The Detroit Tigers have rounded out their starting rotation. After Justin Verlander, Edwin Jackson and Armando Galarraga, they will use Zach Miner and 20-year-old phenom Rick Porcello. The Tigers also announced they plan to use the substantially overpaid Nate Robertson and 22-year-old Ryan Perry in the bullpen. The big news, though, was the elevation of Porcello. The 6-foot-5 righty is only one season removed from high school. He pitched in advanced Single-A ball last season. Still, if you got it, you got it. Porcello has "it." So far this spring, he has a better ERA than all the rotation candidates except Verlander -- the staff ace.
In the Florida State League last season, Porcello went 8-6 with a 2.66 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. It's debatable whether or not Porcello's actually ready to make this kind of jump, but the Tigers have gone this route before, most notably with Jeremy Bonderman. The difference this time around is that Porcello has a better arm and his team doesn't suck nearly as much. Bonderman was only 20 when he made 28 starts for the historically bad 2003 Detroit club. Hopefully this kid can handle the ups and downs sure to come with his rookie season. High school to the major leagues in less than two calendar years is a huge leap.
As for the other transactions, Detroit appears to be working around their gargantuan payroll in an attempt to go young. Miner is 27, and has made only 30 career starts. Last season, he went 5-2 with a 4.30 ERA in 13 starts. Perry, 22, is quite the exciting young arm himself. The highly-touted 2008 draft pick from Arizona only threw 14 innings in the minors last season, but has been dominant in spring training. In 10 2/3 innings he has struck out 11 batters and allowed a single earned run -- good for a 0.84 ERA.
Santorum Called Himself A 'Progressive Conservative' In 1990
Congress Agrees On Payroll Tax Cut, Unemployment Extension
Most Inmates In Honduras Prison Fire Were Not Convicted
Relintless: Knicks Run Winning Streak To Seven Games
Source: Michigan Governor To Endorse Romney
WATCH: MSNBC Host's Extremely Harsh Attack On Santorum
Oklahoma Senate Approves 'Personhood' Bill
Over 1,000 Old Detroit Rape Kits To Be Tested
Reddit Finally Bans Child Pornography Images
Canadian Businessman Convicted Of Raping woman In New York Hotel Room
WATCH: Jon Stewart Loses It Over Fox News Pundit Remarks
Mitt Romney Hits Back At Sarah Palin
Goldman CEO's Gay Rights Spokesman Title Comes Under Fire
Obama 'Very Impressed' With Lin
Actress In Controversial China Political Ad Apologizes
Santorum Releases Tax Returns
'Son Of Detroit' Romney Tools Around Michigan In Car Manufactured In Canada
National Group Seeks To Shape Walker Recall Contest
Florida Senate Votes Down Massive Expansion of Private Prisons
Catholic Leadership Splinters Over Obama Birth Control Compromise
Montana Supreme Court Collides With U.S. Supreme Court Over Citizens United
Will Giving Alcoholics Booze Curb San Francisco's Homeless Problem?
Rick Santorum's Wife Sued Doctor For $500,000 In 1999
