Brian Tallet and The Awesome Mustache

Brian Tallet has been one of the biggest surprises for the Blue Jays this year. A Blue Jay since 2006 after a trade with Cleveland Indians for Bubbie Buzachero, he has been a key face in the bullpen. Averaging just over 50 innings pitched a season, but keeping his ERA down and hits to a minimum, he cemented himself as someone who would make the club this season, and help the bullpen continue its spectacular performance.

What the Jays didn't expect was injuries to their starting rotation and needing Tallet to fill in as a starter. He has done that exceptionally well. He has now started five games for the Jays, going 2-1, but in the games where he has gotten a no decision he still pitched well and kept the Jays close.

What has led to Tallet's awesomeness this season. Some skeptics think it may be performance enhancing drugs-he is known to work out with Alex Rodriguez in the offseason, but others are noticing another change to Tallet - his mustache.

Brian Tallet isn't the first player to take his career to the next level by adding a mustache to his head. Many have taken this route before, Jason Giambi, Keith Hernandez and most notably Tom Selleck.

When Tallet broke into the majors in 2002, he was a clean shaven 24 year old. After 7 seasons, he is a little older and wiser and knew a mustache was the way to get attention. Cito Gaston took note (also mustachioed) and when Jesse Lietch and Ricky Romero went down with injury, Gaston must have taken one look at his bullpen staff and said "give me the guy with the mustache". The rest as they say his history.

Romero and Lietch are both due back from injury shortly and with the other young starters in the staff also pitching well, Gaston will have to make a choice of who goes back to the bullpen, who goes to Las Vegas (AAA) and who stays in the starting rotation. As long as Tallet keeps his mustache, Gaston should have no problem making this decision and keep Brian and his awesome mustache in the starting rotation.