Comments on: Tigers rethinking reliance on Bruce Rondon?

By: Detroit Michael

Detroit Michael — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 10:54:46 +0000

Henning jumped off that bandwagon in a hurry.

In December, he wrote that the national baseball pundits “just can’t believe this Rondon kid, who on Sunday turned 22, will be promoted to the bullpen’s highest-profile, heaviest-pressure role. But he will. Unless he implodes during spring camp. Which he probably won’t.”

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20121212/OPINION03/212120425

By: Minoring In Baseball

Minoring In Baseball — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 10:38:05 +0000

Those of us who’ve seen Rondon pitch in the minors aren’t really surprised by what he’s doing in spring training. Although he can throw a fireball, he’s always had some control issues. This is just spring training, though, and I’m sure with every outing the coaches are doing their best get him under control. I’ll wait and see what he’s pitching like at the end of the month, and if he’s worked any of the bugs out of the system.
http://minoringinbaseball.com/

By: jwbiii

jwbiii — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 03:18:36 +0000

Heavy 1B don’t age particularly well.
Boog Powell’s last good season was when he was 33.
Lee May’s last good season was when he was when he was 33.
George Scott’s last good season was when he was 33.
George C. Scott’s last good movie was when he was 46, but he was neither heavy nor a 1B.
Kent Hrbek’s last good season was when he was 33.
Cecil Fielder’s last good season was when he was 31 or 32 (depending on how far below average you wish to consider “good”).
Bob Horner’s last good season was when he was 28.
Mo Vaughn’s last good season was when he was 34.
Prince Fielder is signed through his age 36 season.

By: natslady

natslady — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 03:03:58 +0000

Really, that is NOT what you hope for unless you want a heart attack! Henry drove fans and Davey nuts until Davey gave the closer’s job to Clippard and stashed Henry on the DL.

By: frank433

frank433 — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 02:41:14 +0000

Why not just schedule Verlander to throw his side work and bullpens on game day during the 9th inning?

By: proudlycanadian

proudlycanadian — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 02:15:11 +0000

Coke? Eventually Coke is bound to flunk a drug test.

By: joerymi

joerymi — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 02:07:28 +0000

Maybe they break the cycle of this league wide saves fetish.

By: tuberippin

tuberippin — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 02:04:26 +0000

Can’t be significantly worse than Valverde either way.

At worst he plays out like Henry Rodriguez did in the closer’s role for Washington early last season when Storen was still rehabbing his injury.

By: aiede

aiede — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 01:42:19 +0000

You’re reporting on Lynn Henning’s guesses? Dude’s the Joe Morgan of Detroit baseball media, writing columns something like 10-15 years behind the times.

(Among other gems, he didn’t want the Tigers to sign Prince Fielder because he’s too fat.)

The Tigers can afford to work with Rondon and some mix of Benoit/Dotel/Coke/Alburquerque/Villarreal/etc. until later in the season. Closers are overrated, trades for “proven” versions of them doubly so.

By: historiophiliac

historiophiliac — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 01:16:04 +0000

Hmmm, PC does have a point there…the 2-5 of Hunter, Cabrera, Fielder & V-Mart combined w/ V, Scherzer, Fister & Sanchez COULD make the closer obsolete.

Missed you, PC. Snowed in or something?

By: proudlycanadian

proudlycanadian — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 01:14:46 +0000

Look out Below! Rondon wants your job.

By: proudlycanadian

proudlycanadian — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 01:13:30 +0000

Aren’t the Beach Boys still on tour?

By: historiophiliac

historiophiliac — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 01:13:00 +0000

Rondon did better than Below — and he has big league experience.

By: proudlycanadian

proudlycanadian — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 01:12:17 +0000

The Tigers do not need a closer anyways. If their #1 fan on this site is to believed, they will easily win 100 games by more than 3 runs.

By: historiophiliac

historiophiliac — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 01:06:31 +0000

If you’re going to troll me, Jolly Green Beaverman, at least pick something good. We both know good and damn well that DD is not bringing Valverde back.

Drinking yet?

By: historiophiliac

historiophiliac — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 01:01:14 +0000

Booooo!!!!

/throws peanut shells

By: cur68

cur68 — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 00:56:22 +0000

FYI, it is Lincoln Green and I look smashing. And as for taking on a porcupine face to face, well that’s what the spine pig wants, see? The Art of War is very clear in these cases: never fight an enemy on their terms.

Once again; Valverde.

By: thebadguyswon

thebadguyswon — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 00:51:37 +0000

It would be one thing if the “kid closer” had a modicum of command over his pitches.

I listened to some of the game today. The Tigers broadcasters were raving about Rondon having three pitches. He got ahead of Justin Turner, a marginal major leaguer if there ever was one, and then gave up a 1-2 single on a 96-mph fastball. Mix in the walks he’s going to issue and I’m telling you, Detroit is playing with fire.

By: Bill Baer

Bill Baer — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 00:39:52 +0000

Brian Wilson too!

By: dondada10

dondada10 — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 00:39:03 +0000

K-Rod is still available.

By: historiophiliac

historiophiliac — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 00:37:16 +0000

Shouldn’t you be gnawing down a tree so you can kill a superior species you’re too chicken to confront face-to-face? BTW, that Jealous Green you are currently wearing is not good for you either!

By: cur68

cur68 — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 00:29:52 +0000

pssst! Bill! You don’t have to eat the bread pudding. Just wring it out for the alcohol and have that.

Ahem. Valverde’s available.

By: dracko19

dracko19 — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 00:17:30 +0000

Coke makes RHP hitters look like Ted Williams. Dotel is a train wreck in the 9th. Benoit had a scary gopher ball rate last year and blew saves as a set up guy. Rondon is walking 2+ every outing so far. DD is a master at finding solutions to these kinds of problems….and it is a problem

By: historiophiliac

historiophiliac — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 00:16:45 +0000

Bill, I’m so glad you’ve decided to dedicate your inaugural post to the Tigers. This suggests excellent taste on your part.

/serves bowl of hot bread pudding w/ bourbon sauce..with a little extra shot — for medicinal purposes, of course

Ahem, as I’ve mentioned before on this site, MY personal guess is that DD has not actually given up on a veteran closer. He is buying time to see if Brian Wilson comes back strong. If he does (in a couple of months), I believe they will try to sign him. If not, I expect a trade some time this season. Everything doesn’t have to be locked up Day 1 — as the Sanchez trade proved last year. Let’s not forget that Ilitch wants a ring and he needs it now. If time was on our side, I would agree w/ the youthful rotation idea, but it is not.

And, thank you for the extra daily dose of Tigers awesomeness. <3