Morning Prowl: Bondo's Rehab Start, 132 Pitches, The Rib Cage Thames, and Pending Roster Shuffles

by Ian Casselberry on May 22, 2009 9:30 AM EDT in Detroit Tigers News

In his second rehab start last night, Jeremy Bonderman pitched six innings, allowing five runs on seven hits. He also had four strikeouts and two walks. Detroit4lyfe was at the game and thinks Bondo actually pitched better than his numbers say. The Spot Starters also has observations from a reader who was in attendance.

(In addition, you can look at Bondo's performance through Gameday, if you want to get an idea of how he was throwing.)

The Detroit Tigers Weblog looks closely at yesterday's eighth inning and wonders if Jim Leyland managed Edwin Jackson responsibly. (And is he handling Justin Verlander in much the same manner?)

Like Billfer, Tiger Geist wonders if Leyland's contract status has any influence on his decision-making process - and his management of the pitching staff.

After yesterday's game, the Tigers activated Magglio Ordonez from the family medical emergency list and sent Wilkin Ramirez back to Triple-A Toledo. At least we got to see Ramirez play some on Wednesday.

While Bondo's rehab stint looks to be nearing its end, Marcus Thames is ready to begin his. He's been taking batting practice and will probably join the Toledo Mud Hens next week. Leyland says Thames needs about 30 at-bats to get ready.

Mack Avenue Tigers tries to figure out how the Tigers' roster will look once Thames and Carlos Guillen return to the team. Is there really a place for them, or does the current roster give Detroit its best chance to win?

I didn't mention it in the recap for Wednesday's game, because it ultimately didn't factor into the outcome, but I feel like I should've written something about the Rangers turning a triple play against the Tigers. So... that happened.

This quote from Leyland seems to confirm any presumptions that calling up Luke French to fill in while Nate Robertson was on the DL was almost entirely Dave Dombrowski's idea.

The Tigers' official MLBlog has photos from MC Hammer's visit to Comerica Park last Friday. My favorite is the one with five players outside the clubhouse.

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Crazy To Think.....

…..That people dont want Guillen and Thames Back…..Guillen is a career .300 hitter and can hit ya 20 hrs……Thams is a beast and has the ability to go yard everytime…..Its criminal to not want those guys back.

by BennieBladesFan on May 22, 2009 9:39 AM EDT reply actions

on the other hand

there’s no way D-Train has a 1-hitter and shutout a few days ago without the strong defense in the corner outfield spot that the current roster permits. Defense, pitching and flexibility win baseball games.

Mack Avenue Tigers

by Kurt Mensching on May 22, 2009 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions

Maybe Not....

….However Guillen doesnt have to catch flyballs when he is DH the rest of the season

by BennieBladesFan on May 22, 2009 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions

no, you're right

Hope that Leyland sees it the same way is all!

Mack Avenue Tigers

by Kurt Mensching on May 22, 2009 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions

I wouldn't mind having Thames power back as well...

Not to say we need any more power… But I’m greedy, let’s get 3+ HR every game.

by ZWC11 on May 22, 2009 6:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Too bad JV doesn’t get to match up with Jimenez tonight. Two hardest throwing starters in the game (95.4 and 95.0 mph).

by rcpratt on May 22, 2009 9:47 AM EDT reply actions

Sure I want Carlos and Thames back

But I also want Anderson and Thomas and Rayburn. Carlos could never have caught some of those fly balls that Anderson and Clete made. That throw by Clete was magnificent to save a run at the plate.

"It's designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything is new again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops, and leaves you to face the fall alone". A. Bartlett Giamatti

by densogirl on May 22, 2009 9:56 AM EDT reply actions

Eh.

Magglio would have made that catch in the 8th. Hard to praise a guy for a great defensive play when he turns around and makes a horrendous one a few innings later.

I still don’t see how they scored that a dobule.

by rcpratt on May 22, 2009 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions

Maggs isn't horrendous

but I don’t think he even makes it to that hit in the eighth.

He might make the throw home earlier though. He does have a good arm. He really isn’t that bad in right field.

Mack Avenue Tigers

by Kurt Mensching on May 22, 2009 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Agreed.

I don’t think Maggs is a liability at all. Obviously he’s not a second Granderson out there, and he’s obviously not quite as good out there as Clete is. But we’re not exactly paying him for his fielding.

He’s a bit slow and sometimes takes funky routes and occasionally scares me, but he makes the tough plays more often than not.

by rcpratt on May 22, 2009 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions

According to SI.com...

The Tigers are batting .500 with bases loaded this season, including 4 grand slams. Yet, Leyland is quoted about worrying about gettin’ the big knocks and that’s why they need the big boppers back. While it’d be unrealistic to expect the kids to keep doing what they’ve been doing, you have to be patient to let the veterans get back to form—and in this division, patience is a hard thing to come by.

Baseball makes me want to pull my hair out sometimes…

by peazgrl on May 22, 2009 10:38 AM EDT reply actions

Small sample size is small.

You can’t really extract much from 36 ABs, and the bases loaded situation makes up maybe one tenth of the total “big knocks” situations. This team is hitting fairly well, but you still can’t count on the youngsters to keep producing.

by rcpratt on May 22, 2009 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions

Rob Neyer...

has some opinions on Guillen, also:

Really, Detroit Tigers? After giving up on Carlos Guillen as a shortstop and a third baseman and a left fielder, you’re really giving him significant at-bats as your designated hitter even though he seems to have completely forgotten how to hit?

by rcpratt on May 22, 2009 10:56 AM EDT reply actions

The link, sorry.

by rcpratt on May 22, 2009 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions

Neyer.....

….is a idiot…..The reason he wasnt hitting is becasue hes been hurt….Geez

by BennieBladesFan on May 22, 2009 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Don't you think just maybe Leyland has the cell phone numbers of the Hens manager and pitching coach

[This quote from Leyland seems to confirm any presumptions that calling up Luke French to fill in while Nate Robertson was on the DL was almost entirely Dave Dombrowski’s idea.]

DD’s idea? You don’t think Leyland has a say in the roster decisions? I’m sure Leyland discusses performance with the Hen coaches before a move is made. The Hen’s pitching coach was gushing over Luke French the week before the call up on a radio sports talk show.

by 63 Tiger on May 22, 2009 12:25 PM EDT reply actions

my guess

Leyland was in a buoyant mood after winning six straight and was cracking jokes left and right, so he shouldn’t be taken too literal on Luke French.

Mack Avenue Tigers

by Kurt Mensching on May 22, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Jackson

“After the game, when a reporter asked Leyland why he let Jackson throw 132 pitches, he responded by blowing out a smoke ring and saying, “I’m old school. And don’t spell school with a K, that’s new skool.” – http://razzball.com/sauer-on-mauer-pauer/

by rdf8585 on May 22, 2009 2:33 PM EDT reply actions

that’s my favorite photo too…. i wonder why

by wepri31 on May 22, 2009 4:18 PM EDT reply actions

He didn't Know who Mr.French was?

Geez Jim be a straight shooter. I am almost sure he did know who he was. Every Manager should every player from AA and Up. Like how hard is it to watch a few games on the net concerning your minor league teams.

by Barry2 on May 22, 2009 4:40 PM EDT reply actions

Hey can someone tell me...

Why isn’t Ordonez back on the active roster? Ramirez’ name is off of it. Maggs, name is not on it, MLB.com reported that he was supposed to play tonight, but I checked out the line up card @ freep.com and he’s not on it. WTF? Then ESPN.com reports him on the DL as day to day WTF?

Patty J >> the Detroitchik

by Detroitchik on May 22, 2009 5:46 PM EDT reply actions

Beck reports:

Magglio Ordonez was back in uniform for the Tigers as expected on Friday, but he was not in the starting lineup after four days off. Manager Jim Leyland had Clete Thomas in right field instead along with Jeff Larish at designated hitter and Ramon Santiago at shortstop, as he tried to load up the lineup with left-handed hitters. Rockies starter Ubaldo Jimenez is giving up a .308 average and .874 OPS to left-handed batters, compared with .207 and .530 against right-handed hitters.

Mack Avenue Tigers

by Kurt Mensching on May 22, 2009 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions