August 18, 200916 yr Cowley is reporting that Linebrink has been demoted from the 8th inning set-up role. Oz says Scott Linebrink is out as the 8th-inning set-up man for now.
August 18, 200916 yr QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Aug 18, 2009 -> 05:54 PM) Cowley is reporting that Linebrink has been demoted from the 8th inning set-up role. Praise Jesus.
August 18, 200916 yr I saw it in the "latest news" box and thought he was demoted to Charlotte Good to see that Ozzie is holding Linebrink accountable for his poor play lately.
August 18, 200916 yr QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Aug 18, 2009 -> 04:01 PM) Thornton will be working the 8th, with room for the 7th depending on matchups. Good. Linebrink's been nothing short of awful this year. I'm sorry that we have to carry his albatross of a contract for the next two seasons.
August 18, 200916 yr One thing is for sure here, a right hander needs to rise up from this bunch as the 8th inning guy. I like Thornton in the 8th of course, but he cant do it every time and someone is going to have to help him out there.
August 18, 200916 yr Author QUOTE (WCSox @ Aug 18, 2009 -> 04:03 PM) Good. Linebrink's been nothing short of awful this year. I'm sorry that we have to carry his albatross of a contract for the next two seasons. The thing is, he's healthy. He just needs to get some confidence in his off-speed stuff to keep hitters honest. He's throwing 94-95 consistently of late but guys are just sitting on it. Command and a secondary pitch is the key. Linebrink finds that and the Sox are golden.
August 18, 200916 yr Thornton should be the 8th ining man, but I think we might see some of that Dootell guy also
August 18, 200916 yr QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Aug 18, 2009 -> 06:07 PM) The thing is, he's healthy. He just needs to get some confidence in his off-speed stuff to keep hitters honest. He's throwing 94-95 consistently of late but guys are just sitting on it. Command and a secondary pitch is the key. Linebrink finds that and the Sox are golden. This is what I was gonna say. His change up and curve are nasty and can usually throw for strikes. When he gets in trouble, it's all fastball and while he has a good fastball, it's obviously hittable.
August 18, 200916 yr I've defended Linebrink a lot this year, but I just can't anymore. I wish he was fully confident in himself... he's amazing when he is... but he has been a mental midget this year. GROW SOME STONES!!!
August 19, 200916 yr Thornton has gotten most of the high leverage situations for awhile now unless he had been used a bunch of late.
August 19, 200916 yr If we can't trust Linebrink with a 3 run lead it's going to be pretty tough to find work for him. Might as well let him get his confidence back in Charlotte and call up Nunez again.
August 19, 200916 yr QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Aug 18, 2009 -> 06:07 PM) The thing is, he's healthy. He just needs to get some confidence in his off-speed stuff to keep hitters honest. He's throwing 94-95 consistently of late but guys are just sitting on it. Command and a secondary pitch is the key. Linebrink finds that and the Sox are golden. Agree. The walks last night were the problem, not really the home run. You do NOT throw first pitch fastball to Mike f***ing Jacobs in that situation - or probably in any situation for that matter. Even if you hang him a curveball inside right there he probably pulls it foul. That homer was nothing but terrible pitch selection.
August 19, 200916 yr QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Aug 19, 2009 -> 09:05 AM) One thing is for sure here, a right hander needs to rise up from this bunch as the 8th inning guy. I like Thornton in the 8th of course, but he cant do it every time and someone is going to have to help him out there. Dotel should clearly be that guy going forward.
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