--RHP Jeremy Bonderman has returned to playing light games of catch after being scrubbed from his first scheduled exhibition appearance because of right shoulder stiffness. The Tigers sent Bonderman back to Detroit on March 2 so doctors could examine his shoulder and compare to earlier tests. The diagnosis was that a nerve disrupted by last year's surgery to remove a blood clot is still healing. "When that nerve heals all the way up, I'll be OK," said Bonderman, who is taking anti-inflammatory medicine. "But I'm told nerves don't heal the same on people, and so it could be a couple days or weeks." He played catch Thursday and Friday but no timetable was set for his return to the mound. "I'd say he's a little bit behind, but not anything to really concern you at this time," manager Jim Leyland said. Bonderman reported no pain from his second throwing session and was scheduled to throw a bullpen session off a mound during the weekend. "I threw at 60 feet last time, at 90 feet this time," he said. "No pain at all."

--RHP Ryan Perry pitched scoreless innings in his first two exhibition appearances and showed management why it drafted him No. 1 in 2008. "I can see where he might be a bull in the china shop once in a while," manager Jim Leyland said. "But that's potentially dominating stuff. He has a chance to be real special." Perry worked between seasons on hiding the ball a little longer so it would be more difficult to pick up his high-90s fastball and also worked on his other pitches. Perry is much more animated than fellow rookie RHP Rick Porcello but says that's just the way he is. And because he's a relief pitcher, he feels it helps him to get amped for appearances. He is not expected to make the Opening Day roster but is a possibility as long as he keeps putting up scoreless innings.

--RHP Joel Zumaya was to take a couple days off from throwing after he reported feeling more than ordinary soreness in his right shoulder following his mid-week appearance. He was sent to Pensacola, Fla., on Friday to be examined by a traveling Dr. James Andrews, who found no damage, only ordinary spring soreness. Zumaya is coming off two years of injuries. Zumaya, who had been very sharp through mid-week, told the club he was feeling a different kind of pain than the shoulder separation that shut him down last August. Pitching Coach Rick Knapp said it was more a feeling of an impingement. "It's all precautionary," Knapp said. "We've got extra time this spring." Knapp and Tigers' trainer Kevin Rand said they were not concerned at this point about Zumaya's ability to be ready to open the season. Zumaya had been easing back on his fastball -- keeping it in the high 90s as opposed to trying for triple digits -- in an effort to gain more control. He also was throwing his curve and changeup more often. Manager Jim Leyland said Zumaya "threw more good breaking balls (in a March 4 game against Florida Southern College) than he did the whole season last year. I'm not going to get carried away, but he looks like a million bucks right now. If he's healthy, he's going to be good. It's that simple. He had his full spread working for him -- 77, 87 and 97," Knapp said after the outing. "He threw one change at 77, some breaking balls at 87 and a couple of pitches at 97. That's a perfect spread for him."

--OF Clete Thomas is targeting March 23 as the date he can return to the outfield because his arm has recovered enough to let him throw the ball. Thomas has been limited to being the designated hitter because of Tommy John surgery sixth months ago but has been told he would be able to throw well enough soon to avoid damage to his arm. The Tigers think all the workouts he has done in rehabilitation have given him more bat speed and more strength. He could challenge for a spot on the roster at some point this year. "The ball's jumping off my bat a little more," Thomas said. "I did a lot of squats, dumbbell bench presses, dead lifts and core strengthening." Manager Jim Leyland said: "He's stronger and his bat speed has gotten that much better."

--C Gerald Laird had to come out of Detroit's exhibition game on March 5 because of a mild left quadriceps strain. Laird, who hit a triple in an early exhibition game, was running out a two-run single in the third inning on March 5 when he felt the strain. He was to be evaluated on a daily basis but the injury was not believed to be serious. The Tigers obviously will let the injury get fully healed before putting him behind the plate again. His backup, Matt Trainor, and other Detroit catchers would fill in.

--2B Will Rhymes was called "a dirtballer" on March 4 by Manager Jim Leyland, who also predicted the smallish second baseman would play in the majors. Rhymes, 25, batted .306 at Double-A Erie last summer to seriously enhance his status. Generously listed as 5-foot-9 and 155, Rhymes also had a solid fall in the Arizona Fall League. "I think Rhymes will play in the big leagues," Leyland said after playing Rhymes in an exhibition game. "He's got a short, quick (batting) stroke." Rhymes helps himself by hitting left-handed, running extremely well and not striking out. He was a 27th-round draft pick from William & Mary in 2005. "Don't accuse me of being Sparky," said Leyland, noting that Detroit's Hall of Fame manager would annually chose a player to pump up each spring only to see that player fade away quickly. "I like what I see."

--OF Brent Clevlen is playing against a stacked deck, but is putting all that out of his mind as he bids to impress Tiger management. Clevlen is out of options but seemingly is crowded out of the Detroit outfield because of his inability to make consistent contact and also by the fact he's one of many right-handed hitting outfielders in the organization. "He's been having a pretty good spring so far," manager Jim Leyland said. "At some point, it will be decision time." He has struck out 30 times in 73 sporadic at-bats for Detroit over the last two seasons.

--INF Jeff Larish might not make Detroit's Opening Day roster primarily because it can option him back to the minors, but he continues to impress with his left-handed power bat and his professional approach to the game. Larish has been playing a lot of first base while 1B Miguel Cabrera is away with Team Venezuela, but has also seen action at third and continues to take fly balls in the outfield. "I really like his personality," Leyland said. "He's a very good student of the game. He's one of those quiet, competitive types. I'm a big fan of his. He's smart. He knows versatility is important. I really like him. I like him a lot." He leads Detroit in spring home runs but is slightly behind UT Ryan Raburn in the battle for the last bench spot because Raburn is a much better outfielder. "He knows what's going on," Leyland said of Larish, noting his pre-game workouts in the outfield. "Right now, he's adequate at third base. I don't think we can ever expect him to be a great third baseman. I don't think he's gonna be a Gold Glover. But I think Jeff Larish definitely will play in the big leagues. Whether it's this year with us, I don't know."

BY THE NUMBERS: 13.5 -- Average number of at-bats between home runs for reserve OF Marcus Thames, one of the best such figures in baseball. Yet Thames is unable to become a regular in the Detroit lineup due to a number of factors. He is behind Gary Sheffield as Detroit's defense, is backing up Carlos Guillen in left and can't play the other outfield positions on a regular basis.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "There's a spot for any good pitcher that throws strikes, commands the strike zone, makes pitches and gets the hitters out. There are 12 spots for those guys." -- Tigers' manager Jim Leyland on the possibility of one of Detroit's younger, inexperienced pitchers making the Detroit roster this spring.