fathom

QUOTE (Marty34 @ May 4, 2012 -> 10:40 PM) Yep. That's the thing, everyone in baseball knows a starting pitcher is more valuable than a closer. Thus, the more you take a step back and think about it, the more it makes you wonder what it really going on with his arm.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ May 4, 2012 -> 10:38 PM) You don't rush into making a guy with #1 stuff into a closer, unless he's proven multiple times he can't handle a starter's workload. That's my beef with this decision. Shut him down him down for a while and try him again as a starter later this year. There's definitely more to it than what we've heard.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ May 4, 2012 -> 10:37 PM) Sale (as a starter) was the shining star of hope for this team. They are 29th in attendance because there is such little hope. Now that Sale is back to close . . . Too early to start doing 2005 reunions at the games to try and draw fans? Sox fans don't care about hope or the future, with regards to attendance. All they care about is if the team is winning at that time. Sox could have the top Bryce Harper and Strasburg playing tonight, and if they were 10-15, attendance would be mediocre.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 4, 2012 -> 10:29 PM) I agree. The reason Sale was available when the Sox picked him was the worry that what went down today was going to happen and probably be even worse news. He has been an injury concern since day 1. Let him become a HOF closer. There's no shame in that. I do agree with you here, but now it's Kenny's turn to find another starting pitcher for the next few years.

Well, I guess Starlin Castro should be careful, as sports radio was sarcastically predicting that Sale and Castro would get hurt next after the Rose injury.

QUOTE (DirtySox @ May 4, 2012 -> 10:15 PM) That's okay. He can be replaced by one of the plethora of young high upside arms the Sox have in the minors. Molina better make it as a starter. I wonder if this makes it more likely that the Sox try to extend Gavin?

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ May 4, 2012 -> 10:11 PM) How do you know starting him in AAA last year wouldn't have produced the same result? Seems like quite the reach there. You don't know, but pitching him in relief did nothing to help prepare him for this year. Just cause it worked for someone like Buehrle, it seemed dubious that it would work for Sale.

QUOTE (Sockin @ May 4, 2012 -> 10:11 PM) Who gets demoted when Crain comes back? Has to be Santiago, right? I think it will be Stewart, unless Santiago gets bombed before that. Crain isn't ready to come off yet though, and might be another 10 days.

Based on the Tribune article, it sure seems like the Sox were expecting to have to move him back to the bullpen. If that's the case, then another case of terrible scouting prior to the draft. I do like Sale, and what's done is done. Hopefully he turns into Billy Wagner.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseb...0,3429271.story

QUOTE (hi8is @ May 4, 2012 -> 10:59 PM) Welcome to circa pre 2005 again and the ever revolving 1st/2nd/3rd/4th / 5th start spots.

Wow, it's a permanent decision for this year according to Merkin. I've never seen anything like this.

QUOTE (robinventura23 @ May 4, 2012 -> 09:55 PM) So, I'm guessing this is perrmanent? Based on what Coop is saying. So next year's rotation is Danks, Humber, Axelrod, Stewart and Santiago/Molina

Santiago should get sent down to start in AAA, as there's no reason to have 4 lefties in your bullpen.

QUOTE (Y2HH @ May 4, 2012 -> 09:50 PM) Why are you people insane? Did I seriously read someone call for KW to "leave" because Sale has a sore elbow?! Seriously? Would Sale be better on the DL? I sometimes wonder about the lack of logic around here. It's cause they completely botched how they've handled Sale. He should have been starting in the minors last year so that he was ready to log starter's innings this year. This isn't exactly a new topic of conversation on here, and quite frankly, I'm sure a lot of people on here think it was just a matter of time before Sale got injured as a starter. And yes, you absolutely DL him instead of putting him in stressful situations (like which every other team in the majors would do). Also, Sox would probably feel more comfortable with putting him on the DL if not for the idiotic decision of making Santiago a closer out of ST.

Funny thing is when I saw this thread, I thought for sure someone bumped it from before 2011.

Well, most importantly, hopefully it's not serious for Sale and he's able to recover. If this ends up being a TJS situation, this organization is completely screwed.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 4, 2012 -> 09:39 PM) And you wonder why I kept stressing this was a rebuilding year. And you see why I predicted 72 wins because of the likelihood that the starting pitching staff can't stay healthy.

Well Flash, looks like we have our Liriano now

QUOTE (SnB @ May 4, 2012 -> 09:36 PM) Just put him on the DL - this accomplishes nothing. Agreed, but now you will never hear me say that Beckham/Morel/Viciedo shouldn't be playing every day. With Sale closing, KW better be doing everything he can to trade Thornton.

It's just great they completely wasted a year of Sale's development last year. Who didn't project some type of injury this season due to not preparing him last year?

Yep, it's true. Sale has tender elbow, and Sox don't want to jeopardize his future I guess. Kenny Williams, please leave

This cannot be true. Please tell me it's not true.

I see nothing wrong with what Perez said he did.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ May 4, 2012 -> 07:28 PM) Normal everyday lineup tonight with Paulie back at 1st Just ridiculous how poorly Lillibridge is being used this year. Joe Maddon would probably have Lillibridge batting 3rd every game against LHP. Meanwhile, we have Eduardo Escobar getting more at bats than Lillibridge this season.