While many are concerned about the front end of the bullpen, which has obvious reasons for such concern, might we argue today that the real concern lies in the 7th, 8th and 9th innings. Allow me to explain.
The concern is not founded upon talent. With Dotel, Benoit, and Valverde all in position to have another great year, the talent is present. The problem lies in a different area... The potential disaster lies within their age.
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| Careful of the knees. |
Juaquin Benoit is 34 and will turn 35 just after the All Star Break.
Octavio Dotel clocks in at 38 and will turn 39 after the world series that he will hopefully be pitching within.
This puts our average age of pitching in the final three innings of games this year at 35.6 years of age.
All this to say, the back end of the Tiger's bullpen is loaded with talent and experience. However, that experience comes with great risk of break down and injury. The injury history of these three pitchers has been consistently positive over the years, but time will tell and time might take its toll on our geriatric stoppers in 2012. Be prepared for late season acquisitions to cover for one or more of these three needing time to recover.
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