5th Starter Caught Up To Detroit.

[Flame 103]

Miner and Ledezma did decent work. They finished 10-9 on the year. But i believe this caught up to the Tigers. I hope the sign Zito in the off season if they trade Bondo for a first basemen. Then you have a rotation of....

1. Rogers
2. Verlander
3. Zito
4. Robertson
5. Maroth

[Domino]

Trading Bondo would be the worst move this organization had made in years.

[Flame 103]

Trading Bondo would be the worst move this organization had made in years.


I agree if we can't get Zito. How else will we get a power hitting first baseman though?

I also feel bondo will be know more then a jeff weaver. When we got up 6-0 i was more scared then when it was 2-0. Bondo can't hold leads.

[Yoda]

How is trading Bondo for Zito going to solve the problem with the 5th starter? You're keeping Maroth? He's the reason we had an issue with the 5th starter and it's likely to happen again in '07. This doesn't make a bit of sense.

[The G Man]

If they trade Bondo for a first baseman I am going to eat my shorts.
I would never trade a top line starter for a position that you often stick your guy that hits but can't play much defence. Yes, I know that's what the DH is for but come on! I haven't looked at the list of available free agents but I'm assuming that Detroit will finally be an attractive destination for some guys and I'd hate to see Bonderman moved for this. This isn't to say that I couldn't be happy with any deal involving Bonderman but not for a first sacker.

[Flame 103]

How is trading Bondo for Zito going to solve the problem with the 5th starter? You're keeping Maroth? He's the reason we had an issue with the 5th starter and it's likely to happen again in '07. This doesn't make a bit of sense.

Maroth is not 100% right now. At the beginning of the year he was. The reason Maroth was not the 5th was because he was injured at the end of the season.

[tigersfandm]

you don't trade bonderman yet. He is still young and all this experience will help him out I think.

[Flame 103]

If they trade Bondo for a first baseman I am going to eat my shorts.
I would never trade a top line starter for a position that you often stick your guy that hits but can't play much defence. Yes, I know that's what the DH is for but come on! I haven't looked at the list of available free agents but I'm assuming that Detroit will finally be an attractive destination for some guys and I'd hate to see Bonerman moved for this. This isn't to say that I couldn't be happy with any deal involving Bonderman but not for a first sacker.

It would not be an issue if their were any good first basemen in free agency.

[Flame 103]

Zito is a free agent this winter. You can't trade Bondo for Zito.

Im saying we sign Zito.

Im saying we trade Bondo for a power hitting first baseman.

[Yoda]

Maroth is not 100% right now. At the beginning of the year he was. The reason Maroth was not the 5th was because he was injured at the end of the season.

And he's likely to be injured next year as well. Get rid of Maroth and replace him with Zito if you want to solve the problem. I don't see how getting rid of Bonderman is going to solve the problems we had with the 5th starter.

[Flame 103]

And he's likely to be injured next year as well. Get rid of Maroth and replace him with Zito if you want to solve the problem. I don't see how getting rid of Bonderman is going to solve the problems we had with the 5th starter.

That would be ideal. But how do we get a power hitting first baseman then? What do we trade?

[Ingefanclub]

Maroth is not much better than Miner/Ledezma.

[Yoda]

That would be ideal. But how do we get a power hitting first baseman then? What do we trade?

I dont mind trading Bonderman for a 1st baseman, but you started this thread to address the 5th starter issue. They're two different discussions.

[Flame 103]

Maroth was 5-2 with a mid 3 ERA when healthy.

[A.J.K.]

Trading Bondo would be the worst move this organization had made in years.



I agree. He was absolutely dominant earlier in the season...

[Ingefanclub]

Maroth was 5-2 with a mid 3 ERA when healthy.

But opponents were hitting over .300 against him at that time. He doesn't strike out batters either. Maroth is a decent #5 starter. I think Ledezma has more upside though.

[billfer]

The fact of the matter is that chances are at least 1 of your 5 starters are going to miss a significant portion of the season with injury. As such, you'll be relying on 6th and 7th options at some point, as the Tigers did this year. They were adequately equipped to deal with it this year and Miner/Ledezma provided way more production than could have been expected.

The problem was the offense went into a collective funk for over a month, and to a lesser extent the rotation collapsing for the last week.

The depth of their rotation was a strength this season and not something that caught up with them.

[Flame 103]

But opponents were hitting over .300 against him at that time. He doesn't strike out batters either. Maroth is a decent #5 starter. I think Ledezma has more upside though.

Ledezma? The guys who chokes in the 5th inning? Maroth is a good 5th starter.

[estrepe1]

The fact of the matter is that chances are at least 1 of your 5 starters are going to miss a significant portion of the season with injury. As such, you'll be relying on 6th and 7th options at some point, as the Tigers did this year. They were adequately equipped to deal with it this year and Miner/Ledezma provided way more production than could have been expected.

The problem was the offense went into a collective funk for over a month, and to a lesser extent the rotation collapsing for the last week.

The depth of their rotation was a strength this season and not something that caught up with them.

This is correct.

I don't think that over a full season they would be much difference between Maroth and the Miner/Ledezma combo.

[Ingefanclub]

Ledezma? The guys who chokes in the 5th inning? Maroth is a good 5th starter.

Wil is 25 years old and had a 3.58 ERA this year.
Maroth is older and gives up a lot of homers. He doesn't have an out pitch. Just throw the ball and let them hit long fly balls that turn into outs at Comerica Park.

[NJ Jackal]

If you have a surplus in one area and glaring weaknesses in other areas, use that surplus to get talent. Right now the Tigers have Bonderman, Verlander, Robertson, Miller, Sanchez, and to a lesser degree Tata, Miner, and Ledezma. All are young starting pitchers and all have trade value. Why not trade Bonderman? Because of how well he has done after the All Star break in his career? If Dombrowski finds talent in exchange for Bonderman that will help this team progress, then I would be disappointed if he didn't make the move. This team has a surplus in the young starter area and I think Bonderman has very high trade value right now, so why not explore the possibilities?

[Yoda]

Ledezma? The guys who chokes in the 5th inning? Maroth is a good 5th starter.

Maroth is good but he's injured. He probably needs more surgery.

[Ingefanclub]

Any pitcher has high trade value in today's game.

We could probably get alot for Nate Roberston.

[NJ Jackal]

Maroth is good but he's injured. He probably needs more surgery.
Yeah, he didn't look good at all after coming back from the DL. He complained about pain after just about every minor league rehab start.

[GartenSpartan]

Any pitcher has high trade value in today's game.

We could probably get alot for Nate Roberston.

I agree, statistically Robertson was very close to Barry Zito this year and Zito's going to break the bank this winter. Honestly though I think we can stop talking about Zito because he's stated that he wants to play in a big market to promote his music on the side.

[atomicrod]

I think the key determination on trading Bonderman is an honest answer to the question "Is he hurt?" He admitted in spring training this season that he was having elbow pain in the 2nd half last year. There are rumors he had some sort of leg/ankle injury this season which accounted for some of his 2nd half struggles. If he was hurt than that explains a lot and you have to be more leary of trading him unless it's a major deal. If he's not, I think you move him. He's a young guy who's pitched a lot of innings, combine that with his pending free agency/arbration years and there is risk involved with keeping him. Jeremy can put a lot of this to rest by having a good post season.

As for the 5th starter if the rotation returns in tact.
1. Rogers
2. Verlander
3. Bonderman
4. Robertson
5. Open spring training competation between Ledezma, Minor, Tata and Sanchez.

This would be contingent on Maroth still having arm problems. My guess is either Tata or Sanchez would win that 5th spot. What we've seen is what we are going to get with Ledezma/Minor. I think both of them would make the bull pen have a good deal more depth.

[tiger337]

Trading Bondo would be the worst move this organization had made in years.

I really doubt he's going anywhere. He's already pretty good and he's still very young and raw. If he stays healthy, he is going to get better and maybe a lot better.

[snoogit]

I hope the sign Zito in the off season if they trade Bondo for a first basemen. Then you have a rotation of....

1. Rogers
2. Verlander
3. Zito
4. Robertson
5. Maroth

Zito is going to Boston next year, I have no doubt about that.