Jenks/Wheeler Hit The DL

"The Red Sox will place relievers Dan Wheeler and Bobby Jenks on the disabled list prior to Thursday's game against the Angels in order to clear roster spots for right-hander Scott Atchison (recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket) and left-hander Rich Hill (selected from Pawtucket) (WEEI)."

Jenks and Wheeler have been huge disappointments so far for the Red Sox. I kind of expected it from Jenks, but I am shocked that Wheeler has been as bad as he has been. So far Wheeler has an 11.32 ERA in 11 appearances this year, and this will be just the first time he has ever been to the DL in his career.

Jenks has an arm cramp, but has been terrible anyways going 1-2 with a 9.35 ERA in 11 games this year. So, this could actually be a good thing for the Sox. Atchison has a 1.04 ERA, with 17 strikeouts, and 1 walk in 17 1/3 innings and Hill has a 1.13 ERA, with 18 strikeouts, 5 walks in 16 innings of work for Pawtucket. Hill has been especially tough against left handers as they have .100 batting average against him this year.

MLB Preview: Boston Red Sox (Pitching)

100 wins. All I keep hearing about is 100 wins. It's something the Red Sox haven't done since 1946. But is that really the achievement to long for? The Sox lost the 1946 World Series. And there are some parallels to that 1946 team, which led the Majors in offense, scoring half a run per game more than anyone else, but were 9th of 16 teams in runs allowed. They lost the World Series to St. Louis, the team that allowed the fewest runs in baseball.

Then, as now, pitching wins. And that's where I'll start this preview. Because even though a great offense can win 100 regular season games, it's pitching that wins 11 postseason games.

The Sox rotation looks the same as last year. And it has just as many question marks. We can pretty much bank on Jon Lester to have an ERA below 3.50, and 16 to 20 wins. He's been the rock of the rotation, and one of the most consistent pitchers in baseball the last 3 seasons.

Then there's Buchholz. Call me negative, but him repeating his 2010 feats is not guaranteed. We've all sort of assumed he will once again register an ERA around 2.50 and win close to 20 games. Maybe he will. Even 17 wins and a 3.00 ERA would be excellent. But he's 26. He has one great season under his belt. He's still a question mark. Even though he's overshadowed by much larger question marks in the rotation.

15-10 record. 3.96 ERA. 23 homeruns. That's what Josh Beckett averages every 162 games in his career. Even I was a little stunned to see that. It's so below average. With the Red Sox, he's been 71-40 with a 4.29 ERA. And since 2008, he's been atrocious. It's gotten to the point that Beckett isn't much of a question mark anymore. He's a bad pitcher until proven otherwise.

Among qualifying pitchers, John Lackey had the 73rd lowest ERA in baseball last year. He did eat innings, but that's pretty much it. You can live with him as a #4 starter, but if Beckett doesn't have a good year, he's your #3. And if Buchholz falters, he's your #2. And that's an alarming thought.

Then there's Daisuke. If any other pitcher won 18 games their sophomore season, then was repeatedly injured, struggled when healthy, and averaged 96 walks per full season, we'd be talking about sending him to Pawtucket. So what makes Daisuke so special? I just don't have a good feeling about Daisuke in 2011. Even when healthy, even when at his best, he doesn't go deep into games. His 18 win season was coupled with 167.2 innings pitched. 90 pitchers managed to surpass that mark in 2010.

Sorry folks, but the rotation is too vulnerable, and too dependent on all the stars aligning. Actually, it's dependant on time travel. If Buchholz is the same as he was in 2010, if Beckett is the same as he was in 2007, if Daisuke is the same as 2008, if Lackey is the same as he was in 2007 and in another city....

But it's 2011.

Thankfully, the bullpen looks quite a bit better than last year. The Sox blew the 4th most saves in baseball last year. And with shaky starting pitching, the bullpen will be worked hard in 2011.

Papelbon is still the closer. And even though he's not as elite as he used to be, he's still good enough. It'd be tough to find an improvement over him, but it won't be hard to find a replacement.

Daniel Bard has impressed as a set-up man, with a 1.11 WHIP in 124 career relief innings. Bard and Papelbon represent a quality 8th and 9th inning tandem. But they can't be overworked. They need help.

Bobby Jenks is a possible option. That's what the Sox did to this bullpen: added options. They signed a number of guys, hoping that one or two would work out as reliable set-up men. In the dice game that is relief pitching, this is a viable strategy to build a quality bullpen.

But Jenks is coming off a bad year. And he's gotten progressively worse since 2007. You never know with relievers, but it's hard to imagine that trend changing.

I'm much more optimistic about Dan Wheeler, who's pitched with success in the AL East. He's 33, but has 530 appearances under his belt. He'll wind up as the secondary set-up guy alongside Bard.

Wakefield will be a mop up man and spot starter. Doubront will be used against lefties.

The rest of the bullpen will be a revolving door of arms. Maybe one will be reliable enough to be a 6th inning man, or the type of guy that's brought in when the Sox are down 2 runs in the 7th.

Overrall, the bullpen isn't great, but it's no longer a liability. The rotation, however, is very suspect. So much needs to happen for it to work. And so much can go wrong for it to fail. I don't see Beckett winning more than 15 games. I don't see Daisuke throwing more than 180 innings. I see Buchholz having a good-not-great year. I don't see Lackey doing much better than he did in 2010.

But the offense should be able to make up for these shortcomings. At least in the regular season.

-The Commodore

Am I The Only One Who Thinks Jenks Is Going To Suck?

It's a rainy day in Boston, and there is some hateraid in my blood.

Let me start this by saying this has nothing to do with the whole Guillen/Jenks battle. I think that whole thing is childish, and is two assholes who can't keep their mouths shut. Thus, I couldn't care less about it. But let's go over some facts of things that DO matter. Here is Jenks stats over the past 4 seasons...

2007: 40 saves, 2.77 ERA, and a .198 opponent batting average.
2008: 30 saves, 2.63 ERA, and a .230 opponent batting average.
2009: 29 saves, 3.71 ERA, and a .250 opponent batting average.
2010: 27 saves, 4.44 ERA, and a .260 opponent batting average.

Seeing a trend yet?

I am not against the signing. He gives the Red Sox flexibility, and the Red Sox needed more arms then just Papelbon and Bard, but for anyone to really think this guy is going to come in and dominate, I think you're living in a fantasy world. Maybe I am wrong, and changing teams and roles will help revive his career, but I am not sure how much I am really buy into that.

Call me a hater, but looking at those stats I feel there is a lot to back me up.

Ozzie Guillen's Son Sounds A Lot Like His Old Man

“I’ll always respect him as a person and give him credit that’s due,” Jenks said. “But I want to play for a manager who trusts his relievers, regardless of what’s going on (Boston Herald)."

That's what started an absolute twitter rant by Ozzie Guillen's son (Oney Guillen)...

"hahah memo to bobby jenks get a clue u drink to much and u have had marital problems hugeee ones and the sox stood behind u."

"u cried in the managers office bc u have problems now u go and talk bad about the sox after they protected u for 7 years ungrateful"

"they did not air out ur dirty laundry, u came to [spring] not drinking and then u sucked and started [drinking] again be a man"

"and to think u were actually a cool guy and ur word meant something, to bad u dont hit in the AL so they can drill that ***"

"and u say the manager didnt trust u? he kept putting ur fat *** there and u kept blowing it, he never took u away from that role unreal"

"one little story remember when u couldnt handle ur drinking and u hit a poor arizona clubby in the face i do."

Wow, overreact much? This isn't the first time this guy has shot off his mouth. Oney Guillen was fired last spring training from his job as a video coordinator for sending negative tweets about the White Sox. Then during the season he didn't stop, as he sent tweets about about White Sox general manager Kenny Williams is terrible.

Yet, in some ways I have to agree. I didn't like Jenks comments. He won a ring there, they did stick by him for the most part, and Jenks really didn't give him a lot to work with since his velocity and effectiveness were spiraling downward. Still, this was a complete overreaction.

Sox Sign Bobby Jenks

Bobby Jenks is a guy I haven't really liked in a while, he has had a couple of bad years, his velocity went down and he's kind of an idiot, but now he's our idiot. So when someone joins our side there is only one thing to do. Overrate them and talk about how we are going to win the World Series.

So far the Sox off season has been great, but it's time to analyze their bullpen moves. So far my feeling on the So bullpen moves are, "whatever, I'll dig it" They have Jonathan Papelbon, Daniel Bard, Bobby Jenks, Matt Albers, all-time great Lenny DiNardo, and Felix Doubront. Sure, why not. Bobby Jenks had an off year last year, but still was one of the premier closers in the league before that. He may have made too many headlines off the field, but on the field he was great. If he can figure out how to get back to that form, this could be a huge move for the Sox. I still would like to sign another guy, but what can you do?

And he's fat. So their is a plus.

Bobby Jenks Out As Closer

After Bobby Jenks blew another lead last night for the WHite Sox, Ozzie Guilen said he will not be the closer anymore. They have Matt Thornton and JJ Putz whom are both capable of closing on a major league level. JJ Putz was a shut down closer for the Mariners a couple years ago, and Thornton was an all star this year.

Personally, I'd go with Putz before Thornton. It scares me when people bring up set up men mid season to close. Putz was a closer before and a real solid one at that. He has only blew 2 leads this year out of 24 opportunities. I also still have faith that he can be an all-star closer in the league. He had a shitty hand in NY and he may have found his way in Chicago. All in all, I think it was a good move, and expect Jenks to be traded come deadline.

White Sox Tell Jenks To Stop Being Fat

"The White Sox told Bobby Jenks to stay away from the sweets this winter, and that is not sitting well with the South Side closer. Jenks took umbrage with comments from manager Ozzie Guillen that again called the pitcher's conditioning habits into question.

"I've done everything I can do, I've done everything that is physically possible, to make myself in better shape this year," Jenks told MLB.com. "Where the years previously I didn't lose weight in-season, I didn't want my weight issue to be a factor as to why I had an off season."

Near the end of the season, Guillen said of Jenks: "Obviously, this kid has to show up in shape. That's his problem every winter (ESPN)."

HAHAHA, come one Jenks, you know damn well you are on the David Wells diet. I mean I never really got this. You are paid to be in shape. They have trainers, so why are you fat? Anyways, I think Jenks is going to finally fall apart next season, and that is my bold statement of the day...

Bobby Jenks To Be Traded?

The Chicago Sun Times writes that the White Sox have a decision to make on closer Bobby Jenks. He's under club control for two more years as an arbitration eligible, but the club needs to fix their offense and trading Jenks could potentially add a useful piece and give some flexibility in payroll that would allow them to focus on the lineup.

Bobby Jenks should be traded. He has declined over the past two years and his salary jumps up to 5.6 mil after this year. The White Sox have a lot of talent on their team, but if I were them Jenks and Jermaine Dye wouldn't still be with the team. I'm a big fan of the White Sox and starting with Jake Peavy (who I'm not a fan of), Gavin Floyd, John Danks, Alexie Ramirez, etc, I think they can push Detroit and Twins.

More Bobby Jenks Badassness

Major League Baseball is reviewing a pitch by White Sox closer Bobby Jenks thrown Saturday behind the back of Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler, a league spokesman told ESPNChicago.com on Monday.

So what did Jenks say?
"No, I meant to. To send a message," Jenks said, according to the Chicago Tribune. "Basically I was saying, 'I'm sick of seeing our guys get hit and hurt and almost get taken out of the game.' I threw it with intention."

You know what? Good for him. 6 White Sox players were plunked that game compared to 1 Rangers player. I think Ozzie Guillen is blushing right now, as he is a big fan of intentionally hitting players to send messages. But I don't think the MLB should suspend Jenks due to the location in which he threw behind Ian Kinsler. He tried to throw behind his ass, not his head. So in my eyes, I'm O.K. with it.

Bobby Jenks Is Drunk and Violent

The Legend of Bobby Jenks: The Drunken, Violent, Second Coming of Christ with the 100 MPH Fastball and Self-Diagnosed Bad Back

I guess some ex-White Sox player wrote a book and called Bobby Jenks this. If anything, this makes me like Jenks better, he is what I always strive to be a fat, drunk, violent, closer that has a bad attitude. Jenks has been a consistent closer for the White Sox for years now and I believe that he will continue to be a stud for them. Also, this book shit that everyone is doing now, needs to stop. Their has to be some confidence that you can act a certain way in the locker room without someone writing a book about you.

White Sox Stay Alive With 5-3 Win

John Danks is turning into the White Sox best pitcher, and he just extended their season for at least one more game. The night didn't start well as the Rays jumped out to an early lead, but the White Sox would not go quietly as they tied the game 1-1 in the 3rd inning. In the 4th, the White Sox got 3 runs on the board, 2 of which came off a two run double by no name Dewayne Wise. Wise is a guy who has been surprisingly starting over Nick Swisher, and well now Guillen looks like a genius. Dank cruised through the next couple of innings and finished going 6 2/3 allowing 3 runs on 7 hits with 7 Ks. The White Sox bullpen was able to hold the lead, and combined to throw 2 1/2 scoreless innings, capped off with a Bobby Jenks save. The next game will be tomorrow in Chicago where the White Sox Gavin Floyd will be facing Tampa Bay's Andy Sonnanstine.

-BMack