Gene Honda Civic Posted April 14, 2004 Share Posted April 14, 2004 Koch -- Pros - Has saved 40 games in 3 different seasons -- Cons-Has not performed in a Sox jersey, loss of velocity, no control Shingo -- Pros - Proven to "big game closer" 0.00 ERA in japan WS -- Cons- Hasn't performed this season Marte -- Pros - BAA less than .200 last 2 seasons, low ERA -- Cons- Poor performance with inherited runners, injured? , season opener Politte -- Pros - Has closed before, looked good so far Adkins -- Pros - Has looked good so far, got the win to day cleaning up Koch's mess (IIRC, he was closing games at AAA for a short period last year, Could be wrong here )-- Cons - VERY little ML experience Cotts -- Pros -- Not too many I was just naming guys in the pen Jackson -- Pros - same as above. Wright -- Pros - Would move Cotts to the rotation, proved he's good out of the pen last season, Could really get behind his pitches(ala Gagne/smoltz -- add velocity to his fastball, plus use that nasty hook) Cons -- He's convinced he's a starter, no closing experience Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnB Posted April 14, 2004 Share Posted April 14, 2004 marte, give him his job back, it's his to lose now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WSoxShuf Posted April 14, 2004 Share Posted April 14, 2004 Has the franchise talked about Wright going to close spot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chisoxfn Posted April 14, 2004 Share Posted April 14, 2004 For the time being, I am going to continue to say Koch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pale Hose Jon Posted April 14, 2004 Share Posted April 14, 2004 Damaso Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkokieSox Posted April 14, 2004 Share Posted April 14, 2004 Has the franchise talked about Wright going to close spot. Maybe in the future, but very doubtful for this season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperSteve Posted April 14, 2004 Share Posted April 14, 2004 I went with Danny. I wouldnt mind seeing Cliff though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonkeyKongerko Posted April 14, 2004 Share Posted April 14, 2004 Wright is one of the few on that list that have never tried closing a game. In fact he's never even done any relieving besides long relief really. Somebody PLEASE give him a chance!! I think he has closer stuff and a closer mindset. Just watch him in the first 3 innings of any of his starts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goldmember Posted April 14, 2004 Share Posted April 14, 2004 if koch performs it's gotta be him but right now i say by committee. give each of the guys a couple of chances and if one or two gives awesome performances in the closer role decide between or split the closer role between them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Be Good Posted April 14, 2004 Share Posted April 14, 2004 Politte, as he did with Tor and he could do it agin for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoosierSox Posted April 14, 2004 Share Posted April 14, 2004 Politte has been shutting hitters down and his fastball has much more zip than Koch has. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HighHeat45 Posted April 14, 2004 Share Posted April 14, 2004 Im willing to give koch 1 more chance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UofIChiSox Posted April 14, 2004 Share Posted April 14, 2004 I hated seeing Koch come out yesterday. We're up a lot, give Shingo or somebody else who you aren't going to use as often an inning of work. I have always thought it hurts closers pitching in non-close situations, and while Koch got out of it fine, wouldn't it have been nice if he was completely rested instead of pitching on the second consecutive day today? Maybe he would have had a little better stuff. Keep Koch as closer for now, he hasn't helped us to win much, but he has only contributed to one loss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flippedoutpunk Posted April 14, 2004 Share Posted April 14, 2004 Id like to see Politte as our closer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Honda Civic Posted April 14, 2004 Author Share Posted April 14, 2004 I've been in wrights camp for Closer since last year... I just think he's got the make-up of a closer -- I know I'm not the only one who sees it -- The comparison between DW and Gagne may seem a bit crazy, but think about it for a second -- Check out some of his numbers when Gagne came up as a starter -- Year Ag Tm Lg W L G GS IP H R ER HR BB SO HBP WP BFP ERA +--------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+------+----+----+----+---+----+----+---+---+-----+-----+-----+----+ 1999 23 LAD NL 1 1 5 5 30.0 18 8 7 3 15 30 0 1 119 2.10 2000 24 LAD NL 4 6 20 19 101.3 106 62 58 20 60 79 3 4 464 5.15 2001 25 LAD NL 6 7 33 24 151.7 144 90 80 24 46 130 16 3 649 4.75 Danny's first three seasons Year Ag Tm Lg W L G GS IP H R ER HR BB SO HBP WP BFP ERA +--------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+------+----+----+----+---+----+----+---+---+-----+-----+-----+----+ 2001 23 CHW AL 5 3 13 12 66.3 78 45 42 12 39 36 2 5 307 5.70 2002 24 CHW AL 14 12 33 33 196.3 200 124 113 32 71 136 6 10 855 5.18 2003 25 CHW AL 1 7 20 15 86.3 91 63 59 16 46 47 3 6 388 6.15 Both pitchers were wild with high ERA's as starters.... It's true that gagne possesses 4 good "out" pitches, but he only was able to command them, and set them up properly with the added velocity he got from going shorter stints out of the pen. If Danny can just throw the ball at 95 and snap and locate that hook, he would be dominant... in DW's first start, he was throwing his fastball in the low 90's. I've seen him throw in 95 range, so that wouldn't be a stretch to expect that type of speed out of him.. If he was able to add a couple more MPH and hit 97, plus locate that hook, he'd save 45 games for us. I doubt we'd see it this year, but I see tons of potential in DW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NUKE_CLEVELAND Posted April 14, 2004 Share Posted April 14, 2004 MARTE PARTAY!!! Please put Marte in as closer and dump Billy Botch before he can do some more damage! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mathew Posted April 15, 2004 Share Posted April 15, 2004 Marte is head and shoulders above all the rest. Pollite sucked ass last year, Koch sucks for evermore, Shingo throws as hard as I do, Adkins, Cotts, Jackson I'd rather be dead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooftop Shots Posted April 15, 2004 Share Posted April 15, 2004 Wright is one of the few on that list that have never tried closing a game. In fact he's never even done any relieving besides long relief really. Somebody PLEASE give him a chance!! I think he has closer stuff and a closer mindset. Just watch him in the first 3 innings of any of his starts. If someone wants to give him a chance sometime in the future, fine. But as for now, a closer needs to do "just that".........CLOSE!!! Wright's inconsistency with control has not earned him that spot. The last thing you want a closer to do is walk someone and get jacked. Wright's history so far has enabled him to get in trouble in both of these areas quite frequently. If he can't handle the pressure of being a starter, a closer only brings more pressure, which he has proved that he is not quite ready for more of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooftop Shots Posted April 15, 2004 Share Posted April 15, 2004 Politte has been shutting hitters down and his fastball has much more zip than Koch has. I agree! Regardless of his past history, THIS YEAR so far he has shown some "Giddy-up" on his fastball, and location has been good. For now, I'll stick with Koch, but if need be, I think Politte's next in line for the chance. He has the experience there as well. Marte is great, but I also believe that he is the best set-up man in baseball. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heads22 Posted April 15, 2004 Share Posted April 15, 2004 Koch for now....I'd like to see Danny do it in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmmmmbeeer Posted April 15, 2004 Share Posted April 15, 2004 I voted closer by committee, although Koch deserves another shot for the time being. Politte was awful in TOR and even made the comment this season that it requires a completely different mindset to close out games as opposed to being a set up man. I think Cliff was pretty much saying that he doesn't possess that mindset. Damaso is weak with runners on base and also blew several games himself last season. I think he'd be a good component of a closer by committee scenario, but he proved last season that he can't handle the load alone. DW, it'd be worth a shot, and again he'd fit into a closer by committee deal once he's moved out of the rotation and Cottsy is moved in. Adkins has good stuff and would actually be worth a look as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NUKE_CLEVELAND Posted April 15, 2004 Share Posted April 15, 2004 Koch for now....I'd like to see Danny do it in the future. I told you at the beginning that Botch would have more blown saves than actual saves. So far I am being vindicated. How much damage does he have to do before he grabs some bench? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg775 Posted April 15, 2004 Share Posted April 15, 2004 It's gotta be closer by committee. Oz has no choice. Koch no longer can be considered the old Koch. He's the Koch of last year and this year. He's not reliable. It's gotta be Marte, Cliff and Koch by committee. How can it be otherwise? That was ridiculous today. Thank God Oz got him out of there before the Royals scored even more. I don't hate Koch, it's just sad that he is no good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heads22 Posted April 15, 2004 Share Posted April 15, 2004 I told you at the beginning that Botch would have more blown saves than actual saves. So far I am being vindicated. How much damage does he have to do before he grabs some bench? I do have to admit today's the first time I've wavered.....I DO think that if he f***s up again anytime soon.....it's gotta be someone new. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoxAce Posted April 15, 2004 Share Posted April 15, 2004 I would say Pollite cause he's consistant especially in one or two innings (not three) and he has a + fastball and a + slider. Wright would be my second option.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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