Friday Bantering: Bullpen Numbers and Links

by Tom Dakers on Feb 5, 2010 3:03 PM EST in Toronto Blue Jays News

As Jordan Bastian twiterates that the most interesting battle this spring will be in the bullpen. Jordan says that Alex Anthopoulos tells him that there are no plans, at present, to trade off any of the relievers, so we have a bunch of arms for 7 bullpen spots.

Sure things: Kevin Gregg, Scott Downs, Jason Frasor

Sure unless he's in the starting rotation: Brian Tallet

If he's healthy and doesn't make the rotation: Dustin McGowan

Battling out for 3 spots: Jeremy Accardo, Jesse Carlson, Shawn Camp, Josh Roenicke, Merkin Valdez, Jesse Carlson, Casey Janssen, Zechry Zinicola and Scott Richmond.

Depending on how surgery goes: Dirk Hayhurst. Update: Jordan Bastian says Dirk will be out for 4 to 6 months. There is a very sad Garfoose out there.

Longer shots: Lance Broadway (unless he's in jail), Zach Jackson, Steven Register, Willie Collazo and Sean Henn.

Guys without options: Tallet, McGowan, Valdez, Downs, Camp. And Zinicola has to stay on the roster or be offered back to the Nationals.

So pick your 7 men out of that?

Links after the Jump:

Want to see video from the 'State of the Franchise? Go here.

A couple of folks looked at our 2011 season: Dave Cameron at Fangraphs and Satchel Price at Beyond the Boxscore, who asked the musical question "Could the 2011 Blue Jays Be Good?".

Keith Olbermann knows who we are. More importantly, he likes Dirk Hayhurst's book.

At Yahoo Sports 'Duk' asks what you would do if you were on Jeopardy and Final Jeopardy was a baseball question. Bet the house. (h/t Amazing Avenue)

Jays aren't interested in Carlos Delgado any more.

The folks at Baseball Prospectus picks the best and worst GM's of the 1990's. Gord Ash? Number 4 on the worst list.

And the Drunks talk Kevin Millar and chemistry. I'm glad they did that one, maybe they can get the emails from Millar fans that I usually get.

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Comments

What about my boy Dirk?

Is he not going to be ready for spring training?

Ohhh Brett...One more year! One more year! One more year!
Superbowl Prediction - Colts 41 Saints 23

by craig in calgary on Feb 5, 2010 4:34 PM EST reply actions

geeze I missed him......

by Tom Dakers on Feb 5, 2010 5:27 PM EST up reply actions

Added him

by Tom Dakers on Feb 5, 2010 5:29 PM EST up reply actions

I just saw your fanshot

Sad face.

Ohhh Brett...One more year! One more year! One more year!
Superbowl Prediction - Colts 41 Saints 23

by craig in calgary on Feb 5, 2010 5:42 PM EST up reply actions

Hey my fanpost got linked by Olbermann! Woo Awesome!

Life as a Toronto Sports Fan?... *sigh*... It is what it is...

by JohnnyG on Feb 5, 2010 4:46 PM EST reply actions

that is awesome!

Ohhh Brett...One more year! One more year! One more year!
Superbowl Prediction - Colts 41 Saints 23

by craig in calgary on Feb 5, 2010 5:14 PM EST up reply actions

very very cool

by Tom Dakers on Feb 5, 2010 5:50 PM EST up reply actions

my stab at the bullpen

Frasor
Downs
Gregg
Accardo
Carlson (the first one)
Camp
Tallet

and if McGowan is ready, i have no idea who gets squeezed….probably Accardo because Cito thinks he’s Wolfe or Janssen. Speaking of Janssen, you’ve missed him. Probably supposed to be the second Carlson.

by ayjackson on Feb 5, 2010 7:12 PM EST reply actions

right....I get those to confused.....

no not really, I’m sure stupid…..

by Tom Dakers on Feb 5, 2010 7:22 PM EST up reply actions

geez it's really a stab in the dark, but...

Frasor
Downs
Gregg
Tallet
Accardo
Carlson
Valdez

by REMO on Feb 5, 2010 7:17 PM EST reply actions

here is my bullpen

Accardo
McGowen if healthy
Gregg
Downs
Camp
Tallet
Carlson
Valdez

by Lancers25 on Feb 5, 2010 9:28 PM EST reply actions

Loaded

Frasor
Gregg
Downs

Carlson and/or Tallet(need another lefty)
Accardo
Valdez(I want to see him dial it up)
Camp(long-man)

HEADING STRAIGHT FOR THEM, I PRESS DOWN MAH GUNS!

by BenjiDoc on Feb 5, 2010 9:35 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Let's see

Bullpen closing committee (setup or closing depending on matchup)
Frasor
Gregg
Downs

Change of pace situational righthander ie fireballer
Valdez (also ZZ could fit here as well. This one’s a toss up)

Situational lefty
Carlson

Long relievers that can start in a pinch
Tallet (LHP)
Richmond (RHP)

These 2 would be here because you need guys that can spot start or mop up for long durations, especially with a very inexperienced starting staff that could either experience sophmore jinxes ie Romero, Rzep, growing pains ie Morrow, returning to form ie Marcum or just hit or miss ie Purcey.

Optioned: Janssen (to be stretched out into a starter), Camp (this year’s yo yo), Josh Roenicke.
Traded- Accardo
Returned- ZZ
DL’d- McGowan (extended spring training, then class A Dunedin).

While I’m here…

Starting pitcher
Romero
Marcum
Rzep
Morrow
Purcey

DL’d: Litsch, Hill

On the 1st call-up list from AAA: Cecil, Mills, Ray

by bleh on Feb 5, 2010 10:23 PM EST reply actions

Who the heck is Zechry Zinicola? Never heard the name before in my life.

by Icedragon on Feb 5, 2010 11:25 PM EST reply actions

We picked him up in the rule 5 draft from the Nationals.

by Tom Dakers on Feb 6, 2010 1:16 AM EST up reply actions

Flagged

Inappropriate language.
Hugo’s moms ears must be bleeding.

I <3 Crown Floats

Ohhh Brett...One more year! One more year! One more year!
Superbowl Prediction - Colts 41 Saints 23

by craig in calgary on Feb 6, 2010 2:07 AM EST up reply actions

Bullpen

Certain
Frasor, Downs, Greg (8th and 9th inning guys) – Would make a very great last two innings depending on match ups and who threw the previous games, etc…

Near Certain
Carlson, Accardo (7th Inning guys) – no options, and if we weren`t going to keep Accardo, why resign him?

Final Two
Tallet, Camp – Long men, who can eat up innings…

Hayhurst gets DL`d, Richmond goes to AAA as Starter, Jansen to AAA bullpen Depth, ZZ goes to AAA after we work our a small deal, Josh to AAA

McGowen either makes it as a Starter, or gets DLd for a rehab stint…

by Lanky07 on Feb 6, 2010 9:15 AM EST reply actions

I really like this bullpen:

Frasor
Downs
Gregg
Carlson
Accardo
Tallet
Richmond/Roenicke/Camp

I think this pen is really formidable, other than the fact that we have no real lefty specialist, considering Carlson and Tallet’s reverse platoon splits.

I think Richmond would be a great swing-man/long man, and an especially deadly weapon against right handed bats.

I think the rotation will be

Marcum
Romero
Morrow
Rzep
Purcey

by Andy Mc on Feb 6, 2010 6:31 PM EST reply actions

bullpen looks solid, but I’d say Camp with no options left, is a safer bet than the optionable Richmond and Roenicke. I think they’ll try to waive Valdez down to the minors early in ST to sneak him past other clubs.

I’m not sure Purcey will make the team out of ST, but it wouldn’t surprise me. I think Eveland has a better shot since he doesn’t have an option left and Purcey does.

by ayjackson on Feb 7, 2010 2:22 PM EST up reply actions