Tigers Bullpen Will MIss Zumaya
Freak Shoulder Injury Sidelines Hard-Throwing Righthander until July
Detroit relief pitcher Joel Zumaya will be out until mid-season after he injured his pitching shoulder while moving boxes this off-season.
First it was the Guitar Hero injury. Then the tendon-popping moment in the bullpen. Joel Zumaya, the Detroit Tigers' hard-throwing relief pitcher, can certainly say that his still-young career has been eventful.
Highlighting his two years in a Tiger uniform was a 2006 trip to the World Series, and during the team's run to the championship series, Zumaya and his 100-plus mile an hour fastball won over the hearts of Tiger fans.
Unfortunately, before his career had a chance to enjoy another on-field highlight, another off-field mishap has put Zumaya's apparent takeover of the Tigers' closer job on hold. As wildfires were sweeping through southern California this off-season, Zumaya was at his family's home in the region helping move boxes when one fell and damaged his pitching shoulder. The injury required extensive surgery, and will likely keep Zumaya on the shelf until July. (He's recently stated that he hopes to be back sooner.)
Given that at least two of his three injuries weren't baseball related, it's hard to tag Zumaya as injury prone. Unlucky? Sure. Irresponsible? Only if you listen to those who don't believe the nature of his latest injury. More important than any of that, though, is what impact Zumaya's absence will have on the Tigers and their bullpen this season.
If / when Zumaya returns, it's hard to imagine he'll immediately return to chucking triple-digit heaters, a fact that even he has recognized.
More than anything, barring another roster move as the team makes its annual gathering in Florida this spring, Zumaya's injury puts more pressure on the Tigers' starting five to eat more innings. The addition of Dontrelle Willis will no doubt help, but the Tigers will count on strong seasons from ace Justin Verlander, Jeremy Bonderman, Kenny Rogers and Nate Robertson to avoid over-straining the bullpen.
Todd Jones and Fernando Rodney appear now to have clearly defined roles as closer and set-up man, respectively, either of which may have been challenged had Zumaya been healthy. When the starters stumble, there'll be a premium on middle-inning relief. Righthanders Jason Grilli, Zach Miner, Jordan Tata, Francisco Cruceto, Denny Bautista and Armando Galarraga enter Spring Training as likely candidates to earn Manager Jim Leyland's trust to chew innings.
None, though, will match up to the potential Zumaya has shown over the last two seasons, particulary during his debut in 2006. Zumaya went 6-3 with 1.94 ERA that season, striking out 97 batters in only 83 1/3 innings. Last year, after missing much of the season with the aforementioned injuries, Zumaya was 2-3 with a 4.28 ERA, striking out 27 batters in 33 innings.
