Some interesting developments over the past month of the season with Jurrjens and Bazardo performing well.

Robertson turned it around a bit there at the end, and even Tata looked decent in limited action.

Does Rogers get re-signed?

I know there is an "offseason plans" thread, but that is shaping up more like trade ideas and needs assessments, so I thought a discussion specifically about the makeup of the starting rotation would be in order.

Here are the candidates as I see it, in no particular order. I'm not sure if anyone else besides Rogers is a free agent or not.

Robertson
Bonderman
Verlander
Rogers (FA)
Jurrjens
Bazardo
Miner
Miller
Durbin
Tata

I'd be really suprised if Kenny isn't back. DD and Leyland are big fans.

Yes, bring him back for sure. Even though a lot of guys showed promise, you can't count on them all panning out. You hope that 2 of Miller/Bazardo/Juirjins/Tata can provide rotation spots. If you get a couple of those to provide consistant starts, you can always trade Nate midseason to a team with injury problems. Better to have too much than too little.

Verlander
Bring Rogers back
Bonderman (hope his elbow's ok)
Two of Miller/Jurrjens/Bazardo (Tata doesn't impress me)

What do you do with Robertson, e?

Bullpen or trade?

Good Q.... Bullpen unless someone of Miller, Jurrjens, or Bazardo doesn't look good enough in Spring. If he doesn't like it then he can be traded. If he's a tradable commodity this offseason and helps us garner a good player, so be it.

I'm pretty sure Leyland has already said that Robertson (Along with Verlander and Bondy) have guaranteed spots for next season.

Yeah, I would roll with:

1.) Verlander
2.) Rogers
3.) Bonderman
4.) Robertson
5.) Miller/Jair/Bazardo/Tata


If you feel there are 2 people ready in #5, then you can deal Nate or move him to the bullpen.

I wouldn't mind seeing either Maddux or Glavine come here.

FWI, Glavine lost the last game of the year for the Mets and they missed the playoffs. Not saying he's done, but you count on your vet to come through. Kenny did with 3 postseason wins.

http://blogimage.roodo.com/baseballwon/b9f46f56.jpg

^just dirt

I know. I just want to show everyone how much of a warrior Kenny Rogers is, playing with dirt on his hand which is something I would never do, having OCD and all.

KR
JV
JB
FA or P acquired through trade.
Miller or Bazardo

I would like to see the rotation as follows...

Verlander
Rogers
Bonderman
Robertson
Experienced FA or trade

I would prefer that Miller, Jurrjens, Bazardo, etc all start in the minors and can be saved for injury situations, maybe one involved in a midseason trade OR get called up due to midseason trade.

I would like to see the rotation as follows...

Verlander
Rogers
Bonderman
Robertson
Experienced FA or trade

I would prefer that Miller, Jurrjens, Bazardo, etc all start in the minors and can be saved for injury situations, maybe one involved in a midseason trade OR get called up due to midseason trade.

That's not a bad idear.

In my opinion, it will look like this...

Justin Verlander- could win 20 next year

Kenny Rogers- 1 yr deal, incentive laden

Jeremy Bonderman- maybe 08 will FINALLY be "the year"

Nate Robertson- hopefully he gets back on track after a lousy '07...should be good for about 11-14 wins...

Andrew Miller- I think Miller will get his head on straight over the offseason, and win the 5th spot over Jurrjens in spring training, he has the stuff to be a big league starter, and hopefully last years trials and brief success will only contribute to him being a better pitcher, I think he'll be terrific for years to come...

I know where you guys are coming from wanting a veteran for that 5th spot, but if you take a look at the FA market it's VERY slim pickin's...I'd rather roll with the youth of Miller & Jurrjens than have to overpay for a mediocre veteran like Jason Jennings, Kyle Lohse or Carlos Silva...

lol, we need a Tigers Trade Ideas forum.

The whole idea of Miller in the minors is it will be better for him in the long run. I think you start him off in the minors, bring in a FA or Jurrjens for that 5th spot, that way Miller Porcelo Bazardo can work on their stuff.

Yeah, Jurrjens is more ready at this point than Miller, IMO.

Bazardo is that far behind JJ?

Bazardo looks huge on the mound. He looks like he is more of a power pitcher than JJ. And his off-speed stuff was sick in his last start. But, I don't know, maybe he needs to develop a 3rd.

Yeah, Jurrjens is more ready at this point than Miller, IMO.


I don't know its hard to say...I think Jurrjens caught some lightning in a bottle last year, and his last 2 starts weren't very good, whereas at least Miller put together a longer strand of successful starts...

It will all be sorted out in spring training...whoever does better then will get the spot...

Bazardo is that far behind JJ?

Bazardo looks huge on the mound. He looks like he is more of a power pitcher than JJ. And his off-speed stuff was sick in his last start. But, I don't know, maybe he needs to develop a 3rd.


Actually Bazardo isn't much of a power pitcher...not sure where you got that...he had 69 strikeouts in the AAA and 136 IP...thats not exactly "power pitching"...

He got a few guys swinging in his start Vs. Minnesota, but that was against guys like Garrett Jones, Chris Heintz and Rondell White...not exactly the "A Squad"...

I really wish we'd left Bondo in the minors for an extra year or two to fully develop. It may have completely thrown him off for his career. He just never seems able to get over the hump.

Actually Bazardo isn't much of a power pitcher...not sure where you got that...he had 69 strikeouts in the AAA and 136 IP...thats not exactly "power pitching"...

He got a few guys swinging in his start Vs. Minnesota, but that was against guys like Garrett Jones, Chris Heintz and Rondell White...not exactly the "A Squad"...

I just made it up. :)

Y Bazardo (W, 2-1)7.06003509834-64272.28.218

This was an impressive outing. 6 hits over 7, and 5 Ks. I know one game doesn't a season make, but one can hope.

I really wish we'd left Bondo in the minors for an extra year or two to fully develop. It may have completely thrown him off for his career. He just never seems able to get over the hump.


IDK, I think the early struggles really can benefit him in the longrun, the guy is still so young, and when he's on his game, he is arguably one of the top 10 pitchers in all of baseball...


just wish he could be "on his game" more consistently...he needs to develop that 3rd pitch badly, hopefully he can develop his change piece this winter...

IDK, I think the early struggles really can benefit him in the longrun, the guy is still so young, and when he's on his game, he is arguably one of the top 10 pitchers in all of baseball...


just wish he could be "on his game" more consistently...he needs to develop that 3rd pitch badly, hopefully he can develop his change piece this winter...
The third pitch is why I'd really have liked him to stay in the minors at least a year. It would have been a million times easier to develop down there than in the big leagues.

The third pitch is why I'd really have liked him to stay in the minors at least a year. It would have been a million times easier to develop down there than in the big leagues.

Even w/o that 3rd pitch, he's still capable of getting 200 K's a season, if he could get that 3rd pitch, he could get 250...

Regardless, Bonderman w/ 2 pitches is better than most pitchers in the AL anyway...

Behind Mo Rivera's change, Joba's slider, and Johans change, you could make a case that Bonderman's slider is easily the best pitching weapon in the AL...it is downright filthy...

You mean Mo Rivera's cutter right?

You mean Mo Rivera's cutter right?

yes...i was thinking pedro's not marianos

I completely agree. I'm just saying, he would be even better if he just had that third pitch. Even if he just develops something servicable in the offseason I'll be happy.

I completely agree. I'm just saying, he would be even better if he just had that third pitch. Even if he just develops something servicable in the offseason I'll be happy.


Hopefully...Chuck Hernandez needs to get on that...NOW

As of Now?

RHP Justin Verlander
LHP Kenny Rogers
RHP Jeremy Bonderman
LHP Dontrelle Willis
RHP or LHP??? Bazardo??? Denny Bautista? lol Nate Robertson?

As b-diddy points out next post, I am probably wrong.

willis has top of the order stuff. i think you flip kenny and dontrelle, and we still have nate robertson, dont we?

Oh shit, we do. ;) As for Kenny, would he like being a number 4 for being such a veteran presence? I agree Dontrelle has great stuff. Maybe we'll see Kenny open up, like the year before last? Kenny, Verlander, Dontrelle, Bonderman, and Robertson?

Verlander, Dontrelle, Kenny, Bondo, Robertson.

Power Righty, Power Lefty, Finesse Lefty, Power Righty, Blah.

I'd rather keep Willis 4th. Keeps the pressure off him and lets him regain his form I hope.

Verlander
Rogers
Bondo
Willis
Nate

Verlander, Opening Day Starter...surprise surprise...