I'll pass on Bondermania

Before I begin to dump on Jeremy Bonderman, let me first put it out there right now that Nate Robertson will be the best Tigers pitcher this year if he stays healthy. You heard me correctly. Not Justin Verlander, not Corky Bonderman, not Zumaya. Nate F-ing Robertson and his gum.

Here is why: This guy has been primed for a big year for the past two seasons. Prior to the Tigs actually getting good last year, Robertson was as consistent a starter as they had and always (at least by my estimate) seemed to get the shafted in his starts. Be it a lack of run production or facing the tougher teams in the AL in his spot in the rotation, Robertson just seemed unlucky. Not going to happen this year.

He had a great spring training by all accounts and pitched well in his first start this year (in remarkably cold and windy conditions). Even the Magglio Ordonez couldn't blow Robertson's win against the Jays...although he did try his hardest. Just putting it out there: Robertson will win 15-17 games this year. Mark it down.

Why Bonderman will never win more than 15 games in a season (and it may be this one): He has a two cent head! The counter-argument to this is there are lots of baseball players that are borderline retarded and still successful (Manny Ramirez, etc.). However, I challenge you to name a highly successful starting pitcher with 0 IQ. You probably can't...or you're smarter than me.

Listening to this guy give an interview is like precisely like a flight attendant going through the safety directions prior to takeoff. Its just a robotic reaction of ingrained cliche designed to fill time until something else happens. Can you imagine if you asked a question during the stewardess' speech? Would she come up with an answer that wasn't on the cue card?

My point being the guy doesn't have the requisite intelligence to out think hitters on a consistent basis. Luckily he has a very nice fastball and a wicked slider which can get him 14 wins a year. But you'll recall that he "got over the hump" once former pitching coach Bob Cluck told him to stop thinking and just throw. This is not a good thing.

In spring training the reports were that the guy was working on an offspeed pitch to offset his hard stuff. Its apparently a work in progress. The problem with learning a change up is that its a "feel" pitch. This requires a feel and a knowledge of when to throw it that Bonderman lacks. As much as it sounds like I'm down on the guy, I'm not. The guy has great stuff and will win tons of games for the Tigs in the next few years. I just don't buy the hype about him being an elite level pitcher because I don't think he's cerebral enough for it.

Also...can we get Wil Ledezma some starts please. I think the Chad Durbin experiment has already gone one game too far.