Despite Rough Spring, I Expect Big Things From Ryan Perry

It has been a rough March for the flame-throwing, late inning reliever Ryan Perry. However, Spring Training numbers are sometimes a bit misleading. It is a small sample size of data and pitchers are often working on things. Not that I am making an excuse for all of Perry’s misfortune. Things have indeed been rough, just call me optimistic I guess.

How rough have things been?

After ten innings this spring, Perry currently sports a 5.40 ERA. Perhaps even odder than that is the fact that he has only racked up three strikeouts. He has also allowed eighteen–not  a typo—eighteen base-runners.

So, after reading the headline I bet you are a bit confused.  The guy is doing terrible, why am I so optimistic?

Despite his struggles this month, I have great confidence in Ryan Perry. With the success of the newly acquired Joaquin Benoit, Ryan Perry will now likely pitch in the seventh inning. The low pressure situations should work wonders on his results. In addition to the new role, Perry was very impressive the second half of last season. In his final 38 innings of work he posted a 2.37 ERA and opposing batters hit just .215 against him.

After taking the fast track to the big leagues, Perry was forced to learn and make adjustments on the job.This season will be the 24 year-olds third season with the Detroit Tigers. He is no longer the rookie first-round draft pick. He has logged innings and It is simply time for him to step-up.

With many writers currently making predictions on who will succeed and fail this season, allow me to go out on a limb. Ryan Perry will take a big step forward this season.

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