As much as I have loved Phil Coke ever since he came over to Detroit in the Curtis Granderson trade, he is not a starting pitcher. Even when he was pitching in New York, there was something about him that I just enjoyed. It's his energy. Coming out of the bullpen, that is what a team needs in the middle of the game. Someone to come out and bring in energy. But that's all he is. A reliever who can pitch two or three strong innings and give way to a set up man and then the closer. And that is what I saw tonight against the lowly Seattle Mariners (sorry Lauren, it's true). He pitched well enough for four innings and then BOOM! Implosion, party of one.
I don't know if Andy Oliver is ready for the Show, but if he is the next big thing for the Tigers organization, why not? Have him be the fifth starter and learn. I know that Coke is a veteran and can handle the pressure of being in the spotlight, but a starting pitcher he is not.
So far this season, the bats have woken up and can keep the Tigs in the game, but having a couple of starting pitchers that are shaky (Brad Penny and Rick Porcello I'm looking your way too) puts more pressure on the other pitchers and the batters.
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