It looks like Michael Tonkin is gradually developing into a dominant relief pitcher at the mlb level. In AAA he was dominating merely by whipping his 96 mph heater and his wipe-out slider past inferior hitters, not having to worry much about making mistakes placing his heater. At the mlb level he faces hitters that can square up and pound almost anything that gets too close to the middle. This means Tonkin has had to develop finer command, which requires more precise mechanics. He can't fly open too soon and let his heater level out or sail anymore. MLB hitters also know how to work the count and get a non-precise pitcher into bad counts. Earlier in the season I too thought Tonkin wasn't going to make it, but now he has changed my mind. Around the time he took a line drive to his thigh and kept going, I thought I saw from him a new level of determination. Before, he seemed to have an aw-shucks, Mayberry look on his face. Now he looks like all business out there. I'm glad Molitor has shown patience with him; it might just pay off.