Tigers Extras

1) Jeremy Bonderman: FB, SL, CU

6/8: 85 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 4 Fastballs, Slider.

• Bonderman is a 6-2, 220 pound righty. The 26 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He came from a high 3/4 release with fairly clean mechanics that look the same prior to his injury. His fastball has some run in on righties. His change had a little fade from lefties with a touch of sink. His slider is a 1-7 with above average bite. Bonderman has lost a lot from when I last saw him. His velocity was down, his slider was still good, but is loopy as opposed to sharp. He now looks like a # 4 or # 5 starter if he can ever get out of injury hell.

1st: FB (90-92), SL (80-84), CU (84-85) - SL

2nd: FB (88-91), SL (79-82), CU (83) - 3 FB

3rd: FB (87-90), SL (81), CU (83) - FB

4th: FB (87-89), SL (81), CU (82)

5th: FB (87-89), SL (77-82), CU (81-82)

2) Eddie Bonine: FB, SL, CU, CB

7/24: 81 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 4 Sliders, Fastball.

• Bonine is a 6-5, 220 pound righty. The 28 year old has a big frame that can add a lot more muscle. Extremely skinny in both the lower and upper body and doesn't look anything close to 220. He came from a high 3/4 release with a fairly violent delivery after his break. He accelerates quickly through and appears to land hard on his front leg. His fastball has some run in on righties and good sink. His slider is a 1-7 offering with solid bite. His change has some fade from lefties and above average sink. Bonine is not a viable option for a major league team as a starter and if he is taking the ball every 5th day, you are in trouble.

1st: FB (88-90), SL (79-81)

2nd: FB (88-90), SL (78-81), CU (82) - FB, SL

3rd: FB (86-90), SL (77-80), CU (79-81) - SL

4th: FB (84-88), SL (76-78), CU (80-81)

5th: FB (85-88), SL (77-79), CU (81)

6th: FB (86-89), SL (77-83), CU (80-81) - 2 SL

3) Chris Lambert:

8/11: 81 pitches. 7 strikes swinging. 5 Fastballs, Curveball, Changeup.

• Lambert is a 6-1, 205 pound righty. The 26 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He has a fairly athletic lower half that is fairly muscular. He came from a 3/4 release with a slinging arm action, but clean mechanics. His fastball has a little run in on righties and a touch of sink. His change has a little fade from lefties and a little sink. His curve is a sweeping offering that is a 2-7 offering with some depth. Lambert pitches by the book, meaning he is FB-CB to righties and FB-CU to lefties and he didn't throw the other pitch to the other side. He is a 4-A pitcher and one that should be about emergency option # 18 heading into a season.

2nd: FB (88-92), CU (78-82), CB (74-78) - FB

3rd: FB (88-91), CU (80-81), CB (73-77)

4th: FB (89-92), CU (79-82), CB (75-78) - 2 FB, CB

5th: FB (89-91), CU (79-82), CB (75-78)

6th: FB (87-91), CU (80-81) - 2 FB, CU

4) Clay Rapada:

4/29: 29 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Rapada is a 6-5, 200 pound lefty. The 28 year old has a big frame that can add a lot more muscle, especially in the lower half. He came from a sidearm release with a big (almost El Duque like) leg kick. He has pretty clean mechanics. He will drop down to submarine as well. His fastball has good run in on lefties and some sink. His slider is a 9-4 offering with some bite and is a sweeping offering. Lefties didn't look uncomfortable hitting against him, mainly because his slider just doesn't have enough action to make them nervous in the box and have them look for something other then his 85 mile per hour fastball. Likely a AAA guy.

4th: FB (85-87), SL (74-77)

5th: FB (84-87), SL (76-80) - FB

5) Dontrelle Willis:

5/24: 105 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs, 2 Sliders.

• Willis is a 6-4, 225 pound lefty. The 27 year old has a big frame that appears to be maxed out. He comes from a high 3/4 release with mechanics that appear to have been tamed down a bit. He still has the rocking action back and the high leg kick, but it doesn't appear to be as high effort. His fastball has a little run in on lefties and a touch of natural sink due to the downward plane he generates. It appears he can cut his fastball or run it in on the hands of lefties and away from righties. His change has some sink and a little fade from righties. His change yells Hit Me Now and hitters are more then likely to suffice, as it just hangs there. His slider is a 11-5 offering with good bite. Willis's stuff has badly regressed and he can still battle his command. He looks like he would struggle at AAA right now and I can't really say anything good for his future.

1st: FB (84-89)

2nd: FB (84-90), CU (76)

3rd: FB (84-92), CU (78-79), SL (78-81) - 2 SL

4th: FB (84-87), CU (77)

5th: FB (84-90), SL (77-81) - 3 FB

6th: FB (85-88)

7th: FB (84-92), SL (77-81)

MIN @ DET

• Francisco Liriano had command and control of his 3 pitch mix (a low to mid 90's fastball, mid 80's slider, mid 80's change) and used it to keep Detroit off balance all night. He is starting to round into his old form. One more step up in his command of his off-speed stuff and he will be back to being the Johan Santana replacement the Twins thought they had.
• Edwin Jackson also looked very good. Jackson attacked hitters with a mid 90's fastball, a low 80's curveball, a high 80's slider and a mid 80's change. Jackson generates easy velocity in a clean motion. He attacks from a high 3/4 release. Jackson was I guy who I figured was primed for a breakout moving to a pitchers park in Comerica and he has not disappointed. He is a legitimate # 2 right now and I think this is his ceiling.
• Matt Guerrier attacked hitters with an average low 90's fastball, an above average mid 80's slider and an above average low 80's curve. Solid middle and set-up reliever and he also is likely pitching at his ceiling right now.
• Brandon Lyon didn't look good with his low 90's sinker and low 70's curveball. He only threw those 2 pitches (and 2 total), but hit a batter and allowed a squeeze bunt attempt.
• Clay Rapada is your typical sidearming LOOGY candidate. He features a mid 80's fastball and low 70's sweeping slider. There isn't a whole lot of difference between him and Javier Lopez except for the track record. Who knows if he can be a LOOGY? All it takes is one year of throwing well to lefties to establish a reputation. He has the talent to be one if his command can improve a little.
• Ryan Perry features a hard, high 90's fastball and a low 80's slider. The fastball is plus and his slider is a big breaker that is just average. He has some struggles with his command in the zone and his control to get the ball there. I personally think he was rushed, but Detroit is trying to win now and he is definitely one of their better relievers. If he develops his command, he is a closer. If not, he may be a Jorge Julio/Greg Aquino type reliever.
• Denard Span had a very good night at the plate, going 4-5. He has a very quiet set-up and his bat head stays in the zone for a long time. He has definitely turned a corner and can be a starting CF and lead-off hitter in this league for a long time.

Got an extra chart followed by an extra score of Houston and Washington at 12:30. Features Roy Oswalt and Scott Olsen.