Perhaps we should squawk, er, about Taijuan Walker?

[LWFS]

All this discussion over what-next rotation options? Why not this https://www.mlb.com/player/taijuan-walker-592836handsome gent/onetime https://www.fangraphs.com/players/taijuan-walker/11836/stats?position=Ptop-prospect/interesting-uniform-number-wearer?



https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/WY9yVM168x5ENYs3fKDEp9FQUAA=/1400x1400/filters:format(jpeg)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22234585/1277404859.jpg>



https://sportshub.cbsistatic.com/i/r/2020/08/27/9dcb9f2f-723b-41bc-9b05-a5375f8f34e1/thumbnail/1200x675/f0a7c90ae08ff5d1dcf7e99e731182a7/usatsi-147339121.jpg>



Early injury issues, yes, and he graduated from Tommy John University (Class of 2018), sure, but he did provide three years of 25-plus starts before that. And, as he seems to be following deGrommy postgraduate track (fastball velo/control on the uptick, slider gaining bite), why not let him study from the professor in person? That bounceback 2020-- 2.70 ERA (4.56 FIP, bleggh) over 11 starts, with a 1.37 ERA over 6 AL East starts-- is a pretty nice capper on his application.





Also, he's into https://blogs.fangraphs.com/taijuan-walker-talks-pitching/analytics/Driveline-based motion refinement! And unlike some guys of that bent, who offer naught but Twitter fuckboi nuggets and t-shirts embossed with their "personal brand," our man Taijuan gives out free homemade tacos. https://ftw.usatoday.com/2018/03/arizona-diamondbacks-taijuan-walker-tacos-free-tacos-yes-mlbFROM A RENTED TRUCK.

[Benjamin Grimm]

My biggest concern is about how Gary Cohen would pronounce his first name.

[LWFS]

It's "TIE-wan," like "Here comes Diaz to close things out in the ninth-- time to Taijuan on."



Plus, he's just 28. (29 in August.)



PLUS plus, for the connoisseurs among us: check out that ass! That's, like, a Recker-class buttleship there.

[MFS62]

PLUS plus, for the connoisseurs among us: check out that ass! That's, like, a Recker-class buttleship there.

So, you would pronounce his first name "Tush-ONE"?



Later

[Edgy MD]

There's certainly still some interesting talent out there. If they're diving back into the market, I think he's my pick.

[Frayed Knot]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: My biggest concern is about how Gary Cohen would pronounce his first name.

As 'The Ballplayer formerly known as Formosa'