For the past couple of weeks, it appeared as if 20-year-old Rick Porcello had won a job in the Detroit Tigers' starting rotation, beating out his veteran competition.
However, after two quality performances (seven shutout innings) from Nate Robertson, the Tigers may now have a good enough option to justify keeping Porcello in the minors to build up his stamina and pitching repertoire.
So let's talk about our feelings on this. Given how much excitement has been generated lately about the young phenom making the team, would you be disappointed if Robertson was in the starting rotation instead? Or would you be relieved that Porcello isn't called up under less desperate circumstances?
That brings us to this week's poll question:
If Nate Robertson is the fifth starter, how does that make you feel?
Your comments on the subject are also welcome. (After all, we're talking about our feelings.) You can find the poll on the right sidebar below the FanPosts block. Or you can vote here. And if you have suggestions for future poll questions, shoot me an e-mail.
We almost had our first close poll, since devoting a full blog post to the weekly question. Alas, the winner pulled away in the end. If only the D-Train could do that well in the fifth starter competition.
Which big contract will the Tigers cut loose by Opening Day?
46% Dontrelle Willis, $22 mil
17% Nate Robertson, $17 mil
4% Gary Sheffield, $14 mil
31% None of the above