Indians "in talks" with Bonderman, says Bastian

Sure?

over 1 year ago nickjs21 36 comments 0 recs |

Comments

I think it’s a fine depth signing, but I hope it’s not a major league deal. I’d rather see what Tomlin can do over the course of a season.

Bonderman’s fastball was down to 89.8mph last year (Tomlin at 89.4), whereas he sat in 2004 and 2006 at 93.3. His slider is no longer the out-pitch it used to be. He’s not durable. He’s giving up more flyballs every year.

If he’s healthy and adds some velocity, it’s worth a look. Again, I just hope it’s not a major league deal.

by xrickx on Feb 2, 2011 12:49 AM EST reply actions

Re: Tomlin over the course of a season … oh, yeah, me, too. Because every time I had to watch Sowers cruising into a train-wreck on the mound, I’d think to myself, “Damn, if only he were right-handed.”

by Jay on Feb 2, 2011 1:41 AM EST up reply actions 6 recs

Agree with both posts.

Not a huge fan of Tomlin … but wondering if Bonderman isn’t the same guy at this stage of his career.

I’d bring Bonderman in on a minor league deal only. But, I"m guessing this deal will be major league and a guaranteed #5 starter’s job.

by FallsTribeFan on Feb 2, 2011 8:43 AM EST up reply actions

Look at Tomlin’s numbers versus lefthanded batters. Pretty good. Actually, better than pretty good. His change-up is better than anything Sowers ever showed.

by odradek on Feb 2, 2011 9:49 AM EST up reply actions

The choice isn’t Tomlin versus some obviously superior pitcher.

Unless Bonderman somehow reverses four straight seasons of declining stuff, I don’t see how he’s anything more than Tomlin. And, back to my original point, I don’t see how that should warrant anything more than a minor league deal.

by xrickx on Feb 2, 2011 9:50 AM EST up reply actions

I think Bonderman’s fastball was in fairly typical low-nineties form early last season, and fell off a bit as the season wore on. But I don’t really understand this “veteran pitcher” need – is Millwood or Bonderman and their 4.5+ era’s supposed to teach our younguns something? Or is it simply a matter of getting someone to eat innings the first half of the year before the first callup?

In any case, it looks like it will be a major league deal, and I hope Bonderman does well enuf to get trading at the break for Carlos Santana.

So, starting pitchers at Columbus now up to 10 or so, half of’em on the 40. You’d think we’d be able to throw that at the ML roster and see what sticks…

Big shrug on Bonderman. If he sucks we won’t get rid of him, if he’s good, we can’t keep him. Either way he’s standing in somebody’s way.

by mcrose on Feb 2, 2011 9:18 AM EST reply actions

In any case, it looks like it will be a major league deal, and I hope Bonderman does well enuf to get trading at the break for Carlos Santana.

This idea wins me over. If Tomlin has 7-8 wins and a 4-ish ERA at the break, we can’t trade him. Or, we can, but why would we? I’m fine with signing someone like this.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Feb 2, 2011 1:38 PM EST up reply actions

Or is it simply a matter of getting someone to eat innings the first half of the year before the first callup?

Yes. This, and a flier on possibly trading for a prospect at the deadline.

by Jay on Feb 2, 2011 9:53 PM EST up reply actions

Let the kids play!!!! No more veteran re-treds on minor league deals. If they are wanting a reclamation project, you got Adam Miller.

Baseball fans are junkies, and their heroin is the statistic. - Robert S. Wieder

by jerseywahoo on Feb 2, 2011 9:20 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

But Miller’s not even being considered for a starting gig.

by xrickx on Feb 2, 2011 9:52 AM EST up reply actions

The kids playing is only a good idea if the kids are good.

by Brad D on Feb 4, 2011 12:30 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

The kids playing is only a good idea if the kids can get better.

by emd2k3 on Feb 5, 2011 2:17 PM EST up reply actions

I’d be fine with this, and given the level of “internet chatter,” I’m guessing it will happen. Bastian was suggesting a major league deal. If that is true, I’d like the Indians to get a club option added to the deal.

There is no doubt Bonderman was a terrible pitcher last year, but he was coming off two lost seasons because of his shoulder blood clot issues. He stayed healthy enough last season to log 170+ innings. Another year removed from the injury issues, maybe he can reclaim some of his pre-2008 form.

I like the Indians young guys as much as (and probably more than) the next fan…but the potential upside of Bonderman is vastly larger than a guy like Tomlin. If Rondon hadn’t gone down last year, if Pino hadn’t exploded, if Huff hadn’t embarrassed himself, if….maybe it would be different. Bonderman would give the team more options and more flexibility in dealing with its major league pitching staff and handling the development of its minor-league staff. Aside from 10-15 games, there is not a lot to lose in signing Bonderman on the cheap.

by APV on Feb 2, 2011 10:35 AM EST reply actions 3 recs

This. I like the idea of adding one more arm to the major league stockpile, even if he’s more of a craftsman than a fireballer these days.

by JulioBernazard on Feb 2, 2011 11:44 AM EST up reply actions

I swear I chose 170+ before reading this.

by westbrook on Feb 2, 2011 12:34 PM EST up reply actions

usurper

by APV on Feb 2, 2011 1:06 PM EST up reply actions

I’m glad you agreed with me, because I’m really just making stuff up here.

by Jay on Feb 2, 2011 9:54 PM EST up reply actions

i’m all for having alternatives. I’m not as sold on Talbot as everyone else seems to be. Maybe Carrasco flops. Maybe Masterson gets hit hard to start the year. Any reasonable person will allow for all these possibilities.

And to have a worthwhile alternative, maybe the cost is a major league roster spot. If that’s the price of admission, so be it.

Even if we assume a healthy Bonderman, unlike Elarton, there’s no devastating curveball. Unlike Pavano, there’s no legitimate changeup. Bonderman needs those extra MPH back on his fastball. Otherwise, he has to find a new way to pitch.

by xrickx on Feb 3, 2011 12:56 AM EST up reply actions

There’s the slider, isn’t there?

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Feb 3, 2011 1:38 AM EST up reply actions

Exactly. Even when Bonderman was great back in 2006 he was pretty much a two-pitch pitcher, using his mid-90s fastball to set up his fantastic slider. Although hard, his fastball was not particularly effective by itself. So the Indians are basically placing a bet that he can regain some of his slider.

by APV on Feb 3, 2011 8:58 AM EST up reply actions

He needs the MPH back on his slider too. LHB have always touched him up, because he doesn’t have a real weapon against them.

His injury/decline years include a drop in fastball and slider velocity. If he gets back one, I think he gets back the other. If he’s done throwing 93MPH, though, I don’t think his slider is magically going to increase in velocity. And if that’s the case, I think he needs a new way to pitch if he’s going to be starter.

by xrickx on Feb 3, 2011 9:50 AM EST up reply actions

By the way, I will make this identical argument if we sign Millwood

by APV on Feb 5, 2011 3:54 PM EST up reply actions

Also, i hope we can agree that signing Bonderman would count as a KMTS whereas signing Millwood would not

by APV on Feb 5, 2011 6:55 PM EST up reply actions

Definitely agree with you. It would be a textbook KMS, though.

Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile

by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Feb 5, 2011 7:37 PM EST up reply actions

This is what it looks like when the homeless forage through a dumpster looking for that still sealed package of cupcakes. Once in a while they find Kevin Millwood or Carl Pavano, but usually it’s Jason Johnson or Mike Hampton.

You didn't get me down, Ray.

by elsandito on Feb 2, 2011 12:06 PM EST reply actions

When I told my dad about the tweet, he got all excited—which made me a little excited. But today’s a new day and I am back to ‘meh’.

I think he’d give us 170+ innings though. (or the prorated pre-deadline deal amount)

by westbrook on Feb 2, 2011 12:31 PM EST reply actions

Bonderman doesn’t do much for me. But I guess we need a Veteran Pitcher™.

Something bold would put a few fannies in the seats. Offer Andy Petite $9 million and see what he says. Make Hoynsie and Sheldon promise not to ask about Clemens and steroids. Provide free season passes to Cedar Point for the family. He can have a nice quiet summer. Carmona, Petite and Masterson, solid bullpen, and 3.5 impact hitters. Maybe a contender in the Central. If not, we spin him off to someone after the All-Star game. As you see, I’m hallucinating.

by Bogalusa Bomber on Feb 3, 2011 4:46 AM EST reply actions

Clearly you’re hallucinating: I doubt the Hoynsinator has much interest in investigative journalism.

by JulioBernazard on Feb 3, 2011 10:18 AM EST up reply actions

Why in the world would Pettitte come to the Indians for less than the Yankees would pay?

by Jay on Feb 3, 2011 10:21 PM EST up reply actions

Because in his heart of hearts, he loves good and hates evil. I just know it.

by Bogalusa Bomber on Feb 3, 2011 11:04 PM EST up reply actions

I was wondering who would waste 9 million on Pettitte. By the way, he has too may T’s in his last name. It’s ridickless.

by emd2k3 on Feb 4, 2011 10:31 AM EST up reply actions

Now that Pettite is retiring, the Indians better get Bonderman signed if they are at all serious before the Yanks come calling.

"Magic would be getting productivity out of Crowe or Valbuena. I’ll admit we could use a little luck, but that’s not the same thing." - Jay

by woodsmeister on Feb 3, 2011 2:24 PM EST reply actions

somehow I think the Yankees have signed ebough retreads already … Colon, Prior, and Garcia

by talonk on Feb 3, 2011 2:40 PM EST up reply actions

Have you seen the Yanks rotation? They’re nowhere near close enough to be done.

I just want to believe.

by mjmarble on Feb 3, 2011 10:21 PM EST up reply actions

you cannot possibly expect the Yankees to field a starting rotation with a $200m payroll! If you only paid FIFTEEN MILLION to each starter, you’d blow through ~40% of your budget!!

by gte619n on Feb 5, 2011 10:50 AM EST up reply actions