Jim Leyland dreads having to call players into his office, one by one, to tell them they have
failed to make the team. “Telling guys they’re not going to make the team is the worst day,” he declared.
        On the other hand, the Tigers’ manager admitted, “Knowing  that the decisions have been made is the best part.”
        On Sunday the Tigers cut three more relievers -- Casey Fein, Freddy Dolsi and Fu-Te Ni. No surprises there. That leaves them with 42 players, including 19 pitchers, which means 17 players including seven pitchers, still have to go before the team breaks camp and heads for Atlanta on April 2.
        Of Fein, who first caught the manager’s eye last spring, Leyland said Sunday: “He’s a strike-thrower, which all managers like. If he defines his breaking ball a little better, he’ll be a big league pitcher for a long time. I like him a lot.”
        Of Dolsi, who spent time with the Tigers last season after moving quickly up the minor league ladder from Lakeland to Erie to Toledo, Leyland said: “He has an outstanding arm. He’ll probably pitch in the big leagues on talent alone. But he needs to get more pitch-ability.”
        Ni, a lefty who last pitched in the Chinese Professional Baseball League, was a longshot from the start, but showed some promise this spring. “He needs to improve his breaking ball,” the manager said.
        At least four of seven spots in the Tigers’ bullpen are set. Those belong to Brandon Lyon, Fernando Rodney, Bobby Seay and Zach Miner. Depending upon what the Tigers decide to do with Nate Robertson and Dontrelle Willis, that leaves veterans Juan Rincon and Scott Williamson, rookie Ryan Perry and lefties Clay Rapada and Kyle Bloom vying for the other three.
        Right now, I would give the edge to Rincon and Perry, with Robertson in the starting rotation.
        If Jeremy Bonderman isn’t ready to start the season, that job will probably go to Rick Porcello.
        “I think it’s going to be a very difficult last couple of weeks for me and Dave Dombrowski and the coaching staff,” Leyland said.