Detroit Tigers: Rotation will bring them a championship

Detroit Tigers: Rotation will bring them a championship

Less than two weeks until pitchers and catchers report to spring training. For the Detroit Tigers, there will be some familiar faces, and some new ones. But these will be the faces (and the arms) of the best rotation in the Major Leagues.

Jeremy Bonderman proved in the 2006 playoffs just how commanding he can be. However, he was sidelined last season due to some unfortunate injuries. He woudn't factor a decision in his first five starts, then reeled off 8 straight wins. Bonderman, 25, would only finish 11-9, but many games were decided by the 2nd inning. He would get knocked around the first couple innings of a game, but then completely shut down batters the rest of the game it seemed. 'Baseball America' has rated his slider tops in the game, and 2008 should finally be Bondo's career year.

Kenny Rogers is probably on his last arm, but it's an arm that’s still got some gas left. Once again another pitcher plagued by injuries last year, Rogers, 43, still showed signs that he's got it. Everyone likes to talk about his 'Pine Tar' incident, but always seem to forget that after he scraped his hand off, he shut down the Cardinals for seven more innings. Sometimes erratic with his glove, Rogers will be back to gamble in '08.

On the backside of the rotation, Nate Robertson will continue to eat up innings. Although he only has a 42-54 career record with Detroit, he has had the (unfortunate) luck of rarely getting any run support. Last season, a physical and mental problem with his game hit Nate, 30, in the middle of the season, but came back in great form. Not a 20 game winner, 200 strikeout guy, but he gives the Tigers a chance to win every game he pitches.

The newest Tiger, Dontrelle Willis, is all smiles. He brings in a leg kick that puts every hitter on the edge of their toes, never knowing what to expect. Many look at his last two seasons and question his ability to perform, but with a new attitude and new environment, The D-Train will have a bright future in Detroit.

And last, but not least, Justin Verlander. In only two years, Verlander has racked up a Rookie of the Year, back-to-back 17 win seasons, All-Star appearance, and that no-hitter back in 2007. His fastball seems to pick up more and more steam every time he throws it, and has a great curveball. If his first two seasons are any indication, Verlander is soon to be one the best pitchers of his era.

..And I haven't even talked about their lineup yet.

our pitching!

There is pressure on Leland to let the starters go more innings (to save the bullpin). Maybe we can get some more COMPLETE GAMES out of Verlander and Willis. Willis is used to pitching more than 6 or 7 innings! Yea.

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

There is pressure on Leland to let the starters go more innings (to save the bullpin). Maybe we can get some more COMPLETE GAMES out of Verlander and Willis. Willis is used to pitching more than 6 or 7 innings! Yea.

Hopefully Captain Hook lets them pitch!

If not maybe we should hire another Marlin - Jack McKeon let his pitchers go 9!

Quote :

Hopefully Captain Hook lets them pitch!

If not maybe we should hire another Marlin - Jack McKeon let his pitchers go 9!

I agree cat.

Jack McKeon rocks! He didn't count pitches. That's my kind of manager.

If the pitcher looks like he's tiring (whether that's at 50 or 150 pitches) take him out. If not, DON'T!

I wonder who the joker was who started the pitch count trend.

I seams like our old time tiger pitchers were conditioned enough to pitch complete games regularlly, as long as they were pitching fine. There is no way that pitchers are weaklings today, unless the pitching coaches make them that way. Just look at what adrenaline did for Verlander last year in his no-hitter!

catbox_9 wrote:

Jack McKeon rocks! He didn't count pitches. That's my kind of manager.

If the pitcher looks like he's tiring (whether that's at 50 or 150 pitches) take him out. If not, DON'T!

Exactly! Pitch counts are overrated...

bobrob2004 wrote:

catbox_9 wrote:

Jack McKeon rocks! He didn't count pitches. That's my kind of manager.

If the pitcher looks like he's tiring (whether that's at 50 or 150 pitches) take him out. If not, DON'T!

Exactly! Pitch counts are overrated...

And the number of pitches that's okay gets smaller and smaller every year.

Won't be long and seeing starters WIN will be a thing of the past - you have to go 5 innings to do that!

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

And they say baseball is getting better, bull. A little psychology and encouragement would help. Pitchers get so hung up on pitch counting, being done by their managers and coaches, it is distracting our pitchers, so of course they start loosing their concentration.

It's those dang little leaguers! They keep making all these stupid rules to baby pitchers. Look at all the injuries you see in pitchers nowadays! There's more than ever.