Sox definitely open to closer options
Opening Day is less than three weeks away, and the White Sox still don’t have a closer.
Well, they do, but they haven’t officially named one yet.
It’s definitely not going to be Bobby Jenks, who was nontendered at the end of last season after being slowed by another string of injuries and off-field issues.
Now competing for a setup role with the Boston Red Sox following his messy split with manager Ozzie Guillen and the White Sox, Jenks should not be hard to replace after going 1-3 with a career-high 4.44 ERA and 27 saves in 2010.
Who’s the guy?Guillen is not afraid to go with a committee of closers, and left-handers Chris Sale and Matt Thornton and right-handers Jesse Crain and Sergio Santos are all in the mix.
The gut feeling here is Sale emerges as the Sox#146; primary go-to guy in the ninth inning because he can match Thornton#146;s heat and has better secondary pitches.
Sale was the first member of the 2010 draft class to make it to the big leagues, and the 21-year-old converted starter was hardly overmatched.
Not only did Sale go 2-1 with a 1.93 ERA in 21 appearances, he was 4-for-4 in save tries and struck out 32 in 23 innings while posting a stunning 1.07 WHIP.
Thornton is no slouch himself, and the 34-year-old all-star was 5-4 with a 2.67 ERA and 8 saves last season while also recording a stellar WHIP (1.01).
One of the premier setup men in baseball, Thornton wants to close this season and he could very well get the opportunity.
On the flip side, Thornton has blown 21 of 38 save chances during his career, even though only one of them came in the ninth inning when he was protecting a 1-run lead.
Sale is very young, and who knows how he#146;s going to fare in 2011? But so far, the rail-thin lefty has shown the nerve of a veteran closer.
How about the new guys?In addition to Jenks, J.J. Putz (Diamondbacks) and Scott Linebrink (Braves) are gone from a 2010 bullpen that ranked 10th in the major leagues with a 3.73 ERA.
The loss of Putz could hurt, but Crain should fill his role after going 1-1 with a 3.04 ERA in 71 games for the rival Twins last year. The 29-year-old reliever also established career highs in holds (21) and strikeouts (62).
One other stat of note #8212; Crain faced the White Sox 10 times a season ago and didn#146;t allow a run in 10 innings.
Will Ohman signed a two-year, $4 million contract in the off-season and he#146;s the third lefty in the Sox#146; bullpen.
When tough left-handed hitters like Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Jim Thome and Shin-Soo Choo come up in key situations in the sixth or seventh innings this season, you#146;re very likely to see Ohman.
What#146;s left?Santos and Tony Pena are the other mainstays in the Sox#146; bullpen.
The former is a great story, and Santos made the 25-man roster last spring after years of floundering in the minor leagues as a shortstop.
Santos had some command issues as the 2010 season wore on, but he has a power arm and put up solid numbers (2-2, 2.96 ERA, 56 strikeouts in 51 innings).
Pena is the White Sox#146; long man, and he led all American League relievers with 81 innings pitched last year.
Usually hit or miss, Pena induced 13 double plays and had 56 strikeouts, but he also issued 45 walks and allowed the first hitters he faced to bat .341.
What#146;s on the horizon?Extra relief help always seems to be needed over the course of the regular season, and several obscure pitchers have been getting the job done in the Cactus League.
Heading into Monday#146;s game against the Padres, Jeff Marquez had not allowed an earned run in 6 innings and Anthony Carter, Brian Bruney and Jeff Kinney all had ERAs under 2.00.