Do we need to acquire a closer?

[bmags 5,268]

Should be a ton of relief help but not a ton of closers. And we have Bummer. What do you guys think?

[Chicago White Sox 5,465]

I mean, if Colome only goes for 1/$6M then why not?  But at typical rates, I’d prioritize other needs first and add a Kela type reliever to the mix.

[southsider2k5 5,708]

Bummer CAN  close, but I would MUCH rather have him available anywhere between the 6th and 9th.

[Eminor3rd 762]

My opinion is you pack the bullpen with upside arms and let a closer emerge. Too much risk of injury and inconsistency to go into the season needing to rely on one guy. If the options was available, I would choose "Budget Closer x3."

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside 2,056]

I think we got some great years from Colome but the natural progression is Bummer to closer but I do think another good relief arm would be prudent. If that's Colome and he is still the closer I'm good with that. If he falters there's still Bummer to use as closer.

[bmags 5,268]

6 minutes ago, Eminor3rd said:

My opinion is you pack the bullpen with upside arms and let a closer emerge. Too much risk of injury and inconsistency to go into the season needing to rely on one guy. If the options was available, I would choose "Budget Closer x3."

I feel like those dudes want a shot though. Sox bullpen could be tough to crack into.

[Harold's Leg Lift 1,044]

You don't want Kela on this team.  That's a bad dude.  

[Eminor3rd 762]

22 minutes ago, bmags said:

I feel like those dudes want a shot though. Sox bullpen could be tough to crack into.

Some will, certainly, but I'd bet that the combination of a broader acceptance of the "modern bullpen" and the uncertainty of the COVID version of free agency will make a bunch of guys happy just to have a solid guarantee.

[fathom 5,469]

1 minute ago, Harold's Leg Lift said:

You don't want Kela on this team.  That's a bad dude.  

Yep, seems to be hated by his teammates

[Tnetennba 1,443]

Sign a closer/re-sign Colome, unleash Bummer wherever needed.  This pen is a big big weapon with proven closer at the back end.

[CWSpalehoseCWS 529]

I'd love to see Hendricks brought in, but I doubt the Sox would dare go in that direction. RF and SP are much bigger and more important needs. Though I do have faith in Bummer, Heuer, or Foster being able to handle that role in a worst case scenario. Heuer and Foster have had some closing experience in the minors before.

[Chicago White Sox 5,465]

In this market, there is zero excuse for not bringing in a quality reliever in on a short-term deal.

[KillahPriest 13]

Re-sign Colome 1/8 with an option and Hand 2/18.

[Balta1701 2,879]

Make sure you think about the coach in this context. Is this coach going to take your best reliever and limit him to only the 9th inning? Would he automatically prefer a veteran closer in the 9th and be more willing to use Bummer in high leverage spots if he had one?

[South Sider 300]

7 hours ago, KillahPriest said:

Re-sign Colome 1/8 with an option and Hand 2/18.

You absolutely do this if Colome can be had for that cheap. He may not overpower you, but he's got stones and a closers mentality.

With him being a primary cutter pitcher, does he remind anyone of a Mariano Rivera Ultra Light? Or Light? I am 100% okay with that kind of production. 

[YourWhatHurts 307]

2 minutes ago, South Sider said:

You absolutely do this if Colome can be had for that cheap. He may not overpower you, but he's got stones and a closers mentality.

With him being a primary cutter pitcher, does he remind anyone of a Mariano Rivera Ultra Light? Or Light? I am 100% okay with that kind of production. 

Colome has always been greatly underappreciated here.  He's never going to be a big K guy but if we have an IF defense we're fine with him.  The only complaint I have is that he takes so damn long to throw the ball, but other than that?  Show me all of these closers that have 1-2-3 9ths all of the time.  Usually there's some trouble.  Usually, every inning for just about any pitcher of any kind there's trouble, it's just that it becomes more of a fan focus if it's the 9th inning.  In baseball, just about everyone has a WHIP above 1.0.  Everybody is allowing more than 1 baserunner per inning.

I like that Colome does a pretty good job of making quality pitches.  He's trying to be enticing but not leave cookies in the middle of the plate.  Sometimes hitters lay off and the break isn't as sharp and he falls behind.  But he has a pair, and I want a closer with a pair.

I think he's a lot like David Robertson in that respect, not necessarily the best closer but he's got closer's stones.  OTOH I never thought Kimbrel had any stones even with the stuff he had.  I'd always rather have a guy out there who will put the ball in the strikezone.  And because he's a pitch-to-contact guy, Colome just needs the hitter to swing at one of his pitches and put it in play.  He doesn't have to have a minimum of 3 pitches to record an out.

I'd bring him back for sure but I think we're probably going to wait Springer out before we do anything.  After Springer signs, I would not at all be shocked to immediately see the Sox agree to terms with a RP, including potentially Colome.

[YourWhatHurts 307]

11 minutes ago, South Sider said:

You absolutely do this if Colome can be had for that cheap. He may not overpower you, but he's got stones and a closers mentality.

With him being a primary cutter pitcher, does he remind anyone of a Mariano Rivera Ultra Light? Or Light? I am 100% okay with that kind of production. 

Whoa we posted 1 min apart both talking about Colome's stones.  Lol never mind.  I was tricked by my browser.  I actually just quoted you again.  

Edited November 24, 2020 by YourWhatHurts

[bmags 5,268]

I worry about Colome's shoulder. There was a fegan article way back when about how much he has to do to prep his shoulder for the season. I don't know if that should be taken as "this is what it takes to perform at my age in the top league in the world" or that he has a ticking time bomb of a shoulder (moreso than any pitcher I guess).

[YourWhatHurts 307]

1 minute ago, bmags said:

I worry about Colome's shoulder. There was a fegan article way back when about how much he has to do to prep his shoulder for the season. I don't know if that should be taken as "this is what it takes to perform at my age in the top league in the world" or that he has a ticking time bomb of a shoulder (moreso than any pitcher I guess).

I don't think he gets more than a 1 year deal with a team option on it anyway.  IMO there's really no reason to worry about anyone on a deal like that.  Anyone can get hurt at any time.

[bmags 5,268]

1 minute ago, YourWhatHurts said:

I don't think he gets more than a 1 year deal with a team option on it anyway.  IMO there's really no reason to worry about anyone on a deal like that.  Anyone can get hurt at any time.

But I'm not worried about optimal contracts, I am looking for getting a good year out of players because we are a playoff team.

[2Deep 191]

I would like to have Colome back. He has done everything possible to gain my trust. Man has balls!

[YourWhatHurts 307]

10 minutes ago, bmags said:

But I'm not worried about optimal contracts, I am looking for getting a good year out of players because we are a playoff team.

Sure but you're still talking about RPs though.  I think anyone we sign or trade for, in one season especially, could go bad.  Look at Edwin Diaz's first season on the Mets, etc.  

As a closer I'd take Colome over Brad Hand 10 times out of 10 though, as an example.

I think we can get Raisel Iglesias in a trade, Hader too, if we want to pay those prices.  Iglesias should be much cheaper, but a FA costs no prospects.

[RagahRagah 418]

Colome made us nervous quite a bit but always got the job done. No reason not to seek him for one more year. Bummer will be there for whatever role we will need him for.

[ChiSoxJon 257]

8 hours ago, KillahPriest said:

Re-sign Colome 1/8 with an option and Hand 2/18.

Wow that would be filth

[ChiSoxJon 257]

All for bringing back Colome for fair value...Hand would be an unbelievable add

So excited for this team