next big thing?

[uva3021]

by seanie mac lmo

he's movin on up in the world, i hear yahoo sports is looking to hire him

http://sportsobjective.com/wordpress/?p=190

The Next Big Thing

We here alot of talk about David Price because of his remarkable run last year, but where is he right now? We here alot of talk about blue chip prospects Tommy Hanson (ATL), Neftali Feliz (TEX), Madison Bumgarner (SF), but where are they right now? If I didn’t list the teams they belong too, 75% of fans wouldn’t even know what farm system they were in let alone what position they actually played for

So that brings me to 20 year old Rick Porcello of the Detroit Tigers. Rick isn’t even allowed to drink a cold one after a win, but he sure knows to get that win. Porcello was drafted #27 overall in 2007 by the Tigers out of Morristown, NJ, and Seton Hall Prep, a baseball factory. His choosing of Super Agent Scott Boras slid to him down to #27, as every major baseball facet had him as one of the 2 or 3 best prospects.

Porcello was scheduled to attend The University of North carolina, but instead signed a 4 year 7.29 milllion dollar professional contract. That’s right he signed a professional contract out of high school, not a signing bonus. On top of his major league contract Porcello also recieve and 3.5 million dollar signing bonus, 2nd most in Det history only to P Andrew Miller (now with Fla).

Porcello played all of 2008 in class A with the Lakeland Flying Tigers and had the lowest ERA with 2.66 in the Florida State League. Wuth only a year of professional ball under his belt Porcello won the 5th spot in the rotation at age 20, mostly in part because of Dontrelle Willis’ anxiety disorder. Alot of remember Miguel Cabrera and Alex Rodriguez playing pro ball in their early 20s, but can anyone remember the last 20 year old to be pitching in a pro game, let alone starting? I sure can’t.
It wasn’t a smooth start for Porcello, over his 1st 3 starts he was 1-2 and allowed 15 hits, 11 ERs, 5 BBs, 8 K’s. There was early talk that Porcello was going to be sent down to the minors to re-start his path back to the majors. He had no experience in the bigs, was erractic throwing alot of pitches, and just flat out seemed uncomfortable being only 20 years and playing with and against players twice his age. When most 20 years are having a tough time in college they go home, Porcello didn’t have that option, so what did he do? He did what all young pitchers have to do if they want to stay, he simply pitched better.

In his last 4 starts Porcello is 3-0, averaging 6IP a start, allowing 12 hits, 7 BBs and only 2 ERs, while striking out 11. These numbers don’t blow anyone away, except the 2 ERs, but he’s only 20, and he’s getting better and better with every start. He does project to be a top of the roration guy, and also a strikout pitcher.

So when people ask me who the “next” big stud pitcher is, I tell everyone, he’s Rick Porcello, and he’s here NOW.

Seanie Mac

[be47320]

does seanie work?

[uva3021]

he has several aliases

peter gammons, tom verducci, michael lewis, buster olney etc...