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.

The Tigers have traded most of their top prospects this past off season but they held onto shortstop Cale Iorg. The 22-year old righty swinging Iorg has looked pretty good this season. He has played in 79 games in A-Ball this season and he is 81 for 309 (.262 avg, .748 OPS) with 49 runs scored, 8 homers, 40 RBIs and 18 stolen bases. Iorg was the #2 prospect in the entire Tigers’ minor league system coming into this season according to Baseball America’s Prospect Handbook and he’s showing why this year. Look for him to be playing ball in Comerica Park in the near future.

The Tigers have designated catcher Dane Sardinha for assignment. He played in 5 games for the Tigers this season and he was 3 for 18 (.167 avg, .445 OPS) with 1 run scored and 2 RBIs. Sardinha will probably just go to AAA instead of becoming a free agent because he’s knows that he’s only an injury away from the majors in Detroit. Brandon Inge has been activated from the D.L. to replace Sardinha on the roster. Inge has played in 52 games with the Tigers this season and he is 31 for 144 (.215 avg, .728 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 6 homers and 23 RBIs.

29-year old lefty reliever Ian Ostlund is pitching really well in AAA ball for the Tigers. The next time the Tigers need lefty help in the bullpen they should give this guy a call. Ostlund has pitched in 29 games (0 starts) in AAA ball for the Tigers this season and he is 3-0 with a 2.95 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. He has whiffed 48 batters while only walking 9 in 42.2 innings this season which shows that he has pretty good stuff and control.

Armando Galarraga has been the ace of the starting rotation for the Tigers this season. His acquistion last off season was considered very minor at the time but he’s been the most important player they added to this point. Galarraga has been without a doubt the best pitcher on the Tigers’ pitching staff this season and it will be interesting to see if he can keep up the good work. If the Tigers are to contend in the 2nd half of the season for the playoffs Galarraga will have to keep pitching solid because they don’t have a lot to offer other teams in trade as they moved most of the big prospects to the Marlins over the winter.