Tracking the Tigers: Zumaya will be out for a while...again
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by Oneflydude
It looks like the Detroit Tigers bullpen won't get any better with a serious blow to a big name. There will be more problems with the Detroit Tigers bullpen in the 2008 season, due to another injury to reliever, Joel Zumaya. The hard throwing reliever injured his shoulder helping get items from the attic of his parents house in San Diego during the California wildfires.
The injury was serious, and his shoulder required surgery on Wednesday. Zumaya will have to wait 6 weeks until he begins rehab and then he will have to wait 3 months to start strengthening his shoulder. After that, he will have to wait another month to start a throwing program.
This is Zumaya's 3rd injury since he's been in the league. Remember when he injured himself while playing Guitar Hero? That happened over the offseason after the Tigers lost in the World Series.
That wasn't as serious as these recent ones.
Earlier in May 2007, Zumaya ruptured a tendon in his middle finger while throwing in the bullpen. He missed 3 months and without his presence, the Tigers bullpen struggled. He returned in August but he wasn't as effective as he was expected to be. During his return, he was 2-3 with a 4.28 ERA. His
usual 100 mph fastball was falling from 95-98. Not as impressive as his
rookie year when he went 6-3 with a 1.94 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 62
appearences.
This is going to be a lot of trouble for the Tigers front office. Their
normal closer, Todd Jones, is testing the free agency market right now
and is rumored to having talks with the Atlanta Braves. Zumaya was
expected to take Jones' place as a closer later on in the season, so
Jones didn't look for a new contract with the Tigers. Now, the Tigers
are looking to resign him. Without Jones, the next possible closer for
the Tigers would be reliever Fernando Rodney. Rodney has done great as
a middle reliever but it is questionable to give him the closers job.
If the Braves pursue Jones, the Tigers will have to look into the free
agency market. One top name would be Mariano Rivera but it looks
like the New York Yankees are making a push to keep him.
Tigers are optimistic that Zumaya will be back midway into the season,
so that means that moves will have to be made to bring stability to the Tigers bullpen.
