The kid's too young to get the 9th inning jitters, like Lindstrom and Bellisario have.

 

Not much more needs to be said. The only question is when will Robin Ventura realize that this is his best option, and it's not even that close.

 

Maybe Nate Jones could be considered if and when he comes back and re-establishes himself. But that doesn't seem on the immediate horizon. In the meantime, the Sox cannot afford to lose winnable games like today's, because when we get to the end of the season, it's likely the Sox will either make the playoffs as a wildcard, or be within a few of these losses of doing so.

Webb is pitching the fourth best of the active pitchers in our bullpen. I'd like him to prove a little more first

 

 

I believe that was the idea, first get him 1 yr as long / short - relief and then next yr battle for RP

Webb is pitching the fourth best of the active pitchers in our bullpen. I'd like him to prove a little more first

 

The kid closing in Arizona already has 12 saves. Why don't we package Davidson and Eaton and see if we can get him.

 

The reason this might be the best option is that everyone else in the bullpen has looked uncomfortable in their new roles, and this would push Downs, Bellisario, Petricka, and Putnam back to the roles they had been succeeding in.

The reason this might be the best option is that everyone else in the bullpen has looked uncomfortable in their new roles, and this would push Downs, Bellisario, Petricka, and Putnam back to the roles they had been succeeding in.

 

Great post, and let's face it, it also plays into the rebuilding part of this year where you're getting the closer of the future some valuable experience. No one else in the bullpen right now has potential closer stuff.

I still like Belly as the closer. His stuff is too good not to succeed.

 

 

 

Ultimately I am fine with whoever out of the obvious candidates though.

Edited May 24, 201411 yr by Buehrle>Wood

If you look at it from the standpoint of who in the pen is most likely to get through the 9th or any other inning for that matter without walking people and/or giving up runs, it's Putnam, today's outing notwithstanding.

 

The problem with the pen is that no matter how you order it there's still no real stability. We have a couple quality MR options and a couple potential quality SU options, but zero effectiveness from the left side, no real specialists, no real closer. Putting Webb into the 9th could easily result in him moving back to the front of the pen, and would you really want to do that with your closer of the future, push him too aggressively into that role?

 

IMO you go Putnam & hope that Carroll can do some light work in the front end. Belisario was working well in the SU role, and if you want to prime Webb for the closer gig in the future maybe you go with him as your righty specialist, that way he'll be in the mindset that he can get into any game and there will still be some pressure, i.e. men on and a tough hitter at the plate good part of the time.

 

Ultimately some guys are just going to have to step up like Petricka did and push Downs off the team. I bet Hahn's scouts have been very busy looking for quality LHRP prospects in other organizations.

The kid closing in Arizona already has 12 saves. Why don't we package Davidson and Eaton and see if we can get him.

 

Because Rick Hahn is not an idiot

If you look at it from the standpoint of who in the pen is most likely to get through the 9th or any other inning for that matter without walking people and/or giving up runs, it's Putnam, today's outing notwithstanding.

 

The problem with the pen is that no matter how you order it there's still no real stability. We have a couple quality MR options and a couple potential quality SU options, but zero effectiveness from the left side, no real specialists, no real closer. Putting Webb into the 9th could easily result in him moving back to the front of the pen, and would you really want to do that with your closer of the future, push him too aggressively into that role?

 

IMO you go Putnam & hope that Carroll can do some light work in the front end. Belisario was working well in the SU role, and if you want to prime Webb for the closer gig in the future maybe you go with him as your righty specialist, that way he'll be in the mindset that he can get into any game and there will still be some pressure, i.e. men on and a tough hitter at the plate good part of the time.

 

Ultimately some guys are just going to have to step up like Petricka did and push Downs off the team. I bet Hahn's scouts have been very busy looking for quality LHRP prospects in other organizations.

 

 

I like it, while an argument can be made of putting webb there, I rather keep him where he is, at least until

after the all star game.

 

we got some young arms in the minors that will also come up next yr, that will be a very good pen. let's not

forget we are still in a quasi rebuilding state.

Edited May 25, 201411 yr by LDF

Cleto just picked up his first save for the Knights tonight.

 

Edited May 25, 201411 yr by caulfield12

Because Rick Hahn is not an idiot

Are you telling me that he wouldn't undo the Reed/Davidson trade, if he could?

Are you telling me that he wouldn't undo the Reed/Davidson trade, if he could?

Not a snowballs chance in hell, he shouldn't and wouldn't.

Not a snowballs chance in hell, he shouldn't and wouldn't.

 

Scott Downs makes $3.7 Mil and Lindstrom makes 4 Mil. I would still take Reed at 550,000 .

Scott Downs makes $3.7 Mil and Lindstrom makes 4 Mil. I would still take Reed at 550,000 .

 

At the time of the trade, did you have reason to believe (and still today) that Conor Gillaspie would hit well enough against lefties, as well as hit for enough power in general and defend at an improved enough level to hold down 3B for the next 3-5 years?

At the time of the trade, did you have reason to believe (and still today) that Conor Gillaspie would hit well enough against lefties, as well as hit for enough power in general and defend at an improved enough level to hold down 3B for the next 3-5 years?

 

No and I still don't. But Relief pitchers are damned hard to find. Worse, sometimes you find one and they don't last long ( Bobby Jenks). An established reliever( Reed was top 10) is worth more, in my opinion, than a good prospect( Davidson). Even if you are rebuilding, Reed was young enough to last through it. I had no problem with Santiago for Eaton, whether it works or not, because CF is a primary position and look how long we have been trying to find one. I posted at the time of Reed trade that I hoped they had a long term plan to replace him. Maybe Webb( or Jones) will makeup for the loss of Reed by late summer. I just hope we don't start 2015 with the same problem.

Addison Reed is nothing special, not even close to anything special to be honest. Davidson could definitely turn out to be a bust but I'd do that trade each and every time.

 

And I agree that Webb should be closing. He might not be our best reliever at the moment but I'm tired of taking guys out of roles they're successful in to make them the closer. Webb has been a closer for a bit now in the minors, let him do that and keep Belly in the middle relief role that he was pitching so well in.

Are you telling me that he wouldn't undo the Reed/Davidson trade, if he could?

 

 

There is no way that he would. You are overrating Addison Reed.

 

Joe Ostrowski ‏@JoeO670 16h

Here come the Addison Reed calls. Umm, Reed's ERA is 4.57 & he's given up 6 HR. He gave up 6 HR all of last year. Btw, 4.95 FIP. #WhiteSox

 

I'll pass.

No and I still don't. But Relief pitchers are damned hard to find. Worse, sometimes you find one and they don't last long ( Bobby Jenks). An established reliever( Reed was top 10) is worth more, in my opinion, than a good prospect( Davidson). Even if you are rebuilding, Reed was young enough to last through it. I had no problem with Santiago for Eaton, whether it works or not, because CF is a primary position and look how long we have been trying to find one. I posted at the time of Reed trade that I hoped they had a long term plan to replace him. Maybe Webb( or Jones) will makeup for the loss of Reed by late summer. I just hope we don't start 2015 with the same problem.

 

So are starting 3B who can hit 30 homers.

The kid closing in Arizona already has 12 saves. Why don't we package Davidson and Eaton and see if we can get him.

Addison Reed has a -0.3 WAR this year. He has been worth the exact same as Maikel Cleto and WAR-wise would be the least valuable reliever on the Sox.

 

Now Reed is not that bad, but he is also is nothing special. With the salary he would likely command in arbitration, the prospect of getting a really solid third baseman under team control for six years was worth it. Now, Davidson has surely sucked this year. But the risk was worth the reward in the trade.

Addison Reed is nothing special, not even close to anything special to be honest. Davidson could definitely turn out to be a bust but I'd do that trade each and every time.

 

And I agree that Webb should be closing. He might not be our best reliever at the moment but I'm tired of taking guys out of roles they're successful in to make them the closer. Webb has been a closer for a bit now in the minors, let him do that and keep Belly in the middle relief role that he was pitching so well in.

 

Addison Reed had 40 saves on a lousy White Sox team last year. He has consistently been in the top 10 in saves for close to 3 years. You are saying Davidson "could" turn out to be a good player and I agree. But we traded a ML player who presently is in the Top 10 in his category and is only 25 years old, which is young for a closer, for a young prospect who has averaged 20 hrs, hit .260 but strikes out a lot in the minors. Plus Reed makes $550,00 which is not much more than Webb makes and is 1/6 what Scott Downs makes.

 

Reed is still on a lousy team and he has more saves (13) than our entire pitching staff (9).

Addison Reed had 40 saves on a lousy White Sox team last year. He has consistently been in the top 10 in saves for close to 3 years. You are saying Davidson "could" turn out to be a good player and I agree. But we traded a ML player who presently is in the Top 10 in his category and is only 25 years old, which is young for a closer, for a young prospect who has averaged 20 hrs, hit .260 but strikes out a lot in the minors. Plus Reed makes $550,00 which is not much more than Webb makes and is 1/6 what Scott Downs makes.

 

Reed is still on a lousy team and he has more saves (13) than our entire pitching staff (9).

Forget saves the dudes numbers are average at best.

Addison Reed had 40 saves on a lousy White Sox team last year. He has consistently been in the top 10 in saves for close to 3 years. You are saying Davidson "could" turn out to be a good player and I agree. But we traded a ML player who presently is in the Top 10 in his category and is only 25 years old, which is young for a closer, for a young prospect who has averaged 20 hrs, hit .260 but strikes out a lot in the minors. Plus Reed makes $550,00 which is not much more than Webb makes and is 1/6 what Scott Downs makes.

 

Reed is still on a lousy team and he has more saves (13) than our entire pitching staff (9).

It doesn't matter that he was/is on a lousy team, his save percentage was extremely average(actually a bit below average) last year. Saves aren't the best way to judge a closer but even if you're looking at that, he still wasn't that great.

We would win 90 games with Addison Reed.

No and I still don't. But Relief pitchers are damned hard to find. Worse, sometimes you find one and they don't last long ( Bobby Jenks). An established reliever( Reed was top 10) is worth more, in my opinion, than a good prospect( Davidson). Even if you are rebuilding, Reed was young enough to last through it. I had no problem with Santiago for Eaton, whether it works or not, because CF is a primary position and look how long we have been trying to find one. I posted at the time of Reed trade that I hoped they had a long term plan to replace him. Maybe Webb( or Jones) will makeup for the loss of Reed by late summer. I just hope we don't start 2015 with the same problem.

 

everything in this post regarding relief pitchers is completely, 100% backwards.