The Spot Starters

Covering the ups and downs of the Detroit Tigers.

Archives for the ‘Rick Porcello’ Category

Final Grades: Pitchers

By Blake VandeBunte • Oct 7th, 2009 • Category: 2009 Season, Bobby Seay, Brandon Lyon, Casey Fien, Dontrelle Willis, Ediwn Jackson, Fernando Rodney, Justin Velander, Nate Robertson, Rick Porcello, Ryan Perry, Zach Miner

Around mid-season this year, JayRC and I went through the Tigers rosters and assigned them grades based on their performances up to that point.  It was a fun little exercise.  So fun in fact, that we are doing it again as the regular season comes to a close.  Here’s what we came up with:

Eddie Bonine [...]


One Game

By Blake VandeBunte • Oct 5th, 2009 • Category: 2009 Season, Miguel Cabrera, Rick Porcello

Here we are, game 163.  It’s not often you get to enjoy game 163.  The Tigers haven’t played 163 games in a season since 1980 which was also the last time they actually tied a game.  Good stuff.  Anyway, game 163 is on Tuesday in Minnesota.  There are some fantastic story lines as this game [...]


Six Degrees of Ty Cobb

By Blake VandeBunte • Sep 28th, 2009 • Category: Brandon Inge, Rick Porcello, Ty Cobb

Have you ever heard of that game, Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon?  You basically try to connect any two actors (I don’t think it has to be Kevin Bacon) by connecting them in six movies or fewer.  It’s pretty fun to sit around play if you ever are sitting around a campfire or if you’re [...]


It’s Go Time

By Blake VandeBunte • Sep 18th, 2009 • Category: 2009 Season, Justin Verlander, Rick Porcello

The Tigers have had plenty of chances to extend their lead in the AL Central over the past week and a half as they played all of their games against the Kansas City Royals and the Toronto Blue Jays.  Sadly, things didn’t play out the way Tigers fans wanted them to as the Tigers went [...]


Outside Observation

By Blake VandeBunte • Sep 14th, 2009 • Category: 2009 Season, Rick Porcello

A good friend of mine sent me this e-mail the other day about Tigers rookie sensation, Rick Porcello.  I thought it was interesting at the very least:
look at his splits by batting order. #3 and 4 hitters batting average is under .200. 8 and 9 in the lineup are batting over .300 against him. #5 [...]


The Tigers Need Porcello

By Blake VandeBunte • Sep 10th, 2009 • Category: 2009 Season, Rick Porcello

Quick show of hands (sort of), how many people out there thought that Rick Porcello would be this good this soon?  I was cautiously optimistic, but the guy has been so, so impressive.  Today on ESPN.com, Jerry Crasnick breaks down the best young arms in the game who will get a lot of rest as [...]


Porcello in Impressive Company

By Blake VandeBunte • Sep 3rd, 2009 • Category: 2009 Season, Dave Rozema, Frank Tanana, Rick Porcello

You can pretty much pencil in a win when Rick Porcello goes up against the Cleveland Indians.  The rookie was dominant again last night as the Tigers topped the Indians to move to ten games over .500 for the first time in months.  Porcello gave up one run in seven innings before giving up a [...]


Tigers Trying To Get Over the Hump

By Blake VandeBunte • Sep 2nd, 2009 • Category: 2009 Season, Aubrey Huff, Cleveland Indians, Rick Porcello

Last night Tigers fans saw Aubrey Huff break out of his 3-30 slump as a member of the club.  Ian at Bless You Boys said that he thought Huff would just need one big hit to break out of his slump and that was the case for at least one night as Huff reached base [...]


Time for Recovery

By Blake VandeBunte • Aug 14th, 2009 • Category: 2009 Season, Jarrod Washburn, Justin Verlander, Kansas City Royals, Rick Porcello

So the Tigers trip to Boston didn’t go all that well.  Detroit lost three of four games and lost Rick Porcello to a suspension.  However, the silver lining is that the suspension will help Porcello get some rest.  The one win of the series was also pretty good as Justin Verlander was dominating in the [...]


Boom Goes the Dynamite

By Blake VandeBunte • Aug 12th, 2009 • Category: 2009 Season, Boston Red Sox, Kevin Youkilis, Rick Porcello

I love baseball fights.  I always have.  Things got chippy right off the bat last night in Boston and it culminated with Rick Porcello plunking the ugliest man alive (Kevin Youkilis).
Youkilis proceded to charge the mound and hurled his helmet at Porcello.  Porcello retreated and right as Youkilis made his lunge, Porcello moved to the [...]


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