Bernero focused on fresh chance
May 25, 2002
BY GENE GUIDI
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER
CHICAGO -- He went from hot commodity to a near-forgotten man in less than a year.
But right-hander Adam Bernero is back in the major leagues with a fresh chance, and he will get his first start for the Tigers this season on Sunday here against the White Sox.
Bernero earned this week's promotion to the major leagues with a solid performance at Triple-A Toledo, where he was second in the International League with a 1.57 ERA (57 1/3 innings pitched, 10 earned runs). The Tigers decided rookie right-hander Nate Cornejo would benefit from more time in the minors and replaced him in the rotation with Bernero.
Bernero, signed out of college by the Tigers in 1999, made his major league debut in August 2000 with a good outing against the Angels. The Tigers thought he showed poise beyond his years and experience and hoped he would be a fixture in their rotation.
But Bernero struggled in subsequent starts, was sent to the bullpen and then back to Toledo to start the 2001 season. Other than a brief stay with the Tigers last September, that's where he has remained.
With the Mud Hens last year, Bernero was 6-11 with a 5.13 ERA. Why was he more effective this season?
"The problem last year was that while I was in Toledo, I was concentrating on what was going on here with the Tigers," Bernero said. "It was pretty much a lost year -- I was having no fun at all."
Bernero went home to California in the off-season and decided to readjust his priorities.
"When this season started, I worried about pitching for Toledo, and not the Tigers," he said. "I've changed some mechanical things, but mostly the change has been mental."
Bernero said he also benefited from working with former Tiger Jack Morris in spring training. "He told me I had good stuff and that I should just go after the hitters," Bernero said. "That helped to regain my confidence. There was a point last year when I didn't really know if I could pitch in the big leagues again."
May 25, 2002
BY GENE GUIDI
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER
CHICAGO -- He went from hot commodity to a near-forgotten man in less than a year.
But right-hander Adam Bernero is back in the major leagues with a fresh chance, and he will get his first start for the Tigers this season on Sunday here against the White Sox.
Bernero earned this week's promotion to the major leagues with a solid performance at Triple-A Toledo, where he was second in the International League with a 1.57 ERA (57 1/3 innings pitched, 10 earned runs). The Tigers decided rookie right-hander Nate Cornejo would benefit from more time in the minors and replaced him in the rotation with Bernero.
Bernero, signed out of college by the Tigers in 1999, made his major league debut in August 2000 with a good outing against the Angels. The Tigers thought he showed poise beyond his years and experience and hoped he would be a fixture in their rotation.
But Bernero struggled in subsequent starts, was sent to the bullpen and then back to Toledo to start the 2001 season. Other than a brief stay with the Tigers last September, that's where he has remained.
With the Mud Hens last year, Bernero was 6-11 with a 5.13 ERA. Why was he more effective this season?
"The problem last year was that while I was in Toledo, I was concentrating on what was going on here with the Tigers," Bernero said. "It was pretty much a lost year -- I was having no fun at all."
Bernero went home to California in the off-season and decided to readjust his priorities.
"When this season started, I worried about pitching for Toledo, and not the Tigers," he said. "I've changed some mechanical things, but mostly the change has been mental."
Bernero said he also benefited from working with former Tiger Jack Morris in spring training. "He told me I had good stuff and that I should just go after the hitters," Bernero said. "That helped to regain my confidence. There was a point last year when I didn't really know if I could pitch in the big leagues again."
