Former American League Cy Young winner Rick Porcello seemingly stepped away from baseball with scarcely a word about his decision to do so following the 2020 season, but in a new appearance on the Bradfo Sho with WEEI’s Rob Bradford, the 33-year-old righty publicly confirmed for the first time that he has indeed retired.
“I wanted to be with my family,” said Porcello, who also tells Bradford that he and his brother built a house together in the two years since he’s last taken a big league mound. “I wanted to get back into that type of lifestyle and be around them because every year that you’re gone is another year where your parents are getting older, and your brothers are getting older.”
Porcello acknowledged that his struggles in his final two Major League seasons muted interest during the 2020-21 offseason, though it’s known that he at least drew some interest in a potential reunion with the Tigers that winter. No deal ever materialized, however, and Porcello has now apparently opted to dedicate his time and efforts to his family and to helping grow youth baseball in Vermont, where he and his brother built their aforementioned home. In addition to the full audio of the interview, Bradford has several lengthy quotes from Porcello on his decision to retire, on his struggles in 2019-20, on building that house and on his commitment to youth baseball in his column at WEEI.
Though his final game came in his age-31 season, Porcello still pitched a dozen full seasons in the Majors, thanks largely to the fact that he debuted as a 20-year-old rookie less than two years after the Tigers selected him with the No. 27 overall pick in the draft. Porcello finished third in 2009’s American League Rookie of the Year voting on the heels of a 3.96 ERA that he spun over the life of 170 2/3 innings.
Porcello was briefly optioned to Triple-A Toledo the following summer but otherwise never returned to the minors and practically never missed a start due to injury. The right-hander landed on the injured list just once in his 12-year career — a three-week absence due to a minor triceps strain in Aug. 2015. Porcello was the consummate workhorse, averaging 31 starts and 185 innings per season from 2009-19. He worked to a 4.36 ERA in 2037 1/3 innings along the way, and for a few years in the midst of that span, he peaked as one of baseball’s better pitchers.
At age 25 in 2014, Porcello enjoyed a breakout season, tallying a then-career-high 204 2/3 innings with a 3.43 ERA. Strikeouts were never a big part of the sinker specialist’s game, but Porcello thrived that season due to a tiny 4.9% walk rate, a strong 49% grounder rate and an average of just 0.79 homers per nine innings pitched. The Tigers, looking for some extra punch in their lineup, traded Porcello to the Red Sox in a deal that netted Yoenis Cespedes, Gabe Speier and Alex Wilson at the 2014 Winter Meetings, when both Porcello and Cespedes were just a season away from free agency.
However, Boston apparently had little intent of simply “renting” Porcello for a year, as the Sox inked him to a four-year, $82.5MM contract extension that spring. Porcello’s first season at Fenway set off alarm bells, as he tied a career-worst 4.92 ERA. The red flags disappeared when he not only rebounded in 2016 but shattered all of his career rate stats en route to a 3.15 ERA, an MLB-best 5.91 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a narrow win over former teammate Justin Verlander in 2016 American League Cy Young voting.
That season proved to be Porcello’s individual peak, but Porcello called the 2018 season “the crowning achievement in my career” due to a more team-oriented accolade, as he and the Red Sox shook off a pair of ALDS exits in 2016-17 to take home a World Series title. Porcello started 28 games for the ’18 Red Sox and pitched to a 4.28 ERA, adding 15 1/3 frames of 3.52 ERA ball in the postseason that year — including a Game 4, series-clinching ALDS victory at Yankee Stadium in which he held Boston’s archrivals to one run in five strong innings.
The following season, 2019, marked the beginning of the end for Porcello’s run in the Majors. He was tagged for a 5.52 ERA in 174 1/3 innings before heading out into free agency and signing a one-year deal with the Mets. True to form, he took the ball every fifth day for the Mets during the pandemic-shortened season and started a dozen of their 60 games, but Porcello’s struggles continued as he logged a 5.64 ERA in 59 innings.
In chatting with Bradford, Porcello acknowledged unsuccessfully trying to keep up with leaguewide changes that saw four-seam fastballs and sliders become increasingly en vogue; indeed, he threw a career-high 31.1% four-seamers and career-low 24.5% sinkers in 2019, and in 2020 he threw a career-high 29.2% sliders. None of those tweaks worked in his favor, and Porcello added that the pandemic afforded him “new perspective on life” and played a role in his decision to prioritize time spent with family rather than seek out a rebound campaign on the mound.
Though he’s retired at a young age, Porcello accomplished plenty in his 12 big league seasons. He’ll walk away from the game with a 150-125 record, a 4.40 ERA, 1561 strikeouts and just 489 walks in 2096 1/3 big league innings (plus another 40 innings of 4.73 ERA ball in the playoffs). Porcello was a top-three Rookie of the Year finisher, a Cy Young winner and a World Series champion in a career that FanGraphs valued at 29.6 wins above replacement. Between his original contract out of the draft (back when MLB deals were allowed for draftees), his arbitration earnings, his Red Sox extension and his Mets free-agent deal, Porcello earned more than $128MM. Best wishes to Porcello and his family in life after baseball.
Thank you for your contributions with Boston. Best wishes!
forever known as the worst cy young winner of all time
LOL
I distinctly remember that Verlander was completely left off the ballot by 2 writers from Tampa I believe. He was easily better than Porcello that season. Both of those writers should of been stripped of their votes. It would be akin to leaving Judge off this years MVP ballot. Shameful to do that to someone they clearly did not want to win because of something off the field.
Maybe/maybe not – Verlander did give up 7 more HRs and walked 25 more batters. It was a lot closer than folks think. ERAs about the same.
That award goes to Bartolo Colon. His Cy Young season was worse than Porcellos in every way and he beat out Johan Santana (who finished 3rd) who had a far better season than even JV had when Porcello won.
What do call a person who graduates last in his class in medical school?
Doctor.
Bad time to retire. Should have stuck around for a few more weeks and Texas would have given him a 100mil.
I like Porcello, but how he beat JV for the CY in 16 will always be a mystery to me.
Zack Britton should have won that year imo. One of the best relief performances ever.
Britton – 67 IP, 2.5 WAR
Verlander – 227 IP, 5.4 WAR
I wouldn’t have voted for Britton but to act like those are the only two pitcher stats that matter is insane.
Verlander was 7.4
Yeah because that’s what I said.
when you’re talking about winning a CY, innings pitched is pretty important to overall value. Sorry I didn’t write a 16 paragraph fangraphs deep dive story on why the JV was more valuable to any one with sense than Britton that year. Will try to do better next time darkside
Also, I’m skeptical on the accuracy of WAR for pitchers. I think there is like a 1.5ish war room for error. War is a good way to summarize a a player with one number, but there is also room for error and interpretation. Just my thoughts.
bWAR for pitchers is trash
I was joking about him winning, a relief pitcher should never win! But I’d take brittons 67 innings over anybody else’s 67 innings. Remember when eckersly won MVP as reliever? What a joke.
There should be a Mariano award for best reliever of the year. It’s an important position that should be recognized.
Wait isn’t there?
Albert Belle losing the MVP to Mo Vaughn was even worse.
22-4! Only explanation for this odd vote, though I seem to recall Verlander received more first place votes than Porcello. Maybe…
2 voters left JV off entirely
The Red Sox were a feel-good story that year, worst to first, and the AL East was stacked, and Porcello pitched well and led the staff. Verlander was in Detroit pitching to the same old AL Central trash for half of his games. It shouldnt have been a shock that Porcello won. He deserved it that year. All this talk now that Porcello is trash and JV should have won it is all revisionist history
Its not revisionist history, as it was immediately brought up. Kate’s tweets were priceless.
Hell of a run. Enjoy retirement, brother!
Respectable choices – all the best, RP.
Robbed Verlander.
And just how did he “rob” Verlander? Porcello didn’t award the award to himself, A panel of experts did that. What was he supposed to do, refuse it? You wouldn’t have.
The stupidity of some of the comments today deserves an award all by themselves.
“experts”
@PK gee chill out I’m sorry I forgot everything has to be literal.
People who think Verlander was robbed are dumb. Percello has a better BB/9, BB%, K/BB, FIP, ERA- and HR/9. Verlander had a good advantage in K rates, but virtually everything else was close.
At first I thought “oh, he wanted to spend more time with his wife and kids” but then he said something about his parents and his brothers and it occurred to me that Rick Porcello just quit baseball to move back into his childhood home and be a kid again and now I’m concerned for Rick Porcello.
If you stay a kid your whole life , you’ll live long and happy , look good , energetic , feel good forever. Wad of cash in bank helps achieve that.
Kudos to you Rick
No, he’s moved to Vermont. He grew up in Morristown, NJ. Went to Seton Hall Prep.
They are a very close family. Good person.
There’s more to life than playing baseball and he’s moved on. Good for him.
The absolute worst CY of my lifetime. Definitely should have gone to Verlander.
Here’s a surprise! – 1977 – Sparky Lyle (AL) – hmmmmm
R.A Dickey
R.A. Dickey had a really good year that year. He had a 5.7 WAR to Kershaw’s 6.4 Dickey had more wins, innings, and strikeouts; only 0.03 difference in WHIP.
Dickey received 27 of the 32 first place votes. Verlander had more 1st places votes than Porcello (14 vs 8).
Also, Dickey did have better career numbers than Porcello.
I mostly just meant overall, he was an underdog his whole career and didn’t come around till later. I watched him start his career with the Rangers and I remember he threw some of the worst games I’ve ever seen.
Zito over Pedro was bad…
I know it’s not an end all be all, but Zito had a higher WAR (7.2 vs 6.5) than Pedro that year. For comparison Verlander had a 7.4 vs Porcello’s 4.7 So much more of a disparity.
bWAR is trash. fWAR they were tied until fangraphs updated their formula, giving Verland an edge if a whopping .3. Ks was the one thing Verlander was easily better in and even with that Porcello still had a higher K/BB than Verlander.
Verlander had a lower ERA and much more strikeouts.. The only stat Porcello had on Verlander was Wins.
Verlander also had 25 BBs and gave up 7 more HRS. ERA were about the same. Genug!
All the best in retirement, Rick. After he’s settled in to his new chapter in life he can FedEx the 2016 AL Cy Young award to Justin Verlander since the voters obviously misplaced it that year.
After a few seasons sitting in the low 90s and getting hammered, one game Porcello got mad and amped it up a bit. He hit three guys and uncorked one to the backstop. I was at that game and it occurred to me, “Good, he’s not content to just be a back of the rotation guy.” Too bad he couldn’t have rediscovered that Rick Porcello.
I was hoping a return to Detroit, but, enjoy your retirement !
I wish I could have retired in my 30’s !! 🙂
No kidding! Porcello like Fister were two players I really wanted to see back in Detroit.
Congratulations Rick!
I’m shocked he’s only 33. He ‘bodyslammed’ Youkilis back in what? 09??
I misread that as bodyslammed Yokozuna.
128 Million for 12 seasons of work is a very nice retirement fund
Plus whenever his pension kicks in.
I think I recall reading that the pension is sort of like Social Security. Longer you wait to draw, the higher the annual amount.
Thought it was really strange that no one ever picked him up, despite the struggles the last two seasons of his career. But good for him. I wish him all the best
Am I the only one that was shocked to see he was only 33 yrs old? Seems like he was around forever before not pitching the past few years. He was decent for a spell, good luck in his future endeavors.
“I wanted to be with my family,” said Porcello, who also tells Bradford that he and his brother built a house together in the two years since he’s last taken a big league mound.
He decided to be Tom Silva instead of Bartolo Colon.
Good for him.
Won a Cy Young, got a ring, and he is only in his early 30s. I’d call that a good career and I’m sure the 128M he earned is a nice addition.
James, my thoughts exactly. He has a lot to be proud of.
Good luck in retirement, Rick! We’ll done!
I was alarmed during a interview he gave, following his last game in Detroit, when you could tell he knew the writing was on the wall. I believe his style of pitching was suited for Comerica Park, and wish they would have paid him.
Good luck to him, hope he enjoys early retirement! Hopefully, he finds some other avenues to occupy his time. Being retired for 40+ years, would be challenging.
Who?
Very nice career. Hope he enjoys the fruits of his labor.congrats.
Love these posts where guys “announce” retirement, when it feels like they’ve been retired for years already.
He was being interviewed, and probably just answered a question.
“This is Rick Porcello,” he said to the listeners of the podcast. “I want to tell all the listeners I’m retired. Thank you for all the great memories, and thanks for everything.”
Congrats Rick P. – Winner: Cy Young, WS Champion
Next stop… Hall of Fame
Wow, 150 wins in 11 years despite a 4.40 career ERA. Very lucky. Also very lucky to win a CY despite not having a sub 3.00 ERA ever or ever striking out 200 in a season. He was nothing special and I won’t miss watching him pitch. Glad he retired. Might be looked at as a harsh take, but true.
Lol extremely harsh dude
Only 265 people on this planet have accrued 150 plus wins in mlb , to me they are all special. Great athletes all of them.
How many of us wish no matter how hard we train , that we had just a smidgen of the talent of any of those individuals.
Out of those 265 how many have never had a sub 3 ERA or struck out 200 in a season?
Without checking I’m guessing for sure Mark Buehrle
Yes good call. But Buehrle had a 59 career WAR compared to 18 for Porcello.
007, and I bet even less than that have his sort of career earnings! He probably has a cool 80mil in the bank.
18 career WAR so was he worth the cool money?
You didn’t read the article. Sigh.
Lyman, zip it up son. I was talking to 007.
If you have to throw out the MLB context and compare him to ordinary men to describe how special his MLB career was then yeah. But in the context of professional athletes he was nothing special. If he was, why didn’t he ever have 200 k’s or a sub 3.14 ERA in a season? Why does he have a 4.40 career eta and why did he stop lashing at 31? Context is everything.
Indeed context is everything.
I was once a wannabe athlete in my 20s.
I think anybody who even gets a cup of coffee in mlb is special. Very special.
Context of an MLB sure he wasn’t “special “ But I think you’re kinda crapping on a guy for no reason , unless you’re actuall Ben Verlander lol
Don’t get the Ben Verlander joke but I’m only arguing that he was very lucky to have communes 150 wins and a CY without being special by MLB standards. DeGrom for example has only 82 wins I think.
No Lyman, you are arguing for the mere SAKE of arguing..Take it elsewhere!
I don’t take order from you. Obviously certain people can’t handle a friendly sports debate. You included. I’m passionate about the history of the game so I take it seriously when we call someone special who really wasn’t. I backed up my argument by researching the stats. I’m not just spewing nonsense and firing from the hip. I’m not insulting anyone or trying to dismiss anyone’s opinion. Just disagreeing, and stating why.
Attaboy Lyman don’t take no sh!!t from anyone! Not even me! Just testing you.
Yes he was very lucky. Especially to have played for excellent teams as opposed to many guys stuck on terrible teams their whole career.
That continues to be your cop out. But my first post wasn’t a response to you or anyone else. You responded to my post. So how can I be baiting you into an argument when I was even posting to you in the first place? You reacted to my post, not the other way around. And again, what exactly in my original post do you disagree with? I said …
“Wow, 150 wins in 11 years despite a 4.40 career ERA. Very lucky. Also very lucky to win a CY despite not having a sub 3.00 ERA ever or ever striking out 200 in a season. He was nothing special and I won’t miss watching him pitch. Glad he retired. Might be looked at as a harsh take, but true.”
None of that was a response or argument to anything anyone said. That was just my take on his career.
Are you saying he was fun to watch? Are you saying he wasn’t lucky to amass 150 wins and CY with this numbers? But you don’t want to have a baseball argument. You made that clear when you called me a jerk and dismissed me as just wanting to argue for the sake of arguing. But was he anything special? Was he fun to watch? Overall, of course not.
Somebody please tell me what Rick Porcello did to this poor man. Good lord. That’s enough dude
One thing that is absolutely special about Porcello is that he is one of the select few who both
A) had a long, consistently productive career
and
B) absolutely 100% maximized his talent during his peak. He reached the pinnacle of what his mind and body could do that Cy Young season. Never known to be a power arm but found his niche and absolutely knocked it outta the park. Kuddos to him
4.40 ERA never striking out 200 in a season speaks for itself. We all know wins are the most pointless stat when evaluating a SP
I’ll take all the 15 win pitchers I can on my team. When Morris and Perry came up with the Tigers, they both had excellent arms. Morris, however, would win the 1-0 game while Perry would lose it. Wins are meaningless for relievers. For Starters, they are extremely important. If you can’t pitch better than your competition, if you can’t pitch a minimum of six innings, you’re not going to get W’s. That’s why Verlander and Scherzer get paid the big bucks. They Win!
I think that’s a great point stymee that often goes overlooked. Each game starts with the competition between the two starting pitchers and who gives up less runs before they leave. That is how you get a win, and that itself can also be considered an attribute; the ability to pitch above your competition; NOT below, consistently.
He played only 11 years and last pitches at 31. That’s a long career in your opinion? One of the worst CY winners of all time. Never had a sub 3 ERA never stuck out 200 in a season.
Haha, guys sure come of the woods here to argue weird things. You are not under the impression that 11 years is a long career? Sheesh.
And I agree that his cy young season was a weak one by the standards of the award. But man, that year, I don’t think he could have been any better. To have that low of an E.R.A. In Fenway without wipeout stuff is absolutely an impressive feat. To you? Maybe not. Lol
If by you guys you mean me, I’ve been a reader on this site since it’s inception and am a long time poster. I can’t agree with you if you think 11 years of a 18 career WAR and 4.40 career ERA is anything special.
Ha, whoah big guy sorry didn’t realize your credentials here. However, impressive as they may be (lol) credentials don’t put you in charge of declaring what is and isn’t impressive TO ME. In my mind, a ring a cy young and an 11 year career is enough for me to tip my cap as a baseball fan. That’s all I did. Merry Christmas fella
Are you actually Ben Verlander ?
When he immediately replied with, “I don’t get the Ben Verlander joke,” I immediately knew that he was in fact Ben Verlander.
To think the Tigers had 3 Cy Young winners and couldn’t bring home a Championship….
Nope. But if you can’t get the high strikeouts, you have to actually PITCH, rather than throw.
18 career WAR bro. You’re too easily impressed
“Sigh” dude I’m not making a case for guy to get into the hall. You are reading too deep into my comments, looking for a fight. Go re read and then tell me what I’ve said that put pee in your Wheatley’s this morning
*Wheaties. Breakfast of champs!
Absolutely special and select few was where I took my exception with your comment. Also the long career and kudos I found to be pretentious. It’s just sports talk dude.
If you’re impressed with his career and think it was long and special, I disagree. Suggesting perhaps you’re easily impressed just comes from you using those terms for someone with his stats who left baseball at 31. I don’t think that’s personal or disrespectful. Maybe just admit you were being a little hyperbolic. Which is what I think.
This talk about urinating on a cereal as some kind of analogy is weird to me. If you disagree with my baseball argument then can’t you express that without some weird urine and cereal analogy?
Hey, I’ve said my my peace. I think he had an impressive career, you don’t. I think that’s the end of the discussion. Unless; you’re actually concerned with trying to “win” some sort of argument? I’m not arguing with you my man. You say it’s not impressive, I believe that you feel that way. fun talk!
What a jerk. Lol
Sorry for you that you can’t argue Baseball without insulting someone who disagrees with you.
Hey, I’m sorry that I don’t WANT to argue with you. I apologize, but I really just don’t think anything you’ve said is convincing of anything other than the fact that you don’t like Porcello. And I’m sorry about that. I’m here to discuss. Not attack. Especially over something as dumb as whether or not 11 years is a long career
I mean, cmon guy. Take a step back. You’re doing nothing but trying to start fires in this thread, and you’re grasping at straws to do so. 11 years isn’t a long career? Lol man gtfoh. Try again tomorrow
11 year career is above average for a typical MLB player. Fewer than 10% of all guys who play MLB baseball make it 10 years. So yes, I would agree with you that is an impressive length of a career. Lyman is someone who just likes to argue with people. Pay him no mind.
Yes, I’m arguing my point about Porcello. But it’s because I really love arguing and talking baseball and sports in general. I really don’t agree that his career was anything special or impressive, in the context of comparing him historically to other players. Sure in any sport the lifespan is very short. But retiring at 31 in baseball is not a great success. Especially when you’re retiring due to performance issues. What was so wrong about my initial post that he was lucky to win 150 with a 4.40 ERA and 18 career war? You’re getting personal saying I like to argue just to argue, but what’s so crazy about standing my ground and backing it up with stats? Not to mention I watched him pitch his whole career and was never really that impressed. He wasn’t a fun player to watch. He did have a magical and lucky season, but I’d argue it was one of the worst CY seasons of all time. Instead of judging me personally and writing me off and liking to argue, why don’t we debate who had a worse CY season? Plus, what’s wrong with arguing sports, isn’t that was this thread is about? I can’t be the only avid baseball fan that doesn’t think Porcello had a special and long career when he retire at 31 with 18 WAR and a 4.40 ERA
Cy Young? No scratch that.
Of all the young Detroit pitchers that they had I was always surprised that Daniel Schlerith didn’t have more success in his career, with Porcello, Max and Verlander
I agree! Mike Maroth was another one who comes to mind
And then he realizes being around family ain’t that great.
Porcello could be both lights out and infuriating from outing to outing and definitely seemed to have that Ervin Santana alternating of good and bad years. Big part of the 2018 Sox championship team. Enjoy retirement
Well now he has more time to spend with his grandson Morty
Always liked him when he was a Tiger. Wish him well in retirement. We kind of all knew that is what he did but nice to actually hear him say it.
Weird thread for a guy who basically took the ball almost every fifth day for 12yrs, made over 120million, etc etc….
Am sure everyone on this site would trade their last 14yrs for his……(minus the whole “not me, then my child would not have been born” syfy crowd….)
*Verlander at this point has probably gotten over 2016….
*Porcello probably can look back on his career and understand his place in BB history.
Here’s to wishing some decent investments were made and having the ability to choose your next career!
Successive ERA’s north of 5.50 will indeed result in a “new perspective on life”.
I think he was a mediocre pitcher who had a special rookie season and then that one special CY season. Which is probably the least impressive CY year I can think of. At 31 I think it’s fair to say his career ended shorter than he or any of us would have expected.
The 18 career WAR and 4.40 ERA with low K’s paint the exact picture of mediocrity. Especially when those career number do include a CY season. I’m not trying to trash him for the sake or arguing to be a jerk … I just don’t think that’s impressive overall. But yet I’ve been told to shut up, been told I just like to argue for the sake of arguing, been called a jerk, been told I didn’t read the post and been told that I came out of the woods with my opinion and I’m just cranky because someone peed in my cereal and should be ignored. Seems like a lot of bullying to me, for I guess having an unpopular opinion. But I respectfully stand behind it.
It’s times like this I wish the writers on this site or at least the writer of this post would chime in
I feel like I’m being gaslighted into thinking porcello had a long and special career when I just don’t see it lol. Am I crazy, or just an argumentative jerk for just not seeing it?
it definitely isnt the writers’ place to butt in here at all; the majority of commenters came to this space to congratulate a man on a successful career and retirement to do the things he wants to do in his life. even if we dont agree with the awards he won or accolades that people are giving him, he still made a good amount of money(to put it lightly) doing what we all dream to do, and for double digit years, and nobody was saying much else other than a congratulations to Rick. argue and speculate about the trade and free agent rumors, but leave this retirement post for more positive things
Site’s generally take on the character of the creators and managers, and in the case of MLBTR it’s “all players are great because they made it to MLB” and some just happen to be better thasn others. It’s not just a modern sports phenomena but a trend in many occupations; everyone gets a participation award and if you make an observation regarding a skill level, you’ll be cancelled.
Yeah that’s what I’m experiencing here. Makes me not want to even participate anymore. If everyone wants to bow down to an 11 year career with a 4.40 ERA and 18 WAR then I’ll just take my opinions somewhere else or keep them amongst my friends. None of my hardcore baseball fan friends would have a problem with saying anything I said about Porcello. But what’s the point of posting my opinions if they’re just going to be met with distain.
That’s a fair take, I don’t dislike your perspective. I do have a negative take on Porcello’s career, there’s no doubt. I also can reference statistics to back that up from a baseball perspective. He def wasn’t worth the money he made. I live in NY where things are real and sometimes that can be harsh. I’m seeing that the popular vibe on this thread is to be positive and not point out the flaws. So be it then. I’ll hesitate next time I think about saying something negative about a player. It’s just funny because when I stick up for Kyrie in NBA or Watson in the NFL, no one wants to hear it. They’re called thugs and no one wants to hear the other side. But if you criticize porcellos career performance there’s a huge backlash. But I don’t comment to get likes or appease my fellow posters. I just do it to put my opinions out there because I’m a passionate sports fan and I’m always going to be honest and open and most of all, respectful of everyone else’s opinion. Even if they disagree with me or not. What I take exception to, is all the insults thrown at me just because I had a different perspective on Porcello’s career. Here in NY and on all sports podcasts I listen to, it’s fair game to have a negative perspective on any player. You back it up with stats and facts and make your argument logically. I didn’t realize this thread was just meant for congratulating and posting positive remarks about this retiring player. Having said that, there was nothing I said about him that I didn’t take the time to research and make sure sure the facts and data backed up first. So it is what it is. I’m going to strongly consider not voicing my opinions on this site as much, since it’s just pissing most people off. That is certainly not my intention.
Nobody here argued that the guy was an elite player, or a great player, or a hall of famer. None of that. Nobody. Go back up and read carefully. You gaslighted yourself. You are seeing what you want to see; you obviously came in here with the predisposed notion that Porcello was going to to be inducted into the MLBtraderumors elite club, and when for example I said “he had a good career and maximized his talent;” you somehow took that as “OMG PORCELLO WAS THE BEST EVER OMG SUCK HIM OFF”
That’s not what’s happening here man, just some simple appreciation for an absolutely solid career from a bunch of baseball fans.
You said he had a long and special and consistently productive career. No he didn’t. No stats back that up at all. Plus, you couldn’t have this disagreement with me without name calling. Now you’re still gaslighting me trying to make me think I was just arguing against myself while all sorts of people posted insults at me, including you calling me a jerk.
*long
Dude. You don’t think 10 consecutive years of being a major league starter, without interruption; isn’t consistent success? This is why I didn’t want to get into it with you; I disagree with you there, fundamentally. I didn’t say the guy was consistently an all star, I didn’t say he was consistently great, I said he was CONSISTENTLY PRODUCTIVE. That’s all man.
I am just discussing your perceived issue with this thread and the rebuttals to your weak statements. I assumed you were actually looking for answers to your questions and not just trying to bait me into arguing with you.
I WAS WRONG! LOL
If you had argued that fangraphs had him at 29 WAR or made an actually fact based argument then I could have respected that. But you basically just called me a jerk and keep saying that I’m just aching for the sake of arguing. And no, I don’t think retiring after 11 or 12 years at 31 is what any major league pitcher aspires to. I’m sure Porcello is disappointed by that too. To me, it’s a not a long career when put into perspective. Using another sport, take Andrew luck for example. The avg NFL career is 4 years long. But anyone would say that lucks career was ended short due to early retirement because of concussions and his wife who also made a lot of money as a world class gymnast. But whatever we agree or not doesn’t take away the fact that you couldn’t have this sports debate with me civilly. You called me a jerk and invalidated my points by saying I’m arguing just to argue.
And no, when you have ERA’s above 4 and 5 multiple times in a 12 year period, that is not at all consistent success. Of course it isn’t. If he was consistent he’s still be pitching.
So many words to say absolutely so little. You’re trying so hard and I feel bad for upsetting you. I’m sorry. Genuinely
Like, again. You barked 500000 words just to say “I don’t agree that Porcello was consistently productive.”
Why not just say that? Just say that.
A very mediocre pitcher who stole a Cy Young that rightfully belonged to Verlander.
And yes, I’m a Red Sox fan.
People should take a lesson from Lyman Bostock who had a 13 WAR over only 4 seasons before he was tragically murdered. His first season after signing a FA contract he played bad and tried to give the money back to the franchise. He felt he didn’t earn it. This is a fellow black man in the 70’s mind you.
When the angels wouldn’t take his money he donated it to charity. He had integrity. He wasn’t afraid to embrace his negative results and take responsibility for them. That’s why I honor him with my tag.
Huge contrast to todays attitude where people are like hey Porcello had a 18 career war in 11 years but he’s rich and you wish you were him. Smh. It’s just the way it is.
But sure let’s all praise Porcello for his mediocre career where he heisted almost 100 mil from teams for 18 wins above replacement. And let’s shut up and silence and bully anyone who doesn’t share that same praise. This is the world we live in now.
18 war over 11 years = 1.6 war per season
Aka
CONSISTENTLY PRODUCTIVE!
Lol
Except according to baseball reference he only had 5 seasons of 2+ WAR and 6 seasons of below 1 WAR. So is that really consistent? Am I analyzing his career stats or just being an argumentative jerk for taking the time to research that and post the results of my research?
Lyman, Your tenacity is admirable.
I can’t get worked up about Rick Porcello.
This dude said he was done 27 posts ago.
Definitely Ben Verlander.
Loved him with the Sox. They definitely overpaid him but I liked his Bulldog mentality. He could get shelled in the first two innings and still settle down and hold them there. He didn’t really deserve the Cy Young but it was fun watchin ya Rick. Best o’luck
It felt like he pitched for 20+ season. He’s been in the league since 2009…
Well, he hasn’t been around for 2 years. I wondered why nobody signed him toward the end of the 2021 season. But, now we know he never got an offer he liked.
I can’t say I fault him for walking away, like he did. Some things are more important than money. Time is certainly one of them.
Happy retirement, Ricky. I’ll always remember you being so young and pitching very well in “Game 163” back in 2009.
Hey, he made $128M in his career….with any financial savvy at all he still has to have $50M…..how much money can a guy spend anyway? I recall a sense of calm when Ricky was starting…he wasn’t a gas guy, his sinker had late-break and he could fight a little when he had to. 150 wins….not bad.
Another casualty of the Covid era. We may never know the true damage that crap did to our world. Totally understand his decision and wish him the best.
Congratulations, Rick Porcello!
He will forever be remembered in my heart for throwing Kevin Youkilis onto his stupid looking face when he charged the mound against Rick.
I met him once and he looked more like a basketball player because of his size.