Lifting Tallet

Yeah, I can't say I didn't see that coming. When Cito leaves his starter in there until his pitch count runs dry or he gets really deep into trouble, I don't think that's a huge deal. There probably is something to be said for developing confidence and an ability to "battle". But in game 2 of the Detroit double-header, the starter, Jesse Litsch, had been pulled after 5.1 good innings and replaced with mop-up reliever BBrian Tallet. That move was perfectly fine, considering the fact that they only had Tallet, Frasor, Janssen and Purcey available that game.

Tallet did an OK job getting out of the inning, allowing one of the 2 runners he inherited to score and getting the last two outs of the inning. Miraculously, he also breezed through the 7th without giving up a baserunner. With a 4-2 lead going into the 8th and three relievers left in the pen, that would have been a great time to get the innings-eater out of there in favour of, um, a good pitcher. Sure, you don't want to have to use two pitchers in the 8th and 9th and go into extras with just one guy left who can go 2, maybe 3 innings at most. What's the probability of a 2-run game going into the 12th inning though? Besides, if that was your worry, then why not bring in Janssen or Purcey to finish the 6th and 7th, then have the other one do the 8th and 9th in combination with Frasor? That way you have Tallet if you think the game will go into the 14th inning.

Gaston clearly blew this one. BBrian Tallet's ERA now sits at 6.27 (a number lowered by his several starts this year). And Jason Frasor's inability to help Tallet out of his mini-jam couldn't have helped his trade value, but that's another story.