Jim Leyland accurately described the Tigers rotation battle so far as no one has "really stepped up" and no one has taken themselves out of it. That's a fair assessment although maybe you can say Armando Galarraga is bowing out with his performance.
Nate Robertston continued to pitch "pretty well" yesterday. I do agree with those that say the key with Nate is not so much his velocity, but having his slider. When Nate was going good (people forget that from 04-07 he averaged 16 Quality Starts per season), he featured some of the nastiest breaking stuff from a left hand pitcher that you will see. In his best stretch from 04-06, he was extremely tough v LH hitters and that enabled him to just limit the damage v RH hitters. As he struggled through arm issues the last couple years, he hasn't had his slider and hasn't been effective v LH hitters. So if Nate does earn a rotation spot the key thing to focus on early is - how is he doing v LH hitters. If he can control them, he can probably be OK.
The next two days it is Dontrelle Willis and Jeremy Bonderman's turn. I think the first guy to go out and give the Tigers five strong innings out of this group probably takes the lead here and maybe even earns a spot. Willis is on the thinnest tight rope. One start in which he struggles with his command probably takes him out of the race.
Each of these starters will only have a chance to make two more appearances before cut down day after this week. It can't be easy for any of these them knowing that one bad start can be the difference from still being a big league starter in 2010 or going back to career limbo. Actually, if Willis can pitch through this pressure and not blow up, it's probably a pretty good sign that he's got at least a shot of beating his confidence issues. Personally, I'm glad we've hung on to all three; and they are all getting this one last shot this spring. One of them probably won't be with us anymore in two weeks. Bonderman is the only guy I can see the Tigers hanging on to, if he doesn't make the rotation.
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