When you see this guy trotting out of the bullpen, everybody knows the Tigers are throwing in the towel.

If you have a Twitter account and follow a decent group of Detroit Tigers fans or bloggers you have probably seen the hashtags; #FreeAndyOliver, #BradThomasSucks, #DFABradThomas, #ThrowingInTheTowel.

You have seen this because these are all true.

Brad Thomas has been a joke this season, and really nothing different in his career as a Major League pitcher.

It’s nearly unheard of, when a pitcher appears in nine games and still has a double-digit ERA, but with Thomas that does not surprise me.

In 2011, Thomas has allowed 11 runs in 8.1 innings, giving up all those runs in four different appearances. In his career, he has allowed a .301 average to both right-handed and left-handed batters, the opposite of the entire reasoning for having a lefty reliever.

The Tigers have two options in my opinion, but they both involve the same players.

Option One: DFA Brad Thomas, Call-up Andy Oliver and put him in the rotation, move Phil Coke back to the bullpen

Option Two: DFA Brad Thomas, Call-up Andy Oliver for long relief out of the bullpen.

Either way, Brad Thomas HAS TO BE RELEASED.