The Soxtalk Committee on Closing

[fathom]

I wish I had that optimism but when you have to put out lineups on a daily basis with Pierzynski as your no. 2 hitter and Kotsay batting 5th, there isn't room for much hope.

 

Either way, I firmly believe this team needs to get either Prince or AG this trade season or in the offseason if we want any chance at competing soon and not wasting this pitching staff (which has vastly underperformed so far, but I still have a lot of faith in this rotation).

 

More than ever, count me out of being interested in someone like Prince or Gonzalez. The only way acquiring one of those guys ever made sense was if you had people like Quentin and Beckham filling some of the other holes. With both of them looking lost, you might need even more money to replace our holes in the future.

[fathom]

If Bobby is as bad as many of you say, why in the hell would anybody trade for him?

I guess many of you would take anything for him to get rid of him.

 

Some teams might think there's a change of scenery needed, or hell, maybe they feel their pitching coach can fix him. I'd give him up for nothing in return if it meant saving the 5 million or so he's owed the rest of the way.

[greg775]

Would you give up the same for Teahen to save that money? I'm guessing the answer is yes.

I would think after the all star break the Sox will be trimming the payroll quite a bit. The firesale will be on if anybody is dumb enough to take some of these players.

 

As great as Rios is playing, I would think they'd trade him as well and of course Peavy.

Jerry may really want to trim the payroll with a team headed nowhere.

Edited May 26, 2010 by greg775

[Balta1701]

If Bobby is as bad as many of you say, why in the hell would anybody trade for him?

I guess many of you would take anything for him to get rid of him. So it's going to be a trade where we get some Class A stiff for Bobby?

Because although he's sucking hard, he's sucking hard in the AL (and not the NL), and he's still throwing 95+ with a lot of his fastballs, topping out at 98. Between moving to the NL Carlos Silva style, and maybe getting a different pitching coach/catcher, teams would be willing to risk a couple million dollars on that if they have a weak bullpen.

 

But...you're not getting anything back in terms of solid prospects, and if you don't trade him, he's getting non-tendered in the offseason.

[hammerhead johnson]

Thornton and Santos are obviously the foremost monsters in our bullpen, and I see most people on this board clamoring for one of 'em, but I still think that Putz gets the gig. Thornton has established himself as perhaps the finest 8th inning reliever in the business, and it's still way too early to throw Santos into such a high pressure situation. I have a major hard-on for Santos, though. I'm not afraid to say that.

[fathom]

Doesn't Putz get a substantial incentive if he leads the team in saves?

[elrockinMT]

The point is we won despite Bobby, not really due to any large contribution from him, other than not sucking worse.

 

 

I make the points around here!!!

[elrockinMT]

Doesn't Putz get a substantial incentive if he leads the team in saves?

 

 

Never heard that one, but it is interesting if correct

[Kalapse]

Doesn't Putz get a substantial incentive if he leads the team in saves?

You can't incentivize saves. He gets another $3M for something to do with games finished, not sure if it's leading the club or a certain total he must hit.

[greg775]

Because although he's sucking hard, he's sucking hard in the AL (and not the NL), and he's still throwing 95+ with a lot of his fastballs, topping out at 98. Between moving to the NL Carlos Silva style, and maybe getting a different pitching coach/catcher, teams would be willing to risk a couple million dollars on that if they have a weak bullpen.

 

But...you're not getting anything back in terms of solid prospects, and if you don't trade him, he's getting non-tendered in the offseason.

 

I guess that makes sense, but the talk around here is he's pretty worthless. Just is kind of nonsensical to act like we'll get anything but a Class A stiff.

 

I know the NL is worthless, but after the first weekend of interleague isn't the AL-NL series deadlocked?

What is the all-time record in interleague play? Isn't it about even? I know the Cub-Sox series is about even.

 

[Heads22]

Putz:

 

performance bonuses based on games, games finished:

$0.125M each for 60, 70 games

$0.45M for 40 GF, $0.525M for 45 GF, $0.6M for 50 GF, $0.675M for 55 GF, $0.75M for 60 GF

[Kalapse]

Putz:

 

performance bonuses based on games, games finished:

$0.125M each for 60, 70 games

$0.45M for 40 GF, $0.525M for 45 GF, $0.6M for 50 GF, $0.675M for 55 GF, $0.75M for 60 GF

I'm curious what kind of incentives Garcia ($2M) and Jones ($1M) have, I'm sure it's starts and PA but how many? Glad to see Cots updated Putz's incentives, though.

 

Also: Putz is currently on pace for 54 games and with 116 games left and a closer typically finishing maybe 30% of a team's games if JJ took over the closer's role tomorrow he'd get close to 40 so not much to worry about there.

[ptatc]

Give Santos the shot. Keep Thornton as the 8th inning guy.

 

I would be afraid of injuring his arm with the lack of times he's had back to back work and other factors that go along with closing. However I would spend the season conditioning him and give him a chance when he's ready.

 

[justBLAZE]

I'd give it to Putz, maybe Santos but not sure organization wants to do that yet.

 

Keep Matt Thornton in the 8th, I love the guy but I simply think he won't handle the pressure. I know there's probably stats to prove me wrong, but I don't wanna see Matt in the 9th, gut feeling.

[GREEDY]

Please give it to someone that is under team control; anoint Putz the closer and if he succeeds you owe him 6-10 million for 2011.

 

 

 

 

[2nd_city_saint787]

taking this from the most recent santos article im gonna say throw sergio out there

 

“The whole key to this thing was his instincts,” Bell said. “He really understands the game. This is one of the brighter baseball minds, for a kid, I’ve been around. You didn’t have to be a Rhodes scholar to see what kind of arm he has.”

[T R U]

How about just not throwing him in non save situations?

 

I think he needs to stay at closer for now, hes 7 of 8 in saves and unless he starts LOSING us games I dont have a problem with bend but don't break.. even if its bent to hell..

[ThunderBolt]

How about just not throwing him in non save situations?

 

I think he needs to stay at closer for now, hes 7 of 8 in saves and unless he starts LOSING us games I dont have a problem with bend but don't break.. even if its bent to hell..

It’s not a closers job to not suck just enough to not completely blow a ball game. It’s his job to come in and lock down the game. This means he should not be giving up hits or letting people on base. What Bobby has been doing can no longer be tolerated. Make Putz the closer, let him gain value and expose him to all suitors. Keep Thornton and Santos for high-leverage spots where the game is on the line. Let Jenks come out of the bullpen for long-relief or blow outs.

[BearSox]

Please give it to someone that is under team control; anoint Putz the closer and if he succeeds you owe him 6-10 million for 2011.

The main purpose of having Putz close is to raise his trade value.

[Kalapse]

How about just not throwing him in non save situations?

 

I think he needs to stay at closer for now, hes 7 of 8 in saves and unless he starts LOSING us games I dont have a problem with bend but don't break.. even if its bent to hell..

How about a home game where it's tied going to the top of the 9th? That's typically where you go to your closer.

[T R U]

How about a home game where it's tied going to the top of the 9th? That's typically where you go to your closer.

 

Depending on who was left in the bullpen, ide prolly opt for whoever out of Santos, Thornton, or Putz that was left.. of course, there's no way to know who is available..

 

 

[T R U]

It’s not a closers job to not suck just enough to not completely blow a ball game. It’s his job to come in and lock down the game.

 

the closers job is to come in and get the save, which Jenks has done except one time so far..

 

and I know Jenks has sucked, but as long as he keeps saving the game even if its close to being blown, its whatever.. when he starts blowing saves on a regular basis im all for getting him out of the role..

 

 

 

[southsider2k5]

Putz has to be our next closer.

 

You can't give up the flexibility of having Thornton available anywhere between the 5th and 8th innings.

 

As good as Sergio is pitching, this is a guy who has a total of 53 IP including his minor league stuff, plus the AZ fall league, in the last 9 seasons. He doesn't have the arm built up to respond to the dynamic nature of closing. The kid is at least a year away from being used like that.

[kjshoe04]

the closers job is to come in and get the save, which Jenks has done except one time so far..

 

and I know Jenks has sucked, but as long as he keeps saving the game even if its close to being blown, its whatever.. when he starts blowing saves on a regular basis im all for getting him out of the role..

Well I don't think the sox can exactly waste games on waiting for him to start blowing saves on a regular basis. It's pretty clear that that is what is coming down the road here soon and it is probably time for someone else to step in. The Sox need every win they can get at this point.

[greg775]

the closers job is to come in and get the save, which Jenks has done except one time so far..

 

and I know Jenks has sucked, but as long as he keeps saving the game even if its close to being blown, its whatever.. when he starts blowing saves on a regular basis im all for getting him out of the role..

 

Exactly.

Why don't most people agree with us on this?

You think Putz won't blow f***ing saves if given the job? My god.