Say Goodbye to Tim Byrdak

by Ian Casselberry on Mar 26, 2008 10:50 AM EDT in Detroit Tigers News

Throughout Spring Training, Tim Byrdak was assured of having a spot in the Tigers' bullpen. At several times last year, he was one of Detroit's best relievers, demonstrating surprising strikeout abilities. (And as Kurt points out, Byrdak came with a great story, too.) For the season, he was 3-0 with a 3.20 ERA, striking out 49 batters in 45 innings.

Even just a couple of days ago, Byrdak's status didn't even seem to be a question. Along with Bobby Seay, he was going to be one of Jim Leyland's trusted left-handers.

But then he started pitching badly. Really badly. Last week, Byrdak was terrible against the Washington Nationals, giving up two home runs, and managing to tick off Jim Leyland in the process.

Last night's outing, however, apparently gave the Tigers all they could stand, and they couldn't stand anymore. Byrdak walked four batters and gave up three runs without recording an out. Once the smoke cleared, his spring ERA was 13.50. He'd given up 15 runs, 21 hits, and nine walks in 10 innings. Leyland said Byrdak still had a spot on the team (as logic-defying as that sounded), but that opinion obviously changed after the Tigers' braintrust had a night of sleep to think it over.

This morning, the Tigers released Byrdak. The move now leaves Detroit with two open spots in their bullpen. Does that mean both Yorman Bazardo and Aquilino Lopez will make the Opening Day roster? Perhaps, but you'd have to think Jim Leyland would like another left-hander in his bullpen to complement Seay as the situational lefty. Could this change the plan to make Macay McBride a starter in Toledo?

This might also create more urgency for the Tigers to get another reliever through a trade. (Billfer suggests - with a shudder - Scott Schoenweis, who had a 5.03 ERA with the Mets last year.)

(via The Spotstarters)

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sudden dropoff is weird

Was he solid this spring prior to last week?

It just seems weird that he did so decently last year, and then pitched himself out of a job in the space of a week.

Sounds like maybe some arm problem cropped up or something, and he had a couple of horrific outings, and got canned on their demerits without having anything to fall back on because he's still a relatively unproven quantity. Whereas a more veteran pitcher might get stashed on the DL until the team was able to figure out if he just suddenly fell off the wagon, or had some other issue leading to the bad outings.

Here's a guess he ends up getting picked up and being a servicable middle reliever for some other team this year...

by ahtrap on Mar 26, 2008 12:25 PM EDT reply actions

Byrd(off)dak...

Too bad, really...he did a bang up job last year. As far as MMMMCAY, I think they have to leave him in Toledo to be a starter (quit mess'n with him), he may be needed in that role this year (horror movie music playing..). Pick up some loogy junk off the waiver wire and lets go score some runs!

by Zappatista on Mar 26, 2008 3:25 PM EDT reply actions

Reason for the Release

From what Jason Beck is reporting, it sounds like Leyland and Dombrowski thought 1) they had to release Byrdak now, in order to have the best chance to find someone to fill his spot in the bullpen and 2) they just must not have liked what they've been seeing and didn't think Byrdak was going to get any better.

by Ian Casselberry on Mar 26, 2008 6:05 PM EDT reply actions