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Jackson Looks To Build On '08 Gain

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 16, 2009

LAKELAND - Coming off a breakthrough season in which he played a pivotal role for American League champion Tampa Bay, first-year Tigers pitcher Edwin Jackson says his 2008 success hasn't changed him.

"I'm still the same guy," Jackson said.

That might be the case off the field, but on it the 25-year-old right-hander is being seen in an entirely different light than he was just 12 months ago. That's because Jackson, acquired in a December trade that sent outfielder Matt Joyce to Tampa Bay, appears to be reaching the potential many in baseball always thought he had.

"He has overpowering-type stuff," Detroit manager Jim Leyland said Sunday.

In 2007, Jackson went just 5-15 with a 5.76 ERA.

Last year, he tied the Rays' single-season record for wins by going 14-11 and lowered his ERA to 4.42 while throwing 1831/3 innings. Despite that success, Tampa Bay left him out of the postseason rotation - he wasn't on the American League Division Series roster and spent the AL Championship Series and World Series in the bullpen.

"The thing with him that I'm hoping for is, just keep making progress," Leyland said. "You don't have to try to go from the earth to the moon."

Jackson has had his share of ups and downs.

He made his major-league debut in 2003 for the Dodgers, who drafted him in the sixth round in 2001, and earned the win vs. Arizona and Randy Johnson. But Jackson wouldn't land a spot in a starting rotation until four years later, when he was hot and cold with Tampa Bay.

In 2008, things started to click.

"It was really a matter of experience," Jackson said. "The more you pitch, the better you start to get and the more comfortable you get. My confidence has always been high regardless of the outcome."

Jackson's skill was noticed from afar.

"The thing that sticks out is his stuff," Tigers starter Justin Verlander said. "Over the last couple of years, he's been able to become more consistent and rein it in. When you're able to throw strikes with the stuff he has, it's a scary thing. It doesn't matter who's up there, he can attack the zone."

Jackson's "stuff" includes a mid-90s fastball, a strong slider and menacing change-up. Now, it appears, he has the maturity and know-how to go with it.

"He's really a talented young man," Leyland said.

INDIANS: Free-agent infielder Tony Graffanino agreed to terms on a minor-league contract and will report to Cleveland's Goodyear, Ariz., training camp today. Graffanino has played with six teams during a 12-year major-league career.

MARINERS: Ryan Rowland-Smith chose his livelihood over his country.

As expected, Seattle's promising left-hander decided to stay in spring training rather than play for his native Australia in the World Baseball Classic.

He said Australia's manager, Jon Deeble, was disappointed but understood Rowland-Smith didn't want to risk a major-league job by missing at least 10 days of camp beginning March 2. He told Deeble he definitely wants to play for Australia in the next WBC four years from now.

"I'm better served here," said the brawny 26-year-old, one of seven candidates for five spots in Seattle's rotation. "I didn't want to derail what I'd worked for all offseason."

Also, Erik Bedard declared himself fine after he threw for 12 minutes in the bullpen Sunday, his first work off a mound in front of Mariners eyes since having season-ending surgery on his throwing shoulder in September.

PHILLIES: Utilityman Miguel Cairo signed a minor-league contract with Philadelphia and will get a chance to earn a roster spot in spring training.

Cairo is a career .266 hitter in 13 seasons.

TWINS: Catcher Joe Mauer will be limited as spring training camp opens today with the team's first official workout for pitchers and catchers. Mauer had surgery Dec. 22 to remove a blockage from one of his kidneys.

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