DUNEDIN — Brian Tallet made his first start of the spring Sunday afternoon against the Detroit Tigers.
It would not be the best of signs if Tallet is in the rotation come opening day.
This is not a knock on Tallet, whose value was enhanced last year by his ability to contribute as a starter. In the big picture, however, it would mean that a few of the Blue Jays’ young guns have not lived up to expectations.
It also means that the progress of a recovering Dustin McGowan had not gone as anticipated.
A best-case scenario would have the Jays start the season with a rotation of Shaun Marcum, Ricky Romero, McGowan, Brandon Morrow and either Marc Rzepczynski or Brett Cecil.
If Tallet starts, it would be a fallback position and the belief that he could buy the Jays some time.
But having the 32-year-old Tallet as a starter would not be a step forward — not for a franchise that is rebuilding.
Tallet last year was bumped into the rotation from the bullpen with the plague of injuries that hammered the starters. In 25 starts, Tallet went 7-8 with a 5.41 ERA and allowed 151 hits in 139.2 innings. In 12 relief appearances, the 6-foot-6 lefty went 0-1 with a 4.71 ERA, allowing 18 hits in 21 innings.
Having experienced life as a starter, however, it is now Tallet’s preferred role.
“I didn’t really know what to expect,” he said when asked if he expected to come into camp as a starter. “Two weeks before camp, Papi (pitching coach Bruce Walton) called and said: ‘Hey, you’re one of my guys. Come in ready to start.’
“I said thanks because that’s what I wanted, I wanted the opportunity.”
And if he opens the season in the bullpen?
“Yeah I would be disappointed for the simple fact that I didn’t pitch well enough to be a rotation guy,” he said. “As far as the team, if that’s the best possible team that we can put out there, then that’s fine with me. But I think I can be in the rotation and that still be our best possible team.”
Manager Cito Gaston said simply that, if Tallet pitches better than the kids, the job is his.
“Last year, he was a bit of a lifesaver for us,” Gaston said. “He earned it (the right to compete as a starter) and we’ll give him every chance. If he pitches well, I’m not going to move him.”
Either way, Tallet believes he can help the young guys.
“Sometimes the big leagues can jump up and bite you. You need that guy who has been through it and struggled,” he said. “I like that challenge.”
One the mend
McGowan, who is raising hopes of a quick return to pitching health after missing all of 2009 with shoulder and knee injuries, will pitch a two-inning simulated game Tuesday at Dunedin.
Cecil, who sliced his left thumb with a knife in a kitchen accident, will pitch a side session Monday and, if all goes well, makes his debut in a B-game against the Phillies on Wednesday.
Roster moves
Following Sunday’s game, the Jays assigned catchers Travis d’Arnaud and Matt Liuzza and right-handed reliever Dan Farquhar to their minor-league camp.
mike.rutsey@sumedia.ca
