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Bonderman & Tigers Restore Winning WaysMay 24th, 2008
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Both Jeremy Bonderman’s season and career can be summed up in one word—inconsistent.
His pitching on Thursday afternoon stood more on the positive side for the Tigers. He led Detroit to a 9-2 victory over the hapless Seattle Mariners, who jerked back the trophy for Most Disappointing American League team. 40,166 fans watched Bonderman escape several early jams, three times stranding a runner on third base. Armed with one of the game’s most dominant sliders when working—the key phrase is when working—he limited Seattle to two runs on eight hits. Finally receiving sufficient run-support, Bonderman bumped his record up to 3-4, well off pace from his 10-1 streak a year ago.
Like most Tiger pitchers, control has been a major issue so far for Bonderman. In five full years with Detroit he has averaged 31 starts and 60 walks per campaign. Through nine games, he is already halfway to his normal walk total at 33. Striking out fewer hitters as well, his strikeout-to-walk ratio is roughly 1:1; that is one strikeout for every walk. Normally, Bonderman will blow away two batters for every one he gives a free pass. A 2006 runner-up to Johan Santana in strikeouts, his inability to zing strike three’s regularly has led to more hits, ground outs, and fly outs, which in turn has led to more runners advancing to score. Despite the number of prolific bats in Detroit’s lineup, the Tigers will not score 9 runs every time Bonderman takes the mound and he must regain the command he has displayed over the course of his career.
Bonderman rebounded nicely from three consecutive sub-par performances, but he must continue stifling teams to help the Tigers (20-27) make up ground. The Chicago White Sox shot to the top of the standings last weekend, have won eight games in a row, and sit three-and-a-half games above second place Minnesota, but few expect the Sox control the division for the long-term. With their hitting woes, pitching alone likely cannot secure enough victories to stay atop. After the three-game disposal of the Mariners, Detroit can tie the Twins for second in the downtrodden AL Central with another sweep.
Watching the Cleveland Indians tailspin, soar, and tailspin again has breathed life into the struggling Tigers. The expected main competition has struggled out of the gate almost as basly as the Tigers, and consequently, it appears the division may remain up for grabs until September. It is difficult to believe a team other than Detroit or Cleveland, the two pre-season horses of the Central, will distance themselves too greatly. Chicago, Minnesota, and Kansas City have too many holes on the mound and at the plate to field a division winning team. While strong showings are expected from each squad, we all wait for the two favorites to start clicking. Like a John Deere, once the Tigers and Indians prime up, they will cut down whatever stands in their way.
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