Bonderman is a huge wild card. The Tigers could be making a gigantic mistake by rushing him so quickly. But he could also end up being the new Bret Saberhagen. In my view he has no business in the majors at this point, but I’m notoriously cautious about young pitchers.
Month: March 2003
-
ESPN.com: MLB – Royals, Tigers going young … and down the tubes?
Rob Neyer on the Royals and Tigers making history
Most people really don’t care much about who finishes in last place. But when you’re a Royals fan, you care. So I’ll be watching this battle between Kansas City and Detroit all season long. At this moment, the Tigers seem to have the edge, because their rotation is a tad more questionable and they don’t have Mike Sweeney and Carlos Beltran. -
Detroit Tigers News
Kenny Baugh returns to the mound
He’ll throw 45 pitches in a minor league game today and could join the rotation at Erie -
Prediction Time
With a couple days til opening day I guess it is time to make futile predictions of how the Tigers will do. My guess is 63 wins. I used a complex formula to arrive at this. Basically, my inputs were the overall lack of proven talent on the roster, and the fact my heart wouldn’t let me predict a 100 loss season. I think Minnesota will run away with the division and they could push 100 wins. I just don’t think the White Sox will be that good, and Cleveland is still a year or two away. I’m also picking the Twins to win the AL and then lose to Houston in the World Series.
Given that the looking at the Tigers prospects of winning is depressing, here are some of the things that I would like to see to consider this a “successful” season:
-Dean Palmer is healthy enough to play 130 games
-Bonderman finishes with an ERA around 4.50 or less, and his pitch counts are tightly monitored
-Matt Anderson makes the most of his few save opportunities, and becomes a valuable enough commodity to garner 2 good prospects (and German shows enough that Anderson becomes expendable)
-The corner infielders (Munson and Pena) each chip in 25+ homers
-Brandon Inge becomes a .250 hitter -
Tigers announce starting rotation
Tigers announce starting rotation Nate Cornejo and Gary Knotts join Maroth, Bonderman and Bernero. Also, Mat Wallbeck won the back-up catcher position over Bill Haselman
-
Baseball America on Chris Spurling
Armed with a low-90s fastball and good slider, Spurling went 4-3, 2.19 with 60 strikeouts and 12 walks in 71 innings for Double-A Altoona last year. -
Tigers demote two left-handers
Van Hekken to Triple A and Avery to Minor League camp Also, the Tigers acquired another rule 5 pitcher-Chris Spurling- from Atlanta for minor leaguer Matt Coenen. Spurling will pitch long relief.
Trammell has decided to go with a 12 man pitching staff, and he has set the rotation which will be announced later today.
-
More Bonderman Opinion
Rob Neyer: Tigers better be careful with Bonderman
Bonderman’s not ready, and he’s going to get either hammered or hurt. -
Peter Gammons:
Bonderman tops Gammons’ list of hot rookies
1. Jeremy Bonderman, RHP, Detroit: “He should be the Tigers’ Opening Day starter,” says one scout. He throws 91 to 96 mph with a hard slider. But he’s also very young and the Tigers are very … well … mediocre. -
Easley benched, requests trade
Easley benched, requests trade
Easley met with Santiago and Infante on Sunday morning and told them this was the opportunity they had been waiting for and that he would help them any way he could.
“I was in a similar situation with the Angels,” Easley said. “They said they wanted a new look and put me at second base in place of Harold Reynolds, who had been around like 12 years. I was just a young kid, and that man took me everywhere and watched out for me.
“I learned from that. It’s what you mean by giving back to the game.” -
Roster Moves
Bonderman made the team, Easley lost his job
The rotation is is 3/5ths set: Maroth, Bonderman, and Bernero will be the top 3 in the order and Cornejo has the inside track on the 4th spot. Also, Ramon Santiago will replace Damion Easley at second.