Porcello's debut delayed, shuffles their pitching rotation

Porcello's home debut postponed
Rookie's next start pushed back to Sunday in Seattle

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

04/14/09 2:25 PM ET

DETROIT -- The Tigers had gone through eight games in as many days since Opening Day. Tuesday's rainy conditions stopped that streak with an unscheduled day off.

The first cold, rainy day of the season in the Motor City proved too wet for the Tigers and White Sox, whose scheduled game Tuesday afternoon was postponed.

Rain was intermittent all morning and into the early afternoon. Though the rain had stopped just before the scheduled game time, it was expected to resume shortly afterwards and continue off and on into the evening. Team president/general manager Dave Dombrowski met with head groundskeeper Heather Nabozny on the field shortly after the scheduled start time of 1:05 p.m. ET, after which the decision was announced.

No announcement was immediately available on a makeup date, but the two teams have plenty of options. In addition to common off-days April 30, June 15 and June 22, the White Sox come back to Detroit for two more series this year, a three-game set July 24-26 and the final weekend of the season, Oct. 2-4.

Wednesday was supposed to be the first career start at Comerica Park for Tigers rookie starter Rick Porcello. Given the conditions and the way they affected starters Zach Miner and Gavin Floyd on Monday, however, it might not have been a fair glimpse for fans at Detroit's top prospect. Both Miner and Floyd seemingly struggled to find a grip on baseballs, and their command suffered.

With Tuesday's rainout, plus scheduled off-days coming Thursday and next Monday, the Tigers shuffled their pitching rotation after the announcement. Porcello will make his next start Sunday at Seattle. Armando Galarraga will make his scheduled start Wednesday against Chicago, followed by Justin Verlander on the road Friday and Edwin Jackson on Saturday, both against Seattle. Galarraga is expected to start again next Tuesday against the Angels.

That leaves Miner out of the rotation until the Tigers need a fifth starter again. Becuase of the off-days, that won't be until next Saturday at Kansas City.

Porcello's situation, manager Jim Leyland said, did not factor into it.

"I don't get excited about stuff like that, because you can't control it," Leyland said of the weather. "You make the best decision you can and you live with it."

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Still Sucks that i didn't get to see Porcello pitch today

I was looking forward to it all week


Stupid Rainout

I wonder if Porcello's parents are still in town? I'd imagine they would be since they were at the Toronto game and Detroit isn't very far away. If they still work and were still in town they might have to miss their son's home debut.

catbox_9 wrote:

I wonder if Porcello's parents are still in town? I'd imagine they would be since they were at the Toronto game and Detroit isn't very far away. If they still work and were still in town they might have to miss their son's home debut.