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Who will make up our bullpen?

We've looked at a few other positions, I think one of the biggest battles in spring training will be to see who makes our bullpen. I would imagine the plan is to have 7 pitchers in the bullpen. So mix and match from the following to let us know who you would put in the pen:

Jason Frasor: One of the sure things, likely to be closer. Had his best season last year, with a 2.50 ERA and 11 saves. Cito likes him. I hope he can hold up.

Scott Downs: Another sure thing, if he can stay healthy. Despite all the injures last year he still got into 48 games. 3.09 ERA, 9 saves. ERA is up from the 2.17 in 2007 and 1.78 in 2008. Again Cito likes him, too much really, when he's healthy he's out there any time we have a lead of the game is close. I hope Cito learns to use the whole pen this year but I wouldn't hold my breath. Throws strikes and gets ground balls.

Jesse Carlson: Another lefty, Been a favorite of mine since he came into a game with the bases loaded and no one out and didn't allow a run against Texas when he first came up in 2008. Didn't have as good a year last year, I felt he was over use, he pitched in 73 games and relies some on a deceptive delivery. Has options so might end up going up and down some but Cito likes him a lot. The 4.66 ERA last year didn't look as good as the 2.25 ERA in his rookie year.

Shawn Camp: Filled the role of right handed long man last year and did very well at it with a 3.50 ERA, his best in 6 major league seasons. Pitched 79.2 innings in 59 games so didn't suffer from lack of use, likely will be the same this year. I didn't know what the Jays saw in him when they picked him up after he had a 7.20 ERA in 2007 with the Rays but he's been quite good. Has more troubles with lefties than righties. 

Casey Janssen: I'm not sure what the plan is for Casey, he was terrific as a reliever in 2007 with a 2.35 ERA, after missing 2008 with an injury it seemed like everything he threw last year went straight. When he's on he get ground balls by the bunches. He needs a good spring. 

Josh Roenicke: Part of what we got for Scott Rolen. He didn't exactly set the world on fire is his brief time with us, a 7.13 ERA in 17.2 innings, with 19 k and 12 walks. He throws hard, but doesn't have the best of control at times. He's a potential closer if he can find the plate. 

Jeremy Accardo: Last year's yo-yo. I believe he's out of options now so he shouldn't have to worry about that this year. He was our closer in 2007 with a 2.14 ERA so we know he can do the job but last year he walked 17 in 24.3 innings. I understand very few things in how Cito chooses players he likes and dislikes but walking guys is something I know will not get you a warm play in his heart. I am sure he feels he has a lot to prove this year. 

Dirk Hayhurst: A favorite around here, I'm sure he is on the bubble as far as making the team. Has options left, so he could be this year's yo-yo. Would be fine as a long man. He's not going to strike out a bunch so he needs the defense to help him out.

Zechry Zinicola: Our rule 5 pickup. He has to stay on the team for us to keep him. I guess the question is 'will we want to keep him'. His minor league numbers are here. Dana Brown, special assistant to Alex Anthopoulos, came over from the Washington Nationals and knows him and obviously there is something there he likes. He can strike guys out, but I'm not sure he's ready to be a major leaguer. And with a young pitching staff I'm not sure we can hide a pitcher in our pen.

Merkin Valdez: We just picked him up from the Giants. He throws hard, walked too many last year. Guys that throw hard always will get chances in the bullpen. He's got an option year left, so he should be moving.

Other guys with a shot at the pen include Brian Tallet and Scott Richmond if they don't make the rotation. Richmond has options left. Anyone else that loses out in the battle for the starting rotation has a shot at the pen too. Spring training invitees Kyle Drabek, Lance Broadway, Willie Collazo, Zack Jackson, Chad Jenkins and Ronnie Lewis also could be in the mix. 

I'm not sure how Cito and Alex are going to pick 7 from this group.

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Camp, Frasor, Carlson, Downs

I think these guys are locks unless they utterly blow up in Spring Training. Frasor will close with Downs as the setup man, and if it doesn’t work, it’ll likely get reversed. As for Camp, I think people actually underestimate how good a year he did have last year. He went out in a lot of already lost games to eat up innings and for the most part did it well. A reliever as effective between high and low leverage appearances is a rare thing.

I think of the rest, Tallet is the most likely. They shouldn’t need him as a starter, and they’ll want a third reliable lefty in the pen. I’d assume if Zinicola has a decent spring, he’ll have to be in. Rounding it out should be Accardo. Again, all of this is assuming no one flames out during the spring.

Following that, I think Janssen, Hayhurst and Roenicke are the approximate order in the depth chart. Richmond leapfrogs Janssen if he doesn’t make the rotation.

by dexfarkin on Jan 21, 2010 2:02 PM EST reply actions  

yep

Tier 1

Camp
Frasor
Carlson
Downs

Tier 2

Accardo
Tallet
Roenicke (I probably like him better than most, when utilized properly he can be good)

Tier 3

Janssen (hate to say it, but his time might be done)
ZZ (back to Nats, I am guessing)
Hayhurst
Valdez (2010 guy, I would expect)

by aagoodfella on Jan 21, 2010 2:35 PM EST up reply actions  

I would not envy Jays mgmt or the guys vying for a role in the Jays’ pen. There seem like a lot of options and if there are a couple of guys who surprise to the upside, you could really have a tough decision-making situation there.

by aagoodfella on Jan 21, 2010 2:37 PM EST up reply actions  

Of course, we have a void for a lead-off hitter so it’s entirely possible that the glut of relievers and starting pitchers could be used as trade fodder.

Perhaps some of them could be packaged along with Overbay to get something.

by siggian on Jan 21, 2010 2:58 PM EST reply actions  

I don’t know, with a lot of uncertainty and the Blue Jays history of injuries to pitchers, think we’d need to keep as many as possible for depth during the season.

by jabalong on Jan 22, 2010 10:55 AM EST up reply actions  

Very true

I was thinking this may happen part the way through spring training.

I’m not opposed to keeping all the pitchers if need be, but I would certainly listen to trades involving some of them.

by siggian on Jan 22, 2010 11:15 AM EST up reply actions  

i’m with you here Siggian…keep the pitchers unless there is a deal out there that makes a lot of sense. could be during ST as injuries for other teams start happening, could be mid-year when some of the Jays pitchers have made a step forward and have more value…

by bunner on Jan 22, 2010 11:56 AM EST up reply actions  

Trades

I think any trades are going to involve young pitching as part of the package. It’s the deepest, most stable element of the Jays minor league system right now, and there’s plenty of teams that need a 4-5 low cost starter that projects to be only a month or two from being in the rotation. I think if we’re going to move Overbay or deal for a fourth OF, it’ll cost arms.

That being said, certainly there’s no point dealing prospects for prospects just because our position propects are kind of thin.

by dexfarkin on Jan 22, 2010 3:15 PM EST up reply actions  

My thoughts for the 7 man bullpen:

Frasor (Closer A)
Downs (Closer B)
Carlson
Camp
Janssen
Accardo
Tallet
 
Roenicke (closer), Hayhurst and Valdez will be in the AAA bullpen and Zinicola will either to back to the Nationals or the Jays will make a small deal with the Nats to keep him and put him in AAA too. Because he has options left they probably start Richmond in the AAA rotation along with Mills, Purcey, Drabek and Ray.

I’d like to see the ML rotation set with Romero, Marcum, Morrow, Rzp and Cecil

by bunner on Jan 21, 2010 3:56 PM EST reply actions  

Excellent assessment of the situation, IMHO, I cannot believe that final outcome will be far off from your projection.

by aagoodfella on Jan 21, 2010 4:07 PM EST up reply actions  

Ya, you're probably just about right.

However, I’m gonna replace Janssen with with newly acquired Valdez. Remember, unless he was mistaken, AA said to Bastian, on MLB.com:

“Valdez has a power arm with a fastball that can reach up to 98 mph,” Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos said. “He’s out of options, so we’re taking a chance on a reliever with a good arm.”

I think if they want to keep him, they have no choice.

I hope to see Tallet traded (though it might be tough at $2 mil), and replaced by Purcey (or maybe even ZZ), since they stand to lose both if they don’t make the roster (Purcey out of options, ZZ Rule 5), and I’m not sure that Purcey deserves to make the rotation right now.

by REMO on Jan 21, 2010 7:31 PM EST up reply actions  

I think the Jays may be running out of rope on Purcey — may have to cut the line soon if he cannot tighten up his control

by aagoodfella on Jan 21, 2010 9:12 PM EST up reply actions  

well if Valdez is out of options then the might stay and as you mention Janssen goes to AAA that could be a possibility.

by bunner on Jan 22, 2010 8:47 AM EST up reply actions  

That romero morrow rzep Cecil and marcum looks great I’d be really excited to see that – was Seattle intent on giving up morrow or did Toronto push for him ? Was it no control fireballer for no control fireballer ? Or ws this an after shock from the Roy halladay trade where due to something un scene they couldn’t package morrow/league at that moment ? Why wouldn’t they have chucked these two when the three team deal happened . Could Philly have dictated that deal for Toronto with the ground work us giving Roy for two of the three prospects we wanted ? Them returning the favor in the lee deal by asking for certain prospects possibly not two of the three best ?, then stipulating Seattle deal morrow for league ? Would that be legal ?

lucas

by TorontoBluejays10 on Jan 21, 2010 5:04 PM EST via mobile reply actions  

What about

using Scott Richmond as a right handed specialist. His splits are crazy, and that big slider is impossible for righties to hit when he is on.

by Natescavich on Jan 22, 2010 1:48 AM EST reply actions  

I`d Like to See...

Bullpen
Frasor (CL)
Downs (Lefty – SU)
Accardo (Righty – SU)
Camp (7th Inning Duties)
Carlson (7th Inning Duties)
Hayhurst (Long Man, Mop Up)
Tallet (Long Man, Mop Up, Extra Lefty)

Starting…
Romero, Marcum, McGowen, ZZ, Morrow
AAA – Zep, Richmond, Mills, Cecil, Jansen
AA – Drabek, Ray

by Lanky07 on Jan 23, 2010 10:35 AM EST reply actions  

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