HBT: Tigers option Rondon, will close by committee

The Tigers? clubhouse was closed this morning and that means cuts. One cut that is somewhat surprising: reliever Bruce Rondon, who the Tigers had given every opportunity to win the closer?s job this spring. But he?s headed to Toledo and the Tigers are going to go with a closer-by-committee setup.

Rondon is immensely talented, but he had an erratic spring. Rough going early, but then he righted the ship somewhat. Overall he struck out 18 batters in 11 and two-thirds innings this spring. But he walked nine and gave up 15 base hits. That?s a recipe for a lot of antacids for Jim Leyland in the ninth inning, and it seems he just didn?t want to deal with that yet.

Rondon will eventually be pitching in late innings in Detroit. For now, though, it?s going to be some mix of Phil Coke, Joaquin Benoit and Al?Albuquerque handling closing duties.

Source: http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/03/28/tigers-option-bruce-rondon-to-toledo-will-go-with-a-closer-by-committee/related/

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