Bondo Still Working Things Out
August 25th, 2009 Posted in 2009 Season, Jeremy BondermanOver at Mack Avenue Tigers, JayRC (TRAITOR!!!) has an update for us on the status of the $12M man, Jeremy Bonderman:
However, in his last three appearances (a span of five innings) he has surrendered just two hits while striking out six without allowing a run. Perhaps even more encouraging is that Bonderman has finally started to regain some of his velocity. His fastball once clocked regularly at 88-90 mph is now reportedly reaching as much as 94 mph.
Bonderman has reached the Joel Zumaya area for me. I don’t plan on getting anything from him and any positive he contributes is great. However, that pill is a lot easier to take for Glass Joel since he’s not getting $12.5M this season and next.
Jay notes that Bonderman could be decent addition to the Tigers bullpen in September and possibly in the playoffs. Bonderman has pitched in relief only six times in his big league career and hasn’t dont it since 2004. Thinking a reasonably healthy Bonderman could walk in and succeed in the pen is probably a bit of a stretch.
I like the idea, though. The rosters expand in September and he’s certainly worth a look. The Tigers probably owe him a shot at success and he owes them a few hundred innings of quality pitching.
2 Responses to “Bondo Still Working Things Out”
By JAYRC on Aug 26, 2009
After the disapointing performances that I saw this Spring the news was encouraging. You have to figure if nothing else it’s also encouraging that the velocity is back and perhaps next season he can rejoin the rotation.
What scared me about him in relief is that his first inning seems to trouble him the most. Again though, like I said at least he’s back at it.
By Blake VandeBunte on Aug 26, 2009
Agreed. I hope he can get healthy by next spring. He would make the rotation a lot better if he is 90% the pitcher he was in 2006-07.