People are finally coming around to the idea that the Tigers still need pitching to win the World Series. One arm in the bullpen intrigues me. It belongs to Yorman Bazardo. He'll be 24 in July and bounced between the minors and big club in 2007.
In 25.1 IP with the Tigers, made up of 2 starts and 9 relief appearances, Bazardo was 2-1 with a 2.28 ERA and 1.01 WHIP. Those aren't many innings to get a true feel for his ability, but he was a Top 10 prospect for the Mariners before Detroit acquired him last February. Foes batted only .218 against him and he struck out 15 while walking only 5.
From what I've been able to find, he's got a fastball that can reach the high 90s, but he works primarily in the 91-93 range. I saw reference to a hard-breaking curve with good late movement. His slider and changeup are supposedly below average. Still, a fastball and good curve would be enough for success in the bullpen and he's young enough to develop pitches and improve his arsenal. He could be an asset in the middle to late innings.
One reason for concern: the Tigers turned 76% of batted balls against Bazardo into outs -- a high number. It's hard to determine how much of that is a function of the pitching and how much is a function of luck. Bazardo did generate 47% groundballs, which helps his cause.
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