Porcello will have to play through those meaningless pundits who show him no respect. I hope he has that type of control in his next outing too.

Such is the life of Rick Porcello. The guy who pitches great and somehow remains largely anonymous afterward. Yet when he struggles, his name is on everyone's lips the next day. It's confounding to me also and as big supporter of Rick's since he debuted in 09, very frustrating as well. Sometimes it almost seems as if you are young and not a power pitcher, the media only feels it is necessary to point out your flaws.

<Porcello Props>

I always give it to him. But until he starts getting close to K'ing a guy an inning, some won't care for him much.

I think he is as good, and as bad as Scherzer. I'm glad we have both of them. Two guys that can give me 15-10, are OK by me.

The general feeling is that one of them will have to go. (between Max & Rick) I really hope we keep them both, and they can stay healthy. I believe (with Verlander/Fister) it is a recipe for winning seasons for the next 4 years.

And ya have to start with winning seasons before you get a division title. Then after that, ya move on as far as you can get. And with those four starters, you should win those series battles to get ya to the promised land, more often than not.

One of the reasons is that so many people expect failure. They've predicted it and cemented they're position as anti-Porcello.

Any real credit will have to be earned 2 or 3 times over.

Porcello has the stuff to be a very good pitcher. If he can locate his strikes he becomes what we seen the last 2 outings for him.

Some people don't realize here that if we throw that game out against Texas early in the year his ERA is 3.91. Outside of that game he's been a very solid 4th or 5th starter.

unfortunately, you cant throw bad games out the window.

Just like last night was a good game for him. It all averages out, his era is what it is and probably is pretty close to the pitcher he is right now. Still inconsistent.

I know some feel he is taking too long to make that next step of consistency but they also forget how young he is. No way would I want the Tigers even thinking about trading him. Good to see you guys agree and notice how Porcello gets a bum rap from alot of fans. We need him to help win this division and you guys are right the only time people give him any attention is when it is negative.

trade him for a bat. He can help us win the division that way.

I am one of the few who are in Porcello's corner. I would be willing to hang in there until he proves that he is as good as he will ever get. I don't think he is at that point - or even close. Truthfully, I am more nervous with Valverde closing than with Porcello starting.

maybe he will live up to the potential.

But you have to give up quality to get quality. We need a bat or two.

"I am more nervous with Valverde closing than with Porcello starting. "

Nice quote. I like that. I, too, share your same concern.

What I'm pointing out is he's been a solid 4th or 5th pitcher for the majority of this season.

Your saying he's been inconsistent which I wont disagree with. But Porcello has went 6 games of 6+ innings pitched and 2 or less runs. The only other guy to do that on this team....Verlander.

I've said this before. There are 30 teams and therefore 150 starting pitchers at any one time. Probably 20% of them are up and down, fill in, AAA, trying to find the 5th starter kinda guys...we have them in Crosby and Turner. Every team has 1 or 2 starters who no one is sure is going to be there from week to week.

But of the other 120 starters you have guys like Porcello. If he stays healthy he's a bona fide major league starter. He's too good for AAA, but then he's not a #1 or 2 guy for most teams. Every team has 1 or 2 of these guys. Nobody has enough starting pitching to have 3 or 4 #1 kinda pitchers.

Philadelphia? They have 3 #1 calibre pitchers. S.F. and the Dodgers have 2 or 3. Texas, the Angels they too have maybe 3 serious guys.

The Tigers have 1 bona fide, super #1 pitcher. Fister is a 2-3 guy. Scherzer and Porcello are 3-4 guys who can pitch like a 2 guy every now and then. We don't have a 5th guy who you can pitch like he's a #3. If someone said you had to live with Verlander and 4 #3 calibre pitchers...why...that wouldn't be the end of the world. The key is to avoid having a bunch of those #5 guys.

Really, who you going to replace them with? No team has the luxury of not having to have a Porcello like starter. He pitched well last night. He's a major league starter. He should be capable of that every now and then. Every major league starter should be capable of that. The key is doing it regularly and that's the difference between the 1's, 2's and 3's....and why some guys are always destined to remain 4's and 5's.

"One of the few who are"

Just like any middle of the road pitchers, which he has been to date, he has as many fans as he has detractors.

He is young, he has been great in his last two starts and he carries a .315 BAA against with a 1.57 WHIP.

Fodder for whatever side one wishes to take.

ok. Rick is good for about 6 innings. Can't remember the games where he made it out of the 7th.

But point taken, been a good 4th starter this year.

Still want to trade him for a bat.

I also want to trade him for a bat. Especially if he starts doing well. I think he still has more value then most believe here.

I think trading him now would be like giving him away. Just as we start getting the results that only we as Tiger fans can appreciate, he should be traded?

Now is the time to reap the rewards we deserve for being behind him 100% all these years as he's developed, right?

He's had better games than this. Last year he was an inning away from a no-hitter.

I hope we trade him for a good bat.

Porcello as had a couple bad outings; he has pitched well in other games an the defense and/or the offense lost the game.

Otherwise he would have pretty good wind loss record. He is having a decent year, showing some good pitching. But, because of the Tigers less than expected record all trash talking of both Porcello and Scherzer is amplified and all the good stuff they do is ignored.

He definitely deserves props for last night.

He kept the ball down with good movement and moved the ball insided and outside, setting up hitters.

The key is he needs to be consistant from start to start.