Detroit Tigers MLB 2015 News: Joe Nathan on the Disabled List, Who is Left in the Bullpen?
The Detroit Tigers' bullpen got a little thinner yesterday. On the same day that the team placed starter Justin Verlander on the disabled list and recalled Kyle Lobstein from Triple A Toledo to take his place, the team also announced the closer Joe Nathan would make a trip to the 15-day disabled list as well. Blaine Hardy has been brought up to fill a spot in the bullpen. Joakim Soria has been named the interim closer, but the team expects Nathan to get healthy and return to that role.
The bullpen is the weakest part of the Tigers 2015 roster. This move leaves the Tigers without a solid 8th inning guy, which is compounded by the fact that they do not have a designated 7th inning guy. However, while some view that as a negative, it gives Manager Brad Ausmus an opportunity to run his bullpen more like famed Tigers skipper Sparky Anderson. Ausmus has a week or so to use guys in multiple roles and to see exactly what he has in the pen and who can be counted on down the road.
Even though Nathan earned his first save of the year on Opening Day, it seems he has been battling arm soreness for a bit now.
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"From what he said and from how his face looked, you could tell it was bothering him quite a bit," Ausmus said. "From the time I've known him, he's never said I can't throw, and today, in not so many words, he said, 'I probably shouldn't throw today,' which tells me it was really bothering him."
Recalling Hardy now gives the Tigers three left-handed relievers which is kind of rare. Tom Gorzelanny and Ian Krol are the other two, and Gorzelanny is a veteran brought in over the off season while Krol is the last piece left over from the Doug Fister trade. That seems to indicate Ausmus wants options in his pen for the time being.
