Heading into this season, Brian Tallet's second year of arbitration eligibility, the Blue Jays nearly doubled the left-hander's 2009 salary, signing him for $2MM. Tallet hadn't enjoyed an overly successful 2009, recording a 5.32 ERA and 1.67 K/BB, but he was a useful innings eater for the Jays, starting 25 games and pitching 160.2 IP.
In 2010, Tallet hasn't even provided value as an innings eater, earning less than half the playing time he did a year ago. In 30 appearances (five starts), the southpaw, who turns 33 tomorrow, has seen his ERA (6.28) and BB/9 (4.5) rise, while his strikeout rate (5.9 K/9) has declined. Even if Tallet didn't receive a raise through arbitration this winter, it seems unlikely that the Jays would want to pay $2MM to a player coming off such an underwhelming season.
Tallet does have two factors working in his favor, however: three of Toronto's late-inning relievers (Kevin Gregg, Scott Downs, and Jason Frasor) are facing possible free agency, meaning there could be plenty of holes to fill in the club's bullpen. Plus, the silver lining in Tallet's 2010 season has been his ability to shut down left-handed hitters. In 106 plate appearances against Tallet, lefties have hit just .181/.236/.362, striking out 26 times. The Jays have plenty of other options to fill out their 2011 rotation, so they could decide to retain Tallet not in a starting or mop-up role, but as a left-handed specialist out of the 'pen. At $2MM, there are worse investments.
Still, the 32-year-old's numbers against lefties this year may not translate to future success – for his career, left-handers have a .740 OPS against Tallet. And even if he continued to shut down lefties, the market price for LOOGYs isn't high. It took Joe Beimel, who has filled a similar role in Colorado this season, nearly the entire offseason to land a one-year, $850K minor league deal with the Rockies.
Will Tallet be non-tendered by the Blue Jays? Click here to weigh in with your vote, and click here to view the results of the poll.
Anyone else getting a warning when they come here now?
I keep hearing about that but don’t see it. Whats going on?
This may be a bit biased, but I really think that Trystan Magnuson and Alan Farina deserve a shot in the ’11 Jays pen. Especially Magnuson.
Magnuson I can see, Farina maybe for 2012
Personally, I think Rzepchzyski is a lot better then he’s shown this year. I think with the log jam in the starting rotation, he could excel in the pen for the jays, he has great stuff and that changeup slider he throws is filthy. .
Litsch, Mcgowan, Mills, Stewart, Ray, Rzep, Magnuson, Lewis, could all be in the mix for spots for next year..
Camp, Jansen, Purcey, Roenicke, Should be back in there, so they can fill the jobs internally pretty easily. Should be an interesting spring training thats for sure. I hope AA starts packaging some arms to get some position players in to the system
I would keep Stewart as a starter but he needs to spend some time in AAA and build up his endurance.
Unless Drabek takes that 5th spot, I wouldn’t mind giving Zep another shot at starting but he’s got good stuff to become a solid reliever. He’s a deceptive delivery so I think he could work well as a reliever.
Ray would make a decent long man but I do not wants Mills on this team. Seriously enough of these junk ballers, get some power arms in the pen.
I think Mcgowan career is done.
If the Jays stay in the PCL with their AAA Affiliate, there is no chance in hell that Stewart spends time there. The Pacific Coast League is where you send pitchers to get slaughtered by batter friendly parks, jet streams, and generally inflated offensive numbers. Stewart should stay in New Hampshire if that’s the case and work on his game there.
Brad Mills isn’t really what I’d call a junkballer. He throws 88mph and is really doesn’t have “junk” pitches, per se. Pretty standard lefty with a fastball/slider/change/curve mix. I like his overhand slot and his delivery (mostly because it reminds me of an accordion falling down a flight of stairs), though. He has to be precise with it to make it work and to keep his deception, but when he’s on it, he’s an interesting pitcher to watch work.
Robby Ray’s been really unlucky with injuries in the last few years. As such, I’d really like to give him every chance to be in the big club next year. His arm action is so quick that it’s hard to see where he’s locating from pitch to pitch. He’s really good at taking off a few mph of his slider and getting people to chase early on it, which I very much like. He could use a bit more life on his fastball, though.
As for McGowan, who knows anymore? Next year is going to be the deciding point on where he is.
It’s not in Vegas next year, the contract is up and hopefully we don’t re-up it. Getting Stewart at AAA and letting him work for another year would be good for him.
By junk baller, I meant his fastball is pretty junk and very hittable. Marcum can work with it because he’s got the best change-up in the league but I want more power arms on this team. It’s got too many soft throwers and I believe I read somewhere saying AA wanted power arms as well, guys more like Morrow and Drabek type arm (not stuff wise but power arms).
Robert Ray has pitched decent so far and I think he could turn into a long way. Next year will be a big year for him.
With Oklahoma City being picked up by the Astros earlier today, Las Vegas is the only team left at the AAA level for the Jays to sign with. There’s rumours that the owners of the Edmonton Oilers have contacted the PCL about relocating the 51’s from Las Vegas to Edmonton. That’s pretty unlikely to happen, though. I guess it’s Vegas Vacations for the Blue Jays yet again.
With Oklahoma City being picked up by the Astros earlier today, Las Vegas is the only team left at the AAA level for the Jays to sign with. There’s rumours that the owners of the Edmonton Oilers have contacted the PCL about relocating the 51’s from Las Vegas to Edmonton. That’s pretty unlikely to happen, though. I guess it’s Vegas Vacations for the Blue Jays yet again.
They are back in Vegas next year, they signed a new contract with the Vancouver Canadians. As of right now they are back in Vegas for next year, i think they have 2 years left in vegas. .
They are back in Vegas next year, they signed a new contract with the Vancouver Canadians. As of right now they are back in Vegas for next year, i think they have 2 years left in vegas. .
It’s not in Vegas next year, the contract is up and hopefully we don’t re-up it. Getting Stewart at AAA and letting him work for another year would be good for him.
By junk baller, I meant his fastball is pretty junk and very hittable. Marcum can work with it because he’s got the best change-up in the league but I want more power arms on this team. It’s got too many soft throwers and I believe I read somewhere saying AA wanted power arms as well, guys more like Morrow and Drabek type arm (not stuff wise but power arms).
Robert Ray has pitched decent so far and I think he could turn into a long way. Next year will be a big year for him.
If the Jays stay in the PCL with their AAA Affiliate, there is no chance in hell that Stewart spends time there. The Pacific Coast League is where you send pitchers to get slaughtered by batter friendly parks, jet streams, and generally inflated offensive numbers. Stewart should stay in New Hampshire if that’s the case and work on his game there.
Brad Mills isn’t really what I’d call a junkballer. He throws 88mph and is really doesn’t have “junk” pitches, per se. Pretty standard lefty with a fastball/slider/change/curve mix. I like his overhand slot and his delivery (mostly because it reminds me of an accordion falling down a flight of stairs), though. He has to be precise with it to make it work and to keep his deception, but when he’s on it, he’s an interesting pitcher to watch work.
Robby Ray’s been really unlucky with injuries in the last few years. As such, I’d really like to give him every chance to be in the big club next year. His arm action is so quick that it’s hard to see where he’s locating from pitch to pitch. He’s really good at taking off a few mph of his slider and getting people to chase early on it, which I very much like. He could use a bit more life on his fastball, though.
As for McGowan, who knows anymore? Next year is going to be the deciding point on where he is.
Well so far the reports on Dustin’s latest surgery is that it went extremely well and they fixed the cartilage that lead to the soldier issues. He is cleared for throwing in november, which should give him and the jays enough time to assess the arm, his pitches and etc.. I personally hope this kid gets back, he’s moved down to florida to train every day, he’s so dedicated to make it back, you cant help but route for him..Stewart is an interesting situation. The kid was great the second half, but doesn’t have his arm stretched out to handle a big league load (thats what she said) but AA has said that he prefers not to have pitching prospects stashed in Vegas. Jays don’t often bring up pitchers as members of the bullpen then converting them back to starters, so many teams do it, perhaps jays do so as well.
Holy shizzzzzz snap! Fo’ real? Where did you see that? I’d like to ready that because I’ve heard absolutely nothing. And trust me man, I am rooting for him like every other Jays fan are.
Vegas contract is up and that’s why I said Stewart needs another year, he needs to stretch out that load. His innings limits wasn’t much either and he’s in a similar position where Morrow is in terms of durability. And he pitched fantastic after that injury and from most places I’ve read, he is a projected #2/#3 starter unless he can’t build his stamina, in which case he could perhaps become a closer or set-up man.
I didnt read it, on jays connected about 2-3 weeks ago they had a special on dusty, it was nice to see him, in the gym working out, they interviewed him, talked about the procedure, what was wrong, how they fixed it and his chances, etc etc etc maybe it’s posted somewhere on the jays site so you can watch?
I didnt read it, on jays connected about 2-3 weeks ago they had a special on dusty, it was nice to see him, in the gym working out, they interviewed him, talked about the procedure, what was wrong, how they fixed it and his chances, etc etc etc maybe it’s posted somewhere on the jays site so you can watch?
Holy shizzzzzz snap! Fo’ real? Where did you see that? I’d like to ready that because I’ve heard absolutely nothing. And trust me man, I am rooting for him like every other Jays fan are.
Vegas contract is up and that’s why I said Stewart needs another year, he needs to stretch out that load. His innings limits wasn’t much either and he’s in a similar position where Morrow is in terms of durability. And he pitched fantastic after that injury and from most places I’ve read, he is a projected #2/#3 starter unless he can’t build his stamina, in which case he could perhaps become a closer or set-up man.
Well so far the reports on Dustin’s latest surgery is that it went extremely well and they fixed the cartilage that lead to the soldier issues. He is cleared for throwing in november, which should give him and the jays enough time to assess the arm, his pitches and etc.. I personally hope this kid gets back, he’s moved down to florida to train every day, he’s so dedicated to make it back, you cant help but route for him..Stewart is an interesting situation. The kid was great the second half, but doesn’t have his arm stretched out to handle a big league load (thats what she said) but AA has said that he prefers not to have pitching prospects stashed in Vegas. Jays don’t often bring up pitchers as members of the bullpen then converting them back to starters, so many teams do it, perhaps jays do so as well.
Yeah it’s being reported as an attack site.
And honestly the better question is: Why the hell wouldn’t you non-tender Tallet? He is so plain god-awful and I hate the fact Cito keeps throwing him out there and it ends up being huge blowout games.
I agree. Tallet has been a car crash this season.
But that split against lefties was quite eye-opening. I think half of Tallet’s problem is Cito’s management of him. I wonder if a better manager with a greater command of the statistics can actually optimise Tallet’s (admittedly limited) advantages.
I am getting that warning as well
Tallet aside from his lefty righty splits this year(and overall record as a reliever) has been a very effective reliever in his career. He was especially good in 2008(as a crossover) when he was exclusively a reliever. It’s when he started getting starts in 2009(and 2010) that he has struggled.
I think he could be a very valuable reliever if left to strictly pitch out of the pen and especially as a LOOGY.
He’s been mis-used by Cito but it doesn’t change the fact he sucks now.
The only reason Tallet hasn’t been dfa’d this year was the fact that he really helped the team during the injury plagued 2009 season moving back and forth from the rotation to the pen. Cito is very loyal, but you have to anticipate that as Cito goes so to will Tallet.
They have Rzep, Mills and Purcey to fill the roles of downs and tallet in the pen.
Zep replaces Tallet and Purcey replaces Downs. That may not be that bad.
Zep is a huge upgrade over Tallet… Downs’ consistency will be missed. Purcey has done well this year, but the majority was not in critical situations. We’ll see what he can do next year, but purcey does have a great arm.. he’s david price minus control.
I haven’t seen a warning, but once in a while the site triggers my adobe reader to pop open, which is a virus. If anyone else gets that, don’t open Adobe and go to Task Manager, click on Processes and find the iexplorer.exe that has the insane amount of CPU usage. End it and it will refresh the page cleanly (usually).
As for Tallet, I’ve seen enough of his mustasche killing us, and watching Cito call him out in the stupidest situations. Anthopolous wants a rotation out of power arms, so Rzepczynski could fill that role.. maybe Mills. I’m just repeating moonraker45 :/
Remember when cito brought tallet in to a tie game in the ninth inning??? fun times….
Actually, I don’t remember. I was told I banged my head against the wall because of this occurance, and gave myself amnesia.
Actually, I don’t remember. I was told I banged my head against the wall because of this occurance, and gave myself amnesia.
Remember when cito brought tallet in to a tie game in the ninth inning??? fun times….
Hard to believe we are talking about a guy with a 6+ ERA
He is gone. Next!