Tigers release left-handed reliever Byrdak

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Tigers release left-handed reliever Byrdak

Lynn Henning / The Detroit News

The Tigers this morning released left-hander Tim Byrdak, whose disastrous Tuesday night performance against the Houston Astros ended his baseball career in Detroit.

Byrdak, 34, allowed four walks and a single in a horrific ninth-inning performance against the Astros at Marchant Stadium. His spring training earned-run average soared to 13.50. Although Tigers manager Jim Leyland said late Tuesday night that Byrdak was still -- at that time -- on the team, it was clear a night of reflection could lead to his release.

Byrdak had no comment as he left his locker in the Tigers clubhouse after receiving the word from Leyland and the Tigers front office contingent, headed by president and general manager Dave Dombrowski.

"For us, it was a matter of making a decision today," said Dombrowski, whose team must finalize its 25-man roster ahead of breaking camp Thursday and preparing for Monday's season opener against Kansas City at Comerica Park.

"We just didn't feel comfortable that he could help our big-league club. Last night didn't help his chances."

Byrdak had been all but assured of a place as one of the two left-hand relievers Leyland had intended to take north. Byrdak was outstanding in 2007, rolling up a 3-0 record and a 3.20 ERA.

But he had ongoing troubles during spring camp and Tuesday night's catastrophe ended any chance the Tigers would stick with him five days before they open their 2008 season.

I guess they act quickly when needed!

Tigers release Tim Byrdak

March 26th, 2008 at 8:17 am
Billfer at detroittigersweblog.com

The Tigers today announced that they have unconditionally released Tim Byrdak. This coming 12 hours after he walked 4 in a game against the Astros. Byrdak came into spring training as a lock for the bullpen, but pitched horribly.

I’m surprised by the outright release. I wouldn’t have been surprised to see him turn up on the DL, or to see him passed through waivers. The outright release makes me think something might have happened behind the scenes.

Byrdak was a journeyman who turned into a nice surprise for the Tigers when he fanned better than a batter an inning last year. It appears there is another spot in the bullpen open. Will Bobby Seay be the only left hander? Clay Rapada is hurting so he isn’t an option. Or is this a precursor to a Scott Schoenweis trade (ugh).

I agree with one blogger I read:

Quote :

Byrdak MUST have said or done something he'll LONG regret.

Leyland's comments from post game were loyal to the pitcher, but, something must have happened later or very early this a.m.

Maybe they have a trade in the works, many pitchers are going to be available within the next week...

I didn't see this coming.

03/26/2008 9:50 AM ET
Tigers release southpaw Byrdak
Detroit needs to fill two bullpen spots before Opening Day
By Jason Beck / MLB.com

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Make that two spots open in the Tigers bullpen.

With one day left before the Tigers head to Houston for a two-game exhibition series, the club unconditionally released left-hander Tim Byrdak after his latest rough outing of what has been a difficult spring.

Byrdak had been counted on as part of the Tigers' bullpen mix, teaming up with Bobby Seay to form Detroit's lefty combo for the middle to late innings. However, Byrdak never seemed to find his command, and it reached a breaking point on Tuesday night against the Astros.

Working the ninth inning with a three-run lead, Byrdak gave up four walks -- at least two of them of the four-pitch variety -- and a single in a five-batter span before manager Jim Leyland went to right-hander Francis Beltran to finish the outing.

After the game, Leyland said he believed the problems were coming down to pressing. He suggested that Byrdak might be looking for the result of the pitch before he throws the pitch itself.

Byrdak, 34, finished with 15 runs allowed on 21 hits in 10 innings of work this spring, covering 10 appearances. He was a comeback story in Detroit last summer, when he progressed from early-season callup to lefty specialist. He went 3-0 with a 3.20 ERA in 39 appearances, covering 45 innings, while striking out 49. Left-handers hit just .176 against him with 24 strikeouts in 83 plate appearances.

It wasn't immediately clear how the Tigers will adjust their bullpen. They already had one bullpen spot to fill, a role that had come down to Yorman Bazardo and Aquilino Lopez for in-house candidates with the possibility of making a trade. Detroit could continue to search the waiver market for another reliever, take both in-house relievers, or recall someone from the Minors. Macay McBride would seemingly be a lefty candidate, but the Tigers have said they want him to work at Triple-A Toledo as a starting pitcher.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

REALLY did not see this coming. He's had bad outings before.

That is a surprise! But he sure hasn't pitched very well this spring. I wish him well!

Neither was i. I thought Leyland said that Byrdak is safe.

I knew he was having a bad spring, but WOW!

Leland did say he was safe, but who knows what happened after the game last night. I think they said he only threw 4 or 5 strikes, but about 20 balls last night, he could not find the strike zone for the life of him!

*sigh*

My goodness I feel so bad for Byrdak. I hope he finds a nice another nice team to pitch for. Good Luck Byrdak.

thats bullshit

how can they do that? i really dont get it, its just the preseason, my gosh, Byrdak was actually pretty good in my opinion

Best Wishes of Luck to you, Byrdak

cmon, garrett...only about 85 more posts and you'll no longer be a spankmee...

gdennis59 wrote:

thats bullshit

how can they do that? i really dont get it, its just the preseason, my gosh, Byrdak was actually pretty good in my opinion

Best Wishes of Luck to you, Byrdak

Yeah, he was pretty good last year.

On a completely unrelated matter, your birthday (4/20) is the day before mine (4/21).

we find the business side of it here too...things happen so quickly on all teams...

I have mixed feelings... so i just won't bother saying anything

it's okay!

Tigers release Byrdak
by Danny Knobler
Wednesday March 26, 2008, 10:25 AM

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Well, there are now two openings in the Tiger bullpen. Either that, or now there are none.

The team released left-hander Tim Byrdak this morning, no surprise after Byrdak's third consecutive awful inning last night against the Astros. By making the move today, the Tigers will pay Byrdak only $175,205 of his $712,500 contract, but this move was about performance a lot more than it was about money. Byrdak had a 13.50 spring ERA, and more significantly he had seven walks and nine hits allowed in his last two innings-plus.

So what now?

Jim Leyland confirmed this morning that if the Tigers don't acquire another left-hander via a trade or a waiver claim, right-handers Yorman Bazardo and Aquilino Lopez will claim the final two spots in the bullpen. That would leave Bobby Seay as the lone lefty.

And how much would Leyland like to have a second lefty?

"I'd like it a lot,'' he said.

There are a few left-handers who could be available, but not many the Tigers would be interested in. One possibility is Royce Ring, who is out of options with the Braves. But Atlanta traded Tyler Yates to Pittsburgh this morning, and with John Smoltz beginning the season on the disabled list, they might end up keeping Ring on the opening day roster.

The Tigers probably aren't interested in Aaron Fultz, who has as bad a spring as Byrdak and was released by the Indians. It's also unlikely that they'd want to trade for Steve Kline, who has a $1.75 million contract with the Giants, or Mike Stanton, who is owed $3.5 million by Cincinnati.

But they'll keep looking. The Tigers could also hope that Clay Rapada gets healthy soon, but Rapada has been bothered by a sore left shoulder and hasn't appeared in a game since March 18.

As for Byrdak, Leyland said the decision wasn't made until this morning.

"I'm probably more shocked by this move than Tim Byrdak is,'' Leyland said. "That was a no-brainer (entering camp) that he was on the club. But I could not at this time in good conscience put him on the team. And when we met with him, he agreed that he did nothing that put him on the team.''

Leyland still likes Byrdak. He said that if Byrdak doesn't get a major-league job elsewhere, the Tigers would be interested in signing him to a Triple-A Toledo deal.

"I just couldn't put him on the team at this time,'' Leyland said. "I just couldn't do it.''

Then they could hope that Clay Rapada gets healthy and becomes an option at some point in the season.

The other possibility is that the Tigers pick up a lefty from outside the organization. Baseball people say there are quite a few that could be available. You wouldn't think they'd want Aaron Fultz, who was released by the Indians after a spring every bit as awful as Byrdak's. But Royce Ring is out of options with Atlanta, the Giants are shopping Steve Kline (who makes $1.75 million) and the Reds are shopping Mike Stanton (who makes $3.5 million).

BYE! BYE!

maybe he is MudHen material...

Byrdak, Tigers want to reunite

The Tigers should learn by the end of this week whether left-hander Tim Byrdak will return to the club as a minor-league free agent.

Detroit released Byrdak last week after a spring training in which he went 0-1 with a 13.50 ERA.

“They’re interested and we’re interested,” Byrdak’s agent, Mike Mosa, said Tuesday. “We’ll see if it comes together in the next 48 hours.”

The Tigers currently have only one left-hander, Bobby Seay, in their bullpen. Manager Jim Leyland has generally carried at least two left-handed relievers during his career.

If he signs, Byrdak would likely report to Triple-A Toledo.

Detroit also signed left-hander Aaron Fultz to a minor-league contract last weekend. Fultz was released by the Cleveland Indians earlier this spring.

I think he would do fine in Toledo!

I think if he works on the new stuff in Toledo, that the Tigers were teaching him, he should become a very good pitcher. It just me that they have good pitchers and mess with them all at the same time... They should have only concentrated with a few at a time, so we would not have a whole group that started out ok and finished messed up!

I hope he signs again and does come back better than ever, he is a good man.

I would love to see the tigers sign him for Toledo and then see what happens!
I really liked his stuff last year. He is a good pitcher and we definitely could use him if he gets his control back. Give him a chance!