White Sox Sign Jesse Crain

[DewsSox79]

Still why do you have that *** avs sig?

 

[Captain Iago]

The numbers haven't been disclosed yet

Both in money and in years.

It's kinda difficult to determine/assume he's been overpaid in money when it hasn't been disclosed. In terms of years, no doubt I can see your point.

Yep. One year a reliever will be great, the next he'll suck. One year a bargain basement reliever is great, the next year he falters.

Oh, again, no doubt. However, odds are he'll be better than some of the junk the Sox have had (Liney) / to call up for middle relief. He has been pretty solid against the Sox through the years.

 

[Capt. Serious]

They're my 2nd favorite team & get rid of that Hicks With Sticks sig son.

 

[xCraCKz]

I love this guy.

 

[DewsSox79]

3 years 13 million.

and 5 days ago the sox were tapped out.

 

[nickofypres]

I know they always like the product they put on the field as their always in win now phase and such, but if they're willing to keep spending despite the budget being tapped out then they must really like the product and/or they're really going "all in".

Either way, <3 Sox.

 

[BigSoxHurt35]

They did a preseason power rankings on sports center and they had us at #3.
I like the team, the pitching, bullpen, the lineup. I though wish we had a leadoff hitter at LF that actually had an arm

 

[BigP50]

I like our bullpen.

Sale, Crain, Thornton, Santos.

 

[Baines3]

Who is expected to be the closer?

 

[nickofypres]

I like our bullpen.

Sale, Crain, Thornton, Santos.

Plus Pena (who sucks). Now we just need a closer.

 

[ChiSportsRich]

3 years 13 million.

and 5 days ago the sox were tapped out.

KW said that if the Fans excitement led to higher ticket sales then they would have more to spend on the team ... looks like ticket sales are up

 

[Chi Sox Nut]

Who is expected to be the closer?

The speculation is that Thornton or Sale could be the closer. Most likely Matt, because Chris is still pretty green. IMHO, I think Sale could be a killer closer and Thornton should remain a reliever. Chris Sale got his confidence up by the end of the season, which was relatively fast for someone who shot up to the Majors so quickly, and was downright NASTY when he closed a few games. I think he'd be amazing. I never worried when he took the mound, like I did when Bobby trundled out there. In fact, if I saw Jenks heading out, I'd yell, "Come on, Ozzie! Get Sale out there! Every game counts!" For some reason, Ozzie couldn't hear me yelling at the TV or my iPhone (MLB app).

 

[ChiSportsRich]

The speculation is that Thornton or Sale could be the closer. Most likely Matt, because Chris is still pretty green. IMHO, I think Sale could be a killer closer and Thornton should remain a reliever. Chris Sale got his confidence up by the end of the season, which was relatively fast for someone who shot up to the Majors so quickly, and was downright NASTY when he closed a few games. I think he'd be amazing. I never worried when he took the mound, like I did when Bobby trundled out there. In fact, if I saw Jenks heading out, I'd yell, "Come on, Ozzie! Get Sale out there! Every game counts!" For some reason, Ozzie couldn't hear me yelling at the TV or my iPhone (MLB app).

I dont Understand y they would fix what isnt broken, Thornton as your Set-Up guy has basically been lights for the entire time weve had him, and Sale was the only person who could close in place of Jenks last year. when we moved Thornton into the closer role last year he didnt look as good as he did in the 8th inning role. Moving Thornton into the closers role changes the entire pen because then everybody needs to mave up a spot which didnt work at all last year when Jenks was on the shelf.

 

[nickofypres]

@chi sox nut and rich

I completely agree. If Peavy isn't ready I would rather trot out some hasbeen (Freddy?) for the 5th spot in the rotation then move Sale from the pen and create another hole. I think a hypothetical rotation with Buehrle, Floyd, Danks, Jackson, 5th starter and a pen with Sale is a whole lot better than a rotation a Buehrle, Floyd, Danks, Jackson, Sale and a pen without Sale.

Now, if they do move Sale to the rotation but get two top notch relievers (including a closer), then idk.

 

[BigSoxHurt35]

For the 1st month or 2 let Garcia be the 5th guy. Let Thornton close and sale set up. Thornton's perfect for the closer role just blow it by em and go home

 

[ChiSportsRich]

For the 1st month or 2 let Garcia be the 5th guy. Let Thornton close and sale set up. Thornton's perfect for the closer role just blow it by em and go home

If you recall, last year Thornton didnt look so good as the closer last year, and hes been so solid in the setup role we shouldnt mess with it. if anything Thornton should continue to set-up and Sale should close

 

[Capt. Serious]

For the 1st month or 2 let Garcia be the 5th guy. Let Thornton close and sale set up. Thornton's perfect for the closer role just blow it by em and go home

No, enough with Freddy. Move on from him.

The guy wore down last year.

 

[BigSoxHurt35]

We dont need him a whole year! Just for when Peavy's out. And well then its got to be Thornton or Sale for closer

 

[BigSoxHurt35]

And maybe being already into the season, and routines because we all know routines are a big part of pitchers, then that's the issue with Thornton, let he and Sale start from Spring Training and whichever has the best ST then roll with that guy

 

[Lefty]

If you recall, last year Thornton didnt look so good as the closer last year, and hes been so solid in the setup role we shouldnt mess with it. if anything Thornton should continue to set-up and Sale should close

Yeah, because a handful of closing situations from one season should decide whether Thornton should be the closer. And for his career as a reliever, Thornton hasn't been any worse in the 9th inning and/or save situations than what his aggregate stats show.

Career Totals as Reliever: 1.262 WHIP, 2.60 K/BB, .022 HR%

Career 9th Inning Totals: 1.271 WHIP, 3.41 K/BB, .018 HR%

Career in Save Situations: 1.283 WHIP, 2.59 K/BB, .021 HR%

Here's the thing, though: studies have shown that the best way to use a closer (or, "relief ace") is when the game's Leverage (the value of one run scored or given up in the current game configuration relative to the value of a run scored/surrendered at the start of the game) is at its highest point, which isn't always in the 9th inning. The trick of it is, there is no real way to know how the leverage will fluctuate from point A to point B in any given game.

All that being said, Thornton is without a doubt, the best reliever on this team right now; he is the relief ace. Everyone needs to chill out with all this talk about Chris Sale: he met great success last year, true, but in only 23 innings in his first stint in the MLB. So while it was great to see Sale contribute immediately upon arriving in the MLB, he is certainly not a reason to pass up Matt Thornton for the closing job, or rather role of "relief ace". If the team chooses to use their ace strictly in the 9th or perhaps 8th inning and label him "the closer", that reliever should be Thornton, without question.