Bonderman: why are we banking on him?

They’ll be saying that Bonderman is ready to go. They said that last year. They’ll say he’s worked hard, that he’d pumped up, that he feels better than he did in years. But then, listen to what they say about Nate Robertson, Dontrelle Willis, and Armando Galarraga. Same thing, then pass the salt.
  
I give Galarraga an equal, if not better chance, at having a successful season in the rotation as I give Bonderman. Those odds are evened up by the fact that the Tigers will be giving the other guys first crack because AG has an option left, and the others are making 10 to 12.5 million bucks.

Bondo doesn’t have to set the world on fire as a fourth starter. AG picked up 6 wins in 2009. I figure that there will be a drop off from Jackson’s 13 wins in ’09 to what we get from Scherzer in his first season in the AL. In fact, the fact that DD blew a few more holes in what was already a bad lineup may drop the W totals for all starters. The 4- 5 spots in the rotation were none too steady last season, and should be able to improve on the 2009 win totals, IMO.

something happened and it wasn’t just plate adjustments. As far as I’m concerned Galarraga has only ever stunk while hurt as well.

And the health problems may have been dogging him in ‘07 too… didn’t he hit the DL?

you need to look at the type of pitcher Kenny Rogers was and the pitcher that Jeremy Bonderman is. Basically they’re two different pitchers.

Kenny Rogers relied heavily upon strategy. Meaning relied heavily upon location, pitch selection (Kenny had alot of pitches to choose from), and changing speeds on those pitches. Looking at his pitch type values we can see that really his pitches weren’t extraordinary by any account but plate discipline against Kenny was pretty comparable to Bondo’s. In 2008 though you can see that hitter were making better contact overall.
Now the surgery is a very plausible reason for this. Considering the underwelming nature of Rogers pitches up to this point in his career, an effect on the velocity of his fastball would have an effect on the nature of his changeup overall. The changeup was one of Kenny’s better pitches so effecting it effectiveness could ruin a career.

Now the reason Bonderman shouldn’t be affected so much by similar surgery is because his most dynamic pitch (his slider) generally comes at the hitter at the same speed as his fastball. Bondo’s success will determined not by regaining velocity on his fastball but by maintaining the bite on his slider and maintaining good control.

Wow. Disregard that last part. I was thinking it said ML AVG and not AL.

I don’t know how much we can really glean from ‘08-’09. 81 innings = small sample size (sorry, I had to do that solely to piss off Kurt).

He’s kind of the forgotten man, but was once held in enough regard to start Game 1 of two separate playoff series. And again, before “dead arm” set in on him in 2007 he was nails. 2008 he was unpitchable, though.

if he’s no good as you claim, who would trade for him?