GDT: 4/10/10 - DET (3-1) VS CLE (2-2) - 1:05 p.m. ET

Splitter key to Bonderman's comeback
After two injury-filled seasons, righty to start Saturday

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

04/09/10 2:37 PM ET

DETROIT -- For the first time in almost two full years, Jeremy Bonderman can say he's truly a healthy pitcher. He's hoping he can say after Saturday that he's an effective one, too.

His new pitch is going to be a major factor in answering the latter question.

Bonderman used to be a headline starter, somebody fans came out to see when they knew he'd be on the hill. He begins his 2010 season in the back of the Tigers rotation, partly thanks to a three-game suspension, partly because nobody really knows what he'll ultimately do as a starter this year. His 2010 season is a question mark, as is his future.

Whatever happens from here on out, he's glad to be back in Detroit.

"It's definitely a place I like to play," he said. "It could be my last year here, so it'll be neat to start it here. Just enjoy it, have fun."

The last time Bonderman started a game at Comerica Park was May 22, 2008, when he was fighting to retain the feeling in his fingers against the numbness that was creeping through his arm. It remains his last win as a Major League starter, but his numbness was a losing battle, later discovered to be a serious condition in which blood flow was being restricted to his shoulder.

Surgery knocked him out for the rest of the year, and nerve issues in his shoulder essentially made 2009 a lost season, too. He's back, but he's different, and he's trying to embrace it.

On the one hand, Bonderman doesn't have his old velocity and doesn't know if he'll ever get it back, though he believes he's throwing at least as hard as he did in 2007. On the other hand, he wishes he had the splitter then that he does now.

After seven years and countless attempts at a changeup, he finally has an offspeed pitch, even if he doesn't have his top speed to go with it.

"I always told [coaches] I wanted to throw it," Bonderman said, "and they kept telling me, 'No, no, no. You're too young.' That's over with."

He's just 27, still young by most pitching standards, but Bonderman no longer feels like he's a young pitcher. He has 1,005 innings on his arm and plenty of wear and tear to go with it, and he has some newfound experience to go with the strong will he's always had.

It was his idea to try throwing a splitter, and he's going to sink or swim with it. If he can feel as good about it in the regular season as he did in his final two starts of Spring Training, hitters are probably going to see quite a bit of it. He could never say that about a changeup in any of the years he tried that, which explains why it became almost an annual one-liner each spring.

The difference with the splitter, he said, "It's actually a pitch I can use. The last two times I've pitched I feel like I've been throwing it for a long time."

Just as important, he has an idea how to use it, along with all his other pitches. He's a pitcher now in the sense he never quite grasped until he had to.

"I actually know how to pitch a little bit," Bonderman said. "I'm just trying to get ahead in the count, expand the zone and get them to swing at my pitches. Now I have an idea of [pitching] in and out and how to locate the ball a little more."



Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Jeremy Bonderman (0-0, -.-- ERA)
While Dontrelle Willis' comeback from two lost seasons attracted some well-deserved attention nationally, Bonderman's return from two injury-plagued campaigns means just as much to Detroit's fortunes. He seemed on his way to stardom in 2006 before an ERA jump in 2007 and then circulation problems in 2008 threw his career into question in just his mid-20s. Now 27, he still doesn't have the old strength in his arm or the same life in his fastball, but his workhorse slider is back and his willingness to throw an offspeed pitch is stronger than ever. Bonderman went 1-1 with a 6.92 ERA in five spring outings, but more than half of his damage came in two-thirds of an inning against Toronto in early March.


CLE: RHP Mitch Talbot (0-0, -.-- ERA)
The Indians acquired Talbot in the December trade that sent Kelly Shoppach to the Rays. His path to the big leagues with the Rays was blocked, and he's out of Minor League options. The Indians are giving him this shot in the rotation based on his 13-win seasons at Triple-A Durham in 2007 and '08 and his strong performance in spring camp. Talbot has four effective pitches, with his changeup getting the most rave reviews. He pitched briefly for Tampa in 2008, but this will be his first real exposure to life as a Major League starter. He gave up five runs in 2 1/3 innings in a relief appearance against the Tigers in '08.


Tigers: A-Jax off to quick start

Austin Jackson had the chance to join some elite company on Friday. Had he come through with an extra-base hit, it would've been the fourth straight game he'd done so to start his Major League career. He and catcher Alex Avila are the only Tigers to begin their big league careers with extra-base hits in three straight games since 1920. A fourth would have put him on a list with Enos Slaughter, Coco Laboy and Jason Bay as the only players since 1920 to begin their big league careers with an extra-base hit in four or more straight games.

Alas, Jackson merely singled, walked, stole a base and scored two runs on Friday. That still gives him a solid four-game hitting streak to kick off his career. He's hitting 6-for-18 so far with three RBIs and four runs scored as the club's leadoff hitter.

Worth noting

The Indians have now lost seven straight games to the Tigers (five in a row in Detroit).

... The last time the Indians were above .500 (before beginning this year 2-1) was the second-to-last day of the 2008 season. They were never at or above .500 at any point in 2009.

... Indians DH Travis Hafner is now tied for 10th on the Indians' all-time homer list at 163 with Ken Keltner.

... Tigers SS Adam Everett now has three hits over his team's first four games. That leaves him just one shy of his total from all of Spring Training, where he went 4-for-48.


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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Sunday, April 11:
Tigers (Justin Verlander, RHP (0-0, 7.20)) vs. Indians (Jake Westbrook, RHP (0-1, 11.25)), 1:05 p.m. ET

• Monday, April 12:
Tigers (Max Scherzer, RHP (0-0, 0.00)) vs. Kansas City (To be announced), 1:05 p.m. ET

• Tuesday, April 13:
Tigers (To be announced) vs. Kansas City (To be announced), 1:05 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

Cleveland

1. Cabrera, A, SS
   
2. Sizemore, CF
   
3. Choo, RF
   
4. Hafner, DH
   
5. Peralta, J, 3B
   
6. LaPorta, 1B
   
7. Grudzielanek, 2B
   
8. Marson, C
   
9. Brantley, LF
   

P: Mitch Talbot


TIGERS

1. Jackson, CF
   
2. Damon, LF
   
3. Ordonez, RF
   
4. Cabrera, 1B
   
5. Guillen, DH
   
6. Inge, 3B
   
7. Avila, C
   
8. Sizemore, 2B
   
9. Everett, SS
   

P: Jeremy Bonderman

go Bondo!! Go Tigers

go Johnny go!!

niiiice....hold that lead!!!

wowo - i'm a whitecap now -- kinda appropriate, if you know what whitecaps are....

yesss!!! men on first and second...inge, c'mon, now!!

Inning 1
Top Half

B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Asdrubal Cabrera swinging.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Grady Sizemore swinging, catcher Alex Avila to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:2 S:0 O:3 -
Shin-Soo Choo flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

Bottom Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Austin Jackson grounds out, third baseman Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Matt LaPorta.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Johnny Damon singles on a ground ball to shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera.

B:2 S:0 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez homers (2) on a line drive to left field. Johnny Damon scores. DET 2, CLE 0



B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera singles on a line drive to left fielder Michael Brantley.

B:3 S:1 O:2 -
Carlos Guillen flies out to right fielder Shin-Soo Choo.

B:2 S:0 O:2 -
Brandon Inge singles on a line drive to left fielder Michael Brantley. Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Alex Avila walks. Miguel Cabrera to 3rd. Brandon Inge to 2nd.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Scott Sizemore pops out to second baseman Mark Grudzielanek.

DET 2, CLE 0 AFTER 1 INNING

Inning 2
Top Half

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Travis Hafner swinging.

B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Jhonny Peralta pops out to shortstop Adam Everett.

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Matt LaPorta lines out to second baseman Scott Sizemore.

DET 2, CLE 0 AFTER 1.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Adam Everett singles on a ground ball to left fielder Michael Brantley.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Austin Jackson lines out to right fielder Shin-Soo Choo.

B:3 S:1 O:2 -
With Johnny Damon batting, Adam Everett caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Lou Marson to shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Johnny Damon walks.

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Magglio Ordonez lines out to right fielder Shin-Soo Choo.

DET 2, CLE 0 AFTER 2 INNINGS

Inning 3
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Mark Grudzielanek grounds out softly, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Lou Marson grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Michael Brantley lines out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

DET 2, CLE 0 AFTER 2.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Miguel Cabrera walks.

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Carlos Guillen walks. Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.


B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Brandon Inge singles on a line drive to center fielder Grady Sizemore. Miguel Cabrera scores. Carlos Guillen to 3rd.

DET 3, CLE 0

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Alex Avila walks. Brandon Inge to 2nd.

B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Scott Sizemore out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Grady Sizemore. Carlos Guillen scores.

DET 4, CLE 0

B:0 S:2 O:3 - Adam Everett grounds into double play,
shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera to second baseman Mark Grudzielanek to first
baseman Matt LaPorta. Alex Avila out at 2nd.

DET 4, CLE 0 AFTER 3 INNINGS

Inning 4
Top Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Asdrubal Cabrera called out on .

B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Grady Sizemore called out on .

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Shin-Soo Choo walks.

B:3 S:1 O:2 -
Travis Hafner singles on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson. Shin-Soo Choo to 3rd.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
With Jhonny Peralta batting, wild pitch by Jeremy Bonderman, Shin-Soo Choo scores. Travis Hafner to 2nd.

DET 4, CLE 1


B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Jhonny Peralta walks.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Matt LaPorta pops out to second baseman Scott Sizemore

DET 4, CLE 1 AFTER 3.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Austin Jackson grounds out, third baseman Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Matt LaPorta.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Johnny Damon grounds out to first baseman Matt LaPorta.

B:2 S:0 O:3 -
Magglio Ordonez lines out to right fielder Shin-Soo Choo.

DET 4, CLE 1 AFTER 4 INNINGS

Inning 5
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Mark Grudzielanek grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Lou Marson grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Michael Brantley flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

DET 4, CLE 1 AFTER 4.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera to first baseman Matt LaPorta.

B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Carlos Guillen grounds out sharply, pitcher Mitch Talbot to shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera to first baseman Matt LaPorta.

B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Brandon Inge called out on .

DET 4, CLE 1 AFTER 5 INNINGS

Inning 6
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Brad Thomas replaces Jeremy Bonderman.

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Asdrubal Cabrera singles on a ground ball to first baseman Miguel Cabrera, deflected by pitcher Brad Thomas.

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Grady Sizemore swinging.

B:3 S:3 O:2 -
Shin-Soo Choo swinging.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
With Travis Hafner batting, wild pitch by Brad Thomas, Asdrubal Cabrera to 2nd.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Travis Hafner singles on a ground ball to left fielder Johnny Damon. Asdrubal Cabrera scores.

DET 4, CLE 2

B:1 S:2 O:3 - Jhonny Peralta grounds into a force out,
second baseman Scott Sizemore to shortstop Adam Everett. Travis Hafner
out at 2nd.

DET 4, CLE 2 AFTER 5.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Tony Sipp replaces Mitch Talbot.

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Alex Avila hit by pitch.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Scott Sizemore flies out to left fielder Michael Brantley.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Adam Everett flies out to right fielder Shin-Soo Choo.

B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Austin Jackson swinging.

DET 4, CLE 2 AFTER 6 INNINGS

Inning 7
Top Half

B:2 S:0 O:1 -
Matt LaPorta grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Mark Grudzielanek grounds out softly, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:4 S:1 O:2 -
Lou Marson walks.

B:4 S:1 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Michael Brantley grounds into a force out, second baseman Scott Sizemore to shortstop Adam Everett. Lou Marson out at 2nd.

DET 4, CLE 2 AFTER 6.5 INNINGS

Bottom Half

B:4 S:0 O:0 -
Johnny Damon walks.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Joe Smith replaces Tony Sipp.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Magglio Ordonez walks. Johnny Damon to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:2 - Miguel Cabrera grounds into double play,
third baseman Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Matt LaPorta. Johnny
Damon out at 3rd. Magglio Ordonez to 2nd.

B:4 S:0 O:2 -
Joe Smith intentionally walks Carlos Guillen.


B:4 S:0 O:2 -
Brandon Inge walks. Magglio Ordonez to 3rd. Carlos Guillen to 2nd.

B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Alex Avila called out on .

DET 4, CLE 2 AFTER 7 INNINGS

Inning 8
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Don Kelly replaces left fielder Johnny Damon, batting 2nd, playing left field.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Fu-Te Ni replaces Brad Thomas.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Asdrubal Cabrera grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Grady Sizemore hit by pitch.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Shin-Soo Choo hit by pitch. Grady Sizemore to 2nd.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Travis Hafner on foul tip.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Ryan Perry replaces Fu-Te Ni.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Jhonny Peralta swinging.

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Jensen Lewis replaces Joe Smith.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Scott Sizemore lines out to third baseman Jhonny Peralta.

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Adam Everett on foul tip.

B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Austin Jackson swinging.

DET 4, CLE 2 AFTER 8 INNINGS

Inning 9
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Matt LaPorta grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Mark Grudzielanek grounds out, pitcher Ryan Perry to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Luis Valbuena replaces Lou Marson.

B:0 S:2 O:3 -
Luis Valbuena pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge in foul territory.

DET 4, CLE 2 FINAL SCORE