All I have to say for those of you were hoping for Phil Coke to rejoin the Detroit Tigers rotation, I say too bad. In my opinion, Coke was at his best in the rotation, he just looked so much more comfortable in that kind of role. It sounds like the key people in the Tigers organization feel the same way, mainly general manager Dave Dombrowski.
“I saw that written somewhere, but we’re not going to do that,” Dombrowski said Tuesday afternoon. “He’s our bullpen lefty.” (James Schmehl of MLive.com)
The numbers COMPLETELY back up the decision. Here’s his 2011 splits.
Starter: 14 appearances with a 4.82 ERA and a 1-7 record.
Reliever: 34 appearances with a 3.71 ERA and a 2-2 record.
I know, earned run average isn’t the end all be all when it comes to judging a pitcher. Here’s where I think Coke is better in the bullpen and it doesn’t involve him being a lefty. His control is insanely better in the relief role.
Starter: 1.47 WHIP, 4.5 SO/9 an...
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