Could be time for Sox to try Santos
In an expected fit of rage, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen went after the back end of his bullpen following Wednesday's 7-4 loss to Oakland in 10 innings.
Alleged closer Matt Thornton blew his fourth save try in as many opportunities, and Chris Sale and Jesse Crain also struggled in another sickening setback.
Before knocking over his chair and storming out of the postgame interview room, Guillen was asked about the closer situation.
“I don't have any closer,” Guillen said. “I don't. You are just scratching your head and second-guessing yourself, what are we doing wrong, bringing people to the mound with a 3-run lead for a third time and we can't hold the lead. That's not a good sign.”
It was a well-timed day off for the Sox on Thursday, but when they resume play against the Angels on Friday night at U.S. Cellular Field, Guillen probably is going to come to the conclusion that the closer's cupboard is not completely bare.
That's where Sergio Santos comes in.
Is the 27-year-old reliever going to get the job?
“Right now, as we speak, Sergio Santos might be the next guy on the list,” White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper said Thursday on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM. “But this is a second-year guy, you know? Chris Sale is a first-year guy. So they're both young.
“We haven't … Santos might be the best guy is the answer I'll give you right now. But he's never done it before. You know, you can say what you want and believe what you want, but until you get out there and do it, it's a different animal. I want the toughest guy mentally in that role, to tell you the truth.”
Like Cooper said, Santos is in the early stages of his second big-league season, but he has easily been the Sox' best reliever so far, pitching 7 scoreless innings while allowing 5 hits. He has 9 strikeouts and 3 walks.
As for the mental side, only time will tell if Santos has what it takes.
Speaking to him the other day about the potential move to the ninth inning, Santos said he's ready, willing and able.
“I look forward to that challenge,” said Santos, who was a minor-league shortstop until winning a spot in the White Sox' bullpen in the spring of 2010. “At the end of the day, it's a role I want to be in. That's a role I want to do, whether I'm ready for it now or two years from now.”
It looks like Santos' time is now.
When the Sox are in New York at the end of the month, Santos plans to talk with Mariano Rivera, the greatest closer in major-league history.
Last year Santos had White Sox bullpen coach Juan Nieves ask Rivera a few questions. The two became close friends when Nieves was working in the Yankees' organization from 1992-95.
“Through Juan last year, Mariano said the trick is to tell yourself there is no difference,” said Santos, who had 1 save as a rookie last year. “There's no difference to throwing the fifth, sixth or seventh as opposed to the ninth. People may put the pressure out there and label it as closer, bottom of the ninth, here we go.
“But you should be saying that in the seventh inning when you come in during a 4-run ballgame. Even if we're up by 10 or down by 10, I don't want anybody to score off me. It's that whole pride thing.”
Can Santos plug the gaping hole in the ninth inning and possibly save the White Sox' season in the process?
We should find out soon, and here are two more parting thoughts:
ŸSantos can throw three pitches for strikes: a fastball that's consistently 96-97 mph, a nasty changeup and a slider.
ŸIf he didn't perform so well last spring, Santos very likely would have been out of the game by now. That could make the pressure of closing games pale in comparison.