Verducci on Tigers
By Blake VandeBunte • Mar 19th, 2008 • Category: Denny Bautista, Jim Leyland, Tim Byrdak, Todd JonesI’ll be honest, I’m not a huge fan of Sports Illustrated. I just don’t think they put out anything that’s as good as ESPN or even Fox Sports, just my o
pinion. However, I do still really enjoy Tom Verducci. Verducci has been writing for SI now since 1993 and from reading his stuff, I can vouch for his knowledge, he knows what he’s talking about.
He has a new post up today on the Tigers and their bullpen issues. Here’s a small sample:
“Call it set-up by committee. Byrdak, Grilli, Miner and Seay actually pitched fairly well last season. And Bautista has been a Grapefruit League weapon, going unscored upon. But none of them have been asked to get many big outs very late in games, which is why the bullpen will be the reason many people will be picking Cleveland to win the Central.”
I have to agree 100% there. If the Tigers had a decent bullpen, at least one people thought would be decent, they would be the favorite of most everyone to win their division. However, as constructed now, I can see this group blowing a few 6-3 leads this summer.
On the flip side, this rag-tag group could also come out and play out of their minds for a whole season. Verducci entertains that thought as well:
“Maybe Rodney returns in May or June. Maybe Zumaya can make it back for the second half. Maybe Francisco Cruceta finally solves his visa problem in the Dominican Republic and actually reports to the team. Maybe Bautista is this year’s Rafael Betancourt, a division-changing set-up guy who comes out of nowhere. “
Sure, it sounds unlikely and almost certainly will not all happen, but it could. That’s a cool thing about baseball. Just because a guy played one way one year doesn’t mean he’ll do it again the next season. The stars could align and the Tigers could boast a shut down pen.
I can see why Jim Leyland is sick of talking about the subject. He understands that it could all change and that it probably will. At least something will go in a way that no one is expecting. You just cannot plan of that stuff.
Meanwhile, bloggers like myself are left to speculate on what might happen and play the devils advocate. So yeah, the pen isn’t looking too promising. At some point this season I’ll whip my Tigers hat against the wall or on the cement of Comerica Park. But, you just never know. Today I choose to be optimistic.
Blake VandeBunte is a posting fiend.
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