Spring Training is well on the way for all major league baseball teams and probably the team making the most buzz (for what's on the field and not issues off the fields like steroids) is the strength of the Detroit Tigers.
With the additions of Jacque Jones, Edgar Renteria, and not to mention Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera, the Tigers are the odds on favorite to win the American League Central division as well as contend for a World Series Title.
Despite all the acquisitions the key for the Tigers will be starting pitching and one pitcher in particular, Jeremy Bonderman.
Bonderman was having a fine season prior to the All-Star break compiling a 10-1 record with an ERA just above three, but something went wrong. In the second half of the season his inability to locate his pitches (his slider in particular) made him basically a one pitch pitcher and in the big leagues you won't get many outs that way. He went through rough patches in the second half where he game up runs in the first inning thus putting the team in an early hole. Come to find out a sore elbow was the problem.
By not letting the training staff know the severity of his injury, Bonderman continued to pitch injured, which in turn hurt the Tigers. Bonderman went on to go 1-8 in the second half and his ERA ballooned over five. He was then shut down for the month of September
Let just say if Bonderman was healthy that would probably equal five more wins or if he would have notified the training staff he wasn't healthy then the organization could have went another direction.
The health of Bonderman will be key to help the star-studded Tigers bring home the crown this season. Just as manager Jim Leyland has said before about Bonderman, "It's time to graduate."
