Porcello Optioned

by cwhitman412 on Jun 20, 2010 2:26 PM EDT

Rick Porcello has been optioned down to AAA. A very curious move, although Detroit may have thought that they can do the same that they did to Scherzer. I still have faith in Porcello, though I think the Tigers did mess him up quite a bit. What do you guys see Porcello doing in the future? How long will it take for him to come back up? How well will he do in his first minor league action above A ball? Will the K's be there?

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A curious move?

Porcello simply wasn’t pitching well enough to keep a spot in a contending rotation.

He’s actually striking out even LESS hitters than last year, and he’s seen his impressive groundball rate drop from 54% to 47%.

His contact rate is up 3%, his whiff rate is down 1.4%, and overall he’s just showing numerous signs of regression compared to last year. His FIPs between this season and last season are actually pretty much identical, but his xFIP has risen from 4.32 to 5.05.

The Tigers are trying to make the playoffs, and Porcello just isn’t really helping right now. I mean, his last start against Arizona was the first time that he struck out more than 2 batters since May 5, and it was just his second start of the year with more than 3 strikeouts. That’s just not acceptable for a contender.

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by Satchel Price on Jun 20, 2010 3:15 PM EDT reply actions

Regression?

Some I suppose. Home run rate has normalized, but he’s actually swung in the other direction with stranding runners left on base and his BABIP against is a staggering .350.

FIPs are identical, and so’s tERA. His xFIP is whacking him for the HR rate falling into his favor.

Porcello is a confusing prospect to me. I never understood the hype considering his inability to miss bats (only a 6.5% career swinging strike rate?). If he was an insane ground ball machine, I could see it, but for now I just don’t get his appeal.

Here’s something else: He seems to have shelved his curveball entirely in favor of his slider. I thought one of the positives about Porcello was his curve. If they did that for health reasons, I could understand it, but apparently his fastball / slider combo isn’t good enough to get more strikeouts (as evidenced by the fewer swinging strikes and overall K rate). Curveballs are weapons you can throw to both handed batters and get ground balls due to the downward drop on the plane. This is probably the main source of all his problems.

Fans are typically idiots.

by The Typical Idiot Fan on Jun 20, 2010 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions

good move

I hope he didn’t have to be sent kicking and screaming. I like Pocello long term but he needs a lot of seasoning

"The key to winning baseball games is pitching, fundamentals, and three run homers."

by fourfingerwoo on Jun 20, 2010 3:39 PM EDT reply actions

Porcello's pitch selection

could have something to do with his lack of success. He continues to throw more 2 seam fastballs, trying to get groundball outs, and fewer four seamers. He can pitch mid 90’s, 95-and a tick above, he did put on a little weight in form of muscle as he still grows into his 6’5" body. We tend to forget, at times he is 21 and 6 months old.
It will be interesting which direction the Tigers want him to take with this. The comps to Roy Halladay have been mentioned in the past, as ground ball pitchers and Halladay was sent down in his second year. Yes long, long ways to go to have that great a career….
As a Tigers fan we wonder, while he is at Toledo at this time, there hasn’t been a hint as to who takes his spot.
First thoughts are Bonine and E. Gonzalez..

by KalineCountry on Jun 20, 2010 4:57 PM EDT reply actions