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Will Porcello And Perry Be The Next Verlander And Zumaya?
Both Tigers manager Jim Leyland and general manager Dave Dombrowski have hinted this off season that pitchers Ryan Perry and Rick Porcello - the Tigers’ last two No. 1 draft choices - are closer to the major leagues than many believe.
I think they are on the right track with such thoughts because of what has transpired in the Tigers’ recent past.
In the spring of 2006, both Joel Zumaya and Justin Verlander were viewed as long shots to make the team for opening day. Deciding to keep both to begin the season might have been the most important decision Leyland made that entire pennant winning season.
Porcello is 20 - the same age as Zumaya in the spring of ‘06. Perry will be 22 opening day- the same age as Verlander in ‘06.
Zumaya came out of the high school ranks, Verlander the college ranks, also mirroring Porcello and Perry.
And, if anything, Porcello and Perry were more polished as amateur pitchers than Zumaya and Verlander.
Random Thoughts
- The Pistons aren’t playing that poorly overall, but they sure haven’t been able to close games. And don’t believe for a second the trade rumors aren’t hindering the play of Rodney Stuckey. They clearly have been.
- Now that’s the Henrik Zetterberg this town has come to know and love.
- Seems to me like Alex Rodriguez only came clean about steroid use because he understands the ramifications had he lied. Look at what not telling the truth has done for Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens. Their alleged lies, not actually taking performance enhancing substances, is what has them in such legal hot water.
I think they are on the right track with such thoughts because of what has transpired in the Tigers’ recent past.
In the spring of 2006, both Joel Zumaya and Justin Verlander were viewed as long shots to make the team for opening day. Deciding to keep both to begin the season might have been the most important decision Leyland made that entire pennant winning season.
Porcello is 20 - the same age as Zumaya in the spring of ‘06. Perry will be 22 opening day- the same age as Verlander in ‘06.
Zumaya came out of the high school ranks, Verlander the college ranks, also mirroring Porcello and Perry.
And, if anything, Porcello and Perry were more polished as amateur pitchers than Zumaya and Verlander.
Random Thoughts
- The Pistons aren’t playing that poorly overall, but they sure haven’t been able to close games. And don’t believe for a second the trade rumors aren’t hindering the play of Rodney Stuckey. They clearly have been.
- Now that’s the Henrik Zetterberg this town has come to know and love.
- Seems to me like Alex Rodriguez only came clean about steroid use because he understands the ramifications had he lied. Look at what not telling the truth has done for Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens. Their alleged lies, not actually taking performance enhancing substances, is what has them in such legal hot water.
posted by Pat Caputo at
2:29 PM
12 Comments:
Pat, Tigers are well prepared for prospects AA and below. The two P's would be excellent when their times comes. I looking forward to see how Fien does this year. If I was the Tigers and they had an extra $5 million I would look at Dunn for the DH spot because if Abreu can be had for $5 million than Dunn should be in that ballpark. This is a steal for teams.
Porcello and Perry have to be the next Verlander and Zumaya, or it looks like a long summer....
The Pistons have gone away from defense. I had hoped the selection of Michael Curry (a defensive minded player during his career) would lead to improvement, but have been let down. Stuckey can score, but his defense is suspect. Without the ability to stop people, I fear more 15 point leads will be blown.
I sure hope that Perry and Porcello are Major league ready. However, I don't think Porcello will be ready, but Perry has a really good chance of making the team.
Pat,
Well said about the Tigers. The best case scenario would be that both Porcello and Perry are ready to go north with the big club at the end of Spring Training. I am hoping for the best, but I fear that could be pie-in-the-sky thinking. I think it's obvious that their first hope is that they can get some kind of value on the dollar for Willis or Robertson given their contracts. The situation with those 2 will go a long way toward determining the fate of Porcello and Perry.
Barry, while I understand what you are saying about Dunn, I have to respectfully disagree. As much as the Tigers need a high left-handed high-OPS guy like Dunn, and while he is only 30, the last thing they need is another DH type player. That was a main problem with the 2008 ballclub. Fortunately or unfortunately, Sheff has to be given a final chance to show he has something left because of the contract, much like Willis and Robertson. Besides, I think the 20 million over 2 years that he just got from the Nats is a little much in this market.
Travis
If porcello and perry are like verlander and zumya then the tigers will definately have some major decisions to make with their staff? Do you see/hear of any feasible or possible trades on the horizon? Hey Book what do you think of Griffey would u offer him a 1 year deal or anything?
Curry looks completely lost man. He has that look on his face like uh ok what now. Probably all aprt of the learning experience. I just think the mix of this team needs to be shaken up and rebuilt. I think they still have good peices and either way things will work out. Pistons fans may just have to take it in the chin this year.
It would be great if Perry and Porcello pan out even half as well as Verlander and Bondy of 2006.
As far as A-Roid goes - I think this is the final nail in the coffin of naive belief that ball players are clean.
Does that wreck the game for a baseball purist fan (I think I am anyway) like me? I certainly wish it wasn't so - but I will always love baseball.
I think the only way to get steroids out of baseball is to replace the players with robots.
People make selfish choices.
That's why I have to believe that the NFL, NBA, and NHL are all very happy to not have been roped into the commitment against roid use like baseball did. I don't know why the other three are not being made by the public to bare all the way baseball is. I gotta believe at least the NFL and NBA must be rampent with roid use too? Instead it only seems like a minor blip on their public radar?
Barry,
To me, Dunn is too inconsistent to invest a lot of money in. Abreau has lost a lot of his tools. Fien will get a shot - and it looks like he might be a pretty good middle reliever-type.
Caputo
John in Oxford,
Great point on Curry. I would have thought he would have been able to get the defensive message across, too.
Caputo
Detroit Sports Guru,
As odd as it may seem considering their age and that Perry comes from the college ranks, but the Tigers see Porcello being further along.
Caputo
Travis,
I have never been that impressed with Dunn. He hits a lot of home runs, but his bright moments come too far and between. Butat this stage, money spent on him would be wiser than money spent on Sheffield.
Caputo
Fred Brill,
I have the same questions about other sports as you do. I understand it is far more clear cut in baseball because the power numbers standout so much, but it does seem like athletes across the board are bigger, faster and stronger.
Caputo
Maddog52,
Agreed about Curry. Whatever his message is - and what exactly is it anyway - isn't getting through.
Caputo
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