PREGAME: The nice thing about winning the first game of a doubleheader is that there is no pressure of being swept. But, a sweep sure would be nice.
The Tigers welcome back Jeremy Bonderman who will be throwing his first big league pitch in over a year. He’s still looking for all of his fastball velocity to return, so we’ll see what a craftier Bonderman can bring to the table.
Jose Contreras will be on the mound for the White Sox. The Tigers have scored at least 4 runs in each of their last 5 starts against Contreras. Hopefully that continues today.
Your lineup for tonight’s action:
- Anderson, LF
- Polanco, 2B
- Thomas, RF
- Cabrera, DH
- Granderson, CF
- Inge, 3B
- Raburn, 1B
- Laird, C
- Santiago, SS
Detroit vs. Chi White Sox – June 8, 2009 | MLB.com: Gameday
POSTGAME: Well that game sucked. Jeremy Bonderman wasn’t good. Not at all. It wasn’t just the homers, it was all the other hard hit balls, and the walks. I think it’s safe to say that Armando Galarraga’s spot in the rotation is safe for the time being. Jeremy Bonderman has options, he also has the right to refuse, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see the Tigers ask him to go to Toledo if there isn’t progress in his next start. And based on Bondo’s comments earlier it doesn’t sound like something he’d resist.
And then there was the offense which didn’t exist despite the fact Jose Contreras was pitching. Weak ground balls and lazy flyballs were the recipe for a near shutout. Finally, let’s not bat Josh Anderson leadoff anymore.
Comments
69 responses to “Game 2009.057: Tigers at White Sox”
I was going to whine about resting Ordonez and Thames, but their numbers against Contreras aren’t pretty. Bonderman may need all the defense he can get.
ME DONS THE BONDERMAN JERSEY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 12 MONTHS
LETS DO THIS AND GET A DOUBLEHEADER SWEEP !
The ‘in play, run(s)’ message is never a good thing. Especially when there is no one on base. Then you kind of know what just happened.
Actually it’s worse with guys on base, since they use the (s) no matter what, so of course I always think oh no they all scored run(s)…
Well, the first inning troubles weren’t residing in that one rib.
It’s hard to complain about the walks really, when the non-walks are all sailing deep…
Are the Sox playing, “I can hit it farther than you!”?
And now Bonderman’s afraid to throw a strike?
OK, ill take that first inning any day, with all things considered.
Thank you Ramon.. I thought that was gonna drop.
Them first innings for Bondo be bad. Rememba?
You know you suck when you can’t score on Contreras.
And Bonderman just doesn’t have it anymore. Now it’s just a question of who doesn’t have it more, him or Dontrelle. Should be a thrilling competition.
And giving up a PODSEDNIK home run (lolol) solidifies that.
No–it sucks when Podsednik hits a HR…
Ramon saved Bondo’s bacon with a gorgeous running catch to take away what would have been a 2-run bloop single of the bat of Getz.
On a side note: I know Cabrera is our best player and is less than 100%, but it feels like he hasn’t hit a ball hard in over a week (even before the injury). Wouldn’t have minded seeing Thames in the DH spot for this game. Cabrera looks well below 100% right now and we are getting nothing from him. As I type this the “powerful” Posednik takes Bondo deep. Zach better get heated up in a hurry in the pen because Bondo is not long for this game.
Why does he keep trying to go inside with 90?
haha. Edgar Renteria broke up the no-no.
These swings off of Contreras are the most pathetic thing I have ever seen.
Sigh.
This 89 mph fastball for Bondo isn’t quite workin out…. Disappointed that we can’t get anything going against Contreras either.
How many HR’s can Bonderman give up?
I don’t think it can be more than 5, he already’s thrown 60 pitches in less than 3 innings.
This is why this afternoon’s victory was John Holmes-huge for the Tigers. Tomorrow is a lost cause with Anxiety Boy vs. Buerhle and we had no idea what to expect from Bondo. This game is getting away in a hurry. If I’m Leyland I get Miner or Robertson in their pronto before it gets completely out of hand. I’d also put Miner back in the starting rotation and let Bondo work on building up his stamina in long relief out of the pen. Willis? He can go play in heavy traffic on I-75 for all I care.
Time for Bonderman to retire.
Yeah, because at age 26 he’s all washed up. He’s throwing 89-90 less than a year removed from major arm surgery. He may not be ready for big league hitters but retirement would seem a bit premature.
My question to the staff and coach: Who thought Bonderman learned how to pitch with a loss of velocity in a one month rehab stint, especially since he hadn’t shown an ability to pitch just prior to the surgery when he had more velocity?
My hope is that they don’t try to stick it out with him. If it were me, he would get one more start to show us something. If it’s anything like this, it would be goodbye.
Time for Polanco to retire as well
Who’s going to be left?
Contreras struggled are yr. Era over 8 to start and we make him look like an ace
Too bad we can’t get the Tiger hitters to go up against Bonderman.
Way to walk that .235 career backup catcher there, Bondo.
4-0 after three.five is by no means insurmountable. Even is it turns out to be so, this is baseball after all.
Chin up, I don’t think anyone on our roster needs to call it a career.
Way too many fastballs tonight. He’s going to have to learn how to throw the change and slider for a strike.
Thanks Chris Y. I agree. What’s with all the negativity? Bondo wasn’t going to be an ace right out of the gate. We threw him in on a day-night doubleheader because he was our best option. He’s obviously gonna have to work himself back into it. It’s certainly not time to release him, right off major surgery recovery and rehab.
To suggest Willis needs to die in traffic is pretty dumb too.
Bonderman wasn’t a very good pitcher before the injury and loss in arm strength. I don’t know what the hell is going to make him better now. I say release him. We don’t need another starter anyway.
Yeah, the negativity is around the fact Bonderman was mediocre and didn’t seem very bright on the mound before he lost velocity so the idea he was suddenly going to become a thinking man’s pitcher was a bit of a farce. I’m definitely not saying release him, you’ve got to give him the rest of the season, but if the velocity doesn’t return I don’t see him becoming Frank Tanana. He just ain’t that bright.
Way to be hatin’ on the dyslexic.
What the hell, Tiger hitters?!… Freaking quit swinging the bat and make Contreras pitch and not put you on with a walk. You suck at hitting and your only hope is that the opposing pitcher sucks even more!!!!
I didn’t suggest he needed to “die in traffic”. Maybe just have a motorist runover his foot or something that lands him on the 60-day DL. 🙂 Lighten up Francis! I’m interested in winning and I don’t believe that WIllis is part of that equation. I’m sooooo sorry I offended your sensibilites! When people say they are going to kill someone do you run out and call the police? Bottom line: Willis the worst signing of this decade by any franchise, with the possible exception of Pavano to the Yankees.
In the last 30 days, the Tigers are top 10 in the majors in Avg and RS. In the past 7 days they are bottom 10 in average, and 18 in RS. Not as bad as I thought it would be…
Voting for Miner as the 5th starter.
This is a pathetic offensive performance.
Bonderman can’t get big league hitters out with his current stuff.
Am I the only one that actually was a tiny bit encouraged by Bonderman’s night? I mean, Ervin Santana got ROCKED his first two times out, and I thought Bonderman’s pitches had some decent movement on them. The one that Thome hit out I thought was a very good pitch, looked like it was diving on the outside corner. Obviously I’d like to see the velocity gain another 3-4 MPH but that’s not out of the question and we should give him a few starts before burying him, I think, based on what I saw (I did not see him give up the last two runs, though).
Santana actually got rocked his 3rd and 4th times out. He was pretty good in the first two. Of course, all of his issues were solved by facing the Tigers in his 5th start.
Let’s have Bonderman pitch a mock game against the Tigers. Our lineup is apparently reviving careers.
I can’t believe we’re getting one-hit by effing Jose Contreras. What a joke.
Frustrating and sad indeed.
I wonder how many of these fans calling for Bonderman’s head right now were the same ones giving him a standing ovation after what he did against the Yanks in 06……oh how short our memory is and even shorter our patience
I don’t see how a good game three years ago has anything to do with how we feel about his performance today.
That was a huge win for Chicago and Contreras. They were sinking faster than the Titanic.
Bonderman right now is no better than Eddie Bonine.
Prediction- Willis will follow his no-hitter with a perfect game Tomorrow.
Well…at least we managed the Country 2-hit…
Actually I think that run, while useless tonight, helps the cause long term…Marcus just gave Uncle Smokey the thumbs up that he’s ready to roll…
I’m liking the thought of Cabrera-Granderson-Thames-Inge…
In fact, when he comes down to it, a singles-hitting Ordonez in front of them is not so bad either, not at all…
In another fact, there could be worse guys following all that than SacMan Everett, who is 2nd in AL with 7 sac bunts, and 3rd on Tigers with runner on 3rd less than 2 out with 1.030 OPS, 11 RBI in 11 PA (Inge leads the way with 1.814 OPS…do not look up Larish’s numbers, your head will hurt like Lyon is on the mound with Crede on base and Dye at bat and Luke Scott on deck…)
But Anderson runs fast!!!! He has to lead off.
Bonderman doesn’t seem to be ready, his lack of velocity is a real killer. And go figure, another struggling pitcher owns us. How many does that make on the season? This offense is quite frustrating. I’m hoping the big guys can start producing and soon. Polanco, Maggs, Cabrera needs to be healthy. We need better consistency…
I think it’s more Bonderman’s lack of ability to put the ball anywhere BUT right in the middle of the zone that is killer. What’s Kenny teaching him in his fireside chats? To lay it down the pipe? Bondo’s used to doing that, it’s how he used to pitch.
Now he’s got to paint!
And man, I’m glad we have so much to complain about. Because it can only get better, and we’re in first place already. Bring it on!
[…] while he continues working on it, or if he’ll be asked to return to the minor leagues, which he can do or turn down. In any case, he’s not yet ready to start every five games, I […]
Hey Billfer,
do you think this is a Major League Record.. Since May 15 the Tigers while in first place have lost 5 games to pitchers winning their first game of the year…the two in Pittsburgh, Dice K….Escobar…and Contreras…this couldn’t have possiby happened before could it……it would be hard enough at the beginning of the year to lose to 5 guys winning their first let alone in May and June.
Hey Billfer,
do you think this is a Major League Record.. Since May 15 the Tigers while in first place have lost 5 games to pitchers winning their first game of the year…the two in Pittsburgh, Dice K….Escobar…and Contreras..This couldn’t have possiby happened before could it?…..It would be hard enough at the beginning of the year to lose to 5 guys winning their first let alone in May and June.
It may be. It is certainly frustrating.
Escobar took the loss against Jackson on Saturday. Although it’s still true that we did nearly nothing against him.
Also, we haven’t played Pittsburgh yet?
I’m sure he meant the two rookie sensations that owned the Tigers at Camden Yards.
let me correct myself
Baltimore Hernandez first win NMay28
Baltimore Bergison first win May29
Dice K first win June 2
Santanas First win June 5
Contrares first win June 7
has to be a major league record……all while in first place
That was actually Bergesen’s 2nd win. Got everything else though, and yes, it’s sad.
oh ya that makes sense, lets get rid of perry for a 6-1 loss, bonderman giving up all 6 runs… ya great move. don’t know if i could be a tigers fan after this, because obviously, wins are less important than salary… i might have to change who i root for because from my perspective wins are not an issue… perry has helped us maintain the first place status, and now u send him down with the second lowest era on the team. has to be good for his confidence, great job guys… happy to know u guys ‘know’ what’s best for the team…
I really don’t think Perry will be gone long. And I’m not sure how he would have helped in the 6-1 loss. I’m also not sure why wins became less important than salary. The Tigers need 6 starters at the moment because of the doubleheader. They also need more data points to see if Willis has anything. After his start today, they’ll make some decisions and the the pitching staff will get sorted out. Perry has to stay down a minimum of 10 days unless someone goes on the DL. I’d expect he’d be back at pretty close to the minimum.
Huh? The Tigers beat Kelvim Escobar and haven’t played Pittsburgh yet.
Congratulations to Marcus.
LOL