Zumaya won't stop rockin'

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Was it or was it not the culprit?

Tigers right-hander Joel Zumaya is so concerned the video game Guitar Hero was the source of his late-season forearm problems last year that HE'S STILL PLAYING IT.

And he doesn't plan to stop.

"It's kind of a little hobby I have," Zumaya said on Monday at the Tigers' complex, where he has preceded the official opening of spring training with several unofficial workouts.

Never mind Thursday is reporting day for pitchers and catchers. Zumaya has reported. So have Jeremy Bonderman, Justin Verlander, Kenny Rogers and Curtis Granderson, among others.

The difference between Zumaya and many of his teammates, however, is they've been heard from or talked to since the first of this year because of TigerFest and the annual caravan.

On account of a previous commitment -- a family wedding in Hawaii -- Zumaya wasn't on hand for any of the team functions.

That means his take on an earlier comment by Tigers president and general manager Dave Dombrowski that excessive playing of Zumaya's favorite video game led to a recurring forearm condition wasn't yet known.

Now it is.

"They had a tough time trying to find out what was wrong with my arm," Zumaya said, "and I told them I was playing this guitar game. I don't believe that's what it was, and to tell you the truth, I haven't stopped playing it.

"A lot of people have criticized me and told me, 'Joel, put it away.' But I'm still going to play it. Just not as often."

If not the game, then what was the cause?

"I think it was just me gripping the ball hard," Zumaya said. "I grip the ball hard, I throw the ball hard and it spasmed up pretty good in there."

More pertinent now is that Zumaya has thrown three eight-minute bullpen sessions since arriving in Lakeland and hasn't felt any discomfort.

"I'm even a little ahead of where I was last year at this time," he said. "For instance, I've been working hard on my change-up down here. I don't need to go out there with just gas.

"I'll still rack up the strikeouts, but I'm going to be more of a pitcher and look more mature out there, instead of just throwing."

When asked if Zumaya had been told to stop playing Guitar Hero, Dombrowski said Monday, "we didn't get into the specifics of how much he should or shouldn't play it.

"It's not like we ordered him never to play it again. Besides, the game itself wasn't the problem. It was the amount he was playing it."

The excessive amount, in turn, drew excessive attention -- much to the delight of the manufacturer.

"I even got free stuff from Guitar Hero," Zumaya said, "because of all the publicity I gave it."

Along the lines of publicity, there was much speculation a year ago about how Zumaya was eventually going to be used by the Tigers. There's still some but not about how he will be used this year.

His set-up role isn't about to change.

"If they try to make me a starter again, it's going to be tough," Zumaya said. "I like the set-up role."

What he doesn't like is the memory of a blunder in Game 3 of the World Series.

The more conventional throw, with runners at first and second, would have been to second base for the start of a double play.

But Zumaya has lived all winter with the memory of throwing wildly to third instead.

"Throwing that ball down the third-base line, man, that's still going to haunt me," he said. "But I have to get away from it -- and I am. I can joke about it now. But it hit me hard for a while that I did something really stupid.

"I can honestly say this: If that same opportunity ever comes around again, if I get a groundball right back to me, it's going straight to second."

Around the horn

Five more players on the 40-man roster have agreed to one-year contracts: Granderson, pitchers Yorman Bazardo , Roman Colon and Kyle Sleeth ; plus infielder Kody Kirkland . That leaves nine of the 40 unsigned.

The Tigers will conduct a tryout camp Monday, March 5, at Joker Marchant Stadium.

The tryout is for players 18 and older, and no pre-registration or participation fee is necessary. Registration begins at 9 a.m., with the workout beginning at 10.

Players must bring their own glove and workout equipment. Wood bats, helmets and baseballs will be provided.

You can reach Tom Gage at tom.gage@detnews.com">tom.gage@detnews.com.