http://www.suntimes.com/output/sox/cst-spt-sox20.html

Because Takatsu has been shaky, Guillen is resigned to going with a closer by committee.

 

"With Shingo, we're going to go by situation right now,'' Guillen said. "This kid is struggling , and I want to get his confidence back. To me, it's the worst feeling a manager can have to walk to the mound and take your closer out.''

The Sox already entered the game with the best American League ERA from its starters at 3.19, and Hernandez's performance dropped it to 2.99. The Sox also have an AL-leading nine quality starts.

closer by committee is such a dumb term that people use for every bullpen situation in which you don't have a set closer.

 

when I think closer by committee, I think the team isn't sure and will just let whoever is hot take over the job. that's usually done by a team that has no relievers whatsoever, and as a result, usually fails.

 

in this case what Guillen will be doing is going by the situation, which means Marte, Hermanson and Takatsu will all be getting chances to close, pending the batters due up for the opposing team, or, if someone like Vizcaino works a quick eighth, he can go ahead and finish out the ninth.

 

I'm very happy with this as I think a lot of teams should be going this route instead of having a pretend closer finish out games even though the matchups for them in the ninth are absolutely horrible.

closer by committee is such a dumb term that people use for every bullpen situation in which you don't have a set closer.

 

when I think closer by committee, I think the team isn't sure and will just let whoever is hot take over the job. that's usually done by a team that has no relievers whatsoever, and as a result, usually fails.

 

in this case what Guillen will be doing is going by the situation, which means Marte, Hermanson and Takatsu will all be getting chances to close, pending the batters due up for the opposing team, or, if someone like Vizcaino works a quick eighth, he can go ahead and finish out the ninth.

 

I'm very happy with this as I think a lot of teams should be going this route instead of having a pretend closer finish out games even though the matchups for them in the ninth are absolutely horrible.

 

I think that Hermanson is the clear choice for closer. He has been untouchable, even under pressure, so far and there's no reason why the job shouldn't be his.

That wouldn't bother me, but I'd personally rather go the route of no closer. Hermanson is good, but he isn't lights out, which is what I want from a closer. IMO, if you don't have one of the best, go at it by situation.

That wouldn't bother me, but I'd personally rather go the route of no closer. Hermanson is good, but he isn't lights out, which is what I want from a closer. IMO, if you don't have one of the best, go at it by situation.

I agree, there are only a few closers I would consider to be lights out and we don't have one on this team.

That wouldn't bother me, but I'd personally rather go the route of no closer. Hermanson is good, but he isn't lights out, which is what I want from a closer. IMO, if you don't have one of the best, go at it by situation.

 

 

Is anyone in that pen better at this point? Right now he is most capable and I think the job should be his until he proves otherwise.

Is anyone in that pen better at this point?  Right now he is most capable and I think the job should be his until he proves otherwise.

 

I'm more inclined to give the guy that's done the job for the Sox the benefit of the doubt, with a short leash. That said, I think DH will eventually be the closer, but Shingo has earned the right to try and get his s*** together.

I'm more inclined to give the guy that's done the job for the Sox the benefit of the doubt, with a short leash.  That said, I think DH will eventually be the closer, but Shingo has earned the right to try and get his s*** together.

 

 

If it was only 1 or 2 bad outings Id be more inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt based on the reasons you used but this is getting to be a nasty habit with him. If OZ hadn't been giving him the hook as quickly as he had his record would be a lot worse and so would the teams.

If it was only 1 or 2 bad outings Id be more inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt based on the reasons you used but this is getting to be a nasty habit with him.  If OZ hadn't been giving him the hook as quickly as he had his record would be a lot worse and so would the teams.

 

All the more reason why I said he should have a short leash. I like the way Ozzie is handling this situation.

Is anyone in that pen better at this point?  Right now he is most capable and I think the job should be his until he proves otherwise.

 

if this team MUST have a closer at this point in time, because of Shingo's struggles, then yes, it should be Hermanson, but I don't think they should name anybody the closer. It's a bulls*** role that only a few teams in the majors can actually fill. It's like the five-man rotation. It was never used and then all of sudden a couple teams form it and are effective with it and then all of sudden every team needs a fifth guy, with about half of them barely having a fourth starter.

I think Shingo will be fine.

I think Shingo's ineffectiveness along with Neil Cotts does hurt our pen because it will force Ozzie into matchups and create alot of bullpen use each game. If shingo was effective you wouldn't have threads of burning bullpens. The only guy that didn't get up yesterday in the pen was Cotts. everyone else either pitched or threw in the pen. Shingo comes in Ozzie will need a back up to throw in the pen. So in effect you need at least two closers each time shingo pitches. One on the mound and at least one throwing in the pen. This cannot last the whole year, it will indeed burn the pen out.

I think Shingo's ineffectiveness along with Neil Cotts does hurt our pen because it will force Ozzie into matchups and create alot of bullpen use each game. If shingo was effective you wouldn't have threads of burning bullpens. The only guy that didn't get up yesterday in the pen was Cotts. everyone else either pitched or threw in the pen. Shingo comes in Ozzie will need a back up to throw in the pen. So in effect you need at least two closers each time shingo pitches. One on the mound and at least one throwing in the pen. This cannot last the whole year, it will indeed burn the pen out.

 

Agreed. This cannot continue for very long.

I think Shingo's ineffectiveness along with Neil Cotts does hurt our pen because it will force Ozzie into matchups and create alot of bullpen use each game. If shingo was effective you wouldn't have threads of burning bullpens. The only guy that didn't get up yesterday in the pen was Cotts. everyone else either pitched or threw in the pen. Shingo comes in Ozzie will need a back up to throw in the pen. So in effect you need at least two closers each time shingo pitches. One on the mound and at least one throwing in the pen. This cannot last the whole year, it will indeed burn the pen out.

 

 

 

Good morning sunshine...

 

 

Agree completely with you here..

Good morning sunshine...

Agree completely with you here..

 

 

Hello darling, sorry we didn't hook up.

Good morning sunshine...

Agree completely with you here..

 

 

Separate note don't you think Pods should have taken out maur on that tag up from third? You were right there, he tried to avoid maur inside of sliding into him cleats first. Hunter would have barreled our catcher. Just an observation.

Cotts has a few more outings to straighten things out before he is shipped due southeast to Charlotte.

 

It's the same things from him, nibbling around the plate and walking guys that drive me absolutely nuts. This is even more troublesome now than when he was a starter because he is doing it in relief situations where we need him to hold the other team.

 

Right now he has 5 walks in 3.2 innings with a 7.36 era....

Separate note don't you think Pods should have taken out maur on that tag up from third? You were right there, he tried to avoid maur inside of sliding into him cleats first. Hunter would have barreled our catcher. Just an observation.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

There was a lot of swearing in my household about that play (by me) but Mauer has Podsednik by 4-5 inches and probably 40 lbs. and he is coming off the groin injury.

 

I still think he should have plowed him, what a great way to get in good with your teammates and the fans. But I understand why he didn't, the main thing there was to score and he thought he'd gotten the plate by sliding around.

Separate note don't you think Pods should have taken out maur on that tag up from third? You were right there, he tried to avoid maur inside of sliding into him cleats first. Hunter would have barreled our catcher. Just an observation.

I thought exactly that and I was mad for about two innings afterwards.

 

Rooney was commenting on the radio that had Pods been here last season he would've taken him out but since he wasn't close to the situation that it didn't happen.

 

But yes, it was a perfect opportunity and I am guessing that due to Pods's health, he didn't run over Mauer.

I thought exactly that and I was mad for about two innings afterwards.

 

Rooney was commenting on the radio that had Pods been here last season he would've taken him out but since he wasn't close to the situation that it didn't happen.

 

But yes, it was a perfect opportunity and I am guessing that due to Pods's health, he didn't run over Mauer.

 

We need Pods in the lineup. If his health is an issue, he doesn't need to take out the catcher just to look good.

Separate note don't you think Pods should have taken out maur on that tag up from third? You were right there, he tried to avoid maur inside of sliding into him cleats first. Hunter would have barreled our catcher. Just an observation.

 

 

Absolutely. And Pods no doubt heard Jim's thoughts on it as well..

I thought exactly that and I was mad for about two innings afterwards.

 

Rooney was commenting on the radio that had Pods been here last season he would've taken him out but since he wasn't close to the situation that it didn't happen.

 

But yes, it was a perfect opportunity and I am guessing that due to Pods's health, he didn't run over Mauer.

 

 

And that last line is the big picture. Pods is a little dude, and Mauer is a big boy. And that is on top of the injury to Pods... It isn't worth losing Pods for an extended period of time to send a message. Now if we were talking about a big boy like Everett or Uribe going into homeplate, it is a different story. Knock him out.

sunshine...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Can't let this pass without comment ...

 

 

 

quickman = sunshine

Can't let this pass without comment ...

 

 

 

quickman = sunshine    

Why did Blackhole Sun just jump into my head?

I completely agree quick...

 

Closer by committee = burned out bullpen

 

As for the pod's play at home...I wasnt suprised he didnt try to run over the catcher. I'm sure the fact that hes still a little gimpy and gives up about 30 pounds to Mauer weighed in his decision. Plus I dont know if he expected the throw to be there on a fly like it was...I can't fault him for what he did, it was a good play by the Twinks