Replacing Jenks

[WhiteSoxfan1986]

I would give the closer's role to either Santos or Thornton, preferably Santos so we can use Thornton for certain matchups. All I know is Bobby should never close another game for this team.

[WhiteSoxfan1986]

Bobby reminds me of Joe Borowski and Todd Jones from a couple years ago right now, except not as good.

 

This has been mentioned on this board before, our pen is like that of the 2006 Tigers. Our setup men are lights out but Jenks is our Todd Jones.

[iamshack]

I would give the closer's role to either Santos or Thornton, preferably Santos so we can use Thornton for certain matchups. All I know is Bobby should never close another game for this team.

I wish they had the stones to make Santos the closer, but it isn't going to happen.

[SoxAce]

We would need another lefty besides Thorton since Randy Williams is awful, if Matt was to close. I would go with Santos, but not sure they want him pitching back to back days since he is relatively new to pitching still.

 

That was my major beef with KW before the season started out of everything. Not getting another LHP to help Thornton. Alot of us already knew Randy Williams sucked. I thought at best, he can catch fire and be a productive LOOGY.

[WhiteSoxfan1986]

I wish they had the stones to make Santos the closer, but it isn't going to happen.

 

Unfortunately you're probably right. Basically anybody is better than Bobby at this point though.

[spiderman]

Doesn't seem like Bobby is too happy with possibly being removed. It will be interesting if we go with Thornton as the closer, because it would be similar to how the Cubs moved Marmol to closer. When that happens, the 7th/8th innings you used to take for granted become a lot more difficult.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=5175927

 

I could care less what Jenks thinks. He's been bad since last season, and it's carried over.

 

Santos is the future at closer with the way he's looked, but I don't think they make a rash move like that for now - I think it's more likely that Putz/Thornton share the role for now.

 

They can't be blowing the few games that they are actually leading.

[Wanne]

Ya never know if Santos can handle it until you put him out there. I'd give him the benefit of the doubt at this point since really nobody thought he'd be as good as he is anyway. WTF not?!?

[Lemon_44]

I'd stick with Jenks for a bit longer. Despite the whip and other stats, he has, for the most part, got the job done. I don't care what he does is non-save situations because that's not his role. His role is to get the save and today was the first time he has failed this year. He seems healthy as his fastball is clocking at 95-97. The problem he had today is Toronto is great fatsball hitting team and that's what he was feeding them. In fact, he really doesn't seem to use his hammer curve like he used to. That pitch was what made him a devastating closer early in his career. Now he seems to only throw the fastball and cutter. I think if he went back to using the curve more, he would become more effective. Maybe his arm can't take the wear and tear of throwing it as much.

[Jordan4life_2007]

I'd stick with Jenks for a bit longer. Despite the whip and other stats, he has, for the most part, got the job done. I don't care what he does is non-save situations because that's not his role. His role is to get the save and today was the first time he has failed this year. He seems healthy as his fastball is clocking at 95-97. The problem he had today is Toronto is great fatsball hitting team and that's what he was feeding them. In fact, he really doesn't seem to use his hammer curve like he used to. That pitch was what made him a devastating closer early in his career. Now he seems to only throw the fastball and cutter. I think if he went back to using the curve more, he would become more effective. Maybe his arm can't take the wear and tear of throwing it as much.

 

Toronto isn't a great FB hitting team. They're just a great hitting team. And save% has become one of the more overrated stats in baseball (Fernando Rodney last year is a perfect example). Bobby has been BAD. He had a WHIP of 1.85 BEFORE yesterday's meltdown. This was coming. If not Toronto it would've been the Twins in a couple days. My main problem with Bobby (other than his horrid pitching) is he doesn't seem to hold himself accountable. Whether it be his weight or his inconsistent pitching. He thinks it "doesn't make any sense" that Ozzie could be contemplating a change? Is he retarded? Maybe all the success he had so quickly from 2005-2007 gives him a sense of entitlement? Anyway, he's not getting it done. He was bad last year. He hasn't been an 'elite' closer since 2007.

 

I think it would be a HUGE risk to stick Santos in the closer role at this point. I don't think it's just a coincidence that Ozzie for the most part has gone to him in low-leverage situations. To go from that to closer after 12 1/3 IP would be a steep jump. And should he fail multiple times, who knows what that could do to his confidence going forward? Nobody knows what kinda makeup this guy has yet. s***, before spring training, nobody knew much of anything about him. And the downside that comes with making Thornton the closer is obvious. Can't close out a game in the 9th unless you actually have the lead to begin with. Ozzie and Coop have got some tough decisions to make over the next couple days. We really, really needed Bobby to rebound and make this all moot. Unfortunately, he's failed miserably.

Edited May 10, 2010 by Jordan4life

[IamPabloOzuna]

Jenks was asked by ESPNChicago.com if a change might be coming and that a meeting with Guillen and pitching coach Don Cooper might take place.

 

"That doesn't make sense," Jenks said.

Yeah, you have a 2.17 WHIP, 6.75 ERA and teams are hitting .350 off of you. Yes, Bobby that makes no sense why we shouldn't be considering moving you from the closer's role. In the words of Herm Edwards, HELLO?!?!

 

Sox Drawer: What About Bobby?

 

Jenks follows Ozzie in the video. He says it at the end.

Edited May 10, 2010 by IamPabloOzuna

[spiderman]

Ya never know if Santos can handle it until you put him out there. I'd give him the benefit of the doubt at this point since really nobody thought he'd be as good as he is anyway. WTF not?!?

 

I'm sort of with you, but I think they would go with the proven commodities who have done it before first. Putz has had a lot of success in that role, and Thornton, although with only limited experience there, would probably get the first shot. I think they would do this over Santos simply because it's less risky for now. Santos would probably get more opporutinites in the late innings though.

[Balta1701]

I'm sort of with you, but I think they would go with the proven commodities who have done it before first. Putz has had a lot of success in that role, and Thornton, although with only limited experience there, would probably get the first shot. I think they would do this over Santos simply because it's less risky for now. Santos would probably get more opporutinites in the late innings though.

Putz just hasn't looked that good this season either.

[Steve9347]

Putz just hasn't looked that good this season either.

Well, I'd prefer him over Thornton. You can't take Matt out of that 8th inning role, or else our relief issues would just happen an inning earlier.

[Lillian]

Santos seems to have the right make up to be a closer. He certainly has the stuff. It's probably more a question of durability.

 

Why not use whomever matches up best on any given night, taking into account who is rested?

Thornton would be an obvious choice on a given night when the hitters due up in the 9th are left handed. That could happen tomorrow and Wednesday, versus the Twins. Matt is not nearly as effective versus right handed hitters, nor when pitching two days in a row.

 

Putz is not 100% yet, and although he's progressing, it would probably not be wise to ask him to close on a nightly basis yet.

 

Santos could be given save opportunities but no more frequently than every other game. Moreover, by not annointing him as "the closer", any potential problems with the pressure would be greatly reduced.

 

If Thornton is going to close on occasion, they're going to need another left handed specialist. Erick Threets was doing very well at Charlotte before going on the DL for a week. He had a pretty good Spring and could be a servicable lefty, when he comes back.

[ChiSox_Sonix]

Santos seems to have the right make up to be a closer. He certainly has the stuff. It's probably more a question of durability.

 

Why not use whomever matches up best on any given night, taking into account who is rested?

Thornton would be an obvious choice on a given night when the hitters due up in the 9th are left handed. That could happen tomorrow and Wednesday, versus the Twins. Matt is not nearly as effective versus right handed hitters, nor when pitching two days in a row.

 

Putz is not 100% yet, and although he's progressing, it would probably not be wise to ask him to close on a nightly basis yet.

 

Santos could be given save opportunities but no more frequently than every other game. Moreover, by not annointing him as "the closer", any potential problems with the pressure would be greatly reduced.

 

If Thornton is going to close on occasion, they're going to need another left handed specialist. Erick Threets was doing very well at Charlotte before going on the DL for a week. He had a pretty good Spring and could be a servicable lefty, when he comes back.

 

I think that could be a good idea. Don't appoint a closer. That way, everyone will be prepared and in the case of Santos it won't give him time to fret about it for 8 innings if his number gets called in the 9th. Or, if a team has a bunch of lefties due up it would be a good time for Thornton, for example.

[jasonxctf]

Putz or Santos.

 

Leave Thornton alone. Didn't he try and close a few games a few years ago and blew up?

[kitekrazy]

1st blown save and everyone's on the ledge.

[ThunderBolt]

Thornton cannot be the closer for this team, unless we bring in a good lefty from outside this organization. If this organization plans on removing the inning restrictions on Santos then you leave him in the set-up role, and make Putz the closer. If Santo can still work one inning per, then he needs to be the new closer.

[BigSqwert]

1st blown save and everyone's on the ledge.

You're right. He's looked dominating leading up to yesterday.

[southsideirish71]

1st blown save and everyone's on the ledge.

 

The 2.17 WHIP, .352 BAA, and the 6.75 ERA are more reasons to worry than his BS count.

 

Closing Time: Bobby Jenks makes a mess.

 

 

[chetkincaid]

You're right. He's looked dominating leading up to yesterday.

 

Right. Bobby has been a question mark since last season when Coop came out against fans that were booing him at the Cell. I think it's time to cut bait.

Edited May 10, 2010 by Chet Kincaid

[WCSox]

Right. Bobby has been a question mark since last season when Coop came out against fans that were booing him at the Cell. I think it's time to cut bait.

 

That would be a bad idea. He's untradeable right now and you'd still have to pay his salary if you DFA'd him. Since he has two options remaining, it'd be a lot smarter to send him down to the minors to work things out. If he gets his command back and can pitch effectively a month from now, it's possible that some team picks up the last month or two of his contract.

 

 

[caulfield12]

It will never happen, for 10+ reasons that are well-documented, but I'm not completely against him going to the minors as a starter, and figuring out how to rely on his secondary pitches again...to get a feel for them.

 

He wouldn't stay as a starter, of course, long-term, but I think starting and pitching 3-5 innings would force him to learn how to pitch again and stop throwing just fastballs and cutters. He'd have to find that curveball again, SOMEHOW.

 

Unless the torque from throwing it hurts his elbow so much that he can't do it....in which case we have a real problem, which will end up in a non-tender and nothing to show for his departure. Of course, since he only cost $50-75,000 in the first place, he might be one of the three greatest investments in the last 10 years, along with Loaiza and Santos.

Edited May 10, 2010 by caulfield12

[chetkincaid]

That would be a bad idea. He's untradeable right now and you'd still have to pay his salary if you DFA'd him. Since he has two options remaining, it'd be a lot smarter to send him down to the minors to work things out. If he gets his command back and can pitch effectively a month from now, it's possible that some team picks up the last month or two of his contract.

 

 

No I mean cut bait as far as leaving him in the closer role. The Sox weren't able to get anything for him in the off season, so I know they couldn't get anything for him right now.

[BigSqwert]

That's an unusual way of using the term 'cut bait'.