Moments after venting about too many lefty relievers and not enough Aquilino, I learned the Jays made a roster move. Jason Kershner has been sent to Syracuse, and according to the AP, Brian Bowles will be recalled tomorrow. The 6' 5" RH had one terrible AAA outing April 20, walking 4 in less than an inning, but his ERA is a stingy 1.06 and he's been much better since, notching his eighth save yesterday. I wonder if they will use Bowles in late-inning "hold" situations right away. Whatever Brian's role, this is not exactly a ringing endorsement for Jeff Tam, who's reduced to mopping up.
Exactly. How fortunes change so quickly. Tam was apparently briefly designated for assignment, and Kershner was saved. But, Walker divulges his shoulder injury and Tam's reprieved. Now, only days later, they feel they're lefty-pen-top-heavy and Kershner's gone and Tam lives for another day. Walker will soon be back, and it would seem Bowles or Tam "Lives: Take II" will depart depending on each's performance.
Well, maybe this is simply deck chair realignment, but I can see a few possible storylines here:
- The end (for now) of the three-lefty pen means Carlos Tosca is going to be physically prevented from making six pitching changes a game. Then again, he replaced Aquilino Lopez with Pete Walker last week (with such fine results), so there's no telling what the man might do.
- Jason Kershner at Syracuse: 10 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 13 K, 0.00 ERA. Jason Kershner in Toronto: 5 IP, 7 H, 2 BB, 2 K, 10.80 ERA. Hypothesis: it's a loooong way from AAA to MLB. Still, one would think he'd have gotten more than 15 outs to right himself.
- Brian Bowles' 1.08 ERA is sparkling, but in 17 IP, he has a 1.35 WHIP (12 H and 11 BB) and only 13 K (.17 K/BF). That's actually behind last year's Syracuse line of 59 IP, 1.32 WHIP (46 H and 32 BB) and 53 K (.20 K/BF). And since Bowles' 2002 Toronto sojourn was underwhelming, I'm not really expecting great things from him this time around.
- I think Jeff Tam just got a warning shot fired across his bow. I don't think JP would cut him loose without giving him every chance to regain his form, but nor does JP appear to be the most patient man in the world either.
- The end (for now) of the three-lefty pen means Carlos Tosca is going to be physically prevented from making six pitching changes a game. Then again, he replaced Aquilino Lopez with Pete Walker last week (with such fine results), so there's no telling what the man might do.
- Jason Kershner at Syracuse: 10 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 13 K, 0.00 ERA. Jason Kershner in Toronto: 5 IP, 7 H, 2 BB, 2 K, 10.80 ERA. Hypothesis: it's a loooong way from AAA to MLB. Still, one would think he'd have gotten more than 15 outs to right himself.
- Brian Bowles' 1.08 ERA is sparkling, but in 17 IP, he has a 1.35 WHIP (12 H and 11 BB) and only 13 K (.17 K/BF). That's actually behind last year's Syracuse line of 59 IP, 1.32 WHIP (46 H and 32 BB) and 53 K (.20 K/BF). And since Bowles' 2002 Toronto sojourn was underwhelming, I'm not really expecting great things from him this time around.
- I think Jeff Tam just got a warning shot fired across his bow. I don't think JP would cut him loose without giving him every chance to regain his form, but nor does JP appear to be the most patient man in the world either.
"I think Jeff Tam just got a warning shot fired across his bow. I don't think JP would cut him loose without giving him every chance to regain his form, but nor does JP appear to be the most patient man in the world either."
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I don't think that's how these things work. Without actual knowledge, who of us knows for sure, but it wasn't The Sporting News or ESPN that published a print release that Jeff Tam was desingnated for assignment. The media source that published the transaction didn't just invent the charge, something was in play here and they knew about it.
I think it was Craig B. that put forth that perhaps someone put a claim in for Tam and he was held back. This seems unlikely, he's making $600,000, he's pitched terribly for over a year, and he's not exactly every teams gamble and cup of tea. It looks like, for what ever reasons, Tam was DFA'd and pulled back when Walker came forward with his injury.
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I don't think that's how these things work. Without actual knowledge, who of us knows for sure, but it wasn't The Sporting News or ESPN that published a print release that Jeff Tam was desingnated for assignment. The media source that published the transaction didn't just invent the charge, something was in play here and they knew about it.
I think it was Craig B. that put forth that perhaps someone put a claim in for Tam and he was held back. This seems unlikely, he's making $600,000, he's pitched terribly for over a year, and he's not exactly every teams gamble and cup of tea. It looks like, for what ever reasons, Tam was DFA'd and pulled back when Walker came forward with his injury.
The one thing in Tam's favour is that they seem to be able to keep throwing him out there on a near daily basis without exploding his arm. With Walker out you need arms that can soak up some outs and Tam's probably a better choice than calling up Mike Smith or someone similar who's barely cutting it in Syracuse. Although Linton is probably a better pitcher than Tam at this point.