During Saturday night’s comeback victory over the Mets, the Phillies were once again required to rely on the strength of their bullpen to keep them in the contest.
Philadelphia has used several names in their fifth starter role to varied success – they are 15-5 in their last 20 games, and just 2 of those losses came from one of the core four in their rotation. The other three losses came from the spot that a member of their bullpen used to hold down on his own – Taijuan Walker.
Walker was one of the men tasked with keeping the Phillies in the game, and he turned in his best performance of the season. He pitched three strong innings, scattering just three hits in relief of recent call-up, Kolby Allard. It was Taijuan’s first scoreless appearance of the season – and his first in over a calendar year. The last time he took the mound and didn’t surrender a run was back on June 11, 2023, over the Dodgers.
It was refreshing to see Walker attack the strike zone, throwing 22 of his 37 pitches for strikes. Phillies manager Rob Thomson stressed all season that he wanted to see an increase in velocity from his veteran right-hander, and that we would see it. In just his third relief appearance this year, we finally did. Per Statcast, the average speeds for both his four-seam fastball and sinker were up more than a full MPH compared to his season averages (1.2 for the 4SFB, 1.4 for the Sinker).
According to Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Walker told reporters post-game: “Today was the best I’ve felt all year, probably.” The transition to the bullpen was not what Walker envisioned for himself, but he has continued working hard to contribute to his team.
After the decision to move him to the pen was made on August 29, Walker spoke with reporters prior to the game against the Braves on August 30. When asked about his routine and how that will be impacted, he noted he has teammates who have been through this before that he can rely on: “The routine will change a little bit, but we got some good veterans in the bullpen who can help me with that.”
Walker’s New Role
Matt Strahm is one of those veterans who has changed from starter to bullpen (and back again, on occasion). I spoke with the veteran left-hander in an exclusive about that transition and the advice he might have for his teammate:
“I always tell the guys that come to the bullpen for the first time – I say you gotta look at it this way: the starting pitchers are the SWAT team. They get the plan, they’re told what to do, and they know when they have to go execute it. We’re a home invasion – so just get up and survive, like just get up and go. And I mean, let your adrenaline take over because I don’t think guys really… until you do it, you’re not gonna trust it.”
Strahm continued “So just let him know like – hey, you’re a competitor when that phone rings, you’re gonna be ready, just trust it and just go. So that’s what I always say – SWAT team versus home invasion.”
Walker may not have delved into military training just yet, but when he spoke to reporters (including Coffey), it was clear he had started to make the necessary adjustments. “I think the biggest thing is getting ready a couple of times a day,” Walker said. “Getting ready to play catch early and then getting ready again for the game. Making sure I stay loose throughout the game.”
According to Anthony SanFilippo of OnPattison.com, Walker also told reporters that he found something mechanical a few days ago that helped. That, and studying the video and the result from Saturday, made him feel like it was his best performance in a while.
After being included on the postseason roster in 2023 but not making a single appearance, Walker’s goal is simple – help his team in any way and any role that he can. He wants to prove that he can contribute this season and will worry about the rotation come the off-season. Walker has known since the decision was made official that it is up to him to prove he belongs in that role, pitching big innings for a team with World Series aspirations:
“I guess it’s up to me. I have to show them that I can come out of the bullpen and be effective and I’m going to work really hard to do that and I want to be a part of (the postseason). It sucks not being a part of it and not helping out the team. So anything I can do to help out the team – whether it’s one inning, two innings, or whatever they need – I’m going to go out there and do the best I can and try to be a part of it.”
Photo Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
