An imaginary conversation about the St. Louis Cardinals’ new left-handed reliever, Brian Tallet – using real facts.
On Tuesday, the St. Louis Cardinals announced the signing of left-handed pitcher Brian Tallet to a one year contract. The 33-year-old had become a free agent a few weeks ago after his home for the last five years, the Toronto Blue Jays, had designated him for assignment. Tallet instead declared himself a free agent.
Based on initial comments by general manager John Mozeliak, the Cardinals seem to have Tallet lined up to serve as a left-handed specialist, replacing free agent Dennys Reyes.
After almost 24 hours to consider the move from a number of angles, I find it to be a Jeckyll and Hyde situation. Here’s a snapshot of how a Tallet discussion might have gone between the two (if they hadn’t been one).
Hyde: Tallet allowed a whopping 20 home runs in 77 innings in 2010.
Jeckyll: But he yielded just four of those to left-handed batters.
Hyde: In 2010, right-handed hitters battered him to the tune of .320/.415/.617.
Jeckyll: And lefties managed a paltry .176/.228/.343.
Hyde: He had an awful 25:32 strikeout to walk ratio versus RHH.
Jeckyll: He struck out 28 LHH and walked just six of them.
Hyde: Last season at his old home, Rogers Centre, his opposing line was an ugly .306/.375/.647.
Jeckyll: Everywhere else, including regular visits to Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park, his numbers were ok – .232/.331/.377.
Hyde: He was torched as a reliever in 2010, with an opposing OPS of .927 out of the pen with a .796 OPS as a starter. Yet relief is the role in which the Cardinals plan to use him.
Jeckyll: He wasn’t kept in a consistent role last season. Besides, his career starter/reliever splits are much more as expected. .791 opposing OPS starting versus .744 OPS while relieving.
Hyde: His fastball over the past four years has fallen from 90.1 MPH to 89.4 to 88.6 to 86.7 and his ground ball rates have dropped each year as well.
Jeckyll: His 2010 results were atypical because he suffered a forearm injury early in the season and altered his arm slot to compensate for it.
Hyde: So he pitches while injured despite it hurting his team? Are his medical problems behind him? Did you examine him yourself, Doctor?
Jeckyll: Enough of this! I am taking the lead now. First of all, stats for Tallet as a starter don’t matter since the Cardinals will use him as a specialist.
Hyde: Leading off an inning against Tallet in relief last season, first batters’ OPS was 1.300 and the OPS of his first hitters faced in all relief situations was still .904.
Jeckyll: Well, Tallet no longer has to pitch in the American League East.
Hyde: Cincinnati’s star left-handed hitters Jay Bruce (.899 OPS in 2010) and Joey Votto (.863 OPS) handle lefty pitchers just fine.
Jeckyll: His career splits are more favorable, with a .780 OPS versus right-handed hitters and a .730 OPS against left-handed batters.
Hyde: Which pitcher will we see in 2011, then?
Jeckyll: Tallet was consistent in 2010.
Hyde: I have to agree as long as you mean consistently rough. His monthly ERA was always between 5.94 and 7.24 and his opponents’ OPS ranged from .834 to .969 each month.
Jeckyll: Well, he is inexpensive at just $750,000 – a bargain compared to Reyes at $2 million.
Hyde: Sometimes you get what you pay for. The money saved won’t land Albert Pujols so will they at least use the difference on another left-handed alternative?
Jeckyll: The Cardinals may still sign another lefty.
Hyde: And they may not…
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Another lefty should be addressed.Didn`t the Cards say they are considering Valdes for the MacLane role also.Another lefty is a must.Better too many than not enough.Who`s the AAA lefty…Tyler Norrick? Not real confident there.With Trever Millers age and past arm and shoulder troubles the Cards need depth.
I suggested Valdes might play the MacLane role, but did not read anyone from the Cardinals saying that. Perhaps it was said and I just didn’t read it. Norrick is still there, but is R5 eligible. Shouldn’t be taken though. Other than Ryan Kulik, Sam Freeman coming back from injury and Nick Additon, that is about it at the upper levels. Rich Rundles is a free agent and Renyel Pinto, Rich Hill and Nate Robertson were released. As you said, they need more LHR depth.
Would they be able to option Tallet down if he doesn’t pan out, or would they have to waive him?
Because of his service time, even if he has options remaining, he wouldn’t have to go. Further, he would be able to declare free agency if they attempted to outright him.
Brian: the original pairing was Jekyll and Hyde. Are you making a different allusion?
sooo we are sure to see him left in to face RH batters and lose a game. If anything his numbers scream lefty specialist.
They let their best LOOGY option walk – Kinney. (wasn’t LH but deadly against LH’s last year.) On top of that he was cheap. Probably a cuasualty of the TLR favorties game.
When I made noise about Kinney, one of the StL scribes delivered a vague message about concerns over Kinney’s medicals. All I saw was a very effective season in Memphis during which he pitched in 56 games, earned 17 saves and had an ERA under two. He will surely get another job.
People that went to Memphis games the 2nd half of last year all came away talking about hw electric Kinney’s stuff was.
Maybe too much hanging with Ruben Gotay.
The only good thing I can say about Talent is that he didn’t cost much. I’ll gladly take bets he doesn’t make it until August.
CC-all Tallet has to do is be better than Reyes.As for Josh Kinney the team thought so much of him they took him off the 40-man roster.He won`t be missed.
Let`s see if teams are beating a path to Josh Kinney`s door.So far nobody has signed him.
Nobody has signed Lee yet either.
I agree the team didnt think much of him. The question is should they have?
Reyes had an ERA= of 111 – 5th straight year of ERA+ above league avg. Also had a positve WAR.
Talent had ER+ of 65 (one of the worst in the majors) and a negative WAR. He’s lucky to even have a major league contract.
CC- Tallet is a cheap deal who has to prove he can get lefties out.He has in the past.What`s to lose? a inexpensive signing .
olas like it so far.
Kinneys gone.Are Brendan Ryan and Josh Kinney go8ing to be the poster boys for the whine and cheese bunch?
I said he was cheap and that was a good thing.
The problem with cheap but bad is opportunity costs. Mo may not sign someone else because he thinks he has filled the need. So yes, we have something to lose.
Who you going to sign that is guaranteed to be perfect?So far the Cards have 3 LH bullpen options.I doubt that they are done shopping.
The “Big Sweat” could lay down his fork……….. they couldn’t seem to pry it loose either……..it will be in his next contract.