Detroit Tigers hope Chris Bosio can fix their pitching staff

The Detroit Tigers have reportedly added a highly-regarded pitching coach, but he may have a tall task ahead of him in helping improve a pitching staff that was among the worst in the game in 2017.

In 2017, the Detroit Tigers were tied for the worst record in baseball with a mark of 64-98. The Tigers’ pitching staff posted an ERA of 5.36, which ranked last among all 30 MLB teams.

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Going into 2018, there are many uncertainties regarding the Tigers’ pitching staff. In the rotation, Michael Fulmer has clearly shown an ability to be a legitimate ace, but he will be returning from elbow surgery. Daniel Norris is highly talented and has great potential, but he is coming off of a season in which he went only 5-8 with a 5.31 ERA. Matt Boyd nearly threw a no-hitter against the Chicago White Sox in September, but he went only 6-11 with a 5.27 ERA overall. Jordan Zimmermann, who still has three years left on his contract, has posted an ERA of 5.60 during his first two seasons with the Tigers. Obviously, the Tigers will have to find a fifth starter as well, whether that be through free agency or in-house options.

In the bullpen, there are many questions as well. Shane Greene impressed in the closer’s role this season, but overall, Tigers relievers posted an ERA of 5.63, also ranking worst in the majors.

It now appears that the job of fixing the Tigers’ pitching staff will be going to Chris Bosio, who has reportedly become the first member of newly-hired manager Ron Gardenhire‘s coaching staff. Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports reported that the Tigers had added Bosio late last week.

Bosio, who went 94-93 with a 3.96 ERA over an 11-year playing career, spent the last six seasons as the Chicago Cubs pitching coach before recently being fired. As Nightengale also notes, Cubs manager Joe Maddon has now been reunited with Jim Hickey, his longtime pitching coach during his years managing the Tampa Bay Rays.

While the Cubs’ pitching staff took a bit of a step back this past year, they posted an MLB-best 3.15 ERA under Bosio’s tutelage during their World Championship season of 2016. Moreover, also during Bosio’s tenure as the Cubs’ pitching coach, Jake Arrieta went from a pitcher who posted a 5.46 ERA over parts of four seasons with the Baltimore Orioles to an elite starting pitcher who won the NL Cy Young in 2015.

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Although helping creating another Arrieta would be a tall task, to say the least, perhaps Bosio can help get Norris and Boyd on track for longterm success. It would also be huge for the Tigers if Zimmermann could even remotely resemble the type of pitcher that he was earlier in his career. Although most aren’t expecting much of the Tigers in 2018, it should certainly be fun to see the type of effect that Bosio might be able to have on a young Tigers’ pitching staff.