Almost a month ago, on August 18th Jeremy Bonderman was shelled by the Chicago White Sox. He gave up six runs in 3 2/3 innings. Doubts about the Tigers bringing Bonderman to the big leagues too early were at an all time high (myself included). Detroit decided to stick with Bonderman in the rotation, but with the condition that he wouldn’t think so much. The plan was to “let Bonderman be Bonderman.”
Side Note: I’m not sure what to make of it, but this philosphy of having struggling Tigers players stop thinking has had tremendous success. Brandon Inge stopped thinking last year after being recalled from the minors and has become an offense force since then. Recently, Craig Monroe and Carlos Pena stopped thinking and have both been torching the ball. Alex Sanchez probably deserves mention here as well, but I just don’t know how to account for him.
In Bonderman’s first start without thinking he again faced the White Sox. This time he pitched a complete game shutout where he struck out 14. (Bonderman is the only AL starter to strike out more than 13 in a game this season). He followed that up with a respectable start in Fenway in which he allowed 3 runs in 6 1/3. A patient Red Sox team did manage 4 walks against only 4 strikeouts. The next two starts against the Devil Rays and Royals resulted in only 2 runs in 15 innings and 17 strikeouts.
Last night against Cleveland he wasn’t as sharp as he only lasted 5 2/3, but in giving up 3 runs did well enough to get the win. What was notable though is that Victor Martinez’s home run in the 6th inning, was the first dinger that Bonderman has allowed since a grand slam to Aaron Rowand back on August 18th. As you probably remember, Bonderman was giving up quite a few homers early in the season-especially for someone who pitches in Comerica.
What may have contributed to Bonderman’s recent ability to limit home runs, is that since he stopped thinking, he’s become much more of a severe ground ball pitcher. Over his last 6 games he has allowed 55 grounders and 23 fly balls for a GB/FB ratio of 2.39. Prior to this string of games, his ratio was 1.25 and last year it was 1.41.
As dire as Bonderman’s season looked a month ago, his recent string of games has made his season numbers look respectable – especially for a 21 year old. He’s 7th in the AL in strikeouts despite only having pitched 166 innings. What’s more is that his K/9 of 8.3 is third behind only Johan Santana and Pedro. That’s some pretty impressive company at any age. And while his ERA of 5.17 is a bit high, his dERA (or DIPS or Defense Independent Pitching) is actually only 4.37.
Now to be fair and temper some enthusiasm, Bonderman’s most successful recent starts have come against the Royals, White Sox, and Devil Rays which aren’t offensive juggernauts. Also, whether or not he has turned the corner or is just on a hot streak remains to be seen. Keep in mind that Jason Johnson, Mike Maroth, and Nate Robertson have all had similar stretches of dominant pitching this season. In any case, this recent stretch has shown just how good a pitcher Bonderman can be.
watching the coaches and players find the balance of teaching and helping a pitcher/hitter grow and completely f-ing up their head is one of the most interesting, and most overlooked, aspects of the game. i love it.
brandon inge goes from super-prospect (for the tigers, anyway) to dogmeat, to productive player. omar infante does the same. while they have a skill set that they probably can’t exceed (e.g., infante will never hit 40 homeruns, inge will never hit .400), how successfully they apply their talent (baring injury or catastrophe) is to be found in that negotiation between teaching and allowing instinct to flourish.
as far as bonderman goes, color me excited because his scouting report has always said this is what he could do, unlike jason johnson and nate robertson. to be this succesful this early is very good for pitching prospects, especially if they (knock on wood) avoid injury.
While I mentioned the “not thinking” tongue in cheek, you are correct in that your observations about the coaching/player interactions. The topic deserves several posts to itself, and Brandon Inge and Bonderman would both make interesting case studies. Two other interesting case studies would be Franklyn German and Eric Munson. German has all the tools to be dominant, yet can’t get people out at the major league level. And Munson, who the Tigers have totally destroyed with their handling of him.