Bullpen much more than Jenks, Linebrink

SEATTLE -- The White Sox have a traditional closer in Bobby Jenks. They have the veteran setup man in Scott Linebrink.

Both have been solid through the early course of the season, but the Sox' bullpen hardly has been a two-man show.

As Octavio Dotel showed with 5 strikeouts in a pair of scoreless innings in Thursday's victory over Minnesota at U.S. Cellular Field, there still is plenty of power in his 34-year-old right arm. And don't forget left-hander Matt Thornton.

Heading into Friday's game against the Mariners, Dotel hadn't allowed an earned run over his previous 6½ innings while ranking second among American League relievers with 14.5 strikeouts per 9 innings. Thornton, meanwhile, ranked third with 13.9 strikeouts per 9, while holding opposing hitters to a minuscule .116 average.

That is quite a change from last season, when the bullpen was Jenks and not much else.

There have been some rough patches here and there, but the relief corps looks to be rounding into pretty impressive form.

"The back end -- the eighth and ninth innings -- that's going to be Liney and Bobby,'' Thornton said. "After that, you have to be ready at any time. I've thrown 2 innings, I've thrown to one batter. Dotel threw 2 innings yesterday and he's thrown to one batter. Whatever it takes. We're ready all the time.''

Thornton struggled last season, going 4-4 with a 4.79 ERA. The 6-foot-5, 245-pounder always has been a hard thrower, but this year he's having great success with an additional pitch.

"Slider," Thornton said. "I have a better feel for it and that let's me be aggressive with it. I'm not trying to feel for it when I'm throwing it. (Pitching coach) Don Cooper, (bullpen coach) Juan Nieves and I have worked on it since spring training. I'm still working on it every day. It's helping out a lot.

"The fastball is still there, but I'm more encouraged that I've been able to throw my off-speed pitches for strikes. I've been throwing it for strikes late in counts, early in counts -- at all times. I've just been trying to get ahead of hitters, go after them and finish them off with whatever I can."