Boof Bonser

Boof Bonser reported to training camp in 2008 much lighter than he had been in 2007. By any traditional measure, he was in much better shape. His 2007 season featured many otherwise dominant performances ruined by an apparent lack of stamina. Naturally, logic would suggest that a slimmer better-conditioned Bonser could overcome this problem. I mostly agreed with the sentiment, but my nagging shred of doubt came true. The reigning American League Cy Young winner weighed 300 pounds. David Wells threw a perfect game. Rod Beck reminded us that nobody ever landed on the DL with a pulled fat. In hindsight, if Bonser had reported to camp 20 pounds heavier than his '07 weight, then his 2008 season may have been as successful as many around the Twins organization had hoped.

He enters 2009 as the most likely candidate to provide a dominant force out of the bullpen to set up Joe Nathan. He's shown that he has as dominant of "stuff" as any pitcher on the staff, but hasn't consistently harnessed it. Many of the best relief pitchers are starters just like that who couldn't quite make it. I guess we'll see what happens.