Bonderman "With a Lot to Prove"
Can Jeremy Bonderman live up to the expectations he once put on himself a few years ago when a reporter asked him in spring training what kind of pitcher he could be -- “Roger Clemens like” he responded.
It’s safe to say Bonderman hasn’t lived up to that yet. Bonderman, 26, has a lot of future left in the Major Leagues if he can get over two hurdles. Staying healthy and pitching well on a consistent basis.
The first hurdle is health. It’s a big one.
He was trying to answer that question last night as he pitched at the Fifth Third Ballpark for the Tigers Single-A affiliate West Michigan Whitecaps. Bonderman was pitching in his first rehab assignment since coming off shoulder surgery last season.
Bonderman picked up the win, throwing 94 pitches (64 strikes), in seven innings while giving up two runs and striking out four.
He was quite effective on the mound even though the velocity on the fastball was way down ranging from 80-86 mph. That didn’t hurt him in this game at the class A level but Major League hitters would love to see his heater come to the plate in the mid-80’s. It was quite clear that Bonderman has a ways to go as far as velocity is concerned to get back to the low to mid 90’s like he pitched two years ago.
I spoke to him after the game in the Whitecaps dugout for a TV interview and I came away with mixed feelings.
When asked about the velocity he said its sometimes 90 one day and then 80 the next. As far as his thoughts on the Tigers team “I have only seen them play twice this year, once in person and once on TV.” Come on Bonderman you mean to tell me you are getting paid 12.5 million to watch the Nickelodeon channel instead of your boys in Motown.
He then went on to say he looks forward to joining his teammates again and battling for first place in the AL Central. He also said he loved both catchers in Gerald Laird and Dane Sardinha even though they both have struggled at the plate. Maybe Bonderman wasn’t a big Pudge fan. When asked about what kind of adjustment new pitching coach Rick Knapp would be to him he stated “I don’t know I haven’t talk to him yet.”
Bonderman seemed more enthusiastic than usual in the interview, but he just seemed like he has been uninterested in everything Detroit Tigers the last two months. Yes he has been rehabbing and trying to recover from shoulder surgery. After doing the interview, I just felt like my grandma could tell me more about the Tigers this year than him. Let’s hope Bonderman can get reacquainted with his teammates and the city of Detroit very soon.
Although it’s going to take a couple weeks I feel as many expect Bonderman to pitch at least one more time in the minors. His next start is slated for Thursday for the Triple-A Toledo Mudhens as they take on the Gwinnett Braves in Lawrenceville, Ga. The Tigers do not have to pull up Bonderman to the big leagues until June 16th which is 30 days from his first minor league rehab start. The sooner the velocity climbs on the fastball the sooner he will be back in the old English D.
When he does come up to the Big Leagues the Tigers will have a decision to make as an organization. Who gets pulled from the starting rotation Dontrelle Willis, Armando Galarraga, and Rick Porcello?
Willis is trying to turn around his career. He had an admirable performance against the Twins Wednesday night going 4 2/3 innings while giving up four runs on eight hits in a no-decision. The most important stat was allowing only two walks and throwing mostly strikes in his season debut. He will need to continue making improvements if he wants to stay in the rotation. He at least earned another start which will come Tuesday night against the Texas Rangers, a team that has won seven straight games and is nine games over .500 leading the AL West.
As for Galarraga, he is struggling the most of all three pitchers right now. He is having that dreaded sophomore slump, this coming off a great April performance this year on the mound. It’s been the tail of two months as May has proven to be abysmal for Galarraga on the rubber. Today Galarraga couldn’t even make it out of the first inning giving up five runs to the Oakland Athletics. Galarraga has given up at least five runs in all four starts in the month of May. His ERA has risen from 1.85 on April 26 to 5.62 after today. Something has went awry with his pitching, we’ll see if he will have enough time to turn it around before Bonderman arrives.
With Porcello, he has really started to settle down and is pitching effectively the last few starts. Most notably his last start which came against the Athletics on Saturday night giving up only one run in six innings of work. Porcello has had a great month of May posting a 3-0 record with 1.00 ERA in three starts on the hill. Confidence was never a problem for Porcello and once he gets in a groove he is hard to stop even at 20 years old. Because of Porcello’s age he may be on a short leash to go to the minors if Galarraga, Willis, and Bonderman can all pitch effectively in the rotation at some point.
My guess is on Galarraga or Willis moving into the bullpen. They will need one of these guys or a combination of Zach Miner or Nate Robertson to take over for Porcello once August comes around. Porcello will most likely be shut down for the season as the Tigers organization will watch his innings pitched like a mom watches her baby at the grocery store.
For Bonderman though, getting back into that rotation is one thing, but asserting himself once he gets there is another. He will have to pitch consistently well something he has had trouble with over the past few years. Bonderman goes in slumps; he will combine three starts of seven plus innings of work followed by dismal efforts of less than four innings. This year he cannot allow that to happen with a very young staff around him.
Bonderman has pitched in the big leagues for six seasons and has been with the Tigers since 2003. Only four other players can say that third baseman Brandon Inge, shortstop Ramon Santiago, pitchers Nate Robertson and Fernando Rodney. He needs to be the veteran presence in the clubhouse for the pitching staff especially since there is no Kenny Rogers to look to.
Back in 2006, Bonderman had his best year like most Tigers which was a recipe for success in leading the Tigers to the World Series. Bonderman was 14-8 with a 4.06 ERA while pitching 200+ innings and strikeouts in 34 starts. When Bonderman goes the Tigers roar. Will we hear a roar soon at Comerica Park as the summer nears?
Jeremy Bonderman will have a lot to say about that. Let’s hope he can get through the first inning in 2009.
It’s safe to say Bonderman hasn’t lived up to that yet. Bonderman, 26, has a lot of future left in the Major Leagues if he can get over two hurdles. Staying healthy and pitching well on a consistent basis.
The first hurdle is health. It’s a big one.
He was trying to answer that question last night as he pitched at the Fifth Third Ballpark for the Tigers Single-A affiliate West Michigan Whitecaps. Bonderman was pitching in his first rehab assignment since coming off shoulder surgery last season.
Bonderman picked up the win, throwing 94 pitches (64 strikes), in seven innings while giving up two runs and striking out four.
He was quite effective on the mound even though the velocity on the fastball was way down ranging from 80-86 mph. That didn’t hurt him in this game at the class A level but Major League hitters would love to see his heater come to the plate in the mid-80’s. It was quite clear that Bonderman has a ways to go as far as velocity is concerned to get back to the low to mid 90’s like he pitched two years ago.
I spoke to him after the game in the Whitecaps dugout for a TV interview and I came away with mixed feelings.
When asked about the velocity he said its sometimes 90 one day and then 80 the next. As far as his thoughts on the Tigers team “I have only seen them play twice this year, once in person and once on TV.” Come on Bonderman you mean to tell me you are getting paid 12.5 million to watch the Nickelodeon channel instead of your boys in Motown.
He then went on to say he looks forward to joining his teammates again and battling for first place in the AL Central. He also said he loved both catchers in Gerald Laird and Dane Sardinha even though they both have struggled at the plate. Maybe Bonderman wasn’t a big Pudge fan. When asked about what kind of adjustment new pitching coach Rick Knapp would be to him he stated “I don’t know I haven’t talk to him yet.”
Bonderman seemed more enthusiastic than usual in the interview, but he just seemed like he has been uninterested in everything Detroit Tigers the last two months. Yes he has been rehabbing and trying to recover from shoulder surgery. After doing the interview, I just felt like my grandma could tell me more about the Tigers this year than him. Let’s hope Bonderman can get reacquainted with his teammates and the city of Detroit very soon.
Although it’s going to take a couple weeks I feel as many expect Bonderman to pitch at least one more time in the minors. His next start is slated for Thursday for the Triple-A Toledo Mudhens as they take on the Gwinnett Braves in Lawrenceville, Ga. The Tigers do not have to pull up Bonderman to the big leagues until June 16th which is 30 days from his first minor league rehab start. The sooner the velocity climbs on the fastball the sooner he will be back in the old English D.
When he does come up to the Big Leagues the Tigers will have a decision to make as an organization. Who gets pulled from the starting rotation Dontrelle Willis, Armando Galarraga, and Rick Porcello?
Willis is trying to turn around his career. He had an admirable performance against the Twins Wednesday night going 4 2/3 innings while giving up four runs on eight hits in a no-decision. The most important stat was allowing only two walks and throwing mostly strikes in his season debut. He will need to continue making improvements if he wants to stay in the rotation. He at least earned another start which will come Tuesday night against the Texas Rangers, a team that has won seven straight games and is nine games over .500 leading the AL West.
As for Galarraga, he is struggling the most of all three pitchers right now. He is having that dreaded sophomore slump, this coming off a great April performance this year on the mound. It’s been the tail of two months as May has proven to be abysmal for Galarraga on the rubber. Today Galarraga couldn’t even make it out of the first inning giving up five runs to the Oakland Athletics. Galarraga has given up at least five runs in all four starts in the month of May. His ERA has risen from 1.85 on April 26 to 5.62 after today. Something has went awry with his pitching, we’ll see if he will have enough time to turn it around before Bonderman arrives.
With Porcello, he has really started to settle down and is pitching effectively the last few starts. Most notably his last start which came against the Athletics on Saturday night giving up only one run in six innings of work. Porcello has had a great month of May posting a 3-0 record with 1.00 ERA in three starts on the hill. Confidence was never a problem for Porcello and once he gets in a groove he is hard to stop even at 20 years old. Because of Porcello’s age he may be on a short leash to go to the minors if Galarraga, Willis, and Bonderman can all pitch effectively in the rotation at some point.
My guess is on Galarraga or Willis moving into the bullpen. They will need one of these guys or a combination of Zach Miner or Nate Robertson to take over for Porcello once August comes around. Porcello will most likely be shut down for the season as the Tigers organization will watch his innings pitched like a mom watches her baby at the grocery store.
For Bonderman though, getting back into that rotation is one thing, but asserting himself once he gets there is another. He will have to pitch consistently well something he has had trouble with over the past few years. Bonderman goes in slumps; he will combine three starts of seven plus innings of work followed by dismal efforts of less than four innings. This year he cannot allow that to happen with a very young staff around him.
Bonderman has pitched in the big leagues for six seasons and has been with the Tigers since 2003. Only four other players can say that third baseman Brandon Inge, shortstop Ramon Santiago, pitchers Nate Robertson and Fernando Rodney. He needs to be the veteran presence in the clubhouse for the pitching staff especially since there is no Kenny Rogers to look to.
Back in 2006, Bonderman had his best year like most Tigers which was a recipe for success in leading the Tigers to the World Series. Bonderman was 14-8 with a 4.06 ERA while pitching 200+ innings and strikeouts in 34 starts. When Bonderman goes the Tigers roar. Will we hear a roar soon at Comerica Park as the summer nears?
Jeremy Bonderman will have a lot to say about that. Let’s hope he can get through the first inning in 2009.
Labels: Tigers
posted by Justin Hoff @ 11:15 PM
3 Comments
3 Comments:
Trade or cut Willis. He is going to get lit up by the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night.
Chances are if Porcello has the kind of season that Verlander had in his rookie campaign, then he won't be shut down in late summer cause Detroit won't be able to afford it. Right now their solid staff members are Verlander, Jackson, and Porcello. Willis looks good from his one start and if he solidifies into a good four starter he will stay on for the year. If Gallaraga continues to struggle when Bondo comes up, he could be sent to the bullpen. But I expect Bonderman to be bullpen material, until his arm heats up and he can hit low 90's consistently.
And the part about him not focusing on the Tigers, he's got to worry about himself, cause if he doesn't, he won't be a tiger by next season.
Too bad Porcello came from High School while Verlander came from Old Dominion. There is a little difference there I would say. No way Porcello makes it through the whole season.
As for Willis come on people let's try to be a little positive. As for Bondo he should at least know what is going on with the team. Where's the chemistry at, what kind of team player is he
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