Jake Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 I have to wonder if it is difficult for Hector to get all of his pitches together in the span of a short bullpen warmup/one inning on the mound. Think kind of like some sinkerballers, whose toughest inning is the first because it takes a while to get the feel of the sinker and what not. I swear his screwball looks like s*** and it used to look better -- I just wonder if he hasn't/can't make the adjustment to the realities of being a bullpen pitcher. He obviously only has a handful of appearances left to figure it out, but I have to wonder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balta1701 Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 QUOTE (Jake @ Apr 27, 2012 -> 07:15 AM) I have to wonder if it is difficult for Hector to get all of his pitches together in the span of a short bullpen warmup/one inning on the mound. Think kind of like some sinkerballers, whose toughest inning is the first because it takes a while to get the feel of the sinker and what not. I swear his screwball looks like s*** and it used to look better -- I just wonder if he hasn't/can't make the adjustment to the realities of being a bullpen pitcher. He obviously only has a handful of appearances left to figure it out, but I have to wonder. I guess the other possibility is that the reason no one throws a screwball is that it winds up being too hittable of a pitch, maybe outside of Arizona or something like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 Pitch tipping would also explain a lot http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/wh...r-santiago.html Manager Robin Ventura is standing behind rookie closer Hector Santiago, who gave up five consecutive hits — including a two-run tying home run to Yoenis Cespedes — in the 14th inning of the White Sox’ tough 5-4 loss Wednesday to the Oakland Athletics. Coaches and players are wondering if Santiago is tipping his pitches. Cespedes hit a 2-2 changeup deep into the seats against Santiago, who has given up four home runs. “I watched video to see if I was tipping anything,’’ Santiago said before the game Thursday. “The location was fine. Just seeing it out of my hand and where I threw it, he might have caught it right out of my hand.’’ Santiago might do well to feature more of the pitches he has in his arsenal, including his screwball. And he might be pounding the zone to his own detriment. “Right now I’m trying to get out of the zone a bit,’’ he said. “I’m a little too much in the zone with all my pitches, getting too much plate. I’m ahead in the count, trying to throw strikes still. Ahead in the count, I have to get somebody to chase something.’’ In any event, the left-hander is learning how to put blown saves behind him. He had two in six opportunities through Wednesday. “I texted my dad this morning, ‘New season from now on. No blown saves.’ ’’ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Apr 27, 2012 -> 08:57 AM) Pitch tipping would also explain a lot http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/wh...r-santiago.html Also a little more breakdown on the same topic http://fanpeeps.com/-pl9j Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyyle23 Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Apr 26, 2012 -> 11:55 AM) Your Aunt does have balls. yes, yours. in her purse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunofgold Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 You have to stick with Mr. Screwball for now. If he doesn't do well, then Addison Reed would be next. However, then you have to rearrange the bullpen. You are going to need another righty set up man. And then you have to either send Santiago or Stewart down to AAA and bring up a righty reliever. No way do I want to see Thornton as a closer. He is doing great as setup and keeping his trade value high. Crain maybe..but he has to be 100% healthy which I don't think that he is. Prefer Reed though at this point. However no guarantee that Reed will do better than Santiago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fathom Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 QUOTE (sunofgold @ Apr 27, 2012 -> 06:32 PM) You have to stick with Mr. Screwball for now. If he doesn't do well, then Addison Reed would be next. However, then you have to rearrange the bullpen. You are going to need another righty set up man. And then you have to either send Santiago or Stewart down to AAA and bring up a righty reliever. No way do I want to see Thornton as a closer. He is doing great as setup and keeping his trade value high. Crain maybe..but he has to be 100% healthy which I don't think that he is. Prefer Reed though at this point. However no guarantee that Reed will do better than Santiago. Thornton can face lefties and righties, so having a righty set-up man isn't as important for Sox as it is a lot of teams. I'll never understand the thought process of having someone who's anywhere from your 4th to 6th best reliever being your closer. Thing is, it's not like Santiago's future is as a closer anyways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleHurt05 Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 27, 2012 -> 12:35 PM) Thornton can face lefties and righties, so having a righty set-up man isn't as important for Sox as it is a lot of teams. I'll never understand the thought process of having someone who's anywhere from your 4th to 6th best reliever being your closer. Thing is, it's not like Santiago's future is as a closer anyways. The best team in baseball has their 3rd/4th best reliever as closer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunofgold Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 Santiago is going to have a few more chances at least. Have to wait now with Crain on DL. If you move Reed to closer, you are pretty short on proven right handed relief. Have to see what Axelrod brings to table. Nate Jones though has been decent so far. lol! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg775 Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 QUOTE (sunofgold @ Apr 27, 2012 -> 06:44 PM) Santiago is going to have a few more chances at least. Have to wait now with Crain on DL. If you move Reed to closer, you are pretty short on proven right handed relief. Have to see what Axelrod brings to table. Nate Jones though has been decent so far. lol! If he blows the next save try it will be difficult to trot him out there again. It seems ridiculous to not try Thornton again. Sox can't afford to be blowing games with no margin for error this year. Already blown 2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kageman129 Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 QUOTE (sunofgold @ Apr 27, 2012 -> 02:44 PM) Nate Jones though has been decent so far. lol! Why the hell would this be an "LOL" moment after that sentence? Just makes no sense. I definitely wanted Reed as closer from the get-go, I'm okay with Santiago though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chw42 Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Apr 27, 2012 -> 09:05 AM) Also a little more breakdown on the same topic http://fanpeeps.com/-pl9j Yeah, there's a difference in his arm speed and it's quite noticeable. It looks like he's finishing up the changeup a lot slower than the fastball. That's a big no-no. That changeup's location wasn't all that bad, although it was in the zone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordan4life_2007 Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 QUOTE (KG#1 @ Apr 27, 2012 -> 02:28 PM) Why the hell would this be an "LOL" moment after that sentence? Just makes no sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunofgold Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 C'mon it is Nate Jones. lol. Inside joke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 Scot Gregor @scotgregor Ventura said he liked matchup with Thornton in 9th. Santiago still closer option, as are Addison Reed and healthy Crain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleHurt05 Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Apr 30, 2012 -> 08:49 AM) Scot Gregor @scotgregor Ventura said he liked matchup with Thornton in 9th. Santiago still closer option, as are Addison Reed and healthy Crain So Robin didn't trust Santiago against the big lefties (AGon/Papi), and righties are slugging 1.000 against him. When exactly are you going to use him/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Apr 30, 2012 -> 09:14 AM) So Robin didn't trust Santiago against the big lefties (AGon/Papi), and righties are slugging 1.000 against him. When exactly are you going to use him/ In other words, you are most likely seeing a quiet changing of the guard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleHurt05 Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Apr 30, 2012 -> 09:17 AM) In other words, you are most likely seeing a quiet changing of the guard. He doesn't wanna publicly call out Hector and say he lost his job, but he will let his handling of the bullpen show everyone what's up. It's rare to see a manager be so secretive about his bullpen & closer. Especially in today's age, the closer is such a defined position due to the save stat, that a manager almost always makes a public declaration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Apr 30, 2012 -> 09:46 AM) He doesn't wanna publicly call out Hector and say he lost his job, but he will let his handling of the bullpen show everyone what's up. It's rare to see a manager be so secretive about his bullpen & closer. Especially in today's age, the closer is such a defined position due to the save stat, that a manager almost always makes a public declaration. Unlike Ozzie who used to say it all of the time, I really don't think Robin cares what people outside of the clubhouse think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted May 9, 2012 Share Posted May 9, 2012 Bump Thread, insert Chris Sale as one of the closing options. Thought this one deserved to be back for the inevitable Sale/Reed/Thornton/Santiago discussion which will ensue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Chappas Posted May 9, 2012 Share Posted May 9, 2012 Reed should be give nth job until he fails and should have six weeks ago. He actually has a career history of succeeding at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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