2009 Season, Pitching

Spelling Porcello

18 Comments

Because you can’t spell Porcello without 2 O’s, 2 L’s, an R, a C, an E, and a capital P…The Tigers are taking advantage of an offday in the schedule and the All Star to skip Rick Porcello’s turn in the rotation. Porcello is done until after the All Star Break and while the rotation hasn’t been set (with a 4 day break the Tigers could start anyone the first game back) it is conceivable that Porcello doesn’t pitch until the 24th for a double header. I doubt they would wait that long, but it is possible from a scheduling standpoint.

Jim Leyland was clear that this had nothing to do with Porcello’s recent struggles and it was part of the plan. I do believe him in this regard, but the fact that Porcello isn’t exactly on a roll made the decision that much easier.

I think Leyland has a done a wonderful job managing Porcello’s workload. I believe the plan going into the season was to have him throw about 175 innings. At the half way point he is at 87 inning putting him on pace for 174. And in game pitch count totals have been kept well under control.

The rest of the rotation is:

  • Tue: Verlander
  • Wed: French
  • Thr: off
  • Fri: Jackson
  • Sat: Galarraga
  • Sun: Verlander

Verlander on Sunday presents an interesting situation with his All Star status, but it shouldn’t be a problem for him to pitch 1 inning the following Tuesday and with 13 pitchers on staff there should be no reason for any pitcher to pitch more than 1 inning.

Porcello to miss turn in rotation

18 thoughts on “Spelling Porcello”

  1. Looks familiar. If memory serves they did almost exactly the same thing (timing, etc.) with Verlander in 2006.

  2. I estimate that this team will be in 3rd place by the All-Star Break with the way the offense has been struggling and the fact that we have to face Greinke and Lee again…

    1. It’s referencing how to spell “Porcello,” using spell to mean “to put letters together in a particular order,” rather than what the thread title implies, “to rest.”

      Billfer: what makes you think that the plan was to throw him for 175 innings this season? That’s a 50 inning jump. 30 innings is sort of the rule of thumb. Did you read something that I didn’t?

      1. Thanks. I wasn’t aware that spelling also meant resting.

        Whoosh.

        (The sound of it going right over my head.)

  4. Quick question:
    I was discussing our lackluster offense with some crazed Tigers fans, and the question of whether or not Adam Dunn should be trade for…
    I have mixed feelings about it: horrible defense, strikes out a ton, and expensive to name some issues
    yet they saw (and loved): 40 homeruns a season, 100+ RBI, 100+ walks
    what do you guys think?

  5. “I have mixed feelings about it: horrible defense, strikes out a ton, and expensive to name some issues”

    I would conditionally love getting Dunn to come to Detroit. The Tigers are already getting the first two issues you raise from some of the OF/DH on the roster. He’d be a great compliment to Cabrera, and would fill the need for a power lefty. Like you mention, he’s hit 40 HRs, 100 RBI (minus ’06: just 92 that year) and +100 BB like clockwork in each of the last 5 years and is on pace for similar this year. The biggest bonus though would be the great excuse I’d have to say “guy’s just got retard strength” a lot more in day-to-day situations.

    However his contract alone @ $10mil/yr (2009-10) it might be an issue — although off the top of my head it seems that at least some of the dead contract weight comes off the books next year — and then you still have to presumably give something up for him. It also likely means that Thames is back in the OF (if retained at all), given Dunn’s fielding.

    Ideally, you want Dunn on your team (both real and fantasy). Given the Tigers are already carrying a ton of dead contracts and the renewed emphasis on defense, its not the best bet in the world though.

  6. Its a solid move to rest the 20 y.o. rookie. Almost a no-brainer.

    Could the Tigers trade maggs to a team, who has a high priced star, plus $3m with the understanding the team would never play him and get a salary dump out of the deal?
    Or would the players assoc. be all over this?

    1. No team would take him without the Tigers paying for him, so I don’t see how that would be a salary dump.

      1. The tigers pay the $3m for his buyout. The new team sits him down, or just doesn’t play him.

        1. Why not just pay his buyout and cut him? No team is going to take him unless they plan on playing him which would mean that the Tigers would have to pay a significant portion of is $18mil or whatever it is for next year, since the team couldn’t play him without activating his option.

        2. I’m just wondering if the buyout still applies if the 2010 option auto-vests?

  8. “Kinsler, the Rangers’ second baseman, is followed closely in the AL race by third baseman Brandon Inge of the Tigers, third baseman Chone Figgins of the Angels, first baseman Carlos Pena of the Rays and designated hitter Adam Lind of the Blue Jays. Inge took over the lead Monday night, but Kinsler regained it this morning. Pena and Lind flip-flopped from the previous day’s update.”

    Vote vote vote!

    1. Sure thing. I voted about 10 times for Inge already. 10 or 20 more votes won’t hurt!

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