned to AA Erie where he posted a 97:34 K:BB with 138 H and 10 HR allowed in 134 IP for a 3.83 ERA. The Tigers then promoted him to AAA, where he compiled a 19:11 K:BB with 41 H and 4 HR allowed in 49.1 IP for a 1.82 ERA. He joined the rotation upon his promotion this month and has put together a fairly effective run of starts, though he lacks dominance. In 23.1 IP, he has a 3:5 K:BB with 29 H and 2 HR allowed for a 2.31 ERA. I expect Detroit to at least experiment with using him in the rotation in 2003, though he'll probably struggle without a bit more AAA time.

Mark Redman's shut down for the season with a dead arm. While he pitched 203 innings, he should be fine for next season after resting this winter provided there isn't an underlying injury. However Detroit worked Redman quite hard this season, leaving him on the mound for 120 or more pitches in 4 separate starts.

Oscar Henriquez is out for the season following arthroscopic shoulder surgery. Henriquez has spent most of the last five seasons in AAA and signed a minor league deal with Detroit in the off-season. After compiling a 39:14 K:BB with 30 H and 4 HR allowed in 32.2 IP for a 3.31 ERA at Toledo, Detroit promoted Henriquez. The 28-year-old compiled a 23:15 K:BB with 19 H and 5 HR allowed in 28 IP for a 4.50 ERA in the majors. Provided he rebounds after surgery, he should be able to find a job in a major league pen next year.

Danny Patterson, who hit the DL in early June with elbow pain, underwent Tommy John surgery later that month, so he won't be available until near the 2003 All-Star break. Lefty Matt Miller, who underwent rotator cuff surgery in early April, likely also won't return until near that time.

Detroit shut down Julio Santana for the season in mid-August when an MRI uncovered a small ligament tear in his elbow. At this point surgery is not planned, so he will try to treat the problem with rest. After his late April call-up, the 29-year-old AAA righty compiled a 38:28 K:BB with 49 H and 8 HR allowed in 57 IP for a 2.84 ERA, which will probably earn him an audition with someone in Spring Training if he's healthy.

Wendell Magee is out for the season following surgery to remove bone spurs from his right big toe earlier this month. Shortly after returning from knee problems in late June, Jacob Cruz went back to the disabled list following elbow surgery, which forced him out for the season. After struggling with the ailment for the first half of the season, Dmitri Young finally underwent hernia surgery in mid-July, and though he attempted to rehab with the hope of returning this month, he's also out for the season.