When Porcello got into trouble Manager Jim Leyland went to his bullpen to try to stop the problem before it got out of hand. His choice was to go with Phil Coke, who was called in to face a left-handed batter and promptly allowed him to reach base.
Although this runner did not ultimately come around to score the "Phil Coke Experiment" has proved to be a grand failure.
As a starter Coke was unable to get things together and win more than one game, becoming for all intents and purposes a liability for the team. Finally, the front office and Leyland realized their mistake and moved Coke to the bullpen where they could use him in specific situations.
However, this plan too backfired. Similar to David Purcey, who was blessingly outrighted to Toledo, Coke has exhibited a stunning ability to miss the plate on a consistent basis. While he does show his work ethic every time he sprints from the pen to the mound, the product that he displays once there is sub-par to say the least.
A look at Coke's numbers reveals just how much he has struggled this season; 1-8, 4.84 ERA and a 1.522 WHIP. His WAR further shows his problems this season, he has a -0.3 WAR this season. Meaning that he costs the Tigers 0.3 games a season as opposed to his replacement.
Purcey was sent down to Toledo because he displayed a complete and total inability to find the strike zone even if the umpire pointed it to him. Coke is not to that point yet, but his struggles with the Tigers so far this season have showed that he is not to be called on in clutch situations, not a good tag to have in a playoff stretch run.
In the end the Tigers need to do what is in the best interest of both the club and Coke; and the best option right now is to send Coke to Toledo to work on his control. He has the work ethic, which means that a demotion to Toledo would do a world of good for Coke. Send him down, for everyone's sake.
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