ICYMI: MCB Digest–Detroit Tigers Week That Was

Apr 17, 2013; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Josh Prince (25) during the game against the San Francisco Giants at Miller Park. Milwaukee won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Hannum looked at the acquisition of Josh Prince.

Detroit Tigers signing of Josh Prince is perfect

"Unlike many or most moves you’ll hear about in an offseason, this one looks perfect. Small, but perfect. The Tigers had an urgent need to find a replacement after losing a longtime fixture to free agency, and they did just that yesterday in signing Josh Prince to a minor-league deal to replace the departing Don Kelly. When your team is seeking a utility player, what do you want them to look for? 1. Low cost 2. Low risk 3. The ability to play multiple positions 4. The ability to play the most difficult positions 5. Offensive tools that give value off the bench 6. Youth Assuming this is the minor league signing for league minimum (Prince has only a few games to his name at the major league level), that covers the first two bases. If your team has to pinch pennies, you’d rather $2 million went to the ‘pen than to a backup infielder. Remember that utility guys are basically fringe major leaguers by definition, as they are not considered to have enough of any particular tool or tools to start. Any player can do better than or worse than you’d expected, but fringy guys play themselves out of the big leagues (or out of baseball) entirely when things don’t go well. You don’t want to be stuck with a bunch of guaranteed money in these cases. READ MORE"

For this week’s edition of Throwback Thursday, we looked at Norm Cash.

#TBT Norm Cash: Detroit Tigers slugger gone too soon (VIDEO)

"For baseball fans from the 1960’s who did not have an affinity for the Detroit Tigers, Norm Cash may be remembered for three things: Having a career year in the worst possible season to have a career year Bringing a table leg to bat during Nolan Ryan‘s second career no-hitter Tragically dying way before his time Tigers’ fans remember him for so much more and he is known simply as “Stormin'” Norman Cash. Cash was requested for this feature by MCB reader @darb0484 on Twitter. This one’s for you, Bob. Unlike much of the powerful nucleus that brought the Tigers close to the pennant many times during the 1960’s, and a World Championship in 1968, Cash was not a homegrown talent. The Texas-native was drafted not by a baseball team, but a football team. The Chicago Bears selected him in the 1955 draft, but he chose the diamond over the gridiron, signing a contract with the White Sox. He spent a couple years in the minor leagues and served in the military in 1958 before making his big league debut as a White Sox in 1958. He played sparingly in two seasons (just four homers and a .245 average in 71 regular season games) with Chicago’s famed Go-Go Sox. He was held hitless in four at-bats in the 1959 World Series. READ MORE"