When the Tigers announced that Phil Coke would be a member of the teams starting rotation following the 2010 season, I was skeptical. Coke had worked primarily as the stereotypical fastball/slider reliever during his time with the Yankees before mixing in his changeup last year when he was traded to Detroit and it was effective enough (1.40R/C - runs above average/100 pitches).
Still, the thought of moving someone who had worked largely with the platoon split - while showing a significant platoon split - to the rotation seemed risky. Coke posted a 32K/8BB ratio in 28.2 innings vs lefties last year, but had a 21K/18BB ratio in 36.0 innings vs righties, which should've let anyone paying attention know that he would struggle mightily in the rotation, where he can't be protected from seeing twice as many right handers as left handers.
In the bullpen last year, Coke posted a strong 3.23 FIP, but a .335 BABIP pushed his ERA up to 3.76. But with his move to the rotation, his strikeout rate has plummeted from 7.38 to 4.32 and though he's remained one of the most HR lucky pitchers in baseball with a miniscule 2.9 HR/FB% his ERA after a final ugly start is a ghastly 4.91.
In response to Coke's recent struggles (he's allowed 16ER in his past three starts, totaling 13.2IP) the Tigers have decided to give lefty Charlie Furbush a chance to start instead. In profiling Furbush I noted that he has a bevy of capable MLB offerings, but lacked a true put-away pitch. His slider and curveball have proven effective against left handers, but like Coke, he's shown a significant platoon split with a 2.11 FIP against lefties and a 6.77 against righties.
Of all of Furbush's off-speed options, I think his changeup shows the most promise, along with offering the best potential as a viable option against - but it's also the pitch he's shown the least faith in, throwing it just 4.1% of the time. If Furbush, who's 3/4 slot will give righties a very good look at his off-speed offerings is going to survive in the rotation on a long-term basis, he'll need to show both a good feel for, and a greater faith in that changeup.
My intent here isn't to suggest that Furbush can't be an effective starter - at least for awhile - but on a long term basis, he isn't likely to be anything more than a back-end arm if he continues to operate as is. If he can't find that effective method for dealing with right handers, the Tigers will essentially be swapping one under-tooled left-handed option for the next.
And that's not a solution.
While I agree with your overall assesment that the move doesn't particularly improve the starting rotation drastically (I do think there is potential for a little improvement there), I think the bigger improvement will come in the stability in the 7th inning relief.
ReplyDeleteCoke profiles very well as your typical LOOGY and has a history of being very effective in a 6th/7th inning roll.
Furbush, on the other hand, has mainly been used in a mop up roll our of the pen (and has been effective in that roll). The Tigers probably feel that at this time they have plenty of mop up guys and that the back end of their rotation needs to be shored up a bit (especially with the recent DL stint for Al which you couldn't have known about at the time of this writing).
Based on those two things I think this is a good move since they don't lose much out of the rotation, and possible gain a little, and shore up a depleted and sketchy back end of their pen.
I don't think Furbush is a long-term answer in the rotation, but at the same time, I'd hardly be surprised to see him have success the first couple times through the league. And as much as anything, that's why I'd be willing to give this move a chance. He's got that funky delivery from that low 3/4 slot, and his slider will get lefties to swing and miss.
ReplyDeleteThat said, the leagues unfamiliarity with him could be just the boost the rotation needs until the other members of the staff can get their mechanics straightened back out. Even if it doesn't work out, good move by Jim and his staff.