Tyler Clippard is in his 12th season in the majors, and his first with the Blue Jays. The right-handed reliever is 4-3 with a 3.70 ERA in 59 games. He also made his first start since 2008.
It’s been a solid bounce-back season after a tough 2017 for Clippard, who spoke to NY Sports Day on Saturday.
NYSD: The Trade deadline actually came and went without you being moved. Did you forget what that was like?
TC: (laughing) Yeah. You know, it’s ben part of my life for the last three years, so I’m always expecting the unexpected.
NYSD: And you started a game, so that was really unexpected.
TC: Yeah. That was awesome, man. I’m glad I got to do that again. It was a lot of fun.
NYSD: They’ve got the 98 reunion going, you were here for the 96 one a few years ago. What was that like?
TC: Yeah. That was cool, man. Obviously those teams were special for this organization, for the Yankees organization, so seeing those guys is really cool.
NYSD: And they have Cone and O’Neill announcing, and Girardi was managing, so every day was like a late 90s reunion anyway.
TC: Yeah. Yeah. Obviously those guys were special for the Yankees organization. To hear them have perspective on what they’ve done in their career and watching these guys, it’s fun listening to these guys for sure.
NYSD: It’s such a stats driven game. The year you’re having, you’ll have five good outings and give up three runs in two-thirds of an inning and the ERA gets thrown out of whack. Is that frustrating as a reliever?
TC: Yeah. I mean, that’s part of the gig. I think the key to a successful season as a reliever is limiting the damage, you know, whatever that means. If you’re coming in with guys on base in tough situations, you’re trying to limit damage, if you do give up runs you usually only want to give up one at a time and things like that, so that’s the key to having success as a reliever.
NYSD: How has life north of the border been?
TC: Good. It’s been fun, man. I’ve enjoyed it.