Poreda has a shot at Sox pen

[southsider2k5]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chi-1...0,5771978.story

 

Aaron Poreda has shot at White Sox's bullpen

Poreda's 96-m.p.h. fastball impresses

 

By Mark Gonzales | Tribune reporter

February 18, 2009

 

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Aaron Poreda knew things were going right for him after minor-league pitching coordinator Kirk Champion chastised him for not performing conditioning drills before an Arizona Fall League game.

 

"I got out and started running by myself. [General manager] Kenny Williams saw me and said, 'I like that Poreda running and getting after it,' " Poreda said.

 

Whether it's his distinction as the Sox's No. 1 pick in 2007, his long hair that accompanies his mod wardrobe, a left arm that possesses a 96-m.p.h. fastball or his Jewish heritage, Poreda has gained plenty of attention in a short span.

 

Poreda's velocity could be the X factor in a fluid group of candidates for three open bullpen spots.

 

But if Bartolo Colon is healthy enough to become the Sox's fourth starter, either Jeff Marquez or left-hander Clayton Richard could retreat to a relief role.

 

And Marquez and Richard could become relievers if Jose Contreras completes a miraculous recovery from an Achilles' tendon tear to be ready by April 11.

 

Nevertheless, Poreda, 23, will get a chance to build his endurance as a starter once spring training games start Feb. 25. He was used as a reliever in the fall league in part to get him acclimated to the routine of a reliever.

 

Champion and several other Sox officials, led by Williams, observed Poreda closely in the fall.

 

"It's the luck of the draw," said Poreda, Baseball America's top White Sox pitching prospect. "It's nice people are watching. It puts more pressure on you. It's good because when you get to the big leagues, there are a lot of people watching you and you have to battle through it."

 

Pitching coach Don Cooper said the final three bullpen spots could be decided by who can throw multiple quality innings, a larger necessity if Colon makes the rotation.

 

"If Aaron Poreda throws the fastball where the glove is supposed to be, he's going to get people out," he said.

 

The Sox would like Poreda to develop his changeup and slider so he'll be less predictable with his fastball. Poreda said he has made significant strides in that area.

 

"I'm working on the changeup every day and throwing it more than I throw my fastball," Poreda said. "I'm working on getting the grip right. Now it's a matter of transforming it into my bullpen workouts and game situations."

 

Poreda is devoted to his faith and hopes to perform well in front of the large Jewish Chicago community.

 

"I'm a big family man," Poreda said. "I really like to celebrate the Jewish holidays. It's good to know Chicago has a strong Jewish background.

 

"Our family celebrates all the High Holidays. But it has been hard being on the road. I enjoy going home and celebrating them."

 

[email protected]

[Balta1701]

No. Poreda to AAA unless every outing in ST is a no hitter for him. I want him starting. Richard looks like an ideal bullpen guy based on his splits in outings last year.

[almagest]

No. Poreda to AAA unless every outing in ST is a no hitter for him. I want him starting. Richard looks like an ideal bullpen guy based on his splits in outings last year.

Agreed. I wouldn't mind Richard in AAA to work on additional pitches, though, because I think he could be a decent starter/trade bait.

 

[daa84]

No. Poreda to AAA unless every outing in ST is a no hitter for him. I want him starting. Richard looks like an ideal bullpen guy based on his splits in outings last year.

what if we need richard in the rotation? Even with all the recent talk, I dont expect Jose to be ready for at least a couple weeks, and who knows with Colon. We might need Richard as a starter, and then we need a second lefty in the pen. I like the idea of Poreda developing his offspeed pitches as a starter in the minors, but lots of guys have had success in their first year in the majors as relievers and then made the shift to starter

[Steve9347]

As I said the day we drafted him, Poreda will be no more than a bullpen arm in the majors anyway, so if he's ready put him in there.

[Balta1701]

what if we need richard in the rotation? Even with all the recent talk, I dont expect Jose to be ready for at least a couple weeks, and who knows with Colon. We might need Richard as a starter, and then we need a second lefty in the pen. I like the idea of Poreda developing his offspeed pitches as a starter in the minors, but lots of guys have had success in their first year in the majors as relievers and then made the shift to starter

Yes, people have had success with that. But that doesn't mean that it serves their needs the best. The simple fact with Poreda is that the thing standing between him and a solid front line starting pitcher is a solid 3rd pitch that he can throw for strikes or at least get people to bite on. Out of the bullpen he isn't going to be working on a 3rd pitch. Starting in AAA he will be.

 

With a pitcher trying to add another pitch, starting in the bullpen will be a setback. With a pitcher adapting to throwing against major league hitters, time in the bullpen could be very effective, but right now that's not AP's biggest need.

[ILMOU]

Yes, people have had success with that. But that doesn't mean that it serves their needs the best. The simple fact with Poreda is that the thing standing between him and a solid front line starting pitcher is a solid 3rd pitch that he can throw for strikes or at least get people to bite on. Out of the bullpen he isn't going to be working on a 3rd pitch. Starting in AAA he will be.

 

With a pitcher trying to add another pitch, starting in the bullpen will be a setback. With a pitcher adapting to throwing against major league hitters, time in the bullpen could be very effective, but right now that's not AP's biggest need.

 

Well, I think you're both right.

 

If Poreda's good enough and it makes the bullpen stronger, I want him on the roster, period. OTOH, I really want him to develop into a starter long-term, or at least have a chance to, as well. Keep him in a long relief role instead of a LOOGY, and he'll still be in a position and mindset to develop the 3rd pitch.

 

[southsider2k5]

Yes, people have had success with that. But that doesn't mean that it serves their needs the best. The simple fact with Poreda is that the thing standing between him and a solid front line starting pitcher is a solid 3rd pitch that he can throw for strikes or at least get people to bite on. Out of the bullpen he isn't going to be working on a 3rd pitch. Starting in AAA he will be.

 

With a pitcher trying to add another pitch, starting in the bullpen will be a setback. With a pitcher adapting to throwing against major league hitters, time in the bullpen could be very effective, but right now that's not AP's biggest need.

 

It comes down to how you would answer this. Would Poreda be more valuable to the Sox as a reliever in 2009, or a starter in 2010/11 and beyond?

[Balta1701]

It comes down to how you would answer this. Would Poreda be more valuable to the Sox as a reliever in 2009, or a starter in 2010/11 and beyond?

I clearly answer starter. Especially if Contreras can actually pitch for a few months this year.

[joejoesox]

Once i see poreda in spring training, it'll probably satisfy my appetite for wanting to see him pitch, enough to where I won't care if he spends 2009 in AAA (which is where I think he should be)

[elrockinMT]

Agreed. I wouldn't mind Richard in AAA to work on additional pitches, though, because I think he could be a decent starter/trade bait.

 

Why are we already trying to trade our prospects away?

[witesoxfan]

what if we need richard in the rotation? Even with all the recent talk, I dont expect Jose to be ready for at least a couple weeks, and who knows with Colon. We might need Richard as a starter, and then we need a second lefty in the pen. I like the idea of Poreda developing his offspeed pitches as a starter in the minors, but lots of guys have had success in their first year in the majors as relievers and then made the shift to starter

 

If Richard makes the club much better as a second lefty out of the pen, you then go about trusting Marquez, Poreda, or any other number of AAA pitchers to be able to come up and get guys out for a couple of starts.

 

Why are we already trying to trade our prospects away?

 

To try and bring better players in. Every team can always use better players.

 

Besides that, the poster said he could be a decent starter OR trade bait. If the Sox stumble into 5 good starting pitchers and have the bullpen locked up, there is a possibility to then trade Richard if the right package comes up.

[Balta1701]

If Richard makes the club much better as a second lefty out of the pen, you then go about trusting Marquez, Poreda, or any other number of AAA pitchers to be able to come up and get guys out for a couple of starts.

 

Besides that, the poster said he could be a decent starter OR trade bait. If the Sox stumble into 5 good starting pitchers and have the bullpen locked up, there is a possibility to then trade Richard if the right package comes up.

Right now, Richard looks like an ideal bullpen lefty for this year.

[JPN366]

From what I saw in Birmingham last season, Aaron's not ready for primetime. He has a lot of work to do. He needs more seasoning, if he doesn't break camp with Chicago, I wouldn't be surprised if he wound up in Birmingham again for a few months. He's loaded with potential, but he did get hit hard a few times in AA in 2008.

[joejoesox]

From what I saw in Birmingham last season, Aaron's not ready for primetime. He has a lot of work to do. He needs more seasoning, if he doesn't break camp with Chicago, I wouldn't be surprised if he wound up in Birmingham again for a few months. He's loaded with potential, but he did get hit hard a few times in AA in 2008.

 

to my understanding, AA isn't really a competition league, it's more of a league where players are learning new things or having their mechanics slightly adjusted and new pitches learned/perfected, AAA is generally where your final talent resides in waiting

 

someone correct me if i'm wrong

 

can't really go by what happened to him in AA, as we all know he's been hard at work with his changeup, and has probably been throwing it as much as his fastball if not more than

[maggsmaggs]

The thing you have to love about Poreda is his calm demeanor and intelligence. In the interview he did with Baseball Prospectus, he just seemed to be one of those good guys who wants to learn and be coached. I've already heard Coop say he wants him with the big league club to teach Poreda the final few things. I think he has a greater than 50/50 shot to make the roster in some capacity. It also important to note many pitchers have started as reliever than transitioned to starters at the ML level. Halladay had a mix of starts/bullpen appearances with the Jays in 1999 and 2000, Santana did it and lots more have to. Just getting him the big league experience with the big league pitching coach for one year might be worth it.

Edited February 19, 2009 by maggsmaggs

[NorthSideSox72]

He's made progress on the breaking pitches, and every indication is that he will continue to. If can get them good enough, he's got the potential to be a very good starter in the majors, in 2010. That is much more valuable than a very good reliever. Besides, if he's in the pen because we want a lefty who can throw 97 but he has only two pitches, we already HAVE that guy in the pen - Matt Thornton.

 

Poreda starting in AAA makes a ton more sense.

 

[DBAHO]

Richard to me is going to be the ideal swingman, he'll be able to throw 3IP when needed from the pen, but could also be used in other situations. The Tampa Bay playoff series last year being a perfect example.

 

If the Sox could sign a lefty reliever on the cheap right now and start Poreda in AAA, that would probably be an ideal scenario.

 

I think they'll carry 3 lefties in the pen if possible.

[ballyb11]

Off topic,

 

 

any word on Yadel Marti and Yasser Gomez, the most recent Cuban defectors?

[Dick Allen]

Just because Poreda could be used as a reliever, and most likely won't need the additional repetoire as a reliever doesn't mean on the side he can't work on other pitches. If he earns a starting role fine, if not and he's the best pitcher for a remaining spot, let him relieve. The goal is to win in 2009, not develop guys in Charlotte. There's a pretty good chance the Sox will need an additional starter or 3 at some point during the season. It wouldn't take too much to stretch him out.

[NorthSideSox72]

Off topic,

 

 

any word on Yadel Marti and Yasser Gomez, the most recent Cuban defectors?

There are multiple threads in the Diamond Club about these guys.

 

[Jimbo's Drinker]

Can't beat a tall lefty who can throw the big cheese.

[qwerty]

to my understanding, AA isn't really a competition league, it's more of a league where players are learning new things or having their mechanics slightly adjusted and new pitches learned/perfected, AAA is generally where your final talent resides in waiting

 

someone correct me if i'm wrong

 

can't really go by what happened to him in AA, as we all know he's been hard at work with his changeup, and has probably been throwing it as much as his fastball if not more than

 

The most bonafide talent resides in double a. Now if they make it to the majors and have a succesful career is still another thing entirely. Many top prospects that go on to have mlb careers either have limited time in triple a ( half a season) or in some cases forego triple a entirely and work out their ''mechanics'' in the majors. First hand experience is the most valuable out of all. Triple a is generally for all the washed up has beens aka nothing more than fodder material. Triple a is the home of talented but not talented enough overall players to warrant the majors.

[witesoxfan]

The most bonafide talent resides in double a. Now if they make it to the majors and have a succesful career is still another thing entirely. Many top prospects that go on to have mlb careers either have limited time in triple a ( half a season) or in some cases forego triple a entirely and work out their ''mechanics'' in the majors. First hand experience is the most valuable out of all. Triple a is generally for all the washed up has beens aka nothing more than fodder material. Triple a is the home of talented but not talented enough overall players to warrant the majors.

 

of course, sending guys to AAA is also good as you deal with experienced players who are more refined than those in AA but are not as talented. If you spend a ton of time in AAA though, people probably don't think much of you.

[joejoesox]

I posted this in the regular spring thread but I guess I'll put it here as well

 

Jesse Rogers saying, emphatically, Poreda will be in the Sox Bullpen in 2009