Spring has sprung

The Twins have reported to camp. Games begin in one week. I haven't blogged in awhile since there's nothing new on the Boof front. Still projected as the #2 or #3 (maybe behind Silva). I mean, when your team guarantees Sidney Ponson a rotation spot, you'd think you could let a guy named Boof Bonser have one too...

Bonus: another Boof card pic for y'all.

Interview with Boof

Interview with Boof Bonser from twincities.com.

Twins pitcher Boof Bonser struggled when he was first called up from the minor leagues last season. He was sent back down. When he returned to the Twins later in the season, he was a different pitcher. A better pitcher. Here is Bonser…

On what will be different about him this season: "When I got on my run at the end of the year, the consistency and the confidence was there. The confidence of (manager Ron Gardenhire and pitching coach Rick Anderson) to run me out every five days was the biggest key to me."

On what else changed for him last season: "When I first came up, I was inconsistent. I thought I was ready. I wasn't quite there yet. When I got sent down, I didn't want to pitch in the minor leagues. I just busted my tail. That's how I got on my roll at the end. I wanted to stay up in the big leagues. I didn't want to go back down to the minor leagues."

On whether this will be his breakout season: "I'd like it to be. I'd like to go out there and win ballgames and keep my team in the game."

On what he considers a breakout season: "Fifteen wins would be nice. If I get 20, it'll be even better."

On whether he cares where he pitches in the rotation: "Don't get me wrong. If they tell me I'm No. 2, that'd be a great thing. But for me, wherever they tell me is where I'll pitch. I get to put that jersey on and wear it. That's the big thing."

Another Bit of the Rotation

The Twins signed Ramon Ortiz. That makes the Twins '07 rotation look something like

1. Johan Santana
2. Boof Bonser
3. Carlos Silva
4. Ramon Ortiz
5. ???

And the order is probably wrong. I'm not a Twins fan, I'm a Bonser fan.

Actual Boof news is slow this week. So I'll treat y'all to another card, this one his first mass-produced card, 2001 Bowman Draft Picks.

A scary thought...

Earlier in the off-season, if you'll let me rumor in the past-tense, there were Jason Jennings-to-the-Twins rumors. The Rockies wanted two young starters in return. They allegedly had their eyes on one Mr. Boof Bonser. Twins GM Terry Ryan wouldn't have any of it. Good for him. A pitcher with a tenuous grasp on the long ball, pitching in Colorado...I think we all could have bid Boof bye-bye if that had happened.

Also, note that a full summary of Boof's career stats can now be found on the right-hand side of the page. Read and reflect!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Spiraling out of control...upwards.

After a career of minor league team sets and "prospect" cards, Boof's big break last year landed him on the checklists of a number of premium and high-end baseball card sets. A Boof card can now set you back as much as $50 (if you don't count the Boof Bonser/Francisco Liriano/Justin Verlander/Jered Weaver/Jon Papelbon autograph card - someone wanted $350). For a treat, then, here is Boof's first autograph card, a 2001 Upper Deck Minor League Centennial autograph, which yours truly, Voltaire, bought for $4 in 2002, which is now worth...$10, I guess.

Finally!

With spring training a mere five weeks away, the marvel of Boof's standing within the Twins organization has begun to sink in. Depending on whose reports you read, Boof will begin the season as either the #2 or #3 starter in the Twins' rotation. This from a pitcher called up in mid-season last year, with sadly mediocre numbers in the minors the past few seasons.

The situation may say more about the Twins' depth than Boof's ability, but Bonser has finally established himself in the majors. If Lohse and Silva hadn't had career-worst years and Liriano hadn't ruined his elbow in '06, Boof was beginning to look like a minor-league lifer.

Instead, he got to start Game 2 of the ALDS (which the Twins lost through no fault of Boof's - 6 IP, 2 ER, 3 K's). Now he gets to start 34 Game 2's in 2007. Boof finally got his break.

Boof for Beginners

If you're not already aquainted with Boof Bonser, you may find the following links helpful.

1. A Brief Bonser Biography (written chiefly by yours truly)
   
2. Boof's Official MLB.com Player Page
3. Boof's Career Minor and Major League Stats

If you are already aquainted with Boof Bonser, stay tuned to Boof Nation for Bonser Bulletins. Until then, read this.