**** AAABA National Champions 1947, 1956, 1960, 1962, 1986, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002 **** NABF National Champions 1986, 1995 **** National Baseball Congress World Series 2004, 2006 Tigers Skipper Leyland Sings High Praises for Former Senator Casey Fien (Senators 04)

Tigers send Fien, Dolsi to minors, but Leyland expects them to make majors later

by Carter Gaddis

Monday March 23, 2009, 4:18 AM

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Tigers manager Jim Leyland said he expects to see at least two of the three pitchers cut from the spring roster Sunday play in the majors, perhaps even as soon as this season.

Right-hander Casey Fien and left-hander Fu-Te Ni were assigned to minor league camp, while right-hander Freddy Dolsi was optioned to Triple-A Toledo.
 
Fien, 25, particularly looked promising this spring. In six Grapefruit League appearances, he compiled a 1.23 ERA in seven innings. He struck out seven, walked one and held opponents to a .154 batting average.

"I really liked him. He's a strike thrower, which all managers like," Leyland said. "The only thing he needs to do to get to the big leagues and pretty quick. I think is refine his breaking ball a little bit. It's got to be a little bit better. He does that, he'll be a big league pitcher for a long time."

Dolsi had a 4.05 ERA in five spring outings. Opponents batted .429 against him.

"I think Freddy Dolsi just needs to get a little better understanding of pitching," Leyland said. "He needs to be able to locate his pitches a little bit better. He also needs a little work on his breaking ball, but I thought it was better this spring. He needs to learn some pitchability, make some adjustments. But he'll probably pitch in the big leagues on talent alone, but to really be as good as he can to the maximum of his ability, he needs to get that pitchability a little bit better."