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.
turning a single garbage truck into a Fortune 500 waste disposal company, Waste Management, only to repeat his business success when he founded Blockbuster Video. Huizenga brought in a strong supporting cast, hiring former Expos GM Dave Dombrowski to run the front office and third base coach under Tony LaRussa, Rene Lachemann, as the team’s first manager. But being an expansion team was tough and the losses piled up.
scouting programs in the Carribbean and South America, the team was ready for its first ever winning season. Not only did they accomplish this, but the Marlins won 92 games and captured the National League Wild Card. Hernandez - the World Series MVP - and Alou would shine as the Marlins went on to defeat a loaded Cleveland Indians team, taking the World Series in 7 games.
The Marlins would go on to win 91 games and capture the National League Wild Card again. After the “Steve Bartman Incident” in which a fan reached out to intercept a flyout headed toward the glove of then Chicago Cub Moises Alou, the Marlins went on to face and beat the mighty New York Yankees in 6 games. 23-year-old flamethrower Josh Beckett took home the MVP trophy.
Now, six years after their last World Series title, the Marlins are back. Those trades produced their closer, Matt Lindstrom, and three members of their rotation - Ricky Nolasco, Anibal Sanchez, and Andrew Miller - while solid drafting and development filled out the rest with Josh Johnson and Chris Volstad. The Cabrera trade yielded the top-of-the-order sparkplug in centerfielder Cameron Maybin while the Beckett trade yielded middle-of-the-order slugging shortstop Hanley Ramirez.
