Tigers#1
03-03-2003, 12:41 PM
Notes: Bonderman shows his stuff
Prospect proves he's worth the hype
By Jason Beck / MLB.com
Jeremy Bonderman was impressive on Sunday, but is not likely to make the Major League roster. (Duane Burleson/AP)
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Jeremy Bonderman sold at least one Tiger on his much-ballyhooed pitching credentials in Sunday's 6-4 loss to the Indians.
"He was lights-out," catcher Brandon Inge said afterward. "He threw everything he needed to throw."
And he threw more than Inge knew. In one meeting between pitcher and catcher, Bonderman asked Inge why he didn't call for a sinker. "I said, 'Because I didn't know you had a sinker,'" Inge said with a smile.
Bonderman's big-league resume leads with his fastballs -- a four-seamer and a two-seamer -- both of which he can spot. He used those to escape a jam in his first inning of work and leave Coco Crisp at third base following a leadoff triple. Karim Garcia, a power threat against most young pitchers, was fooled into hitting a comebacker to the mound for the third out. Two batters earlier, Omar Vizquel grounded meekly to first base.
The 20-year-old right-hander wasn't without his mistakes, just not mistake pitches. Crisp turned on a hard fastball inside for his three-bagger. Two batters later, Matt Lawton hit a bouncer to the right side. Second baseman Warren Morris and first baseman Carlos Peña both went after it, but when they turned to first base, nobody was there. Lawton easily beat them to the bag.
That prompted manager Alan Trammell to have a conversation with Peña, but not to blame him. "We want Carlos to be able to go for the ball," Trammell said. "We don't want him to [hesitate]. Really, more than Carlos, that should be the pitcher's play."
The pitcher answered with a play of his own and one of his best hard throws of the day. As Lawton edged off first base, Bonderman whirled and fired to the bag. Inge, who was looking elsewhere, perked up when he heard the first-base coach. By the time he saw what was happening, Lawton was out at first.
His first inning over, Bonderman led off the sixth by fanning Shane Spencer on three pitches ahead of back-to-back flyouts to left by Ben Broussard and Casey Blake.
Just as he did Saturday, Trammell did his best to emphasize the factors against Bonderman breaking camp with the club. But again, the manager didn't rule it out.
"This is one time and we have a long way to go," he said. "For it to work, there has to be many other guys not doing anything."
In other action: It was called a "B" game Sunday morning on the auxiliary field at Chain of Lakes Park, but the Tigers sent something more like an "A" roster in an 8-4 loss to the Indians. Veterans Damion Easley, Shane Halter and Matt Walbeck and prospective starters Eric Munson and Andres Torres were in the lineup. The entire Tiger coaching staff made the trip early for that game, then walked over to the stadium for the afternoon contest.
Detroit held a 4-0 lead after 3 1/2 innings, before Cleveland finished with eight unanswered runs. Max St. Pierre went 3-for-3 with a double and two runs scored, while Ernie Young hit a solo homer. Luis Garcia's three-run homer in the fifth put the Indians ahead for good. The two teams will play another "B" game March 11, in Lakeland at 9:30 a.m.
Unlike "B" games in previous years, the Tigers went all the way to the ninth inning rather than ending it after about two hours. The game ended just before 1 p.m. ET, but a rain delay gave Trammell and his coaches plenty of time to get over to the next contest.
Injury report: Andres Torres, who missed about a week with an ankle injury suffered during winter ball, made his spring debut in Sunday's "B" game after batting in Saturday's simulated game. He went 2-for-5 with an RBI and played the duration in center field. ... Craig Paquette, who has been nursing a strained quadriceps, debuted Sunday at DH in the "A" game. He homered in his first Spring Training at-bat on his way to a 2-for-3 afternoon. ... Dmitri Young was scheduled to start at first base Sunday, but stayed home with what Trammell called stiffness in his back. It isn't considered serious. ... Dean Palmer missed the first of what could be a few games, with a strained hamstring suffered running out a double Saturday.
From the clubhouse: Recently retired Travis Fryman, who's spending the spring as an instructor in Indians minor league camp, visited former teammates and friends in the Tigers dugout during Sunday's "B" game. Fryman played several years at third base alongside former shortstop Alan Trammell, and they remain close friends.
Off the field: The Tigers "B" squad traveled to Winter Haven in relative luxury, while the "A" team had to feel like minor leaguers. The club planned to use one bus to make both trips, but it broke down on its way back to pick up the "A" group. Vans brought the "A"' players to Winter Haven and the "B" players back to Lakeland. Fortunately for the Tigers, it's a short trip.
The skipper speaks: "I know it's not fair to judge anything after three games. Actually, I'd rather have a veteran start slow. That ticks them off and gets them clicking. You'd rather have that than have a veteran start out hitting and then ease off the throttle." -- Trammell on his team's 0-3 start this spring.
Weather report: Skies remained cloudy throughout the day in Lakeland and Winter Haven, with scattered showers and temperatures approaching 80. The liquid sunshine returns Monday with a forecast high near 70.
Fantasy tip: Bonderman's improved standing in big-league camp further proves why Tigers pitchers are risky picks if your fantasy league drafts early in the month. Other than Steve Sparks and Mike Maroth, both low-strikeout hurlers, nobody is a sure thing to start the regular season in Detroit.
Coming up: The Tigers host the Red Sox Monday at 1:05 p.m. Gary Knotts will make the start and be followed by Andy Van Hekken, Matt Anderson, Jamie Walker and Franklyn German.
Prospect proves he's worth the hype
By Jason Beck / MLB.com
Jeremy Bonderman was impressive on Sunday, but is not likely to make the Major League roster. (Duane Burleson/AP)
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Jeremy Bonderman sold at least one Tiger on his much-ballyhooed pitching credentials in Sunday's 6-4 loss to the Indians.
"He was lights-out," catcher Brandon Inge said afterward. "He threw everything he needed to throw."
And he threw more than Inge knew. In one meeting between pitcher and catcher, Bonderman asked Inge why he didn't call for a sinker. "I said, 'Because I didn't know you had a sinker,'" Inge said with a smile.
Bonderman's big-league resume leads with his fastballs -- a four-seamer and a two-seamer -- both of which he can spot. He used those to escape a jam in his first inning of work and leave Coco Crisp at third base following a leadoff triple. Karim Garcia, a power threat against most young pitchers, was fooled into hitting a comebacker to the mound for the third out. Two batters earlier, Omar Vizquel grounded meekly to first base.
The 20-year-old right-hander wasn't without his mistakes, just not mistake pitches. Crisp turned on a hard fastball inside for his three-bagger. Two batters later, Matt Lawton hit a bouncer to the right side. Second baseman Warren Morris and first baseman Carlos Peña both went after it, but when they turned to first base, nobody was there. Lawton easily beat them to the bag.
That prompted manager Alan Trammell to have a conversation with Peña, but not to blame him. "We want Carlos to be able to go for the ball," Trammell said. "We don't want him to [hesitate]. Really, more than Carlos, that should be the pitcher's play."
The pitcher answered with a play of his own and one of his best hard throws of the day. As Lawton edged off first base, Bonderman whirled and fired to the bag. Inge, who was looking elsewhere, perked up when he heard the first-base coach. By the time he saw what was happening, Lawton was out at first.
His first inning over, Bonderman led off the sixth by fanning Shane Spencer on three pitches ahead of back-to-back flyouts to left by Ben Broussard and Casey Blake.
Just as he did Saturday, Trammell did his best to emphasize the factors against Bonderman breaking camp with the club. But again, the manager didn't rule it out.
"This is one time and we have a long way to go," he said. "For it to work, there has to be many other guys not doing anything."
In other action: It was called a "B" game Sunday morning on the auxiliary field at Chain of Lakes Park, but the Tigers sent something more like an "A" roster in an 8-4 loss to the Indians. Veterans Damion Easley, Shane Halter and Matt Walbeck and prospective starters Eric Munson and Andres Torres were in the lineup. The entire Tiger coaching staff made the trip early for that game, then walked over to the stadium for the afternoon contest.
Detroit held a 4-0 lead after 3 1/2 innings, before Cleveland finished with eight unanswered runs. Max St. Pierre went 3-for-3 with a double and two runs scored, while Ernie Young hit a solo homer. Luis Garcia's three-run homer in the fifth put the Indians ahead for good. The two teams will play another "B" game March 11, in Lakeland at 9:30 a.m.
Unlike "B" games in previous years, the Tigers went all the way to the ninth inning rather than ending it after about two hours. The game ended just before 1 p.m. ET, but a rain delay gave Trammell and his coaches plenty of time to get over to the next contest.
Injury report: Andres Torres, who missed about a week with an ankle injury suffered during winter ball, made his spring debut in Sunday's "B" game after batting in Saturday's simulated game. He went 2-for-5 with an RBI and played the duration in center field. ... Craig Paquette, who has been nursing a strained quadriceps, debuted Sunday at DH in the "A" game. He homered in his first Spring Training at-bat on his way to a 2-for-3 afternoon. ... Dmitri Young was scheduled to start at first base Sunday, but stayed home with what Trammell called stiffness in his back. It isn't considered serious. ... Dean Palmer missed the first of what could be a few games, with a strained hamstring suffered running out a double Saturday.
From the clubhouse: Recently retired Travis Fryman, who's spending the spring as an instructor in Indians minor league camp, visited former teammates and friends in the Tigers dugout during Sunday's "B" game. Fryman played several years at third base alongside former shortstop Alan Trammell, and they remain close friends.
Off the field: The Tigers "B" squad traveled to Winter Haven in relative luxury, while the "A" team had to feel like minor leaguers. The club planned to use one bus to make both trips, but it broke down on its way back to pick up the "A" group. Vans brought the "A"' players to Winter Haven and the "B" players back to Lakeland. Fortunately for the Tigers, it's a short trip.
The skipper speaks: "I know it's not fair to judge anything after three games. Actually, I'd rather have a veteran start slow. That ticks them off and gets them clicking. You'd rather have that than have a veteran start out hitting and then ease off the throttle." -- Trammell on his team's 0-3 start this spring.
Weather report: Skies remained cloudy throughout the day in Lakeland and Winter Haven, with scattered showers and temperatures approaching 80. The liquid sunshine returns Monday with a forecast high near 70.
Fantasy tip: Bonderman's improved standing in big-league camp further proves why Tigers pitchers are risky picks if your fantasy league drafts early in the month. Other than Steve Sparks and Mike Maroth, both low-strikeout hurlers, nobody is a sure thing to start the regular season in Detroit.
Coming up: The Tigers host the Red Sox Monday at 1:05 p.m. Gary Knotts will make the start and be followed by Andy Van Hekken, Matt Anderson, Jamie Walker and Franklyn German.