No more high Jenks

[RME JICO]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=Ao8k...o&type=lgns

TUCSON, Ariz. – It couldn’t be accidental. No way. Not when big, bad Bobby Jenks, baseball’s equivalent to a Hollywood wild child gone straight, gets placed next to the locker in the Chicago White Sox’s clubhouse that says, in a big, bold nameplate: LOST AND FOUND.

 

There is some meaning to it, even if it doesn’t immediately dawn on Jenks. He is still big, certainly, 275 pounds, give or take a dozen, hauled around on a 6-foot-3 frame that’s sturdy like a German car. And he is indeed bad, a goatee – three inches long, a peroxide dip away from being as blond as it gets – jutting downward.

 

Lost? Oh, yeah, though you know that story. Drank a lot. Lit his skin on fire. All the stuff he’s addressed and all the stuff that, with time and success, becomes nothing more than a footnote.

 

So for now, unless Jenks reverts, render it just that, because his journey to being found is enough to stand by itself. He is 27 years old, one of the best closers in baseball and last season, as the White Sox flopped, tied a major-league record that had held strong for 35 seasons.

 

From July 17 through Aug. 12, Jenks threw 14 consecutive perfect innings. Think about that. In the modern era, 15 starting pitchers have thrown perfect games. Jenks threw one and a half.

 

“It was a perfect month,” he said. “Anything can go wrong on the baseball field. It’s so amazing I didn’t flip a curveball and hit somebody in the back or that there wasn’t an error or a dropped strike three.”

 

And amazing, too, that the kid whom the Los Angeles Angels deemed a lost cause would be the one to do it.

 

Tired of his antics, the Angels cut Jenks in 2005. The White Sox rescued him, in love with a fastball that consistently hit triple digits and a disappearing curveball. He moved quickly, and somehow, in his first season, ended up as Chicago’s closer entering the postseason.

 

By the end, he was a hero, the first rookie to close out a World Series. Manager Ozzie Guillen would motion for him in the bullpen by spreading his arms wide and puffing his cheeks – he wanted the big boy – and White Sox fans would go nuts, their hero in strength and equal in girth ready to lock down another game.

 

Then came Jenks’ first full season, when hitters modified their approaches against him and he did nothing to change his.

 

“I was cruising along,” Jenks said. “Made the All-Star team. The hitters started expecting for me to throw it by them, and I jumped up to a 4.00 ERA. You’ve got to make adjustments.

 

“That’s the thing. Right now, I’m becoming a better baseball player by learning how to pitch. That’s what I accomplished last year.”

 

He started studying scouting reports religiously with pitching coach Don Cooper. Jenks learned tendencies. He worshipped the outside corner. And over a 14-game stretch, he put all of it into practice – to perfection.

 

He retired future Hall of Famers (Ichiro Suzuki, Frank Thomas, Ivan Rodriguez) and young stars (Grady Sizemore, Robinson Cano, Dustin Pedroia). He recorded outs from around the globe: Julio Lugo (Dominican Republic), Hideki Matsui (Japan), Yuniesky Betancourt (Cuba), Matt Stairs (Canada), Magglio Ordonez (Venezuela) and Gary Sheffield (Planet Sheff).

 

And, three times, Jenks got poor Mike Hessman.

Jenks threw 96 strikes in 146 pitches. Fifteen outs came via ground ball, 14 from flyballs, 11 on strikeouts and two more on a double-play lineout, having inherited a man on base. Though Jenks recorded 42 outs, he was credited with 41 batters retired, tying Jim Barr’s record.

 

Jenks’ biggest fear is slap hitters going to the opposite field and, of course, Kansas City’s Joey Gathright came up with sole possession of the record on the line. Base hit, left field.

 

It ended there, rather anonymously as pennant races heated up elsewhere. Jenks celebrated, knowing now that he could get by on a 95-mph fastball that he could locate instead of a 103-mph dart that hit more 2s than treble 20s.

 

Though, he likes to note, “It’s always there in case I need it.”

 

His bullpen mates can attest. To pass the time, Jenks is fond of throwing things, and he doesn’t hesitate to wind up.

 

“You have to watch out with him,” White Sox left-hander Matt Thornton said. “Flying objects all the time. It keeps him entertained and it keeps us entertained. Bobby is just a big kid.”

 

That part of him, Jenks hopes, will never go away. He chases his son and daughter around the clubhouse, or whichever of his teammates’ kids are hanging around, and it’s a rather scary sight, 275 pounds of goateed mischievousness on the move.

 

“Back when I was with the Angels, I’m not going to get into it, but I was a kid,” Jenks said. “I was immature. And that’s the biggest part of your game. You need to grow up.”

 

And that, it seems, is complete. Bobby Jenks found himself just in time.

Gotta love Bobby.

Edited March 18, 2008 by RME JICO

[SoxFan1]

He's lost so much velocity. He's so overrated amongst Sox fans. Clearly his weight shows a lack of effort put forth. He's not a good closer without that 100 mph heat.

[bkmoney]

forget green? he did his 42 or whatever in a row without it..

[Chisoxfn]

Slav, I truly hope you are being sarcastic. Jenks is a stud and if his arm stays healthy he'll be the best closer in Sox history and one of the best in baseball history.

[southsideirish71]

Slav, I truly hope you are being sarcastic. Jenks is a stud and if his arm stays healthy he'll be the best closer in Sox history and one of the best in baseball history.

 

Slav was being sarcastic. He was just making fun of some comments that were made about the large round one last year. In fact how many velocity reports do we remember seeing. Oh he cant pitch with a 95 mph fastball, oh he lost velocity.

 

Thats a lot of maturity shown from a talented kid. Hopefully he can keep healthy and we have a great one for a long time.

 

 

 

[Chisoxfn]

Slav was being sarcastic. He was just making fun of some comments that were made about the large round one last year. In fact how many velocity reports do we remember seeing. Oh he cant pitch with a 95 mph fastball, oh he lost velocity.

 

Thats a lot of maturity shown from a talented kid. Hopefully he can keep healthy and we have a great one for a long time.

I was thinking it was sarcasm, but sadly, given some of the posts I"ve seen as of late, I had to make sure . And I vividly recall people tearing him a new one last year (thankfully I was one of the people calling those people idiots, haha). Than again, I also said the Erstad move was a good one (boy was I wrong).

[kjshoe04]

When I saw this thread I thought Bobby was getting high all the time or something.

[RME JICO]

When I saw this thread I thought Bobby was getting high all the time or something.

lol, I didn't even see that, hilarious.

[SoxFan1]

forget green? he did his 42 or whatever in a row without it..

 

 

Slav, I truly hope you are being sarcastic. Jenks is a stud and if his arm stays healthy he'll be the best closer in Sox history and one of the best in baseball history.

 

 

Slav was being sarcastic. He was just making fun of some comments that were made about the large round one last year. In fact how many velocity reports do we remember seeing. Oh he cant pitch with a 95 mph fastball, oh he lost velocity.

 

Thats a lot of maturity shown from a talented kid. Hopefully he can keep healthy and we have a great one for a long time.

 

 

I was thinking it was sarcasm, but sadly, given some of the posts I"ve seen as of late, I had to make sure . And I vividly recall people tearing him a new one last year (thankfully I was one of the people calling those people idiots, haha). Than again, I also said the Erstad move was a good one (boy was I wrong).

The fact that you don't know whether it was sarcasm or not is the sadness of it all. Bobby does nothing but produce.

[southsider2k5]

The ultimate Don Cooper success story right here. He has become a much better pitcher, not to mention probably saving that valuable arm, by measuring up his pitches better, instead of throwing everything as hard as he can.

[DBAHO]

I think's Slav's comment would have been possibly valid heading into last off-season, he had around a 4.00 ERA in 2006, so there were some questions about him.

 

But he definitely put those to rest last season.

[SoxAce]

It ended there, rather anonymously as pennant races heated up elsewhere. Jenks celebrated, knowing now that he could get by on a 95-mph fastball that he could locate instead of a 103-mph dart that hit more 2s than treble 20s.

 

Though, he likes to note, “It’s always there in case I need it.”

 

I f***ing told alot of people here!! I knew it.

[WilliamTell]

I like that 103 mph fastball.

[ChiliIrishHammock24]

I DO worry about Bobby's weight though. I think he needs to drop 15-20 pounds before I am really cofident with him. Just seems like him seemingly gaining weight this offseason won't help him.

[bmags]

i feel stupid, but what's that 'hit more 2s than treble 20's' line mean

[knightni]

i feel stupid, but what's that 'hit more 2s than treble 20's' line mean

It's a darts/dartboard reference.

 

Treble 20s are the inner ring in the 20 column. Worth 60 points, more than a bullseye, IIRC. The 2s are naturally only worth 2 points.

[bmags]

ahh, had he said triple 20's i'd be all over it.

[knightni]

Treble might be British pub slang.

[Gregory Pratt]

I f***ing told alot of people here!! I knew it.

 

You seriously believe he could just rear back and throw that hard if he wanted to? I understand movement and all these things, taking off the ball, but if you have 100 MPH heat you use it. He doesn't have that anymore, until we see it again. That isn't to say he isn't a fine closer, because he is.

[knightni]

Rob Dibble left the game because he lost his ability to control his fastball, had no way to adjust to a lower speed, then he hurt himself. He had no backup pitches or enough control to use his 89 mph fastball effectively, so he retired.

 

See: Frank Tanana for a guy who was able to change.

[nitetrain8601]

I rather have the 100mph fastball Bobby Jenks

[southsideirish71]

You seriously believe he could just rear back and throw that hard if he wanted to? I understand movement and all these things, taking off the ball, but if you have 100 MPH heat you use it. He doesn't have that anymore, until we see it again. That isn't to say he isn't a fine closer, because he is.

 

This is the MO for Cooper projects. They give up some velocity to get better strike zone control. Jenks had pretty damn good control on that 95 mph fastball and is becoming more of a pitcher. Matt Anderson and Kyle Farnsworth are 2 examples of chuck and duck guys who just threw their fastball at 100 uncontrollably. How good of pitchers are they. As far as hitting 100, how far fetched is it. He hit 97 and 98 on occasions last year. Its not like he is throwing 91 and then saying, well I can reach 100.

 

 

 

[daa84]

This is the MO for Cooper projects. They give up some velocity to get better strike zone control. Jenks had pretty damn good control on that 95 mph fastball and is becoming more of a pitcher. Matt Anderson and Kyle Farnsworth are 2 examples of chuck and duck guys who just threw their fastball at 100 uncontrollably. How good of pitchers are they. As far as hitting 100, how far fetched is it. He hit 97 and 98 on occasions last year. Its not like he is throwing 91 and then saying, well I can reach 100.

exactly...anyone realize that in 05 at AA, jenks had one walk every two innings...he got a bit better with it in 06, and then last year it was one every five innings...im not going to say he had control issues, but thats basically where he was more vulnerable ....now, stuff wise, he still throws a mile or two harder than joe nathan, with a better curve....and hes working on his secondary pitches as well, so its not like he doesnt have elite closer type stuff...i think hes a better pitcher now than he was in 05 because of his ability to spot his pitches

Edited March 19, 2008 by daa84

[fathom]

You seriously believe he could just rear back and throw that hard if he wanted to? I understand movement and all these things, taking off the ball, but if you have 100 MPH heat you use it. He doesn't have that anymore, until we see it again. That isn't to say he isn't a fine closer, because he is.

 

Great post!