The Curious Case of Joel Zumaya

Joel Zumaya has a right arm that scouts and GM's scour the country for, and dream about in their sleep. He consistently throws a 100+ mph fastball that is unhittable when located properly and has a sick curveball that can bend a batter's knees. It is also a right arm that can survive the horror that is Guitar Hero and an injury-filled 2007 and 2008 seasons. It is also a right arm that shows the potential to completely dominate and humiliate MLB batters, like the Cubs felt two days ago.

Unfortunately, it is also a right arm that struggles with location, command, and any other word you want to throw out there. Tonight, in a one run game, Zumaya allowed a hit and walked 3 straight batters to blow the lead and effectively blow the game as he left Dolsi with the bases loaded and only 1 out. Two games ago, he gave up the go-ahead home run to the Cubs. Two games before that one, he walked 3 St. Louis batters and allowed 1 ER. For the month of June, he has a 5.40 ERA.

Losses happen. This is baseball. The Tigers had just won 7 straight games, and are playing great baseball. Verlander was not Verlander tonight, and that won't happen often. Ordonez left 7 men on base, but he won't be on the team during September so that doesn't mean much. Robertson can't get a Little League player out. He too will be cut soon enough, so that doesn't matter long-term. What does matter is Zumaya. These inconsistent efforts are becoming far too common, especially for a guy who was branded as our closer of the future in 2006. That day is coming. Rodney will be a FA this offseason, and will command a big raise. The Tigers may or may not want to give him a big money, long term deal. This is, essentially, his tryout to be our closer for 2010. It is also his tryout to be our shutdown 8th inning guy for this year. If he continues to struggle to throw strikes or keep the ball in the park, then Lyon, Seay and even Miner will be trusted more in those crunch moments in September and October.

As I said in a previous post about Verlander, it is time for Zumaya to step up. Again, it is all laid out there on the table for him. He's got the fastball. He's got the curveball. He's got the closer job in the future if he performs. He can be the shutdown guy to hold the lead for Rodney this year. But, he needs to throw strikes.