Tallet, Blackburn making their way in bigs
Not every Okie in the majors get the hype guys like Matt Kemp and Brad Penny do. For every player like that there’s two or three guys who have quietly carved out careers in the bigs. Here’s a look at how some of them are doing this season.
Brian Tallet, RP (Toronto)
Before Brian Tallet began his pro baseball career he starred at Putnam West and also helped Louisiana State win a national championship in baseball.
Tallet has been mainly a reliever during his career but he has made some spot starts for Toronto. In his latest outing he started in place Jesse Litsch and pitched 5 1/3 innings with a walk and a strikeout.
For the season Tallet has 12.7 innings pitched wit ha 4.26 ERA and 10 K’s against just five walks.
Nick Blackburn, SP (Minnesota)
Blackburn was born in Ada and went to Seminole JC by way of Del City High School.
A former 29th round draft pick, Blackburn has carved out a spot in the Twins rotation, with mixed results. In his most recent start he pitched 6 1/3 innings allowing four runs on eight hits in a no decision.
The 27-year-old is 0-1 with a 5.71 ERA so far. He reached a career high in wins with 11 last season and a 4.05 ERA. Blackburn isn’t a strikeout pitcher, but he had a nice balls to strikeout ratio with 96K’s against 39 walks.
Okie’s in the majors stock watch
UP
Matt Kemp, OF, Dodgers: Kemp has been en fuego to start the year with a .383 three homers and 14 RBIs. His walk-off granny against Colorado is emblematic of the way he’s playing with a pace to set career highs in RBIs and stolen bases.
DOWN
Brad Penny, SP, Red Sox: Penny will make $9.2 million for Boston but his 11.00 ERA is not going to make many in Red Sox Nation happy. Penny seems to be having control issues with seven walks against three strikeouts in nine innings.
Matt Holliday, 1B, Oakland: Some thought when Holliday left the National League and the thin air of Coors Field his numbers might suffer. Well, the numbers are suffering. Holliday is hitting .266 with no homers and 11 strikeouts in 45 at bats. Holliday hit .321 with 25 homers last season. His previous high was 36 in 2007.
Later this week
Tuesday: Okies in the minors.
Thursday: History corner, a look back at past Okies in the majors.
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It’s amazing the talent that rolls through Seminole J.C. year after year …