Fixing the White Sox: Part Three

[Chisoxfn]

Last entry I told you how the Sox pitching staff is short a starter and that my thinking is the Sox will fill that opening via trade. I also told you that Jose Contreras and Jon Garland would be two guys to key in on to see if the Sox are winning or not. If the two of them have a strong year, then most likely, the 2005 Chicago White Sox will have a strong year.

 

In today’s piece, I’ll focus my attention on the bullpen. First off, I want to state the importance of a good bullpen. A good bullpen not only enables you to win the close games, but it can be an insurance for when your starters faulter, which is inevitable. Once you have a good pen, you can start having your questionable starters go less innings, keep you in the game, and then turn it over to the pen knowing that most likely your bullpen will keep the game in check for a rally.

 

I also think the bullpen, not the starting rotation, is one of the keys to getting to the post-season. A strong bullpen and a good offense help you win many games. If you have those two characteristics then you don’t need one ace on your staff, you just need 5 pitchers that will keep your team in the game. That philosophy won’t fair well once your in the playoffs, but it will get you to the playoffs.

 

That’s why I’m a firm believer in the White Sox strengthening their bullpen. While their bullpen showed some improvement in key areas, most noteably the closers spot, where Shingo Takatsu converted 19 of 20 saves after replacing Billy Koch, it still isn’t good enough. The Sox had a difficult time getting the ball from the mid-relievers to closer Shingo Takatsu. .

 

The Sox bullpen finished 19th in the majors. They went 21 and 21 with a 4.31 ERA, blowing 12 saves. The Sox bullpen was also the least worked pen in 2004, throwing 424.1 innings. Don’t expect this to happen again in 2005, although if their pitching staff is healthy, they should once again rank low in bullpen innings pitched. However, with another quality reliever (every indication is that the Sox are going to try and add another reliever) it means Ozzie will have one more guy that he can have faith in, which should increase the bullpen workload just a bit.

 

This low IP is a nice stat because it tells you that the Sox starters are getting deep into games, but it also tells you that Ozzie Guillen has little faith in his bullpen and because of it the pitchers had to undergo more wear and tear then they should of. Of course itt also tells you that the Sox are able to keep their relievers fresh.

 

The flaw is even with the relievers fresh for most of the year, the Sox bullpen failed to be anything more then mediocre. Despite being last in innings pitched, the White Sox bullpen was 12th in homers allowed with 61 in 424.1 innings of work. The scary thing is, of all the teams that ranked ahead of the White Sox in homers, the closest team to throwing as few innings as the Sox was Detroit’s bullpen which threw 56 more innings.

 

Jon Adkins led all White Sox relievers with 13 homer runs allowed. However, Neal Cotts (11) and Damaso Marte (10) both gave up double digit homers as well. Sox closer Shingo Takatsu gave up 6 long balls in 62.1 innings while Jackson gave up 7 and Politte 6.

 

Its obvious that the Sox, whose long ball numbers were inflated by pitching in a home-run park, need to put a focus on bringing in pitchers who don’t give up the long ball (DUH!!!). They also need to get at least one hard throwing reliever. It appears that the Sox are going to make a push at one good free agent reliever.

 

This will make the Sox bullpen so much better. Troy Percival and Armando Benitez are the most attractive names on the market. Percival will probably have a little better value and is a tremendous leader, but is on the downside of his career. That’s not to say he wouldn’t be effective though, as he finished the season with 33 saves (5 BS) and a 2.90 ERA. More impressive was how he finished, giving up just 6 earned runs in his final 31 innings of work. That’s a 1.74 ERA down the stretch. He also converted 20 of his final 21 save opportunities.

 

The downside with Percival is health. His fastball doesn’t have the zip it once did and at 35, he’s definitely begun the downturn of his career. However, that’s not to say he doesn’t have enough life in him to be a successful closer for the Sox.

 

Nor would Armando Benitez, who scared Met fans to death, before joining up with the Marlins, where he dominated. Simply put, Benitez was amazing. What else is there to say about 47 saves (4 BS) and a 1.29 ERA (.82 WHIP). While many would have said Benitez career has been shaky, minus a down 2003, he’s always been a good closer, maybe not an elite closer, but a good one. The nice thing is, Benitez had an even better 1.03 ERA on the road, which leads you to believe his numbers weren’t inflated by pitching in Florida (a pitchers park). It is unclear how much money Benitez will command, but its clear he’s the top reliever out their and should get a long term deal somewhere, possibly the North Side of Chicago.

 

The Sox have other options which wouldn’t involve moving Shingo to the set-up spot, which I believe would be a wise move. Shingo hasn’t proven himself over multiple seasons yet (hasn’t had the chance either), but in general I don’t see it as a bad thing to pick up a closer, meaning you have Shingo and Marte in the set up spot. This could make it a 6 inning game, especially if Marte can get his fire back.

 

Those other options include: Rob Nenn, Scott Williamson, Felix Rodriguez, and Jose Mesa. All of these are intriguing options, especially Nenn who hasn’t pitched since 2002. However, prior to his injury there was no-doubt that Nenn was one of the elite closers in baseball and if his right shoulder is healthy he may just prove to be again. An incentive laden deal would be risky, but teamed up with another signing, possibly his former set-up men Felix Rodriguez and you could see the makings of a very good bullpen, without spending mega bucks. However, those odds are unlikely since Nenn still has a 75% tear in his rotator cuff…a tear in which surgery isn’t an option for him due to the low success rate of rotator cuff operations.

 

My final entry on Fixing the Sox will involve me playing a little GM, and for those of you that know me, you know I love coming up with trade ideas and ways to better the team.

[beck72]

I've been looking at other potential bullpen guys, who aren't closers. Guys who can pitch in the Cell [high gb/ fb rate, who don't give up a lot of HR's, who can get K's], who can eat up a lot of innings, and guys who can keep inherited runners from scoring.

 

Playoff teams with great bullpens are filled with these guys: Julian Tavarez, Wilson Alvarez, Juan Cruz, Kiki Calero, Scot Shields, etc.

A few FA's to consider who fit this mold: Chad Bradford; Alvarez; Ramiro Mendoza [if he's healthy now]; Ben Weber

[Chisoxfn]

Gonna comment on Shields. He's probably as key to that bullpen as Krod is. Considering Percival is likely gone, that means he turns into the 7th inning guy with Donnelly the 8th inning guy and then Krod.

 

Their is absolutely no way the Angels will trade him. Scios loves Shields. The guy is such an asset, he throws so many games, gets ground balls and can pitch multiple innings. I know why you want the guy, the guy is very good and his numbers don't give him enough credit.

 

Tavarez I wouldn't want. He's always been talked about as an ass in the clubhouse and his attitude doesn't bode well for me. Wilson Alvarez is fine, however, I think the Sox need to get themselves one hard throwing reliever (I realize Cotts is one) but I'd like to see them get a strikeout guy here.

 

Bradford is interesting. Guy was a solid reliever in Oakland although I don't know if the Sox would look past him soley because of his side-winding ways. Weber would be a nice option for a one year deal w/an option...kind of a Politte like deal (last years Politte deal). But I wouldn't just sign Weber and my belief is the Sox have one spot via FA and one via in house, but that could all change.

 

Mendoza would definately be a good idea. I made mention of this in response to your post in the other thread where you brought his name up. I've always been a fan and he's quite versatile. Like you said, health is definately the key.

 

Colero is a solid pitcher looking at his stats. I remember seeing him pitch like a week or two ago and thinking he was solid, but haven't seen enough of him to really comment. I doubt the Cards would let him walk though, unless he got a big contract offer, and well, I don't know if the Sox would do that.

[beck72]

Tavarez, [ass or not--could be] only gave up 1 HR in 2003 in 83 IP and only 1 this year in 63 IP. His K and BB numbers would look great on the sox. Yet he's signed for 2005 for $2.3 mill.