Is he really going to get that many innings?  Considering Felipe's devotion to Jeff Fassero, Accardo looks like our 8th reliever or so, and either he or Jack Taschner (barring March injuries) is going to at least begin the season in AAA. I'm betting on Taschner making the big club considering he's a lefty and his numbers last year were significantly better than Accardo's (even if his stuff isn't).

IP: 54
ERA: 4.00
K: 34
BB: 18

Nick's right... he might not get that many innings. The team seems high on Munter (who still scares me), and Felipe would probably like to have Taschner as a third lefty. There's also the slight possibility that one of the losers in the Hennessey/Corriea/Wright battle will end up in the bullpen.

I like Accardo more than most people, I think he could be very good this year. Felipe put him in some tough situations last year and although Accardo didn't always succeed, he seemed to handle the situations well and bounce back from bad appearances. That is big for a young reliever.

Appearances: 89 (Felipe Factor)
IP: 58
ERA: 3.45
K: 50
BB: 28

I was impressed with the kid last year. I don't see how he can make the club unless Felipe goes with Sweeney/Feliz as his outfield depth behind Finley. That means both Linden and Ellison are gone or in AAA. A mistake in my opinion, but it might be something Alou would do in order to carry 13 pitchers on the rosters. With a 12 man staff, I think Taschner makes too much sense as the last man over Accardo.

Will we really see a bench of 4 position players? With a team this old, that seems crazy to me, but also the only way - barring injury - that Accardo should be on the team coming out of spring training.

I guess that's a long winded way of saying I'll make my predictions when he makes the club. Right now, I think he's the first pitcher they call out of Fresno.

I like Accardo too, and Alou definitely liked him, putting him in tough situations, as someone noted, closer-type of situations.  For that reason, I see the Giants putting him down in AAA to concentrate on improving for one more year, also to get one year of closing in AAA, so that he can come up in 2007 and be prepared to do really well, with a view towards him being the closer in 2008, when Benitez' contract is over.  Plus he would be the backup closer in 2007 should Benitez fall over some food or something.

Meanwhile, Munter and Taschner hold down the fort for the team in 2006, with Accardo and Wilson ready to come up as the first line of reserves, depending on who's hotter at the time.  If Munter and Taschner show in 2006 that 2005 was no fluke, then the team will probably rely on them more, particularly with Kline and Fassero going FA after the season, they could be gone, plus Walker is approaching arbitration I would think, so he could be gone depending on how much he asks for.

13 pitchers? That seems like a lot, although I'm not saying Felipe couldn't manage to use them all every game.  Who will be the 80 game man this year?

Your basic bullpen is a closer, two righties, two lefties, and a mopup guy.  So that's Benitez, Walker and Worrell (side note: everybody's assuming he hasn't aged since he left), Kline and Taschner, and... Munter? Not really a long guy.  Fassero, probably.  Munter had a good year, so you'd think he'd get the nod for a 7 man bullpen.  

So unless Worrell doesn't show up with his mind wiped of last season, or there's an injury, I see Accardo starting in Fresno.  Or, maybe Tyler Walker gets traded if everyone else is healthy and pitching well?  That would be a nice world if it brought in someone useful.

BB

20 IP 12K, 4.50

Ummm... 4.10, 40 IP, 35 K, 15 FQCs, A-1 Blueberry, OH GOD I HATE FEBRUARY WHEN DOES THE SEASON START

I am in the less then 20 innings pitched and the stats don't matter camp.  I see Accardo as being Fresno's closer for most of the year and only coming up in September unless someone gets hurt.