who is their closer?!? 
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well, I think if you ask Ozzie, he would still tell you that its Jenks...
but Jenks looks like shit
Thornton looks amazing....
Putz has been there before too
so Ozzie has two options....to replace Jenks
its tricky also, because Thornton has closer stuff, but he is a lefty so you might not want to use him in a situation where the first 3-5 hitters in the 9th are gonna be righties.... and you might rather bring him in the 7th or 8th when there are a few big lefties coming up.... or save him for the 9th and use him instead of Jenks if you have a few big lefties coming up....
its complicated like I said...
I think Jenks will be on a short lease... His stuff has not been the same for a few years...
he lost some weight and got in better shape this offseason, which somtimes is actually a very negative thing for some types of pitchers....
I can't speak highly enough of Thornton's stuff though....Comment -
Good infoComment -
Very good info Chi_archieComment -
Yeah, it's supposed to be Jenks, but Thornton or Putz will take over if Jenks starts to choke early. I don't think Jenks will last long.Comment -
Thanks archComment -
Thornton throws as hard, and lately HARDER than Jenks.... and he developed a nice slider over the off season and spring...
so far so good, and he comes right at hitters.... so far 2 IP only 21 pitches thrown no hits no walks and 3 SO'sComment -
Well Thorton pitches just as well vs righties, so he will work just fine... But I like the set-up of not having your best reliever as your closer.
Generally, major league managers fail to put thier best reliever into a game at the most crucial moment simply becaue they've decided thatthe best pitcher is a "closer" and therefore is unable to pitch in the 8th inning of a one-run with runners on and the oppoenst best hitter at the plate, beacuse he may be needed to pitch to a teams 7-8-9 hitters with a three run lead in the 9th. The fact the many team still have not figured this out is mind boggling.
Leave Jenks as the closer, many, many more games will be decided in the 7th and 8th innings then in the 9th, keep your best reliever to be used when you need him, and not let him sit on the bench while your team loses games.Comment -
Thornton fuked it up tonightComment