It'd be different if the Tigers were slumping overall, and Rick Porcello's struggles were only part of it.
However, if you look back on their most recent homestand, in which they dominated bad clubs from the National League during interleague play, Porcello's struggles were just about the Tigers' only problem.
Two weeks ago, it might not have made sense for them to send Porcello to Toledo. Now it makes perfect sense.
My point is the Tigers are playing well. There is no need to force-feed Porcello through the tough times. It's easy enough for them to send him to Toledo to work out his issues without being under what was becoming an increasingly intense mircoscope. Because of the schedule, the Tigers won't need a fifth starter for awhile. Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Jeremy Bonderman and Armando Galarraga are all doing reasonably well. They don't need Porcello right now. But they, undoubtedly, will in the not-too-distant future.
His entire issue is his sinking, two-seam fastball. It was nearly impossible to center last season. Now it is a fat 90 mph fastball without life hitters are just teeing off on.

Random Thoughts

- There is little doubt in my mind, that if Tiger Woods had not gone through what he did from Thanksgiving weekend onward in his personal life, he would have not only won the U.S. Open this past weekend, he would have done so running away.

- My relatively new-found enjoyment of World Cup soccer has been quelled to a degree by all the diving players do, and horribly inconsistent officiating. It's brutal on both fronts.

- Reason for this state to seriously not like Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel: Woody Hayes' record at Ohio State against Michigan State was 7-8. He was 16-11-1 against Michigan. Tressel is a combined 14-1 against Michigan and MSU - 8-1 vs. the Wolverines, 6-0 vs. the Spartans.