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The hard-throwing right-hander would like to remain as the closer on the South Side of Chicago for the 2010 season and a number of seasons beyond. With the White Sox holding control over the arbitration-eligible Jenks, there's a strong possibility he will begin his fifth full campaign as the South Siders' last line of pitching defense.

 

But here is where this familiar tune goes a bit off-key.

 

Jenks is not a happy man, and it has nothing to do with another offseason beginning with trade rumors. Instead, during a weekend chat with MLB.com, Jenks took umbrage with the White Sox once again calling out his conditioning at the end of the 2009 season.

 

"I've done everything I can do, I've done everything that is physically possible, to make myself in better shape this year," said Jenks. "Where the years previously I didn't lose weight in-season, I didn't want my weight issue to be a factor as to why I had an off season."

 

...

Guillen stressed that the organization didn't want to trade Jenks and even mentioned that he thought Jenks would stay as the South Siders' closer. But Guillen also expressed concern about Jenks' conditioning.

 

"Obviously, this kid has to show up in shape," Guillen said. "That's his problem every winter. Hopefully, he knows about it. That's his career and that's the way he's going to make money, if he takes care of himself a little bit in the winter."

 

Guillen is not the only one in the organization who feels this way. He relayed comments from White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, who in a brief address to the team said that if the players didn't want to prepare themselves for next year, let the team know and something will be done about it.

 

"For four years now, I've been the same guy, and when I slow down a little ..." Jenks said. "Bad things happen to anyone, not because I need to get into shape. This has been me the whole time, so where is the problem?"

 

The problem is his declining statistics and lingering health issues. While kidney stones, which Jenks painfully battled through, can't really be controlled, he also dealt with an unexplained back issue for the second straight season.

 

Cooper made mention of the back problem during a conversation about the pitching staff in that final regular-season weekend. According to Jenks, it's a strange injury because it's on his non-throwing side and not related to his pitching mechanics.

 

Cooper said he was not singling out Jenks, but rather setting expectations for his entire staff, especially relievers.

 

"I'm looking for relievers to be ready on an everyday basis," Cooper said. "They are like the Marines, where every day they might have a battle to fight.

 

"Having them available is paramount. If any of them are losing some time, we are going to look into ways to outsmart it the next time. But aside from the times he has had freak things, Bobby has always been ready when called upon."

 

Along with the kidney stones and back soreness, a pulled right calf muscle bothered Jenks, cutting his season short prematurely after a blown save on Sept. 17.

 

The White Sox left Jenks home to rehab the injury rather than take him on their final road trip, and that did not sit well with Jenks, either. Jenks could walk on the injury while wearing a protective boot and said he would have liked to have joined his teammates for those six games.

 

"They sent me home early, when I could have gone on the road and rehabbed there, instead of going to a place near my house," Jenks said. "I [complained] to my wife every day, 'Why am I home?'"

The last part is interesting to me - why did they send him home?

If you're a fat athlete who sees his performance decline at any point, fair or not, the first thing people are going to point at is your weight. Comes with the territory.

Makes you wonder if Bobby Jenks can accept constructive criticism. It is coming from the manager and pitching coach and he ia arguing about it? Makes me wonder.

Makes you wonder if Bobby Jenks can accept constructive criticism. It is coming from the manager and pitching coach and he ia arguing about it? Makes me wonder.

 

Well I can see his point, he is in better shape now (relatively) than he was in 05-06, just an easy scapegoat for why he had an off year. They also question Buehrle's conditioning didn't they?

Well I can see his point, he is in better shape now (relatively) than he was in 05-06, just an easy scapegoat for why he had an off year. They also question Buehrle's conditioning didn't they?

 

They sure have. The only difference is that Mark took it to heart, where Bobby took it personally.

They sure have. The only difference is that Mark took it to heart, where Bobby took it personally.

 

Not really, MB was pissed off about it too but he is so easy going it came of as jokingly/sarcasm.

Strange they didn't want him on the road trib to have professionals on the team staff treat him.

Maybe it is a sign he gawn.

Or do they save pittance of money by leaving him home?

Maybe they sent him home so that he could spend some more time with his family. There doesn't have to be a negative reason for that. I'm sure that if the Sox had something to play for, they'd want Jenks around if for no other reason than camaraderie.

I am one of Bobby's biggest supporters but if you believe he is in good shape now then you are mistaken:

 

 

Last spring Ozzie stopped talking about Jenks weight saying he stopped caring about it, he just wanted him to perform. I think he and the rest of the organization believe most of his injuries could be avoided or at least be less of an issue if he dropped some weight. He should probably listen to them.

 

As far as keeping him home, its probably nothing. The Sox had some extra guys up and the clubhouses get a little crowded, and maybe even the hotels are a bit tight. He wasn't going to pitch so staying at home with your family shouldn't be a big deal .

I am one of Bobby's biggest supporters but if you believe he is in good shape now then you are mistaken:

 

 

 

Nobody compared him to his LAA days.

 

05

 

08

 

09

Nobody compared him to his LAA days.

 

05

 

08

 

09

I think he wears some sort of girdle type shirt underneath. Have you ever seen Freddy Garcia in person? In his uniform, he can almost look lanky. He's an offensive lineman in person.

Jenks weight was fine when he was 24 years old in 2005, but he's going on 29 now, and while that's still young, for a person carrying around that kind of weight year after year, it wears on you fast.

 

I can tell you that how I felt at 24 and 29 were vastly different...I was able to work out all day, party all night, sleep for 2 hours and be 100% at 24. At 29...not so much, and I wasn't carrying around that much weight, as I'm 160lbs now.

The problem is his declining statistics and lingering health issues. While kidney stones, which Jenks painfully battled through, can't really be controlled, he also dealt with an unexplained back issue for the second straight season.

 

Cooper made mention of the back problem during a conversation about the pitching staff in that final regular-season weekend. According to Jenks, it's a strange injury because it's on his non-throwing side and not related to his pitching mechanics.

 

Two things to take away from this:

 

(1) The back problems suggest that he hasn't lost much raw ability over the past couple of years.

 

(2) His attitude towards staying in shape is disturbing, particularly in light of these back problems. Getting in better shape doesn't necessarily mean losing weight. He could certainly benefit from some stretching and light weightlifting, and his reluctance to do so AFTER he's been battling two seasons of nagging back problems shows that he's not being very professional.

 

They sure have. The only difference is that Mark took it to heart, where Bobby took it personally.

 

 

In fact didn't Mark say he was going to work on arm strength during the off season? The older you get in the game of baseball the more you have to adjust your exercise regimen.

The older you get in the game of baseball the more you have to adjust your exercise regimen.

 

And if you don't have a good regimen when you're in your 20's, you may end up battling constant injuries when you hit your 30's (Griffey).

 

Maybe they sent him home so that he could spend some more time with his family. There doesn't have to be a negative reason for that. I'm sure that if the Sox had something to play for, they'd want Jenks around if for no other reason than camaraderie.

 

Good point. They probably told him exactly what treatment he needed at the local rehab place. I figured from Bobby's quote he thought it was a more synister motive of the Sox, but you are probably right. Bob sounds like he speaks his mind when reporters ask him stuff.

Message sent, but obviously not received quite yet. Get your ass in gear Bobby or you will be dealt.

Jenks, lost weight prior to this upcoming season. Pointing that he's only one needs be in shape is crap. Go tell all members of team they need not to be last in defense when this season comes up. How about we get guys that can score runner from third with less than 2 outs.

Jenks, lost weight prior to this upcoming season. Pointing that he's only one needs be in shape is crap. Go tell all members of team they need not to be last in defense when this season comes up. How about we get guys that can score runner from third with less than 2 outs.

If he lost weight, all he has to do is check his body he will find it. The ongoing back issue really hadn't been public knowledge until this article came out, but obviously the Sox staff feels Jenks wouldn't have many of the issues he has been having, and lets face it, injuries have robbed him of time the past 2 seasons, if he got down to even 240, which still is more weight than most carry on a 6'2" frame. Jenks has officially weighed in at 299 pounds as a White Sox. It probably was more than that, they just didn't want to give him the distinction of being a 300 pounder.

 

If his attitude is "I'll be as heavy as a want to be" it would be one thing if he's still lights out. He's not. If you look at the body of his work in 2009, even with an ERA in the mid 3's and 29 saves, you will find his overall performance to be well below average. He was only about 50% converting saves when he came in with a 1 run lead. Most of his saves were lay ups. 18 or 19 I believe were recorded when he entered with a 3 run lead.

 

Your other points are true, and I don't think the White Sox have sidestepped him, but don't you find it at least slightly disheartening that a guy in line to be paid $7-8 million, or about $125k an inning, doesn't seem interested in the least to be in top physical condition?

Jenks, lost weight prior to this upcoming season. Pointing that he's only one needs be in shape is crap. Go tell all members of team they need not to be last in defense when this season comes up. How about we get guys that can score runner from third with less than 2 outs.

Ok, lets go tell the all rookie infeld that they should play defense more like vets. Clearly thats something that shows how lazy they are.

If he lost weight, all he has to do is check his body he will find it. The ongoing back issue really hadn't been public knowledge until this article came out, but obviously the Sox staff feels Jenks wouldn't have many of the issues he has been having, and lets face it, injuries have robbed him of time the past 2 seasons, if he got down to even 240, which still is more weight than most carry on a 6'2" frame. Jenks has officially weighed in at 299 pounds as a White Sox. It probably was more than that, they just didn't want to give him the distinction of being a 300 pounder.

If his attitude is "I'll be as heavy as a want to be" it would be one thing if he's still lights out. He's not. If you look at the body of his work in 2009, even with an ERA in the mid 3's and 29 saves, you will find his overall performance to be well below average. He was only about 50% converting saves when he came in with a 1 run lead. Most of his saves were lay ups. 18 or 19 I believe were recorded when he entered with a 3 run lead.

 

Your other points are true, and I don't think the White Sox have sidestepped him, but don't you find it at least slightly disheartening that a guy in line to be paid $7-8 million, or about $125k an inning, doesn't seem interested in the least to be in top physical condition?

 

Where did you see that at?

Where did you see that at?

It was a couple of years ago. Gonzalez had it in the Tribune. I've commented about it on this board before.

If you're a fat athlete who sees his performance decline at any point, fair or not, the first thing people are going to point at is your weight. Comes with the territory.

 

Just ask Carlos Z.