Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Bonderman's turn to prove he is the ace

There comes a point in a pitching career when you find out if he is good or exceptional. That point has arrived for the Tigers’ Jeremy Bonderman. He is still young. Just 23. Yet, he has 3 1-2 seasons in the major leagues under his belt. Bonderman throws consistently in the mid-90s with his fastball, sometimes hitting the upper 90s. His slider is a devastating pitch, in the high-80s with a late and sharp break. I have talked to a couple scouts who said they consider it the best slider in the major leagues. I do not believe that to be an overstatement. If the Tigers are going anywhere, Bonderman has to be their ace. Justin Verlander is too wet behind the ears, and Kenny Rogers just does not have enough stuff. Hitters tend to figure out him out the second or third time they see them in a given season. That is why he has a track record of struggling so much in the second half. The sign of an true ace is winning the night after his team has lost. Or stopping losing streaks. And doing so against the better teams, not just the chumps. That scenario presents itself for Bonderman tonight at Comerica Park against the White Sox. How he responds will say a lot about him. It will also say a lot about the Tigers chances in the long run.

Random thoughts

- Do the Tigers ever get Joe Crede out? Against the Tigers, the guy is a combination of Mike Schmidt, Brooks Robinson and Pie Traynor.

- Hmmm. It was interesting that Jim Leyland used Omar Infante at DH Tuesday instead of Craig Monroe.

- The Tigers are not the only team to benefit from an influx of young talent. Rookies Jonathan Papelbon and Jon Lester have saved the Red Sox bacon this season.

- The Yankees are incredible. They have won four straight games since the All Star break with an underwhelming pitching staff, Alex Rodriguez playing perhaps the worst baseball of his career and with lightly-regard prospects such as Melky Cabrera and Andy Phillips leading the way.

13 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I hope Robertson didn't have his best stuff last night. Bonderman has to win as it looks like the sox are very confident. A lot of thier players seem to be from the same mold (big and strong) and play very well. Tigers have to play errorless ball to beat this team. Get some run early and see that helps..V

7:29 AM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I hope Robertson didn't have his best stuff last night. Bonderman has to win as it looks like the sox are very confident. A lot of thier players seem to be from the same mold (big and strong) and play very well. Tigers have to play errorless ball to beat this team. Get some runs early and see if that helps..V

7:31 AM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

He Hit Infante against Garland strictly because of the head to head numbers.

Did the same thing last time the Tigers were in Chicago.

9:50 AM 
Blogger Pat Caputo said...

v,
robertson didn't have his best stuff. that's for sure. also, every time he made a mistake, the white sox made him pay. they have a very strong lineup with a lot of power. it's particularly strong in the middle of the order.
caputo

10:41 AM 
Blogger Pat Caputo said...

anonymous,
good call on infante vs. garland. he has hit .500 against him since the start of the 2004 season.
caputo

10:50 AM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Vazquez troubles me. He's been either very good, or very bad (I think he's taken a couple of no hitters late into games) and I think talent wise, he's the best pitcher the Sox have. The guy's due, so I see a low scoring game today.

10:59 AM 
Blogger maddog52 said...

I agree a hundred percent with the statement on bonderman. I was at the game last night. For the most Robertson did ok. Besides the doubles and homeruns. Everything else was either a ground out and a strike out. which personally i think the tigers pitcers were at there best this year. Letting the guys behind them make plays. A guy like bonderman has the stuff to K people all night. I really feel that this is his night to graduate if he ever was going to. It won't break him, but it be a great step. You stated that a true ace stops the bleeding after a loss. So far to me we almost have two of those guys which bolds well for our future. WIth Verlander (who has been rookie of the year in my mind the last month and a half) and Bonderman. Filling out my lineup card I was good except the Monroe and Infante. Never expected. Though Infante hasn't done all that bad in a step in role like that this year.

Do you think the Monroe thing is a sign to come? He really hasn't got the PT like he is suppose to be getting? I personally think last night is a perfect reason why they need a guy like Soriano if htey are going to go for it. THe Sox besides the Posednik and ANderson everyone is hitting 308 and above. I like Soriano because yeah he has poer but he hits for everything else and can cause havoc on the bases.

Lets see what happens. THis isn't a must win. as oppose to a win they could use for confidence.

1:02 PM 
Blogger Pat Caputo said...

brian,

I agree with you about vazquez. there have been times when he has been brilliant in his career and is a huge "x" factor down the stretch.
caputo

4:52 PM 
Blogger Pat Caputo said...

maddog52,

lets put it this way, it seems to me they are looking for ways to get infante in the lineup and not put monroe in.
caputo

4:55 PM 
Blogger Pat Caputo said...

daver,
soriano is an immensely talented player, but he does have his flaws. his attitude blows hot and cold.
caputo

5:05 PM 
Blogger maddog52 said...

Despite Tiger Killer (Crede)What a second game for bondo. He needed to step up and he did. Him and Verlander are really starting to emerge as a awesome looking 1/2 punch. Maybe Miller comes in and can be that third. Heck if they make no moves then they have 4 guys with Sanchez. Not a bad problem to have if the other two could work out.

Everyone keeps talking about who the MVPs have been. However, what about the disappointments. Yes there are not to many when you are the best team in baseball. But as Guillen ahs been the top dog in my book for the tigers this year. I would say Shelton has been my least valuable player. I agree with the way he blew up April. But he has done squat other then here and there. After last year and the hot start I thought he would have been a meat of the order guy. HE has been nothing short of a 9 guy in my book.

I can see us going out in the market getting a bat and during the pennant stretch seeing Demitri getting a lot of time at first. IN my mind our outfield is just fine the way it is. I like soriano because if you need to spell Inge, Polanco, Ordonez you could because with Soriano they are all inter changeable. ABreu you really aren't. But I say SHelton has to be the biggest concern.

10:05 PM 
Blogger maddog52 said...

I have another quick question. Are there any like guys out there that won't break the bank that might be available. Like in the Nick Johnson Mold.

LIek you said earlier on in the year and as time goes on. That is really what we need.

10:17 PM 
Blogger Pat Caputo said...

maddog52,

I agree with you about carlos guillen. In some years, he would be getting mvp consideration. he is an excellent all-around player.
caputo

11:48 PM 

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