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.
