Aubrey Huff brings more than offense to Tigers

Aubrey Huff was acquired Monday from the Baltimore Orioles because he's a proven run producer.

"Offense is his forte," Jim Leyland said.

But when Huff eventually plays in the field for the Tigers, it could be at third base, a position where he's not played since last year. It also could be in the outfield, a position where he's not set foot since 2006.

Obviously Huff is not going to settle in at one spot. Just as obviously, because the position belongs to Miguel Cabrera, he won't be playing much first base -- where he mostly played for the Orioles this year.

Of the 106 games Huff started for the Orioles before the trade, 93 were at first, the other 13 at designated hitter, which is where Huff started Tuesday night. He went 1-for-4.

In other words, it's easy to see where his bat fits in, but not where he'll fit in defensively.

The first indication the Tigers might not be entirely sure, either, lay in the fact that for the first time since he returned to the lineup on July 24, Carlos Guillen started in left field Tuesday night.

That's after Tigers president and general manager Dave Dombrowski said during a conference call with the media Monday, when discussing outfield options, "I don't know how much Carlos is going to be able to play out there."
On Tuesday, the Tigers decided to find out.

"He told me he can play left, so I put him out there," Leyland said.

If Guillen can handle left field, without having it affect his offensive game, the Tigers won't have to lean on Huff to play as much in the outfield.

Not that he can't play the outfield.

Dombrowski said some in the Tigers organization who believe left field might be Huff's best position, but of the 239 games he's started as an outfielder, only seven have been in left.

Plus there's this to consider: Huff isn't fast, and Comerica Park is a huge ballpark for an outfielder.

"I'll make out the lineup each day," Leyland said, "and that's what it will be."

As for Huff's take on his defense, "I've played a lot of first this year and was the DH for most of last year," he said. "Those are the positions I'd say I'm the most comfortable at.

"Third base, I've played there and can handle it. It's been a while since I've played the outfield. I'm going to take some fly balls and see how it goes. But I don't think I've ever played in an outfield like this -- lot of ground to cover."



(detnews.com)