Trammell fills in as Tigers' first-base coach

BOSTON -- Alan Trammell stepped back on the infield of a baseball diamond during the Tigers' 5-1 win over the Red Sox on Saturday. This time, however, the former Detroit shortstop did so as a first-base coach.

Trammell spent his entire 20-year playing career in Detroit, garnering six All-Star selections, four Gold Glove Awards and MVP honors for the 1984 World Series. Working as a special assistant to Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski this season, he wore No. 4 and coached in place of Omar Vizquel, who has taken a leave of absence following the sudden death of his father on Saturday morning.

Vizquel is expected to need enough time to return to his native Venezuela, and Trammell is prepared to play substitute for a few days.

"Sorry to hear about Omar and the death in the family," Trammell said. "Just another way for me to help out any way that I can, which is all I've said from Day 1."

Trammell was already on hand with the team in Boston to help Dombrowski prepare for next Friday's non-waiver Trade Deadline, which could see the Tigers become major players with rumored big-name targets such as David Price and Yoenis Cespedes.

"I can be here [if] something like that would pop up," Trammell said. "Obviously, I was here, [since] this thing was planned months in advance leading up to the Trade Deadline. Dave had already asked me like two months ago."

Trammell is no stranger to coaching first base, having filled that capacity with the Padres from 2000-02. He also moonlighted there with the Tigers during Spring Training this year and feels confident that he can shake off enough rust to help out his old club.

"I've coached -- and actually in Spring Training, I want to say I was over there for a game or so, one of those split squads," Trammell said. "[I] went over the signs again with [third-base coach Dave Clark]. It's not rocket science over there. Knowing that I've done it, it's been a while, though I'm comfortable."

Trammell has served as a second set of eyes for Dombrowski as of late, traveling to several of Detroit's Minor League affiliates. His recent stops include Class A West Michigan, Class A Advanced Lakeland and Triple-A Toledo.