It's Time To Send Purcey Packing

The David Purcey Experiment for the Tigers has more than run it's course. General Manager Dave Dombrowski told fans that he had been trying to acquire the pitcher for some time before finally being able to secure him in a trade that cost the Tigers Scott Sizemore. He might want to back away from that statement any time now, because Purcey is garbage.

In his first several outings he struck out eight of nine batters he faced, but since then Purcey has demonstrated exactly why he is on his third team this season.

In a recent outing against the Oakland Athletics the Tigers put Purcey on the mound with a lead and he went on to promptly walk the bases loaded and hand the ball off to someone else to deal with the mess he had just made. All three of those walked batters came around to score, meaning that Purcey's line looked like this; 0 IP, 0 H, 3 BB, 3 ER and an undefined ERA.

And it wasn't just a one time thing either, in his last nine appearances Purcey has a 12.46 ERA. His outings have broken down like this; 15 H, 12 BB, 12 ER. Now is this the arm that Dombrowski said he had been trying to get for a few years? Let's hope not.

Many Tigers fans remember each outing by former closer Todd Jones as a mix of excitement and sheer terror, lending Jones the nickname "Roller Coaster Jones." It seemed as though he wanted to make each one of his appearances exciting and would walk several batters and allow a hit or two before closing out the game.

If Jones was "Roller Coaster Jones," then Purcey is on a whole new level, possibly "Hindenburg Purcey." He comes out and gives the appearance of being capable and may even start his appearance going well but regardless of how it starts he always manages to go down in flames. 

Dombrowski has made it abundantly clear that he is trying to win now, possibly to save his own job, but if that's the case then why is Purcey still on the 40-man roster? These kind of numbers have sent others to the minors before, they should send Purcey down as well. Although Mud Hens fans may not want him either.

With the recent move to send Lester Oliveros back to Toledo in order to bring up Chance Ruffin, it brings up the question; What exactly do you have to do to be sent down around here? It took an eternity to send Brandon Inge to Toledo and now the clock is ticking on Purcey. Oliveros by no means has had an outstanding few weeks in Detroit, but he has performed much better than Purcey.

Granted Purcey is left-handed, but that shouldn't factor into an evaluation of his performance. He is not performing and needs to be sent somewhere where he won't hurt this club any more. Either send him to Toledo or tape a twenty to his forehead and try to trade him for a bucket of baseballs.

At least the baseballs would be useful.