The Rick Porcello Bandwagon is Revving Up
by Ian Casselberry on Mar 10, 2009 1:30 PM EDT
in Detroit Tigers News
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It's fast becoming the sensation sweeping Tigers Nation. (I usually prefer to use "Tiger Town," but please indulge my need for rhyme.) Is Rick Porcello going to win that fifth spot in the starting rotation?
(Heck, it could be the fourth spot, if Jeremy Bonderman isn't recovered in time for Opening Day.)
Last night against the Marlins, Porcello showed Jim Leyland the kind of effort he's been looking for from Dontrelle Willis and Nate Robertson. No walks allowed in three scoreless innings of work. Yes, he gave up five hits (some of which may have been aided by tough infield dirt), but keeping the ball in the strike zone was surely the preference of Tigers coaches. The team emphasized upgrading the defense this offseason, so utilize it.
Surely, the Tigers prefer Porcello to build more stamina and refine his repertoire in the minors this season. The conventional wisdom says this kid is still too young. Look at what Minor League Ball's John Sickels said when asked about the possibility of Leyland bringing up Porcello in a question-and-answer thread last Friday.
I don’t know if he is serious. If serious, he’s nuts. Unless you are talking about Bob Feller or even a Dwight Gooden, I don’t think any pitcher Porcello’s age belongs in the majors with no Double-A or Triple-A experience.
But that ignores the reality that Leyland might not have any other choice but to bring Porcello north, if he continues to pitch well. And as Billfer noted, using Porcello early in the season negates the concern about exceeding his workload. If it proves to be too much for him initially, the safety net of Zach Miner is on hand. (Just in case, however, he might want to start pitching well, too.)
It's beginning to look as if Willis and Robertson don't appear interested (or capable, perhaps) in winning that job. Leyland's already expressed his frustration with their struggles, and as Lynn Henning wrote, perhaps he's also sending a message that jobs aren't guaranteed due to big contracts. I still think Willis will be given every chance to win the job because he might be considered salvageable, in terms of stuff.
Robertson, however, is looking more like a pitcher who's done. Kurt and I were discussing this over instant message last night, and he wrote the same earlier today at Mack Avenue Tigers (while warming up the Porcello bandwagon). According to Henning, he's throwing in the mid-80s and hasn't rediscovered his slider. Nate's not getting anyone out, and is running out of time to show his manager that he deserves a job, let alone a spot in the starting rotation.
And that brings us back to Porcello. People around baseball are taking notice. On his Twitter feed last night, St. Louis Post-Dispatch beat writer Derrick Goold made a point of mentioning what he saw from Porcello (and noted that several of his colleagues and Cardinals' front office staff were also on hand, as well).
Porcello looked like a bona fide prospect. Good velocity. Poised on the mound (that stood out), and not the ramshackle mechanics we've seen.
The other contenders for that fifth rotation spot are on notice, and Leyland is letting them know that. Jobs aren't guaranteed. Conventional timetables aren't going to be followed. Not if it makes a difference in winning ballgames. Not this year, with what's at stake. The future could be arriving a whole lot faster than any of us may have expected. And we might just have to get out of the way and let it happen.
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Update on Miner
Apparently, he did not get the memo.
In his first inning against the Cards today, Zach’s given up two runs, three hits (one of ’em a homer).
by Ian Casselberry on Mar 10, 2009 1:39 PM EDT reply actions
interesting quote from leyland
http://beck.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/03/tuesday_happenings.html
Leyland stressed he isn’t tipping his hat, and that Zach Miner — Tuesday’s starter — still has as good of a chance as anybody to land that No. 5 spot in the starting rotation. But the skipper did have something interesting to say about the 26-year-old right-hander before his outing: “I think he needs to maybe prepare himself for relief. I’m not talking necessarily about right now. … We know he can start — we think he can start and do a decent job. He hasn’t shown for sure that he can relieve as effective as he should.”
Porcello
As things stand today, I don’t think they have a choice with Porcello. We can’ t just keep running Nate and D-Train(wreck) out there and hope they all of a sudden return to 2006 form. They don’t got it, so let’s maybe give them the Damion Easley and release ’em (well, at least Nate anyway).
And sign Ben Sheets. Or Pedro. Or Schilling?… Paul Byrd? Orlando Hernandez? Bueller?
download my minimalist tigers wallpaper here
Honestly, I think they’d like to sign someone, but the money just isn’t there and/or isn’t going to be there. They’ve spent a fortune the past few years. Dombrowski and Leyland need to show some accountability.
if money was no issue
Pedro would fit in perfect. He really looked good in the WBC a few days back. But he wants a situation that works for him too, and unfortunately, money IS an issue.
by Kurt Mensching on Mar 10, 2009 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Ben Sheets
If the Tigers are in the race in July, and Sheets is healthy, that’s a very intriguing possibility.
Financially, I don’t know if it’s realistic. But if the Tigers are contending, and people are coming out to the ballpark, pursuing a guy that would just cost money could be an attractive option.
by Ian Casselberry on Mar 10, 2009 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions
OT
If anyone’s near a TV, Italy is playing Team Canada with Italy leading 4-0. Grillis is warming up in the BP. It’s only the 4th inning.
I won't ruin it for you
but that was last night!
by Kurt Mensching on Mar 10, 2009 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Now they’re comparing Porcello to Doc Gooden?* First there’s Edwin Jackson Gibson, and now introducing Rick Feller Porcello, hey we’ve got a veritable hall of fame competing for spots in the rotation. Ignore the fact that neither of those have played a game that counts yet for the Tigers, there’s no way this team can lose!
*deliberate misreading of Leyland’s words…it’s a joke-turned-comment on the hype machine that can spring up around young players, something Sparky used to be really susceptible to…I wasn’t being serious…relax!
Porcello should make the rotation
I think the Tigers knew this in the back of their minds all along. Coming out before ST even started and saying, “ehh he COULD make the rotation,” putting tons of pressure on the other guys to treat these outings like they are part of the world series, they knew what kind of talent Porcello had and that Willis and Nate couldn’t break glass (or hit it) anymore. Call me absurdly crazy and off my meds, but why even say before spring that he has a shot? Does anyone really believe that Willis or Robertson was going to blow away the Tigers more than the talent of Porcello? I guess not, but I’d be willing to bet that we probably weren’t even going to see capable Nate or Willis either. I don’t buy it and I’m believing it’s going to be Porcello more and more each time I see Nate, Wilis, and even Miner go out there and throw like they’re supposed to be the 20-year old scared sh—less kids.
In fact, I’m going to go as far as declaring that Porcello will be our 4th starter—at least to start the season. If anyone has taken a peek at the schedule, our 5th game is the Home Opener. Unless the Tigers are thinking, we’re starting a 20-year old we may as well go balls to the wall and start him the home opener too, I think the Tigers will take SOME pressure off him and start him on the road in the fourth game. At least that would be the smarter move.
Personally, I would LOVE to see Porcello make the rotation, as I’m sure all of you would too if his age and inexperience wasn’t such a concern. But having been a pitcher in HS and at a division one college, I learned that pitching is pitching, no matter what level. By that, I mean if the kid has as much talent as EVERYONE seems to be saying he has, then no need to waste his talent (and contract) on bus leaguers who he’s just going to mow down anyway. (I realize there is a process of developing a pitcher, but there are also rare breeds like the Verlanders and Bondermans and Beckets etc. I think Porcello qualifies). I don’t want to get too bold and say he’s going to win 15 games for us, but I have to believe he’s a much more viable option than Willis, Nate, and Miner. If Leyland is about putting the best guys out there, then Porcello will be that guy.
Detroit4lyfe
Detroit4lyfe
Agree completely… we’ve already seen what Nate and Dontrelle can (and can’t) do, let’s take a chance on Porcello. If he fails, we have Miner to fall back on.
Who is to say Porcello wouldn’t make a splash like Verlander did in 2006?
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