Remember last April when Chris Shelton was tearing up the Majors with his 10 home runs? Remember how reality then smacked him in the face like many a woman you've met in the bar? Well I'm guessing Big Red would rather be smacked in the face again than have to deal with the kick to the groin he just got from the Tigers.
Shelton was one of 11 players the Tigers assigned to their minor league camp Monday morning, and he's not exactly thrilled about it.
"I hit close to .400 this spring," Shelton said. "What more could I possibly do? All I could say is I made this [decision] as tough as I possibly could on them."
The situation is that there just isn't any room for Shelton on the Tigers roster. Marcus Thames is a corner outfielder, and since Omar Infante will have to double as a backup centerfielder, Jim Leyland needed to go with a utility infielder to round out the bench.
Also, when asked about the decision, The Black Lung didn't hesitate to point out that Shelton put himself in this position.
"Truth be known, obviously Shelton wasn't going to continue at the pace he started with the first month [last year]. But if he would've played the way we felt his capability was, we probably wouldn't have Sean Casey, to be honest with you."
Oh no he di'int!
All is not lost for Shelton, though. If Sean Casey were to spend time on the disabled list, Leyland said he'd rather call Shelton up instead of letting Marcus Thames get extended time at first. There's also the fact that Casey is entering the final year of his contract, so Big Red may be coming into camp as the Tigers first baseman next season.
Of course, that's of little solace to him now.
Previously at the Fanhouse:
Stop Asking Jim Leyland About Joel Zumaya
Jim Leyland Is Not Amused