PART 4 OF THE INVESTIGATIVE REPORT
REVIEWING THE DISASTROUS 2008 DETROIT TIGERS SEASON 

“The Tigers are going to go to their bullpen…”  These nine words have made Tigers fans cringe more this year, than anything else.  This bullpen, as I have frequently written, has been deplorable at best.

NO JIMMY, DON’T GO TO THE BULLPEN!!!!!

Rally killers, lead dumpers, drama-builders, basically they have been the gasoline on an out of control fire represented by the distribution of runs to anyone open for the taking.  While bullpens usually have a different look throughout the seasons, with numerous arms floating in and out based on performance and situations, the Tigers ‘pen has never really seemed to be solidified in any moment throughout the year.

There was a small stretch of effectiveness in mid-June to early-July where the relievers seemed as if all of the bugs were slowly being worked out, and it was their time to be truly effective.  Unfortunately for Tigers fans, those short-lived moments were all we were going to see that can be pulled as being positive.  Sorry to say it folks, but this is one of the worst bullpens in recent memory.

You name them, they’ve had their struggles, from top to bottom: Bazardo, Cruceta, Fossum, Dolsi, Lopez, Minor (when used as a relief pitcher), have all auditioned only at some point to be sent down to AAA-Toledo to work on their location problems.  Jason Grilli was dealt for being a useless arm, (unless you’re goal on the mound is to inflate your teams ERA pouring gasoline on a fire over and over)  Joel Zumaya (while “healthy”) and Fernando Rodney were supposed to return and anchor the bullpen and after a somewhat slow start, both proved to be more minus than plus.  Rodney has since looked the part by pitching well, while Zumaya has thrown his final pitch of 2008 being shelved with continued arm  and shoulder issues.

Then again, it’s easy to pitch when there is nothing on the line, that’s why a good bullpen is critical in the success of a team, because their situations are rarely not a key moment of a game.

And finally, Todd Jones.  Ah Jonesy, I’ve been tough on you all year and while you are a good guy whom I respect for putting everything you have into the game and play it like a regular Joe would, I would think that it’s time to hang up the cleats.  Your days of being an effective pitcher; let alone closer, are now officially way beyond you.  It’s been fun, and you’ve made a lot of people smile, both on the mound and within his great blogs/columns but it has sadly come to an end.  With a second stint on the DL, and now in being shut down for the year; thus, ending his career at least with the Tigers (and perhaps in baseball altogether) in a manner that I’m sure he isn’t happy about.

The Tigers team ERA of 4.79 ranking them fourth from the bottom in the majors (3rd worst AL team) As a matter of fact, the Tigers are in the bottom 1/3 of the league in most if not all pitching statistical categories.  This is no blight to the struggles of the starters though, this is heavily weighted on their spotty bullpen.  The Tigers late-inning arms and their knack of displaying the consistency of being inconsistent has cost them more than 35-40 games this season alone.  Giving up a big inning, a key two or three run homer, or walking the bases loaded has been the norm.

While I understand that a bullpen isn’t going to close out each and every game they inherit over grind of a long MLB season; however, their performance of this teams’ has been nothing short of embarrassing.  Perhaps they will invest a bit more in shoring up their bullpen, but I can’t imagine them overpaying for an arm after they have attempted to develop several arms from within their own system.  They will more than likely enter next year with the hopes that a healthy Zumaya and Rodney, along with the potential of guys who have shown flashes at times; like, Lopez, Dolsi and Seay will allow them to return to being competitive.

Bullpen pitchers are funny characters, as they can be lights out one season and then extremely hittable the next.  For instance, just take a look at the dramatic statistical downswing from last years’ untouchable Rafael Betencourt to this years version for that to be understood.

Needless to say, for a team to have true success, they need a solid core of hurlers that they can confidently hand the ball to and trust that the win is going to be nailed down.  Something that the Tigers have longed for this season.

Next up for discussion will be the issue of “Cold Bats”.

PART 3 OF AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORT
REVIEWING THE DISASTROUS 2008 DETROIT TIGERS SEASON

Next up, “Nasty Nate”, “The Bulldog”, “Number 29”.  To be fully honest he has taken on a new nickname this season, Nate “The most overpaid bullpen lefty in the major leagues” Robertson.  OUCH, that’s pretty harsh.  But the reality is, is that Nate has been nothing less than horrible this season.

A huge disappointment for anyone that may have been a fan of him before, as he used to be a fighter, known for his ability to pitch his way out of a jam.  All he’s really shown this year though, is his knack for creating more situations to attempt his way out of with limited success.  Heading into this season, the Tigers rewarded Nate and his mediocrity by dishing a 3-year/$21 million deal which many would criticize considering his career 42-55 record along with an ERA that has only been sub 4.48 on one occasion.

 
The Tigers weren’t expecting Nate to struggle as much as he has this year, especially after backing up a truck-full of money for the lefty

These lofty expectations may have created a monster on their own, but no one could have imagined the regression that Nate has taken this year.  Struggling with control all year, a lack of zip on most of his trusted pitches has removed any swagger that he may have had previously displayed leading to a demotion to the bullpen.  This move is one that many (myself included) were pleading for nearly all season after watching Nate give up nearly 200 hits through 150 innings of work.

Two of the most eye-popping stats that really stick out are the fact that in his 26 starts this season, in only 8 games has he given up less than four runs, (3 of those games were 3-run starts), and the other is a mockery to starting pitching as opposition is batting an astounding .317 off of him!  These stats alone should have eliminated his job months ago; however, Leyland trusted that Nate (who has always been known to be somewhat “hittable”) would have the knack to fight through all the base-runners and get out of any of the trouble that he put himself in.  This year has been the exact opposite though.  The more problems Nate has put himself in, the more drama that unfolds and the result has been an abundance of “Big Innings”.

Big innings, and frustration have loomed nearly each time Nate has climbed atop the mound this year

It is signings like this one that has thrown a bunch of question marks in some of the decisions that Dave Dombrowski has made as to the direction of this ballclub.  Now that the Tigers are on the hook for another two years at $7 million or so, will this stop them from improving their rotation by being able to get in the mix with one of the off-seasons few blue-chip starters?  I hope this isn’t the case, because if this is any indication of what to expect in years two and three of this deal than the Tigers are going to continue to let down their fans.

Nate has fallen deep since the magic and fun of “Gum Time”, down to the depths of when he hits the hill, Tigers fans all grown and mumble “Bum Time”.

Seems like an eternity ago, that the magic of “Gumtime” took over Detroit…

Next up is the always fun to pick on, Todd Jones and the bullpen.