Chicago White Sox: Mid-Term Grades

Jul 7, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Javy Guerra (41) throws a pitch against the Boston Red Sox in the eighth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

• Bullpen: F
This bullpen will cause ulcers, no doubt about it. This bullpen will also make you shake your head in disbelief and wonder what they are doing in the bullpen for a majority of the game. Do they even read the scouting reports?

The bullpen of the White Sox is the the No. 1 reason they are 10.5 games back of the Tigers, because they’ve gift-wrapped more than a few wins to the opponents this season that would have gone to the White Sox.

Scott Carroll pitched well in the bullpen with a 1.83 ERA in relief but has gone back to the starting rotation.

There is no actual closer on the roster with Matt Lindstrom and Nate Jones both on the disabled list for a majority of the season, but when Lindstrom was pitching, his ERA was 3.32 in 19 games with six saves, so he wasn’t the most reliable guy either as he blew three saves this season.

Ronald Bellisario has a 5.16 ERA and has also been the closer at times in ’14 with eight saves in 12 opportunities. Besides Jake Petricka (2.17 ERA) and Zach Putnam (2.50 ERA), no other current reliever for the White Sox has an ERA below 3.00.

Javy Guerra has blown all three save opportunities this season.

On the season, White Sox relief pitchers have a total of 13 blown saves. Five relievers that have pitched for the White Sox this season are no longer on the MLB roster (not including injuries), so with turnover like that, it is easy to figure out why they have been so disappointing thus far.