Brad Thomas finally pitches in a Tigers victory

While watching the game two nights ago, in which Brad Thomas came in to pitch (after an hour and change rain delay), I found myself saying, "Thomas only comes in when we’re going to lose". I thought that was unfair to think, until I watched him pitch (50/50 on throwing strikes and balls keeps me on the edge of my seat), and started to wonder a few things:

·        What kind of record do the Tigers have this season in games the Aussie pitches?

·        What is the Tigers record overall in his games?

·        What are this season’s stats like?

·        What do Brad’s overall career/ Tigers career numbers look like?

 ·        1-11        The lone Tigers win coming that night (5/10/11).

We had lost all 11 games that Brad Thomas pitched in this season!!!

·        19-42      Last season the Tigers were 18-31 in his games

Odd when these numbers seem really good, comparing them to this season

·        Season  

9.00 ERA

11.0 IP, 17 hits, 12 runs, 6 BB, 7 K

2.091 WHIP, 13.9 H/9, 4.9 BB/9, 5.7 K/9, 1.17 K/BB

·        Career

5.80 ERA

104.0 IP, 127 hits, 69 runs, 53 BB, 45 K

1.731 WHIP, 11.0 H/9, 4.6 BB/9, 3.9 K/9, 0.85 K/BB

·        Tigers Career

4.59 ERA

80.1 IP, 94 hits, 43 runs, 35 BB, 37 K

1.606 WHIP, 10.5 H/9, 3.9 BB/9, 4.1 K/9, 1.06 K/BB

Let me first just say how shocked I was to see that Brad is actually pitching BETTER for the Tigers than his overall career numbers!?!? Not this year though.

All of the facts and stats led me to the biggest question of them all:

WHY DON'T THE TIGERS DFA BRAD THOMAS?

Now, he is a lefty, and can make spot starts for Jim when needed. But I feel another guy already on the 40-man roster could do that in Charlie Furbush. For those of you not familiar with the name, he's a 25 year old, big 6’5" left-hander, and is currently starting in AAA (so he can jump in the rotation if needed).  Most importantly he is TEARING IT UP down there:

33.1IP, 20 hits, 11 ER, 10 BB, 41 K, 2.97ERA

Chuck was drafted in the 4th round by the Tigers back in the ’07 draft, and has spent three years in the minors. (He missed a season due to injury.) That’s the same draft as pitchers like David Price, Tommy Hunter, Madison Bumgarner, and Kid Rick were drafted in, who are all younger than him, and have all panned out well. (Note: I’m not saying that Furbush is the next any of these guys, just a comparison on where folks are at around the same age, coming into the league at the same time.) This kid does have a future though in the Tigers rotation. I think he will one day be a solid 3 or 4 starter for the club, so why not give him some looks at those big league bats right now, and see what he can do? Could it really get any worse?

For the readers worried about the Mud Hens and their starting rotation… don’t. Enrique Gonzalez is there for you. Now if you’ve seen this guy pitch as a Tiger you probably don’t take much comfort in that statement, but let me assure you he is an ace (or at least a jack) at the AAA level. This year, since being demoted from the majors, he has appeared in six games, going 6.2 innings, striking out 10, and amassing three saves. Last season he started 11 games in Toledo and compiled a line of 66.0 IP, 16 BB, 54 K, 3.41 ERA. His career K/BB ratio as a Hen is 3.36. So they’ll be fine with him taking the mound every five days.

So let's get rid of the old Aussie, and bring in someone young blood, that could actually help in a game.

Interesting Add On (5/13/11):

After reading some comments and doing some thinking, I decided to look and see just how long of a relief man Brad Thomas is. Well, it may surprise you, that he has only gone three innings in ONE appearance in his last 52, dating back to last season! (That was Sept. 29 @ CLE, a game which we lost (0-4)... OF COURSE.) He also only has gone multiple innings twice this season. Rookie Al Alburquerque has more IP(13) in less games(10), and already has three inn. appearance this year. So Brad isn't really a valid long man at all.