Make Or Break Spring For Steven Moya

BY SCOTT MORGANROTH
PHOTOS BY CANDICE EBLING
PORT SAINT LUCIE, FL

If there is ever a player to watch this Spring Training, and he'll get plenty of work do to the World Baseball Classic, it's 6-7 right-fielder Steven Moya.

The Tigers will be sending 15 players to the World Baseball Classic.

The towering left-handed hitter, who is a native of Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, will be out of options if he's unable to make the Detroit Tigers Final Roster.

The 25-year old right-fielder signed with the Tigers as a non-drafted free agent in 2008.

In 2012, Moya had Tommy John Surgery, which caused him to play in only 59 games that year.

Moya was added to the teams 40-man roster on November 20, 2013.

He progressed through the Tigers Farm System and made his Major League debut on September 1, 2014, as a pinch hitter in the 9th inning, where he recorded a single in his first career at bat off Austin Adams of the Cleveland Indians.

Following the 2014 season, Moya went on to play for the Glendale Desert Dogs of the Arizona Fall League.

In 23 games, he hit .289 with six doubles, one triple, five home runs, and 19 RBI. He was also named to the Arizona Fall League Rising Stars Game.

To date, Moya's MLB statistics are a .250 batting average with five home runs and 11 RBI.

In 2016, Moya earned $507,500 and bounced back and forth to the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens. He filled in when Tigers starting right-fielder J.D Martinez dealt with injuries.

Moya was optioned to AAA Toledo on July 17, 2016.

After batting .324 in June with four home runs, he was 3-23 in July and had defensive lapses in right-field.

This prompted Tigers Manager Brad Ausmus to send Moya back to Toledo to work on his defense in a "less stressful environment."

Is this a "Make or Break Spring Training" for Moya as he attempts to earn a permanent spot with the Tigers?

Time will tell, but he was in the starting line-up vs the New York Mets in Port Saint Lucie. He went 1-3 with a stolen base in the Tigers 5-2 loss to the Mets.

I spoke to Steven before the game and we talked about how important this Spring Training will be for him.

Q: Would you say this is an important year for you?

A: Every year is an important year. This one is too and I'm looking forward to doing good.

Q: I know that you're out of options. Would you say this is one of your best opportunities to make the club?

A: I know every year in the past three years, I've had the opportunity to make the team. Thank God in every year in the past, I've been able to do the job, but they decided to send me to AAA. But I'm looking this year and do the job to see if I can make the team one more time.

Q: Last season you had more playing time to put up more numbers to stay with the club. What was it like to have that much experience to play at the Big League Level?

A: It was really good because I was able to stay with the team a little bit longer and play more. Just to stay with the team and just play. That's what I was looking for was to play.

Q: How do you like playing in Comerica Park and how do you define your power?

A: I like playing in any park. It doesn't matter. Comerica Park is a really big ballpark and the ball carries really well anyways. Even in a big ballpark, the ball can fly really well.

Q: I don't know how much history of baseball you follow, Tiger Stadium was known for it's short right-field porches and was deemed as a hitters ballpark. The baseball would fly out like a rocket especially for left-handed hitters. Could you ever imagine yourself as a left-handed hitter hitting in Tiger Stadium?

A: Like you said, I don't follow much history. I think it would have been awesome to play there. If you say the ball flew out that way, it would have been amazing to hit there.

Q: Are there any particular players that you've learned from on the club that have rubbed off on you?

A: I like watching Victor (Martinez) and Miggy (Cabrera). I like to learn as much as I can while I'm with them to improve my hitting.

Q: What areas of your game do you feel that need the most improvement?

A: Playing time (laughing). The more you play, the more you can improve. And if you can't play, you can't improve on anything. The game is where you can put your talents to use, abilities to improve, grow and get better.

Q: What about defensively? I know you were sent to AAA to work on your skills last season. Have you had the opportunity to work with coaches and strengthen up in that area?

A: I've worked with (Dave) Clark and we work on everything that we can work on to get better in that area. Even more in Comerica because it's a big ballpark and there is a funny corner in right-field, and right-center-field. We're working on every aspect of the outfield such as throwing, fielding and everything.

Q: Does playing in a spacious ballpark present more defensive challenges knowing there is a lot more ground to cover?

A: Yes, of course. That's what you have to work for, knowing how your ballpark is, and trying to get better in that area, so you can play good in your hometown.

Q: I know you're playing hard to make this club. Are you confident that wherever you wind up after this year, that you'll be able to get your opportunity somewhere?

A: Absolutely, yes! All I can do is what I do now. I can control what I can now. That's why I'm focusing on today's game. I'm getting ready for today's game. That's what I can control. After that, whatever happens at the end of Spring Training, I don't have control over that.

Q: One thing a lot of people say Steve about Spring Training is you're not playing for one team, but you're playing for 30 since there are scouts everywhere. What are your thoughts about this?

A:That's right. That's right sir. That what I'm working hard to do and staying focused.

Q: What do you think of the Tigers chances in 2017?

A: This has always been a great team and is now. We have unbelievable players, unbelievable persons and we can win with this team.

Q: I know there are a lot of Latin players on this team. Is this a good environment for you with Miggy, and Victor Martinez. Do a lot of these Latin Players rub off on you in a positive way?

A: Yes, yes. Having Latin players on your team that you can be around, they are your role models. I have to rely on them sometimes.

Q: Finally, how do you like playing for Manager Brad Ausmus?

A: He's a great guy, great person and it's unbelievable to play for him.

Whether Moya plays for Ausmus on Opening Day when the Tigers face the Chicago White Sox, April 3, 2017, in the Windy City, remains to be seen.

However, as we focus on the present this will be an interesting story line to watch in Spring Training.

Moya will have an opportunity to compete for an outfield spot.

Detroit traded Cameron Maybin to the Los Angeles Angels during the winter.

Since Detroit is loaded with right-handed hitters, the Tigers could use a lanky left-handed power hitter in the line-up.

Regardless of how this turns out, I have a feeling Moya will be playing somewhere in 2017.

To say that this is a Big Spring Training for Moya is mildly understating that both sides are Out Of Options.

With the World Baseball Classic going on and as I mentioned before, Detroit's sending 15, Moya will get all the playing time, and experience he needs to impress Tigers Management a fair assessment on his future to see if he continues to wear the "Old English D."

Scott Morganroth can be reached at www.scottsports33.com.

Great Puerto Rican Athletes

BY SCOTT MORGANROTH

Due to the overwhelming response and popularity of her four-part series of the Life and Times of Puerto Rico debating of Statehood and becoming No. 51, I feel a certain obligation to complete Gladys Echevarria's (Puerto Rican Pistol) Mission and talk about the Best Athletes that have represented this island.

But there is no way that I couldn't write this blog without two humorous points.

First of all, my mother is anything but a history buff when she wanted to know if Gladys needed papers to be in this country; have no fear ma, she's legal.

Second, when Gladys and I played tennis for the first time, she admitted after spending more time outside of the court chasing the balls she hit over the fence, that this isn't her sport. While I certainly didn't expect to be hitting tennis balls with legend Chris Evert, a few nice volley's would have been nice. But to her credit, week two was better and there hasn't been a week three yet. I would find out in later weeks that archery and swimming were not her bag, but she definitely is looking to make amends playing baseball.

With that said, Puerto Rico's Baseball's history has a tremendous amount of exposure for the island.

Before the Montreal Expos moved to Washington and became the Nationals, they played some of their home games in Puerto Rico.

The Baseball Hall of Fame is now the proud home of a pair of legends.

Here is my list of players and I encourage feedback if I've omitted some of the most notables.

1) Roberto Clemente---There will never be a player bigger then him. I have always believed that his No. 21 uniform should be retired by MLB because of his off the field humanitarian efforts that saw him get killed in an aviation accident in 1972 at the age of 38. He played all of his 18 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, led them to two World Series titles, had 3000 hits, was a 15-time All-Star, won 12-Gold Gloves, is the first Latin Player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, and due to his tragic death bypassed the five-year waiting period to be elected. There is a stadium complex named after him in Puerto Rico.

2) Roberto Alomar--- was elected to the Hall of Fame in his second year of eligibility with 90% of the votes. The 43-year old is a lifetime .300 hitter, compiled 2,724 hits, 474 stolen bases, is a 12-time All-Star, has 10 Gold Gloves and is a two-time World Series Champion for the Toronto Blue Jays in 1992 and 1993. Need I say more.

3) Bernie Williams---played his entire career with the New York Yankees and amassed 2,336 hits. While he may never get inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, the 42-year old will get his plaque into Yankee Stadium's Monument Park. He played there from 1991-2006 and is a five-time All-Star and led the Bronx Bombers to four World Series titles. He was invited to play for Puerto Rico in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

4) Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez---is a 39-year old Future Hall of Famer and also played on the 2009 World Baseball Classic team with Williams. He is a lifetime .297 hitter, has 311 home runs, is a 14-time All-Star, has won 13 Gold Gloves and as of May 25, 2011 has amassed 2,832 hits. The current Washington National has won a World Series with the Florida Marlins and also appeared in the Fall Classic with the Detroit Tigers. On June 17, 2009, Rodriguez set the MLB record by catching his 2,227 game and passed Carlton Fisk.

5) Carlos Beltran---is one of the most exciting players and at 34-years old is still going strong with the New York Mets in his 14th season. The right fielder has a lifetime .282 average with 288 homers, 289 stolen bases, is a five-time All-Star, has won three Gold Gloves and won the American League Rookie of the Year Award in 1999 with the Kansas City Royals.

6) Carlos Delgado---holds the All-Time Home Run and RBI records among Puerto Rican Players with 473 and 1,512 respectively. The retired 38-year-old first baseman left the major leagues with 2,035 games played, a .280 average and 2,038 hits.

7) Alex Rios---of the Chicago White Sox played in the 2006 World Baseball Classic as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays. Compared to the other players in this story, time will tell if the center fielder ever achieves the incredible success that they all have. But at 30-years old and now in his eighth season, thus far he's a two-time All-Star that has played in 1,050 games, has amassed 1,107 hits, 109 home runs, 505 RBI, has 155 stolen bases and is a .278 hitter. Rios has a combination of power and speed.

8) Juan "Chi-Chi" Rodriguez---is the most colorful character of these Puerto Rican athletes and instead of swinging a bat, he swings a golf club. The 75-year old is the first Puerto Rican to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. He has 38 Pro Wins, including eight on the PGA Tour and 22 on the Senior PGA Tour. His best finish at a major tournament was at the 1981 U.S. Open when he finished tied for sixth place.

9) Hector "Macho" Camacho---was not only known for his mouth but also his hands. Now 49-years old, he competed in 87 fights, won 79, lost five and had three draws. He held the following titles: WBC Super Featherweight, WBC Lightweight, and on two occasions the WBO Light Welterweight. My most vivid memories of Camacho was when he was featured on CBS with legendary announcers Tim Ryan and the late Gil Clancy calling his fights.

10) Felix "Tito" Trinidad---is considered is one of the best fighters in Puerto Rico's history. In 2000, he was named Ring Magazines Fighter of the Year. During his career, the 38-year-old fought 45 times, won 42, 35 came by knockout and had three losses. He held the following championships: IBF Welterweight Title, WBC Welterweight, WBA Super Welterweight, IBF Junior Middleweight and WBA Middleweight Championship. Now that's versatility!

This is an interesting group of athletes and as I did the research for this, it's safe to say that while Golf and Boxing have always been American Favorites, The USA and Puerto Rico can both say that Baseball is their common Pastime as well.

Scott Morganroth can be reached at scottsports33@aol.com and his blog can be seen at http://www.scottsports33.com/.