In honor of AFI releasing its Top 100 movie quotes of all time (where "Bond, James Bond" ranked No. 22), here's a salute to Tigers ace of the future -- perhaps even the present -- Jeremy Bonderman.
Bonderman got his 9th win of the season last night and helped lift the Tigers over .500 at 34-33. Detroit is 3 GB in the wild card race.
Since his midseason struggles a year ago, Bonderman, a mere child of 22, is 14-7 with a 3.19 ERA over his last 23 starts. He's got two shutouts during that span and has struck out 142 in 160.2 IP. That's 8 K per 9 innings.
Bonderman's success can be traced to pitching coach Bob Cluck telling him to quit thinking on the mound and have fun. Bonderman responded with a 14 K shutout of the White Sox on August 23, 2004.
He is tied for 4th in the majors in wins since then and his ERA is the 15th best in the majors among pitchers with at least 100 IP.
The Tigers got Bonderman, who has a 97-mph fastball, wicked slider and improving change-up, from the A's in the deal that ended up sending Jeff Weaver to the Yankees. I hated that deal when it happened. But it's looking very good now thanks to Bonderman.
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