2 weeks Ago By Rob Parent
PHILADELPHIA — He doesn’t seem to know how to break out of what’s been a season-long slide, but Taijuan Walker would like to do something about it. At least there’s that. Originally signed away from the Mets as a third Phillies starter to a fairly lucrative deal – a four-year, $72 million pact on Dec.
16, 2022 – Walker has declined to the point where not only his current status but his Phillies future is in doubt. Overall in an injury plagued 2024, he is 3-6 with a 6.50 ERA.
But over four starts since returning from the injured list on Aug. 13, things for him have progressively gone from so-so to sad, being tagged to the tune of three losses and a .917 ERA.
Amid a six-inning stint in which Walker allowed 13 hits and six earned runs leading to a 10-0 loss to Houston Wednesday, Rob Thomson finally had seen enough, declaring a day later that Walker, 32, would move to the bullpen. Considering the speculation that he could even be released at some point, he’s not in much of a position to argue. He’s also looking at the very real possibility of another inactive postseason.
“Obviously I haven’t been pitching well, haven’t been doing my job,” he said Friday before another Braves game. “We’re getting to the last month of the season, all these games matter ..
. so, I’m not surprised at all. I’ve just got to do a better job.
” Figuring perhaps that less is better when it comes to an approach from the bullpen rather than a starting block, Walker was speculating Friday on what his plans could include for what likely will be his last month of the season. “The last time I pitched in the bullpen was 2014, so we’ll see,” Walker said. “Obviously it’ll be fastball heavy, fastball-cutter .
.. maybe I’ll take some pitches out.
It depends on what my role is. It’s probably long relief, but if it’s one or two innings, then yeah, I’ll probably take some pitches out.” Walker’s rich ride with the Phillies started competently enough in 2023.
He ate innings and won games, even while being less than consistent. He would finish the season with a staff-leading 15 victories, but on a downward trend. He made nine starts during August and September last season, gong 3-2 in them.
But his ERA increased from 3.91 to 4.38, with a 5.
93 ERA during September. With the growth of young starter Cristopher Sanchez, manager Rob Thomson decided that Walker would enter the postseason as the fifth starter. As a result, he didn’t sniff any postseason innings.
It had gone that way before for him. During the 2021 season, one with the Mets in which he played in the All-Star Game (as teammate Jacob deGrom’s replacement) Walker had his performances drop down the stretch of the season. He went 0-8 with a 7:13 ERA after the All-Star break that year, after starting the season with seven wins in his first 10 decisions and an ERA of 2.
66. He let his disappointment and anger show when he didn’t get to play in the postseason last year. Now, with his performances bottoming out, there isn’t much for him to say except to go with whatever Thomson and team president Dave Dombrowski come up with.
Thomson said Thursday that he hoped Walker could get “that velocity and stuff back” with work with weighted balls and other drills in the offseason. As for work for the remainder of 2024, well..
. “I’m trying to stay confident in myself, and knowing I’ve done it for so long and I’ve been good and it’s still there,” Walker said. “But this is the first year where I’ve kind of been bad all year.
I usually have moments where it’s bad and moments where it’s really good but I just haven’t had that this year.” As for pitching in relief to the point of moving the Phillies to want him available in the playoffs, Walker said, “I guess it’s up to me. I have to show them I can come out of the bullpen and be effective.
I’m going to work really hard to do that. ..
. It sucks not really being a part of it and not helping out the team. So anything I can to help out the team, whether it’s one inning or two innings or whatever they need, I’m going to go out there and try to do the best I can and try to be a part of it.
“I’m getting another chance,” he added. “Obviously me being in the rotation really didn’t work out this year. I’m not saying it still won’t, but right now I need to focus on the bullpen, and try to be as effective as possible in the bullpen.
” • • • NOTES >> Walker’s spot in rotation could be filled by Lehigh Valley’s Tyler Phillips for next week and beyond. Kolby Allard wouldn’t be eligible to return to the big club until Sept. 10 unless someone came up with an injury.
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Reliever Jose Alvarado’s personal leave is over. Thomson said Friday that Alvarado would “come in tomorrow and touch the mound a little bit and we’ll probably activate him after the game tomorrow.” .
.. Alec Bohm’s hand injury has caused inflammation in the area and as a result he didn’t not start the game.
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