So Chicago’s 2007 first round pick and rumored candidate for a Jake Peavy trade earlier this year, Aaron Poreda, has been called up for his first cup of coffee, set to join the White Sox bullpen later this week. Coming out of spring training, this flamethrower looked like he might even win the 5th starter spot. For now, however, manager Ozzie Guillen has made it perfectly clear that his role will be as a reliever. But there is a growing debate as to what his future really holds.
Poreda stands at 6′ 6″, 240 pounds – that’s the same height and 15 pounds heavier than David Price for those counting at home. His fastball touches 100 and his slider is said to be pretty good too, leading to a great strikeout rate – 9.72 K/9. But to date, Poreda hasn’t developed any additional secondary pitches and has struggled with his control in AA Birmingham, posting a 4.94 BB/9.
A power fastball heavy 2 pitch repertroire have led some to suggest that he might be best suited as an understudy of and eventually replacement for closer Bobby Jenks. That line of thinking certainly seems to have support around the majors.
Jason Motte, a Cardinals reliever, offers a similar arsenal. He throws high 90′s heat that has touched 100, complemented by a decent slider. But being a converted catcher, Motte didn’t get the chance to truly develop secondary pitches enough to point to a career as a starter. After a difficult first month, the rookie posted a 1.64 ERA in May with 11 k’s in 11 innings.
Jonathan Broxton, Los Angeles’ 6’4″ 290 pound closer, throws heat that averages 97.4 mph along with a hard slider. He’s used this combo to be on pace for 35 saves, a 1.24 ERA, and 129 k’s in 79 1/3 innings.
Then there’s Brad Lidge. He ran 41 straight saves with a 1.95 ERA and 92 k’s in 69 1/3 innings last year. That mid 90′s fastball and hard, late breaking slider served him and the World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies quite well.
When you throw in the fact that Poreda is a southpaw, quite attractive in a reliever and certainly in a closer, the value just seems altogether too obvious. But what Motte, Broxton, and Lidge have on the White Sox former farmhand is control.
If Poreda can’t keep the fastball or slider from becoming balls and consequent free passes, hitters can either sit on the other pitch or look for the walk altogether. And nothing kills the value of a reliever like the habit of putting lots of men on base in close late game situations.
Hopefully, Chicago fans will see the 22 year old lefty develop in the limelight of the Cell.
