2037-09: Talons Season Preview: The Bullpen

[jiminyhopkins]

One Bullpen, with a side order of VODAK.

*Editor's note: "VODAK" still autocompletes in my phone*

LR/SS Jesus Tonche (8/5/8 Talents)
Jesus was signed at the tail end of last season as insurance, and it looks like the policy will already be cashed in, as #5 starter Cesar Aguilar is reportedly down for at least the first month. Tonche's stamina is only barely adequate for a starting role, so hopefully his time in the rotation will be short. Still, this is a guy who has compiled 157 wins and 45.7 WAR in his career at age 34, and for $1.3 million, he's not a bad guy to have around.

LR Jorge Ferringo (7/6/7 Talents)
Ferringo was a Rule 5 pick, and was actually lamented by his former team that he was chosen. Jumping straight from AA to the majors, Jorge looks to be a typical long reliever and possibly a replacement level 5th starter, in the right park. He pitched decently this spring and will be limited to low leverage situations.

LR Wilmot Schlondorff (9/6/7 Talents)
At one point, the club considered Wilmot for closer when Bakitski went down last season. But he showed up to spring training with diminished stuff, which is troubling for a guy with 2 years and 10 million in guaranteed money remaining. He started last year horribly with San Fernando, and got off on the wrong foot after Phoenix claimed him on waivers, but by the end of the year he actually had a 3.86 ERA in 56 innings for the Talons. He most likely won't be able to add to his 204 career saves, but as a lefty who can also pitch to righties, he will have his place.

MR Rob Snyder (9/5/7 Talents)
In 2034 and 2035, Snyder spent some significant time in the Talon rotation, and was worth 4.1 WAR over those two seasons. Now exclusively a reliever (at least until people start getting hurt), Snyder will pitch in middle relief situations, but not in a stopper role as his movement rating is a concern.

MR Adrian Garcia (10/6/8 Talents)
Former setup man Garcia took over as a closer when Bakitski missed time last season, and performed well. He ended up with 13 saves in the two months he finished games. Incidentally, Garcia has recorded an ERA+ of between 107 and 109 in all five seasons of his career. Not amazing, but at least the Talons know what they are getting.

SPEC Matthew Mangual (10/6/6 Talents)
One of the many returns of the Yong deal last season, the 22 year old Mangual will open the year as the Talons' left handed specialist, where his VsL ratings of 11/7/6 can be put to good use. He still has a chance to sharpen his curveball, which will eventually make him more effective as he grows into the role.

SU Alexandre Renard (10/8/7 Talents)
A new face in the setup slot. Renard has mostly been a low endurance starter in his career, ever since he expressed a preference for starting when he was in AA. But after last season in which he posted a 5.36 ERA as an injury replacement in the rotation, the Talons have decided to keep him in relief. His ratings suggest he could be very good in the role of setup man, but the results will have to bear that out, lest Garcia take the job back.

CL VODAK
The one, the only. Timofei Bakitski (11/6/8 Talents) was on his way to another dominant year as closer, when, you guessed it, he got hurt like every other Talons pitcher. Missing that time limited him to 18 saves, yet his 2.4 WAR last year was the second best such mark in his career. This season, VODAK will have to fend off trade rumors, as he is in the last season of his contract and reportedly wants a big extension. But with the quality of bullpen prospects the Talons have in their system, he could possibly be seeking that extension elsewhere.

[Ted]

I wonder if Tonche should have been moved to the pen a few years ago. It seems a bit late to salvage much now.