Closing Time

[Marty34]

Per Mark Gonzalez, Ventura stands by Santiago as his closer.

[southsideirish71]

Per Mark Gonzalez, Ventura stands by Santiago as his closer.

 

About the 10th bown save maybe he will waver a bit.

[hi8is]

What'da ya think Soxtalk?

[macsandz]

Should be now and should've been all along Addison F*cking Reed!

[greg775]

I think I'd go with Thornton, followed by Crain.

These newcomers can't close. They are going to blow WAY too many.

Let the veterans do it until they prove they also can't.

 

When you are a .500ish type team, you can't have these closing problems. Just can't. It's hard enough to get in position to win games.

Poor Robin. The unreliable bullpen continues.

 

But in answer to your question. I'd go thornton, then crain after Thornton proves he can't.

I wouldn't be upset if it were Crain, then Thornton though.

 

GIVE IT TO A VETERAN!

[SoxFan1]

Topics merged.

 

Reed should close. Crain/Thornton setup men.

[jeffro2525]

I say Crain. Let Reed keep doing what he's doing. I'd rather not put any more pressure on him than we have to.

 

Thornton-Reed as set-up men.

 

Nate Jones as our next most reliable (the guy has gone 8 innings without allowing a run).

 

Loogie1 and Loogie2 as our lefty specialists.

 

Stewart as our long reliever/garbage man.

[Quin]

Santiago should be in AAA with Stewart starting. But he's a lefty, so it's fine that he stays in long relief.

 

Reed needs to close. He's a machine designed to close games.

[southsideirish71]

I think I'd go with Thornton, followed by Crain.

These newcomers can't close. They are going to blow WAY too many.

Let the veterans do it until they prove they also can't.

 

When you are a .500ish type team, you can't have these closing problems. Just can't. It's hard enough to get in position to win games.

Poor Robin. The unreliable bullpen continues.

 

But in answer to your question. I'd go thornton, then crain after Thornton proves he can't.

I wouldn't be upset if it were Crain, then Thornton though.

 

GIVE IT TO A VETERAN!

 

So like in 2005 they should of gave it to someone else besides Jenks.

[Wanne]

I'm almost tempted to go situational...with Reed being my first choice.

[greg775]

So like in 2005 they should of gave it to someone else besides Jenks.

 

I loved Jenks.

These young guys now are too unreliable IMO.

You agree a change must be made NOW don't you?

Why not have Crain and Thornton try? This team has enough veteran talent the Sox should try to stay in the race as long as possible.

Giving away games with young closers is a recipe for disaster with this club IMO.

Today's loss was ridiculous; it's closer by committee time with Thornton/Crain the guys I want.

Edited April 26, 2012 by greg775

[caulfield12]

Or Linebrink/Dotel in more recent years.

 

No thanks.

 

Sometimes veterans make the worst closers.

 

I'd probably go with Reed and pray, because if he flops...well, then you have Jones, lol. Then Crain, then Thornton.

 

Long season.

[winninguglyin83]

Reed.

 

that's four bombs Santiago has given up in 6 1/3 innings.

 

He's blown two two-run leads.

 

time to spot him to build his confidence back.

 

Reed has better stuff -- and better results.

 

make the move Robin.

 

and while you're at, sit Morel.

 

[caulfield12]

Reed.

 

that's four bombs Santiago has given up in 6 1/3 innings.

 

He's blown two two-run leads.

 

time to spot him to build his confidence back.

 

Reed has better stuff -- and better results.

 

make the move Robin.

 

and while you're at, sit Morel.

 

But sit Morel for who?

 

Lillibridge? Escobar? Kuhn? McPherson?

 

 

This will get Balta all riled up, again.

 

None of those guys are long-term solutions at the hot corner, either.

 

 

[witesoxfan]

I've liked pretty much everything Ventura has done, but in the admittedly small sample size I've seen of Santiago, he just doesn't have the makeup of a closer. That fastball is pretty straight and that screwball is very, very hittable. This situation is comparable to putting Boone Logan in the closer's role out of Spring Training in 2007. The kid has talent, but it's not as a closer and it's definitely not right now.

 

I like his makeup and the fact that he's not afraid to go right at hitters, but if you are coming with a straight 94 over the middle, they're gonna hit it.

[jeffro2525]

But sit Morel for who?

 

Lillibridge? Escobar? Kuhn? McPherson?

 

 

This will get Balta all riled up, again.

 

None of those guys are long-term solutions at the hot corner, either.

 

I'm so sick of the word "long-term solution". The long-term solution isn't on the roster. It isn't down on the farm...just put the least amount of suck at third base so the Sox have a shot to win some ballgames. That's it.

Edited April 26, 2012 by jeffro2525

[caulfield12]

And the funny thing is that at least 3 of those hits in that inning were on screwballs or offspeed pitches.

 

That stupid ball by Reddick drops and the whole inning falls apart.

 

Otherwise, it's a solo homer and we've won the game but still lingering questions about Santiago's homers surrendered count.

 

 

After all this craziness, somehow we'll still be heading home in a tie for first place...but 11-7 would have been much nicer after the way the trip started out. (So we go 1-2 to 5-2, then lose 4/5, win 4 in row and lose 2 consecutively). At least we're proving to be consistent in putting together streaks. If we lose tmrw, Peavy will get to stop a losing streak for the fourth time this season and keep us over .500 yet again.

 

That is, if the Royals don't blow another game. They had a 4-0 lead in CLE and the Indians had a chance to tie it at 4-4 in the bottom of the 7th but they stranded the tying runners at 2nd and 3rd.

 

Still two more innings for the Royals' losing streak to continue, though.

 

 

[greg775]

I used to throw a screwball.

It was neat to see it curve the other way.

It is hittable, though.

[Quin]

I loved Jenks.

These young guys now are too unreliable IMO.

 

Reed is already more reliable right now than Bobby was when he got the closer role.

[Jake]

I used to throw a screwball.

It was neat to see it curve the other way.

It is hittable, though.

 

I have no idea how anyone can throw an effective screwball. Would take some unbelievable pronating ability that I don't have. Nonetheless, I've seen it look pretty filthy from Santiago. Wasn't there today at all though. I think he would have been okay if he would have relied on his 93-95 fastball though, and he has other pitches. Can't keep getting hurt on the pitch that isn't working.

 

That said, he's going to get the next save opportunity. If it is another disaster, I believe you will see Reed and I believe Reed deserves the next shot. If Santiago is removed from the closer role, I want him starting in AAA.

[OilCan]

I've liked pretty much everything Ventura has done, but in the admittedly small sample size I've seen of Santiago, he just doesn't have the makeup of a closer. That fastball is pretty straight and that screwball is very, very hittable. This situation is comparable to putting Boone Logan in the closer's role out of Spring Training in 2007. The kid has talent, but it's not as a closer and it's definitely not right now.

 

I like his makeup and the fact that he's not afraid to go right at hitters, but if you are coming with a straight 94 over the middle, they're gonna hit it.

 

+1

To put Santiago in this situation is having mixed results at best. Yes Hector has four saves, but an ERA over 8 now. He's never closed in his life.

Hector should be in AAA building up his arm for starters' innings.

 

Addison Reed's future is to close games. It may not be the right time yet to give him the nod, but it just inched closer.

[greg775]

I have no idea how anyone can throw an effective screwball. Would take some unbelievable pronating ability that I don't have. Nonetheless, I've seen it look pretty filthy from Santiago. Wasn't there today at all though. I think he would have been okay if he would have relied on his 93-95 fastball though, and he has other pitches. Can't keep getting hurt on the pitch that isn't working.

 

That said, he's going to get the next save opportunity. If it is another disaster, I believe you will see Reed and I believe Reed deserves the next shot. If Santiago is removed from the closer role, I want him starting in AAA.

 

You are probably right. Today was a total screwup, though. If you can't hold a 2-run lead in a day game in Oakland in the 14th inning with no fans there, I don't think you can close any road games.

Maybe the home crowd will fire him up and get the screwball moving.

[Cerbaho-WG]

It's clear as day that Reed should be the closer.

 

If you've given up 4 HR in 6.1 IP your ass should be in the minors. It's a f***ing joke that Santiago is the closer.

[caulfield12]

It's clear as day that Reed should be the closer.

 

If you've given up 4 HR in 6.1 IP your ass should be in the minors. It's a f***ing joke that Santiago is the closer.

 

 

So you blame that on KW or Ventura?

[greg775]

So you blame that on KW or Ventura?

 

I would think it was a Robin/Coop decision. My thinking is Coop pretty much runs the pitching staff.

Certainly they had mega discussions in ST and no way Robin made the call w/out input from Coop. I don't know why, but I'm thinking it was not KW's call.