Taschner, Ring Possible 2nd Lefty Targets?
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Thu, March 26, 2009 07:30 AM | Comments: 25
Posts, Rumors
As the lefty reliever discussion goes ’round, more rumors surface.
The Giants are likely dangling Jack Taschner, who went 3-2 with a 4.88 ERA last season (lefties were .279 AVG/.339 OBP/.394 SLG). The Phillies are said to be possibly interested in the left-hander.
Add another name: Royce Ring. The Cardinals picked him up for spring training, but the left-hander hasn’t impressed (5.2 IP/11.12 ERA). Saint Louis outrighted him, so any team can claim him and his $475K contract. He went 2-1 with an 8.45 ERA for Atlanta last season; righties smoked him, but left-handers had some trouble (.264 AVG/.339 OBP/.396 SLG). Even more comforting news? Ring was completely dominated by the Phillies (2.2 IP/10 H/7 ER).
Are either of these players potential signings as a second left-hander? Possibly. Both have eerily similar stat lines and might be able to flourish in the non-threatening second-lefty role.
Posts: 0 From Section 113
Neither should be on the Phills radar. At this point it makes just as much sense giving Bastardo a shot or tring Happ out in the pen for a few months than it is to sacrifice a roster spot for Royce RIng or Taschner.
Posted: 07:50 AM on March 26, 2009
Posts: 0 Griffin
…or ponying up the money for an effective lefty, like Will Ohman.
Posted: 08:49 AM on March 26, 2009
Posts: 0 Justin
Happ has already proven to not be reliable out of the pen because it’s not a comfort area for him, if they want him in the pen then he needs to learn how to deal with being used a couple days a week as opposed to once every 5th day. Bastardo has shown that he’s not ready for the show and needs to work on pitches before moving up to the bigs. Ring is a pitcher who just never realized full potential, but in a system here where he could pitch without worry like Eyre did last season he could flourish, I’d rather claim Ring than have to deal for Taschner since we don’t really have anything the Giants want, in the sense that there’s nothing we’d really like to give up unless it’s either Coste/Paulino.
Posted: 08:50 AM on March 26, 2009
Posts: 0 Griffin
Interesting fact, Will Ohman was born in West Germany.
Posted: 08:50 AM on March 26, 2009
Posts: 0 Greg V.
That is an interesteing fact Griffin! That came up at trivia the other night and I was drawing a blank!
Posted: 08:59 AM on March 26, 2009
Posts: 0 Geoff
Will Ohman must not have understood that he has no leverage.
Not interested in Ring at all (hell be in AAA somewhere this year). but Taschner could be useful and perhaps a beneficial trade could be worked out.
However, whats wrong with Bastardo? He really seems to me like he would be an excellent fit in this bullpen at some point during the season if a few guys break down. I do think Majewski makes the team though.
Posted: 09:20 AM on March 26, 2009
Posts: 0 Geoff
I mean really. Ohman needs to shut his mouth, sign a minor league deal with incentives, and get to work.
Posted: 09:23 AM on March 26, 2009
Posts: 0 Doug D.
Enough already! The Phils went most of the ’08 with JC as the only lefty in the ‘pen. All these other names being bandied about are ineffective. Why do you think their being released, waived, or outrighted? Majewski and Koplove have been pitching great this spring. And then there’s Rule-5er Mosebach, whom the Phils like, and have to keep on the 25-man roster for the entire year, or else send him back to the Angels. These three all seem like a much better option than the garbage that’s out there now. It’s not like there are that many killer lefty batters in the league. I think other teams need the lefties more out of the bullpen to deal with our lefties
Posted: 09:28 AM on March 26, 2009
Posts: 0 Doug D.
Nothing’s wrong with Bastardo. But there’s really no reason to put him on the active roster (and to start his service time clock) for just a temporary stopgap measure.
Posted: 09:31 AM on March 26, 2009
Posts: 0 Havoc
I’m not a big fan of signing either of these guys. I’ve got alot of faith that Happ can cover as our second lefty till Romero returns, or until he gets moved into the rotation.
Posted: 09:45 AM on March 26, 2009
Posts: 0 Griffin
To me, the big difference between Romero and these LOOGYs is that Romero is a guy that can pitch entire inning and these guys can’t. Even Scott Eyre is not a guy you want pitching to righties. So the loss of Romero is more of a loss of a 7th or 8th inning guy and can’t be replaced by a LOOGY.
Posted: 09:47 AM on March 26, 2009
Posts: 0 Geoff
You still need two left handers in the pen. You cant just have one option to burn. You need to have FLEXIBILITY…..Notice that they excelled down the stretch and in the playoffs in terms of the pen because they had OPTIONS and FLEXIBILITY….
Posted: 09:50 AM on March 26, 2009
Posts: 0 Havoc
I agree Geoff, but i’d much rather roll the dice with Happ to get us by for 50 games than one of these two.
Posted: 09:54 AM on March 26, 2009
Posts: 0 Geoff
Also..HA Happ is NOT a good relief pitcher – or at least he hasnt been during his time as one. He has too many walks to be an effective reliever. Actually, if he doesnt cut down on walks hell lose the starters battle to Park (who only has one walk in the Spring).
Posted: 09:54 AM on March 26, 2009
Posts: 0 Griffin
One more point about Ohman, since the season starts in 9 days, there is no way he can be ready for Opening Night, right? What’s this dude waiting for?
Posted: 09:59 AM on March 26, 2009
Posts: 0 Havoc
Fair enough Geoff, but these two aren’t good pitchers period. Ohman would have been a different story, these two won’t be better than Happ so there’s no reason to sign them.
Posted: 10:02 AM on March 26, 2009
Posts: 0 Geoff
I agree there…Ring is bad…Ohman is overrated because hes a lefty specialist that thinks hes a setup man or something. Taschner would be a good august waiver-trade guy if you had injuries to Romero and Eyre and bastardo didnt work out.
I like Bastardo as a lefty specialist/long reliever. I think hell be on the roster by seasons end, perhaps a september bullpen reenforcement at the very latest.
Posted: 10:07 AM on March 26, 2009
Posts: 0 Havoc
Sounds like a plan to me.
Posted: 10:12 AM on March 26, 2009
Posts: 0 psujoe
What are Ohman’s demands at this point? Is he still asking 2 mil or has he come down some? I wouldn’t touch these two guys.
Posted: 10:14 AM on March 26, 2009
Posts: 0 Chuck P
Good point, Griffin… we’re not trying to replace a LOOGY, we’re trying to replace our 7th and spot 8th inning reliever (if Madson’s not available). There will be games when we need a guy to come in and work an entire 7th inning and Romero was capable of doing that. Right now, we have Durbin and Madson, both righties, that I consider capable of getting three outs and working an entire inning. It would be nice to have a lefty capable of doing that, too but bringing in another LOOGY when we have Scott Eyre, isn’t really helping us. JA Happ could work an entire inning but that’s probably not going to help his maturation as a starter… 50 games can’t pass soon enough.
Posted: 10:17 AM on March 26, 2009
Posts: 0 From Section 113
Justin -> First off Bastardo, in my opinion, will never be any good in the majors. And Happ probably won’t be a good reliever, BUT we know what we will get with Ring and Taschner, and neither are very good.
I think we should go with what we have. If we seem to need another lefty we can always grab someone.
Posted: 10:33 AM on March 26, 2009
Posts: 0 Justin
We’re talking about a guy we’re going to need for 50 or so games I honestly don’t really know that we need either guy i was just saying if your going after one of those 2 i would choose Ring for the meer fact that you don’t have to give anything up to get him, and then he’s waived to make room for Romero. I’m fine with not going after any of them and the fact that a lefty reliever hasn’t been signed to this point makes me feel like we don’t need one.
Posted: 10:46 AM on March 26, 2009
Posts: 0 John Fire
No thank you.
Posted: 11:39 AM on March 26, 2009
Posts: 0 Dave S
Since the Phils have 22% of the lefty hitters in the league, I think they can get away with having only one lefty in the bullpen.
Posted: 06:43 PM on March 26, 2009
Posts: 0 Manny
Besides, Madson and Durbin, Condrey is another guy that could go a full inning… and I truly believe he has a lot more to show us.
Posted: 10:13 AM on March 27, 2009