domino effect

Funny how these things work out. Atlanta’s decision to trade outfielder Josh Anderson opened the door for Louisville native and ex-East Central Community College star Marcus Thames to become the Detroit Tigers’ primary DH. How’s that? Well, because Anderson is out of minor league options — which is one of the reasons the Braves dealt him to Detroit — the Tigers had to put him on their 25-man roster and remove someone else. That someone proved to Gary Sheffield, the high-priced but aging slugger who had been penciled in as Detroit’s DH. That job now falls to Thames, who might not have Sheffield’s awesome stroke but packs plenty of wallop. It’s up to Thames now to make the best of this opportunity.
P.S. A wave of Mississippi-connected players has been shipped out of big league camps in recent days: Edwin Maysonet by Houston, Paul Phillips by Colorado, Bobby Kielty by the New York Mets and Corey Wimberly by Oakland. Only the Kielty move really came as a surprise. The veteran outfielder seemed like a nice fit on the Mets’ club. Waiting to see what Minnesota does with Matt Tolbert. … Former Mississippi Valley star Zach Penprase, apparently released by the Los Angeles Dodgers, signed with the Fargo-Moorhead club of the independent Northern League.