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Tallet trying to stretch out his start
Toronto (12-5) at Chicago (8-7), 8:11 p.m. ET
By Erika Gilbert / MLB.com
04/23/09 11:32 PM ET
Brian Tallet is making his second start of the year on Friday and his number one focus is to log as many innings as possible."As a starter your first goal is to try to pitch deep into the game," Tallet said. "Your second goal is to keep the team in the game."
The tall left-hander will try to build on his last outing, which was his first start since Aug. 7, 2006. Tallet, who has spent most of his Major League career in his bullpen, gave up only four hits and a walk, allowing two runs (one earned) on his way to a no-decision against the A's on Saturday.
"I felt good about it," Tallet said of his last start. "It's a stepping stone to possibly more starts and hopefully I can go back out there and continue to give my team a chance to win."
Tallet started the year in the bullpen, but was added to the rotation after starter Jesse Litsch went on the disabled list with soreness in his right forearm and elbow on April 14. Tallet was efficient in his first start replacing Litsch, needing only 67 pitches to get through 5 1/3 innings.
Tallet will have to continue to pitch efficiently if he wants to go deep into games while being held to a pitch count. Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston planned to increase Tallet's workload slowly over his first few starts, and would allow him to throw no more than 75 pitches in Saturday's game. Gaston aims to keep Tallet's pitch count between 80 and 90 when he takes to the mound on Friday.
With two of Toronto's pitchers going on the disabled list on Thursday -- starter Ricky Romero with a right oblique strain and closer B.J. Ryan with tightness in his right trapezius -- it's even more important for Tallet to eat up a lot of innings. Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi has faith in Tallet's ability to carry the load.
"I give Tallet a ton of credit," Ricciardi said. "There's always one guy in the bullpen that either takes it for the team or steps up and he's done a great job. Everything we ask the guy to do -- whether it's to get left-handers out, whether it's to be a long guy, spot start -- he's a throwback. He's a good team guy."
Tallet's stint as a starter began with a scare. On only his second pitch of the game, Oakland's Ryan Sweeney hit a line drive that hit Tallet's pitching hand. Tallet threw wildly to first base thanks to the numbness in his left hand and Sweeney advanced to third on the error.
"After the numbness went away," Tallet said, "I was able to gather my thoughts and think: If I just give up one run right here, I can get back to business, and hopefully continue to pitch deep in the game."
Tallet said the pain has subsided since Saturday. He was able to continue without incident and hopes to build on his last performance.
"If he pitches like he did last time out, it'd be great," Ricciardi said.
Pitching matchupTOR: LHP Brian Tallet (0-0, 4.26 ERA)
Tallet made his first start since 2006 against Oakland on Saturday, replacing the injured Jesse Litsch (right forearm/elbow). He gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits in 5 1/3 innings on his way to a no-decision. Tallet threw 67 pitches in his last outing while on a strict pitch count of 70-75, and the plan is to increase that total to 85-90 pitches in his next start. CWS: LHP Gavin Floyd (2-1, 4.74 ERA)
The wild streak that knocked out Floyd at Comerica Park last Monday, when he issued seven free passes in five innings and threw just 49 of his 98 pitches for strikes, certainly was not present during Sunday's victory over the Rays. Floyd allowed two runs on six hits in seven innings, striking out seven without issuing a single free pass. His only true mistake came in the seventh, when Ben Zobrist touched him up for a two-run home run. Floyd has an 0-1 career record and a 4.32 ERA against the Blue Jays. Bird Feed
Vernon Wells' home run in the second inning on Thursday was his 180th with the Blue Jays, moving him past Jesse Barfield for sole possession of fourth place on the club's all-time home run list. ... Through Wednesday, Jason Frasor had the longest scoreless streak among Toronto relievers. Frasor had not allowed a run in eight innings this year. He also led the American League in wins by a reliever with three. ... Thursday's game was the Jays' seventh multi-home run game of the season, matching their total number of multi-home run games in all of 2008.
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• Saturday: Blue Jays (Brett Cecil, 0-0, -.--) at White Sox (Mark Buehrle, 2-0, 3.00), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Sunday: Blue Jays (Roy Halladay, 3-1, 3.72) at White Sox (Jose Contreras, 0-3, 8.04), 2:05 p.m. ET
• Monday: Blue Jays (David Purcey, 0-1, 6.10) at Royals (Brian Bannister, 1-0, 0.00), 8:10 p.m. ET
Erika Gilbert is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
