Daily poll: Perry and Porcello's future?

by Kurt Mensching on Apr 30, 2009 12:55 PM EDT in Detroit Tigers News

I hope Ian doesn't mind, but I thought I'd try to create a little discussion here on the Tigers off day by creating a poll and opening the floor for your thoughts.

Given how 20-year-old starter Rick Porcello and 22-year-old reliever Ryan Perry have pitched this season, do you expect them to finish out the season in Detroit? Should they? Do they need more seasoning in the minors? How long?

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2009 - Rick Porcello	1-3	4	4	0	0	0	0	21.2	24	16	15	6	6	12	6.23	1.38

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2009 - Ryan Perry	0-1	10	0	0	0	0	0	7.2	4	5	3	0	10	7	3.52	1.83

In an effort at cross-blog, er, blogging, I have written a piece on this at Mack Avenue Tigers, which I hope you'll read before sharing your views here.

So what do you think?

Edit: Added two options to poll

Friday update: Can we get to 500 before the poll closes at gametime?

Poll

What should the Tigers do with Rick Porcello and Ryan Perry?

Both should stay on the major league roster all season

169 votes

Perry should stay on the major league roster all season

116 votes

Porcello should stay on the major league roster all season

38 votes

Both should visit the minors at some point this season

269 votes

Both should visit the minors for the rest of the season

73 votes

665 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

A choice with Porcello

1) Move him down until at least September, so that he can get his secondary stuff working. If he has to figure everything out as a major league starter, he may never get his change under control—he’ll do what he has to do to get through the game, and may never hit his ceiling. Kinda like Bondo.

2) Put him in the pen, and make sure to use him in a combination of high-leverage and low-leverage innings. High leverage to keep him sharp (and hopefully help win games), and low-leverage so that he can have some time to work on his secondary stuff. Not sure if ego will be a problem here.

The one thing that may keep him on the roster for a bit more is the lack of a clear alternative, but if D-Train can get his anxiety under control, I’d love to see him back, and Porcello moved down to AA for a bit.

Perry can probably stay, since he’s basically a two-pitch reliever who’s already in the pen. Also, I’d rather have him working with Knapp than not.

I don't want to hear any weak sh*t from Jason Grilli.

by cherub_daemon on Apr 30, 2009 1:18 PM EDT reply actions

I don’t think bullpen work is the answer for Porcello. At least, not in the bigs. I believe his problem is between the ears, and the bullpen is no place to get right in that regard. I say send him to the minors (I suggest Toledo simply because he’ll get fantastic run support) as soon as Bonderman or Willis are ready to go (preferably Bonderman).

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by john.kmiecik on Apr 30, 2009 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions

6 Home Runs

Against Porcello in 4 games. That’s not good. And at least 2 of them have been from light-hitting guys.

It does look like Porcello could use more seasoning, but cherub is right, who is the alternative if not D-Train, Nasty Nate?

Perry might be OK, it just looks like he needs to settle down. Giving up a lot of walks and not throwing strikes. Needs moar Knapp.

by explosivo2k2 on Apr 30, 2009 2:40 PM EDT reply actions

the alternative appears

to be Alfredo Figaro, which has got to be one of the coolest names. But I’ve never seen him pitch — I don’t think he was in any of the televised spring training games — and just know two things about him. 1) great stats. 2) Henning likes him like Morosi like CJ Wilson. Is he a viable alternative? No clue!

I think it’s more likely if Willis looks good in his start for Toledo, he’ll rejoin the rotation in place of Porcello. I think we need a bit more evidence Willis is ready, but the Tigers might feel they’ve seen enough.

Mack Avenue Tigers

by Kurt Mensching on Apr 30, 2009 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Figaro?

He doesn’t seem like much of an alternative to me, at least from looking at the stats. He’s been old for his leagues, and a lot of his statistical craziness came from being a 23-year old pitcher at West Michigan (which is in a pitcher’s league).

Though the fact that he’s been in Grand Rapids might mean that someone can fill us in with a scouting report…hmmm?

Don’t get me wrong, he might very well be that good, but given all the caveats, I’m not sure the stats prove it.

I would also like to point out that doubling his innings from 76 to 152 in one year seems like crazy-balls. This might explain him kind of sucking in Lakeland at the end of last year.

I don't want to hear any weak sh*t from Jason Grilli.

by cherub_daemon on Apr 30, 2009 3:19 PM EDT reply actions

I’m not in Grand Rapids, but I do see quite a few Lansing Lugnuts games (Single A affilliate of the Blue Jays, in the same league as West Michigan). Figaro exhibits signs of exploding gas can syndrom (EGCS, if you will) from time to time. I’m not a professional, but I wouldn’t suggest bringing him up to replace either of the P Men.

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by john.kmiecik on Apr 30, 2009 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Majority

Looks like I’m in the majority. They both need time downstairs.

Early on, I was impressed with Porcello. After his last two outings, however, it seems to me that he could benefit working with the minor league coaches. Getting a kid’s head right is their job description, and I expect him to be sent down once Bonderman or Willis is ready. I believe he is the low man on the rotational totem pole right now.

Perry is a bit of a different case. He’s never looked all that solid, though his ERA doesn’t tell his story. 7 Ks for a relief man at this point is alright, but add in 10 BB and only 7.2 innings of work and, well, it doesn’t look pretty. His WHIP is dangerously high and it’s going to take quite a turnaround to work that back down to anything a fantasy owner would consider “manageable”. The problem is, the pitching end of the Tigers’ farm system is pretty poor. Billfer has been posting minor league wraps pretty regularly this season and the Mud Hens have been getting blown out late in quite a few games, suggesting that their bullpen is especially weak. There’s no one to really call up in Perry’s case. Bonine would be the best candidate but he was sent down after exhibiting some of the issues we’re exploring with Perry. Our major league bullpen is spread pretty thin right now and we just can’t afford to lose a man out there.

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by john.kmiecik on Apr 30, 2009 5:05 PM EDT reply actions