Injuries to Jeremy Bonderman, Dontrelle Willis, Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney helped derail the first half of the 2008 season for the Tigers. The Tigers are now 47-47 which has them in 3rd place in the American League Central, 7 games behind the White Sox. The Tigers are also 8 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the Wild Card Race in the American League. One good thing for the Tigers is that Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney are both back to help fortify the back end of the bullpen. Zumaya might eventually bump Todd Jones (17 saves, 4.95 ERA) out of the closer’s job unless he starts to improve soon. Unless Dontrelle Willis gets his act together in A-Ball (doubtful) then the Tigers might need to make another move for a starting pitcher because rookie Eddie Bonine might not have the stuff to succeed at the major league level. He has started 5 games this season for the Tigers and he is 2-1 with a 5.40 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP. It hurts the Tigers that they traded so much of their farm system to get Miguel Cabrera, Dontrelle Willis and Edgar Renteria in the off-season as they don’t have a lot of prospects to offer a team for another starting pitcher.