Just FYI, perhaps a clue to the off season direction?

 

Scott Merkin ‏@scottmerkin 25m25 minutes ago Chicago, IL

 

Cooper on future CWS rotation: "I think the five starters we have here right now are going to be back. That’s my opinion."

 

If true that means no rebuild and another "go for it" campaign. We'll see what happens.

 

One thing is for sure, they better hope to God Cooper can fix Shields.

 

Mark

 

 

 

 

Will Cooper be back?

 

They aren't really making a serious effort if Hahn's folly, Shields, is part of the rotation.

What's Cooper gonna say? 4 of them will be back but we need to find someone better than James Shields?

What's Cooper gonna say? 4 of them will be back but we need to find someone better than James Shields?

Seriously. This thread should have been called "somebody somewhere was interviewed and didn't throw his guy under the bus." Nice job coop, can't feed the vultures.

Still have a nice 4 man rotation. The real problem is the pen.

Still have a nice 4 man rotation. The real problem is the pen.

 

The pen isn't really that big of a problem. Robertson and Jones will be fine. We just rode them too hard when Putnam, Petricka, and Duke were taken out of the equation, and then we paid for it for a while. Jones hasn't given up a run since August. Robertson has given up a single run twice in his last 12 outings, and been scoreless in his other 10 during that stretch. His numbers have improved a ton since he hasn't been pitching back to back nor multiple inning outings.

 

Dan Jennings has been a god send. Even with a little regression, he is still a really good reliever.

 

The middle relief is scary right now, but again, we should have Putnam and Petricka back to cover up what guys like Beck and Ynoa are doing now. That isn't even counting on a guy like Zack Burdi who could come in and be better than all of them, and push everyone into lesser roles, nor is it counting on a cheap signing or two in the off season to fill a role in the middle relief sector.

The pen isn't really that big of a problem. Robertson and Jones will be fine. We just rode them too hard when Putnam, Petricka, and Duke were taken out of the equation, and then we paid for it for a while. Jones hasn't given up a run since August. Robertson has given up a single run twice in his last 12 outings, and been scoreless in his other 10 during that stretch. His numbers have improved a ton since he hasn't been pitching back to back nor multiple inning outings.

 

Dan Jennings has been a god send. Even with a little regression, he is still a really good reliever.

 

The middle relief is scary right now, but again, we should have Putnam and Petricka back to cover up what guys like Beck and Ynoa are doing now. That isn't even counting on a guy like Zack Burdi who could come in and be better than all of them, and push everyone into lesser roles, nor is it counting on a cheap signing or two in the off season to fill a role in the middle relief sector.

 

When you think about, Petricka and Putnam going down was really when this team fell apart. Albers couldn't pick up the slack, Robertson and Jones got run into the ground. It all fell apart.

The problem is assuming that Jennings won't falter, that Putnam and Petricka will return seamlessly like Nate Jones and that Robertson's problem was related to overwork and nothing else. Putnam was a reclamation project and Petricka wasn't nearly as effective as he was earlier in his career where it even looked like he could be a closer.

 

The wild card is Burdi. If he's as good as advertised and not starting in Winston-Salem or Birmingham, thry should be okay, but they probably need to find another lefty with as many lefty hitters as there are in the AL Central.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The problem is assuming that Jennings won't falter, that Putnam and Petricka will return seamlessly like Nate Jones and that Robertson's problem was related to overwork and nothing else. Putnam was a reclamation project and Petricka wasn't nearly as effective as he was earlier in his career where it even looked like he could be a closer.

 

The wild card is Burdi. If he's as good as advertised and not starting in Winston-Salem or Birmingham, thry should be okay, but they probably need to find another lefty with as many lefty hitters as there are in the AL Central.

 

The real problem is putting too much faith into small sample sizes instead of player history.

The problem is assuming that Jennings won't falter, that Putnam and Petricka will return seamlessly like Nate Jones and that Robertson's problem was related to overwork and nothing else. Putnam was a reclamation project and Petricka wasn't nearly as effective as he was earlier in his career where it even looked like he could be a closer.

 

The wild card is Burdi. If he's as good as advertised and not starting in Winston-Salem or Birmingham, thry should be okay, but they probably need to find another lefty with as many lefty hitters as there are in the AL Central.

 

Where can I find a prime Matt Thornton?

 

Thinking back, it really is amazing how he turned his career around. What a stud.

Assuming they carry 7 relievers next year with one being a long man, Burdi being called up second or third week of the season, and a second lefty, who fills out the other 4 spots? I have Jennings, Jones, Petricka and Putnam with Robertson moved. Unless someone in that group has options remaining that can be in the minors for depth purposes because we severly got bit by not having depth.

Edited September 16, 20169 yr by soxfan2014

Assuming they carry 7 relievers next year with one being a long man, Burdi being called up second or third week of the season, and a second lefty, who fills out the other 4 spots? I have Jennings, Jones, Petricka and Putnam with Robertson moved. Unless someone in that group has options remaining that can be in the minors for depth purposes because we severly got bit by not having depth.

You have to figure they will acquire another lefty they can use a lot. As to the rest, IMO it's a crapshoot. They have some guys like Ynoa, Beck, and Turner, who are potentially pretty good relievers. But will they take the step they need to take? Petricka and Putnam, hopefully they are both healthy and ready to pitch. Jones has been pretty great this year, despite his several naysayers. Robertson is probably trade bait, but if he rediscovers some command, he will be as unhittable as he was his first couple months with the White Sox.

 

To me, it is going to be interesting to see what they think of their guys like Beck and Turner and Ynoa.

Assuming they carry 7 relievers next year with one being a long man, Burdi being called up second or third week of the season, and a second lefty, who fills out the other 4 spots? I have Jennings, Jones, Petricka and Putnam with Robertson moved. Unless someone in that group has options remaining that can be in the minors for depth purposes because we severly got bit by not having depth.

 

If you have the back end covered, it is much easier to find guys to cover middle relief. It can be guys off of the scrap heap, or it can be minor leaguers.

7th inning is still the key. KC spent $12.5 million alone on this spot in the pen (passed on Madson returning) and it ended up crippling their team because they made the wrong choice in Soria. And, looking at his 2015 statistics, there weren't many obvious tells that he would help sink their season when Davis went down. Not to mention all the time he spent in his first stint there, you couldn't know a player any better.

 

It's like the time KW overspent on Linebrink and Dotel in reaction to the disastrous 2007 pen. If they truly believe Putnam and Petricka can get the job done....great, but they're definitely rolling the dice going in-house. Ventura lost his trust in Putnam last year, his stuff isn't all that overwhelming as he relies more on movement and keeping that splitter down in the zone. Same with Petricka, he was going backwards with Robin.

 

Theoretically, there will be a new manager with a fresh start for everyone.

 

 

7th inning is still the key. KC spent $12.5 million alone on this spot in the pen (passed on Madson returning) and it ended up crippling their team because they made the wrong choice in Soria. And, looking at his 2015 statistics, there weren't many obvious tells that he would help sink their season when Davis went down. Not to mention all the time he spent in his first stint there, you couldn't know a player any better.

 

It's like the time KW overspent on Linebrink and Dotel in reaction to the disastrous 2007 pen. If they truly believe Putnam and Petricka can get the job done....great, but they're definitely rolling the dice going in-house. Ventura lost his trust in Putnam last year, his stuff isn't all that overwhelming as he relies more on movement and keeping that splitter down in the zone. Same with Petricka, he was going backwards with Robin.

 

Theoretically, there will be a new manager with a fresh start for everyone.

 

Why do you bring up the Royals so much? I'm honestly curious, since this is a White Sox board, but in nearly every post you make, you're either comparing the White Sox to the Royals or bringing up the Royals in some other way. Why?

Why do you bring up the Royals so much? I'm honestly curious, since this is a White Sox board, but in nearly every post you make, you're either comparing the White Sox to the Royals or bringing up the Royals in some other way. Why?

 

It's insane lol he always does.

I wouldn't be so quick to get rid of Robertson (if "going for it"). He's not great, but he has the stones to close and can usually close out a 9th.

The pen outside of Jones is mediocre, so they need another late inning guy. Maybe that's Burdi. Petricka and Putnam (Putnam has some stuff, at least) were no better than average, so their return won't help or hurt. But Beck and Kahnle may be good enough to fill middle relief by next year.

They'll need a lefty. Shouldn't be hard to find.

But don't chase veteran middle relievers....fools game.

 

 

I wouldn't be so quick to get rid of Robertson (if "going for it"). He's not great, but he has the stones to close and can usually close out a 9th.

The pen outside of Jones is mediocre, so they need another late inning guy. Maybe that's Burdi. Petricka and Putnam (Putnam has some stuff, at least) were no better than average, so their return won't help or hurt. But Beck and Kahnle may be good enough to fill middle relief by next year.

They'll need a lefty. Shouldn't be hard to find.

But don't chase veteran middle relievers....fools game.

 

Jennings, yo.

But Beck and Kahnle may be good enough to fill middle relief by next year.

 

Please no to both.

 

Mark