Robertson accepts role in the bullpen

**RSS Feeder** · 04-02-2009, 06:00 PM

Robertson accepts role in the bullpen
Posted by Jason Beck on Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:51:00 EDT.

The last time Nate Robertson started a season in the Tigers bullpen, he ended up winning back a spot and starting a five-year stint in Detroit's rotation.

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**JayVee** · 04-02-2009, 06:22 PM

What else was he gonna do?

**Eric Cioe** · 04-02-2009, 06:31 PM

Originally Posted by JayVee7777

What else was he gonna do?

The Brandon Inge approach.

**TigersFan81371** · 04-06-2009, 10:25 PM

I've been more of an anti-Nate guy than a pro-Nate guy, but it was nice to see him get the job done in the seventh tonight, especially in a game in which there weren't really many positives for the Tigers.

Maybe if he can string together two or three decent outings early on, he'll change his tune and decide that pitching out of the pen isn't so bad.

**Dirk Diggler** · 04-06-2009, 10:32 PM

Originally Posted by TigersFan81371

Maybe if he can string together two or three decent outings early on, he'll change his tune and decide that pitching out of the pen isn't so bad.

If he keeps pitching well then he'll end up in the rotation.

**TigersFan81371** · 04-06-2009, 10:42 PM

Originally Posted by Dirk Diggler

If he keeps pitching well then he'll end up in the rotation.

Maybe, but that could depend on the performance and health of the guys in the rotation. It could also depend on how well the other relievers are doing. If, by chance, Nate turns out to be the Tigers' most effective reliever, they'll want to keep him there.

**Dirk Diggler** · 04-06-2009, 11:18 PM

Originally Posted by TigersFan81371

Maybe, but that could depend on the performance and health of the guys in the rotation. It could also depend on how well the other relievers are doing. If, by chance, Nate turns out to be the Tigers' most effective reliever, they'll want to keep him there.

I was just going off of Leylands comments, he's made it sound as though Nate will be a starter again if he pitches well. Nate's a starter trying to regain his form, if he pitches lights out over his next few appearances then he'll be back in the rotation, regardless of how bad the pen may be.

Here's Leyland quote:

"If someone had told me in 2006 that Robertson would be in the bullpen, I'd have told him, 'You are crazy.' But it's an opportunity to for Nate to help a very good ballclub, and show he can get back to the point of starting."