Why no hobby love for Rick Porcello?
ndleo
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Even though I am now mainly a football collector, I still follow the Detroit Tigers from my youth. I saw an article about ex-Tiger Rick Porcello. I always liked the kid, he reminded me of a taller Tom Glavine. I thought he was about to break thru when he got traded to the Red Sox. Looks like he finally put it all together this year.
I was surprised to see how little his cards still sell for on ebay, even auto RCs. I saw a lot sell for less than $5. He is 27 and already has 102 wins, he should finish with at least 105. That compares very favorably with Verlander and David Price at the same point in his career. Stephen Strasburg isn't even close to Porcello's numbers and Strasburg RCs sell for way more.
So I need to ask the baseball experts, is Porcello underrated? Or will he creep up like Roy Halladay? Or is his style (ground ball sinker pitcher) just not exciting enough to get hobby love?
I was surprised to see how little his cards still sell for on ebay, even auto RCs. I saw a lot sell for less than $5. He is 27 and already has 102 wins, he should finish with at least 105. That compares very favorably with Verlander and David Price at the same point in his career. Stephen Strasburg isn't even close to Porcello's numbers and Strasburg RCs sell for way more.
So I need to ask the baseball experts, is Porcello underrated? Or will he creep up like Roy Halladay? Or is his style (ground ball sinker pitcher) just not exciting enough to get hobby love?
Mike
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Even though I am now mainly a football collector, I still follow the Detroit Tigers from my youth. I saw an article about ex-Tiger Rick Porcello. I always liked the kid, he reminded me of a taller Tom Glavine. I thought he was about to break thru when he got traded to the Red Sox. Looks like he finally put it all together this year.
I was surprised to see how little his cards still sell for on ebay, even auto RCs. I saw a lot sell for less than $5. He is 27 and already has 102 wins, he should finish with at least 105. That compares very favorably with Verlander and David Price at the same point in his career. Stephen Strasburg isn't even close to Porcello's numbers and Strasburg RCs sell for way more.
So I need to ask the baseball experts, is Porcello underrated? Or will he creep up like Roy Halladay? Or is his style (ground ball sinker pitcher) just not exciting enough to get hobby love?
Before this year, he was 7 games over .500 with an ERA way over 4.00. How much hobby love should a guy like that get?
Before this year, he was 7 games over .500 with an ERA way over 4.00. How much hobby love should a guy like that get?
Those look like Jamie Moyer stats.
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Porcello is good but not great, and this is coming from a sox fan. I think his standing in the hobby is appropriate.
Dan has it right. Porcello gets lots of run support, but doesn't seem particularly dominant. He has a great w/l record due in large part to the run support. Good number 2 or 3 pitcher. Also coming from a long time sox fan
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
I would not be surprised at all if his health holds, that he wins more games than any pitcher going foraward over the next 5 years.
I know, I know .... Bold Statement, but the kid is just hitting his stride now at 27 as he was rushed to the majors by a year or two that really set his development back.
He had to actually learn how to pitch in the majors, which is not easy when you do not have dominating stuff.
To his credit, he has hung in there and has improved greatly through the last half a dozen years or so.
Ironically Dombrowski the guy that was responsible for rushing the kid, and trading him away now gets to enjoy Porcello's ultimate development with the Red Sox.
Like mojorob said, he was rushed to the majors at age 20 and he doesn't have dominate stuff. I thought he would learn how to pitch and he did improve every year. His 2014 season, 15-13 3.43 ERA 3 Shutouts, seemed like a breakout year. He did fall back his first year in Boston, but even though he does get a lot of runs, he is ERA is still 3.22. I'm haven't studied all of the sabermetrics stuff, so I don't know if his WHIP or other stats are considered good. He really doesn't have a lot of innings on his arm so maybe the perception will change if he puts together a couple more good seasons.
I thought it was a mistake to trade him for Cespedes, especially after Dombrowski traded Cespedes to the Mets at the deadline. However Fulmer is showing that maybe Dombrowski knew what he was doing.
Like I said, I do like Rick. The first half of Dombrowski's tenure was pretty exciting in terms of pitchers - Bonderman, Verlander, Porcello, Zumaya, and even the Jacob Turner hype was fun for long time Tiger fans. The 1990's-early 2000's were almost like dead zone for homegrown pitchers. I think Jeff Weaver was the best one of that era.
Stephen Strasburg isn't even close to Porcello's numbers and Strasburg RCs sell for way more.
Huh? Strasburg has better numbers.
Career ERA+:
Strasburg 123
Porcello 100
Strasburg even has more WAR despite pitching 500 fewer innings than Porcello.
The first half of Dombrowski's tenure was pretty exciting in terms of pitchers - Bonderman, Verlander, Porcello, Zumaya, and even the Jacob Turner hype was fun for long time Tiger fans. The 1990's-early 2000's were almost like dead zone for homegrown pitchers. I think Jeff Weaver was the best one of that era.
+1 from this Tigers fan and lifelong Michigan resident. Zumaya was such an exciting phenomenon in 2006. Couldn't wait for him to take the mound. What a shame it only really lasted one season in the bigs.
Stephen Strasburg isn't even close to Porcello's numbers and Strasburg RCs sell for way more.
Huh? Strasburg has better numbers.
Career ERA+:
Strasburg 123
Porcello 100
Strasburg even has more WAR despite pitching 500 fewer innings than Porcello.
I didn't say Porcello is better than Strasburg. I was wondering about the huge differential in rookie card values. Porcello auto RCs sell for less than $5 on a regular basis. Strasburg RCs, even non-auto ones, sell for far more than Porcello. Plus I see that Strasburg is on the DL again.
The first half of Dombrowski's tenure was pretty exciting in terms of pitchers - Bonderman, Verlander, Porcello, Zumaya, and even the Jacob Turner hype was fun for long time Tiger fans. The 1990's-early 2000's were almost like dead zone for homegrown pitchers. I think Jeff Weaver was the best one of that era.
+1 from this Tigers fan and lifelong Michigan resident. Zumaya was such an exciting phenomenon in 2006. Couldn't wait for him to take the mound. What a shame it only really lasted one season in the bigs.
Didn't Zumaya bang up his arm on an ATV?
The first half of Dombrowski's tenure was pretty exciting in terms of pitchers - Bonderman, Verlander, Porcello, Zumaya, and even the Jacob Turner hype was fun for long time Tiger fans. The 1990's-early 2000's were almost like dead zone for homegrown pitchers. I think Jeff Weaver was the best one of that era.
+1 from this Tigers fan and lifelong Michigan resident. Zumaya was such an exciting phenomenon in 2006. Couldn't wait for him to take the mound. What a shame it only really lasted one season in the bigs.
Didn't Zumaya bang up his arm on an ATV?
Multiple incidents with it. I've heard rumor that ATV was the real cause of the so-called Guitar Hero injury but not certain what is actually true. The accident while helping his dad move was a freak one too. Then of course there were injuries of his that actually occurred while pitching. Seemed like a long string of bad luck one after the other. Ah, what could have been...
Stephen Strasburg isn't even close to Porcello's numbers and Strasburg RCs sell for way more.
Huh? Strasburg has better numbers.
Career ERA+:
Strasburg 123
Porcello 100
Strasburg even has more WAR despite pitching 500 fewer innings than Porcello.
I didn't say Porcello is better than Strasburg. I was wondering about the huge differential in rookie card values.
Then what are "Porcello's numbers" that you referred to? It sure seems like you mean that Porcello has better stats.
The first half of Dombrowski's tenure was pretty exciting in terms of pitchers - Bonderman, Verlander, Porcello, Zumaya, and even the Jacob Turner hype was fun for long time Tiger fans. The 1990's-early 2000's were almost like dead zone for homegrown pitchers. I think Jeff Weaver was the best one of that era.
+1 from this Tigers fan and lifelong Michigan resident. Zumaya was such an exciting phenomenon in 2006. Couldn't wait for him to take the mound. What a shame it only really lasted one season in the bigs.
If it wasn't for that stupid Guitar Hero game!
Stephen Strasburg isn't even close to Porcello's numbers and Strasburg RCs sell for way more.
Huh? Strasburg has better numbers.
Career ERA+:
Strasburg 123
Porcello 100
Strasburg even has more WAR despite pitching 500 fewer innings than Porcello.
I didn't say Porcello is better than Strasburg. I was wondering about the huge differential in rookie card values.
Then what are "Porcello's numbers" that you referred to? It sure seems like you mean that Porcello has better stats.
I was referring to wins. Porcello has 102 wins and Strasburg only has 69. I was wondering why a 17-3, 3.22 era, CY Young candidate pitcher for a large media market team was selling for so cheap. The comparisons to Verlander, Price, and Strasburg were for my perspective more than anything since I don't follow the baseball card market that closely.
To summarize, the hobby views Porcello as a #3 or #4 starter, so his cards don't sell for much. OK I get it.
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
The first half of Dombrowski's tenure was pretty exciting in terms of pitchers - Bonderman, Verlander, Porcello, Zumaya, and even the Jacob Turner hype was fun for long time Tiger fans. The 1990's-early 2000's were almost like dead zone for homegrown pitchers. I think Jeff Weaver was the best one of that era.
+1 from this Tigers fan and lifelong Michigan resident. Zumaya was such an exciting phenomenon in 2006. Couldn't wait for him to take the mound. What a shame it only really lasted one season in the bigs.
That 2006 season was crazy. All of a sudden, Detroit had a staff full of guys throwing 95+ - something like 9 or 10 guys.
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.