Sherzer would look great in a Mudhens uniform

Last year, we brought in much heralded Jarrod Washburn for a postseason push and proceeded to watch him throw batting practice for a month. Just as sure as a credit card transaction when my wife visits Nieman Marcus, Washburn was good for six earned runs and a 3rd inning departure. Had we yanked him even one game sooner, we'd be looking at a Division Title.

It's getting hard to think that Sherzer isn't this year's version of JW but it's still early enough to do something about it. First, let's look at Mad Max's stats:

- He's given up a home run in six of seven games, including an AL Central leading eight on the season and two in the first inning Friday against the Sox.
- His ERA of 7.82 is ugly. It's so ugly, if his ERA stuck it's head out the window, it would get arrested for mooning. Only two starting pitchers have worse ERA's, one of which is Edwin Jackson (which should make Tigers fans feel a little better about this trade).
- Max has gone seven innings once all year and has pitched only 5, 5, 4 and 3 innings in his last four starts. Bottom line, he's wearing out the best bullpen in baseball. In last night's game, the Tigers were defeated before they could even take their first swing.

I'm arguing right now to make the switch to Eddie Bonine. Bonine is young but at 28, not so young that he doesn't much starting experience. He's been in professional baseball for several years now and has performed well at AAA Toledo. He only has two years of big league experience but you can't argue with his production so far in 2010. Here's the breakdown:

- 14 games, 19 innings pitched, 0.96 ERA
- Bonine has a 0.96 WHIP (walks, hits per innings pitched) which would put him in the Top 25 in baseball, of any pitcher (starter or reliever).
- 3-0 record is evidence of Eddie's toughness this year. He's been put in some tough hold situations and held the line - a question mark coming into this year.
- He is also a favorite of my pops. Beast loves to remind me when "the young" Eddie Bonine has a stellar outing and has enough of his games in Toledo to qualify as an expert. I will forgive for now the fact that Eddie looks like dillweed Zach Miner.

Let Max work Toledo for a month and get his confidence back. We can replace Eddie in the bullpen with Figaro who is 4-1 with a 2.55 ERA in Toledo, including 27 strikeouts in 35 innings. If Figaro doesn't have the mental makeup, Gallaraga has pitched better of late and has plenty of big league experience.

Bottom line, status quo isn't working and this race is too close to worry about Max's feelings, something Leland is altogether too concerned with. Leland, get off your ass, sit Scherzer and give Bonine a shot. We need only a bridge to my boy Jacob Turner who makes his first home start at Class A West Michigan on Sunday (look for that upcoming post).