Poreda to B'ham...

[JPN366]

According to Ed Collari, the radio announcer of the Winston-Salem Warthogs, Aaron Poreda is being promoted to B'ham. You heard it here first...

[Palehosefan]

He didn't exactly dominate high A, but hopefully he can continue to be successful. Thanks for the info.

[daa84]

According to Ed Collari, the radio announcer of the Winston-Salem Warthogs, Aaron Poreda is being promoted to B'ham. You heard it here first...

he certainly hasnt been worthy of a promotion lately...but still has nice overlal numbers...if he dominates at AA we could see a sept callup ...doubtful but id like to see him a sept. callup in 09 at least

[scenario]

Poreda was starting to get roughed up a bit at WS, correct?

 

He pitched pretty well last night (6 innings; 2 runs on 4 hits; only 1 walk). His two outings before that were mediocre (each was 6 innings; 4 earned runs).

 

Overall, he's pitched pretty well. Not world beating but pretty good.

 

The most impressive stat has been his low walks. In his last 10 starts (62 innings), he's had a total of 10 walks (vs. 38 K's). And he's only given up 1 homerun all year.

Edited June 9, 2008 by scenario

[witesoxfan]

I still wonder if they aren't fast-tracking him in hopes that he becomes a reliever/trade bait.

[BearSox]

From what I have heard/read, he doesn't have much secondary stuff and he is an injury risk with his mechanics. That is why I, like many others, still feel his future is in the pen, possibly as Thornton's replacement as the lefty SU guy.

[maggsmaggs]

From what I have heard/read, he doesn't have much secondary stuff and he is an injury risk with his mechanics. That is why I, like many others, still feel his future is in the pen, possibly as Thornton's replacement as the lefty SU guy.

Really? I thought he had pretty clean mechanics and people thought he could handle throwing that hard because he is so big and has relatively clean mechanics.

[Ozzie Ball]

Really? I thought he had pretty clean mechanics and people thought he could handle throwing that hard because he is so big and has relatively clean mechanics.

Bureau was saying his mechanics weren't great and could lead to future injuries if I remember correctly. That was the first and only time I've seen anyone say that about him though.

[DBAHO]

The jump from high A to AA ball isn't that much of a jump, simply for the fact that pitching in B-Ham is such a pitchers' haven.

 

So I would expect Poreda to still have pretty similar numbers, although the opposition will be tougher obviously.

 

Long - term I see him in the pen also. Broadway's out in front of him at this stage (obviously being at AAA and pitching well).

[NorthSideSox72]

I assume the offset here is Ryan O'Malley falls to the pen or is demoted, yes?

 

[Chisoxfn]

He pitched pretty well last night (6 innings; 2 runs on 4 hits; only 1 walk). His two outings before that were mediocre (each was 6 innings; 4 earned runs).

 

Overall, he's pitched pretty well. Not world beating but pretty good.

 

The most impressive stat has been his low walks. In his last 10 starts (62 innings), he's had a total of 10 walks (vs. 38 K's). And he's only given up 1 homerun all year.

I can't confirm this, but it appears as if they have been having him pitch to contact. I'm guessing they are working on getting him deeper into games and working on specific things with him. They know he has a nasty slider, but the key is improving his command and getting him to improve his other pitchers (which, other than health, will be the deciding factor of whether he makes it as a starter or a reliever). One thing you can't doubt is the fact that he has a major league arm.

[Chisoxfn]

Bureau was saying his mechanics weren't great and could lead to future injuries if I remember correctly. That was the first and only time I've seen anyone say that about him though.

The main person who questioned his mechanics was someone on baseballprospectus or something along those lines who discussed his mechanics and questioned them. I also recall Bureau mentioning briefly Poreda's mechanics and how they would get in the way of him developing any additional secondary stuff. However, I don't think his mechanics would prevent him from adding a changeup to his repetoire as well as finding out additional ways to gain movement on his FB (he has a pretty good slider already).

 

The one thing that could concern people are his very pedestrian strikeout numbers. For a guy who throw in the upper 90's, that is quite puzzling, but I am at least thinking the Sox player development people told him something and he's working on that (pitching to contact) as opposed to trying to blow away guys.

[Chisoxfn]

The jump from high A to AA ball isn't that much of a jump, simply for the fact that pitching in B-Ham is such a pitchers' haven.

 

So I would expect Poreda to still have pretty similar numbers, although the opposition will be tougher obviously.

 

Long - term I see him in the pen also. Broadway's out in front of him at this stage (obviously being at AAA and pitching well).

Actually, the jump from A to AA is the biggest jump you'll see (other than the jump to the majors). The talent pool in AA is just so much better. I will agree with you that pitching in Regions park can make it a little easier on pitchers, but regardless, its about as tough of a jump as there is.

[False Alarm]

They know he has a nasty slider...

he does? i've never heard that. as i recall his slider was called "slurvy," with a tendency to flatten out, when he was drafted. and in college they tried to change his arm angle to get more break on the slider but that took too much sink and velo off his fastball so they scrapped the experiment. and i've never read anything since then reporting progress on his breaking ball. and he's striking out about the number of guys you'd expect, based on his college numbers.

 

plus i remember hearing the same thing about tyler lumsden purposely pitching to contact when he was with us, and look how well that's turned out.

 

i like poreda, but until i hear something substantive about progress with his secondary stuff, i'm'a maintain that peeps' strikeout expectations for him are way too high.

[JPN366]

I assume the offset here is Ryan O'Malley falls to the pen or is demoted, yes?

 

Possibly, but I know for a fact that Brian Omogrosso has been dealing with lingering blister issues, so he will more than likely go on the DL to clear the roster spot. He took himself out of his last appearance because he just didn't have any control. So, Poreda could start working out of the bullpen. We'll see.

[scenario]

Sounds like it may be valuable for someone from Soxtalk to interview Poreda. I'm sure there are alot of people who would be very interested in learning more about him... things he's working on, etc... especially in light of his promotion.

 

Winston-Salem seems light years away when you think about a player making the WhiteSox. But Birmingham? He could be a Boone Logan or Matt Thornton injury away from a call-up if he does well there.

[Balta1701]

I still wonder if they aren't fast-tracking him in hopes that he becomes a reliever/trade bait.

This is, to my eyes, a move that could well be potentially making him more of a trade candidate. Moving to a pitcher's park, at a higher level, place where pitchers in our org have tended to thrive...that is kind of what we did with Gio last year...kept him in AA and had his value go up because of it...

[scenario]

For what it's worth...

 

He made it to AA before Fredrick Alfred Porcello did.

 

(His parents must really like the name Fred.)

Edited June 9, 2008 by scenario

[lostfan]

Which one of the pitchers in our farm is the lefty that was clocked at 99 once?

[Chisoxfn]

Which one of the pitchers in our farm is the lefty that was clocked at 99 once?

Poreda.

[scenario]

I listened to all of Poreda's starts last year on radio... he was in the high 90's alot of the time.

 

One thing that really struck me is how effective he was at throwing his fastball inside on people's hands. He broke alot of bats.

[lostfan]

Poreda.

That's what I thought. He's the ridiculously tall one, right?

[Palehosefan]

[ptatc]

The main person who questioned his mechanics was someone on baseballprospectus or something along those lines who discussed his mechanics and questioned them. I also recall Bureau mentioning briefly Poreda's mechanics and how they would get in the way of him developing any additional secondary stuff. However, I don't think his mechanics would prevent him from adding a changeup to his repetoire as well as finding out additional ways to gain movement on his FB (he has a pretty good slider already).

 

The one thing that could concern people are his very pedestrian strikeout numbers. For a guy who throw in the upper 90's, that is quite puzzling, but I am at least thinking the Sox player development people told him something and he's working on that (pitching to contact) as opposed to trying to blow away guys.

 

Bureau discussed that fact that he doesn't reach the "7" during his arm swing. This is one way to evaluate mechanics. Others (including me) believe that it is not necessary and may actually be harmful to stress this during the throwing motion.

[almagest]

Bureau discussed that fact that he doesn't reach the "7" during his arm swing. This is one way to evaluate mechanics. Others (including me) believe that it is not necessary and may actually be harmful to stress this during the throwing motion.

Hm. Are there any examples either way -- of pitchers having constant arm problems with "good" mechanics, or of pitchers who don't reach this "7" who don't have arm issues? Or is it an issue of differing body types and sizes having different ideal mechanics?