Bruce Rondon seems to be Detroit Tigers’ best ninth inning plan – MLB News
According to detroitnews.com, Detroit Tigers are looking at Bruce Rondon as their best plan in the ninth inning. A week ago, All Major Leaguers and fans were involved in the MVP debate.
Who should one vote for? The Tigers’ third baseman Miguel Cabrera or Los Angeles Angels’ rookie outfielder Mike Trout?
The debate brought several advanced statistics to the forefront with some taking WAR (Wins Above Replacement) and others talking about batting average and home-runs hit. Cabrera ended up winning the MVP award with 22 out of 28 possible first place votes.
Today, we will look at a statistic that is much simpler to measure; the save – a stat that became official in 1969. Those who consider the value of this stat claim the save is overvalued. In some ways, this stat allows the relief pitchers and their agents
to ask for more money. It gives an insight into the ability of a pitcher to throw the ninth inning and save the game for his team.
Tigers’ closer Jose Valverde had one of the worst seasons of his career last season. Manager Jim Leyland showed great faith in him when he decided to give him a chance to prove in mettle in the playoffs. However, Valverde blew saves in crucial post season
games against the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles.
"He's a rare talent," Tigers’ president and general manager Dave Dombrowski said of 21-year-old Rondon in a news press conference. "You would not believe the number of clubs that have called me about Bruce Rondon to trade him.’
He added, "This guy is a special potential closer, with the makeup of a closer. Normally, you're not going to thrust that (job) in a young guy's hands and say, automatically, 'It's your job.' But it would not surprise me if he earned that job."
With Valverde out of the Tigers’ pitching rotations, the team needed to fill the spot with someone more reliable. It seems the young and a talented Bruce Rondon is the best closing option available to the Tigers right now. It will be interesting to see if
Rondon can live to his immense potential in the next season.
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