Perry to Return, Bonderman placed on DL

Perry poised to rejoin Tigers
Bonderman could be headed back to DL

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

06/12/09 9:45 AM ET

CHICAGO -- Ryan Perry's trip to the Minor Leagues was apparently a short one.

Though Perry was scheduled to join the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens on Thursday for the start of their homestand, he had no sooner arrived before he was emptying his locker again and heading out, according to the Toledo Blade. He appears poised to rejoin the Tigers this weekend in Pittsburgh for their three-game series against the Pirates.

By rule, players who are optioned to the Minor Leagues can't return to the Majors within 10 days unless they're replacing a player who goes on the disabled list.

That's where Jeremy Bonderman could come into play. He hasn't pitched since giving up six runs over four-plus innings in the second game of Monday's day-night doubleheader against the White Sox, an outing that, by manager Jim Leyland's account, was "not too good."

Bonderman was in the bullpen for the remainder of the series, but wasn't used. Every other pitcher in the Tigers bullpen entered one of Detroit's final three games in the series. However, Bonderman said after Thursday's series finale at U.S. Cellular Field that he was available to pitch and was fine.

Bonderman's outing Monday was his first Major League appearance in more than a year. He missed most of last season with surgery to correct a blood vessel restriction in his shoulder, then spent this spring building up strength in his arm. He still isn't at full velocity and might not be until next year. The question the Tigers have faced is whether he's strong enough yet to pitch effectively.

Manager Jim Leyland said Wednesday that Bonderman would work out of the bullpen for now. He was asked if Bonderman could be a reliever longer term, much like Nate Robertson has been for Detroit so far this season.

"I do not think that," Leyland said.

The Tigers did announce a move after Thursday's game, but not involving Perry or Bonderman. Outfielder Clete Thomas was optioned to Toledo, while the Tigers purchased the contract of infielder Don Kelly.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Ryan Perry's return could mean DL for Bonderman

BY JOHN LOWE • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER • June 11, 2009

Right-handed reliever Ryan Perry wasn’t with the Toledo Mud Hens for their game Thursday night, and indications surfaced that he’s on his way to rejoin the Tigers for their series that starts tonight in Pittsburgh.

Perry apparently will take the roster spot of a Tigers pitcher who will go on the disabled list. That could be right-hander Jeremy Bonderman, who faltered in his season debut this week and then was sent to the bullpen.

However, Bonderman has little relief experience, and he takes the bullpen spot that could go to Perry, the hard-throwing rookie. It’s even more important than usual in the coming days for the Tigers to have their full complement of relievers: Their next six games will be played in NL parks where the designated hitter won’t be used. Thus the need could arise to use pinch-hitters for pitchers, and that could mean more relief pitchers are required than would be in an AL park.

Bonderman is returning from shoulder surgery that had kept him out of the big leagues for 12 months until he started the second game of Monday’s doubleheader against the White Sox. Bonderman allowed three homers and six runs in four innings in that game, and the next day manager Jim Leyland said, “If you were a scout and not the manager, I would have said he just didn’t look like he was quite ready.”
Perry was sent to Toledo on Monday to make room on the 25-man roster for Bonderman. Under baseball rules, Perry can’t return to the Tigers for 10 days unless he takes the spot of a pitcher who goes on the disabled list.

Hooray for Perry


Sucks Bondo may be on DL again

If not Bondo, Willis had injured his leg in his last game. He pitched through it though. Questions?!?

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

If not Bondo, Willis had injured his leg in his last game. He pitched through it though. Questions?!?

Willis needs to be lights out in his next start

Tigers place Bonderman on DL
Club recalls Perry from Triple-A Toledo

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

06/12/09 2:45 PM ET

PITTSBURGH -- The Tigers placed right-hander Jeremy Bonderman on the 15-day disabled list Friday as he continues his rehabilitation from thoracic outlet compression syndrome, a condition that restricts the blood flow through a blood vessel in the shoulder.

To take his place, Detroit recalled reliever Ryan Perry from Triple-A Toledo, where he spent Thursday before traveling here to join the team for its weekend series against the Pirates.

Bonderman gave up six runs over four-plus innings in the second game of Monday's day-night doubleheader against the White Sox, his first Major League appearance in more than a year. He missed most of last season with surgery to correct a blood vessel restriction in his shoulder, then spent this spring building up strength in his arm.

Bonderman still isn't at full velocity and might not be until next year. The question the Tigers have faced is whether he's strong enough yet to pitch effectively. In Monday's case, manager Jim Leyland termed the outing "not too good."

A couple days later, Leyland announced that Dontrelle Willis would keep his rotation spot and start Sunday against the Pirates. Bonderman was in the bullpen for the remainder of the White Sox series, but wasn't used.

Perry was scheduled to join the Mud Hens on Thursday for the start of their homestand, but he had no sooner arrived before he was emptying his locker again and heading out. By rule, players who are optioned to the Minor Leagues can't return to the Majors within 10 days unless they're replacing a player who goes on the disabled list.

Monday's move wasn't one that Leyland particularly wanted to make, and he didn't decide on it until after the first game of the doubleheader. But given the roster situation, he didn't have a lot of choices, and none of them were pleasant.

"Not because he did anything wrong," Leyland said, "but obviously, we had to make a move."

The 22-year-old right-hander went 0-1 with a 3.13 ERA in 23 appearances for the Tigers, striking out 22 batters over 23 innings. He began the season as a second option for setup work while Joel Zumaya was on the disabled list, then fell into a longer role once Zumaya returned.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Bonderman shut down, visits Dr. Andrews
BECK'S BLOG

The Tigers have shut down Jeremy Bonderman not just from pitching, but from throwing, until they can rid of a new soreness in his throwing shoulder.

The soreness popped up after his outing Monday against the White Sox, and it was concerning enough that the Tigers sent him to visit Dr. James Andrews this morning in Pensacola, Fla. His arthrogram and MRI showed nothing that would warrant surgery, but what head athletic trainer Kevin Rand called "normal wear and tear."

Basically, Rand said, whenever Bonderman tries to get extension on his arm, including reaching for more velocity, the arm starts to bark. It also happens after he starts to get tired.

"If it hadn't happened after this start," Rand said, "it would've happened one or two starts from now."

So what next? Bonderman will fly to Pittsburgh this weekend and meet back up with the trainers so that they can get a training plan for him. He might also travel with the team to St. Louis next week. But he's not doing anything extensive until they can get rid of the soreness in his shoulder.

Posted on June 12, 2009 at 5:10 PM

Damn