White Sox need less walks, more K’s from their bullpen
Sep 21, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Chicago White Sox manager Robin Ventura (23) talks to relief pitcher Nate Jones (65) against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
As a fan of the Chicago White Sox, I am sure I don’t stand alone in saying how tough it was to watch them last season, and it was not because of a lack of interest. There aren’t many hitters in the game right now better than Jose Abreu. He certainly is on my list of the guys in the game that when they come up to bat, I have to stop what I am doing and give them my full attention.
Adam Eaton is certainly fun to watch. How many guys put it all on the line every play like he does? And he looks like he is only going to keep improving.
Sep 24, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (49) pitches in the third inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
How about Chris Sale? He is the most filthy left-hander in the game not named Clayton Kershaw.
Sale goes out there every start and put his team in a position to win. Unfortunately for him, he had 10 starts end in no decisions due in large part to a pretty bad White Sox bullpen.
How bad?
No bullpen in baseball had more losses, walks and fewer strikeouts than the White Sox last season. They were 14th among American League teams in ERA, opponents batting average and percentage of runners left on base. And there efforts didn’t just hurt Sale.
Jose Quintana had 12 no decisions last season which was tied for seventh in the AL and John Danks had another 10 of his own.
As frustrating as it was to watch this group work, it should have surprised no one. The staff was completely made up of struggling veterans and minor leaguers.
Only Matt Lindstrom and Nate Jones have had any recent major league success and injuries ruined both their seasons. To put things into perspective, let me run some numbers by you.
Next: Numbers and the White Sox bullpen
White Sox bullpen numbers
Aug 12, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Zach Putnam (57) high fives catcher Tyler Flowers (21) after the win against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park. The Chicago White Sox defeated the San Francisco Giants 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Among relievers, the league average walk rate according to FanGraphs was 3.29 per nine innings. The White Sox had eight relievers pitch 24 innings or more and only Lindstrom, Zach Putnam, Ronald Belisario had a walk rate below league average. The major league average rate for strikeouts was 8.46 per nine innings.
Of those same eight pitchers only Maikel Cleto had a rate above league average. Simply put, from a talent standpoint, the White Sox lacked the players who could effectively throw strikes and miss bats.
With that in mind, White Sox General Manager Rick Hahn invested $61 million longer term in two relievers coming off excellent years in which they did exactly that.
David Robertson has been one of baseball’s best relievers for four years now and in 2014 added closer to his resume.
Taking over for the legendary Mariano Rivera in New York, Robertson saved 39 games, posted a 3.04 ERA and struck out 96 batters while walking just 23 in 64.1 innings. He brings much needed stability to a role that saw four different players share the position last season.
Zach Duke doesn’t quite have the impressive reliever resume that Robertson has but is coming off just as good of a season.
The former starter has redefined himself as a lefty specialists who throws strikes (2.61 walk rate), misses bats (74 Ks in 58.2 innings) and dominates left-handed hitters (lefties hit just .198 against him). The White Sox did not have one reliable left-handed reliever last season.
Putnam and Petricka are likely to join Duke as the seventh-eighth inning bridge to Robertson. Putnam had a team best 1.98 ERA last season while holding opponents to a .203 batting average. If there was any remaining reliever on the team that deserves the opportunity to be trusted, it is him.
Petricka led the team with 14 saves in 18 chances and posted a very respectable 2.96 ERA. But his high walk rate (4.07 per nine) and lack of swing and miss stuff (6.78 Ks per nine) makes me worry about him.
Next: Who are other relievers to watch out for?
Other relievers to look out for
Jul 27, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Daniel Webb (40) pitches in the eighth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. The Minnesota Twins win 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
After these four, it’s a toss up. Javy Guerra had posted a 2.91 ERA but really struggled pitching in high leverage situations. Daniel Webb didn’t see many high leverage situations because of his 48 walks in 67.2 innings last season.
Dan Jennings is a lefty acquired from the Miami Marlins that allowed other lefties to hit .291 with a 3.64 on base percentage. Cleto was the one guy who could miss bats but when not doing so, missed the plate entirely (7.06 walk rate in 2014).
The White Sox will likely have three out of these four men on the Opening Day roster to round out the pen. If not, then one of the arms invited to Spring Training will have impressed enough to make the team.
Sep 2, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins relief pitcher Dan Jennings (43) throws during the sixth inning against the New York Mets at Marlins Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Arms to take a look at include Eric Surkamp, Zach Phillips, Joe Savery, Carlos Rodon and Jesse Crain. With the exception of Crain, each pitcher is left-handed.
Surkamp spent some time in the majors last season with White Sox and like everyone else, struggled with walks. He did however hold lefties to a .167 average.
Phillips and Savery both spent most of 2014 in the minors and performed at a high level. Rodon has a future a top the White Sox rotation but until that day comes, could see time in the bullpen.
Crain spent all of 2014 injured and is hoping to the level we saw him at in 2013 with the White Sox.
Robertson and Duke certainly make the White Sox bullpen better than last season’s but considering how bad things were, that’s not saying much.
However, to make this group great, Jones and Crain are the wild cards.
Both men had incredible seasons in 2013 and would improve the pen greatly if healthy. Jones 100 mph fast ball and 10.27 strikeouts per nine is an asset any team wishes they had. Tommy John surgery took that away from the White Sox last season will continue to do so until at least July.
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Crain had a 0.74 ERA while holding right-handed batters to a .174 average. Since then shoulder and bicep surgeries have kept him out.
Jones and Crain are not a sure thing to successfully return from their injuries. But the high walk, low strikeout bunch from a year ago are hard to be confident in.
If the White Sox have to rely on them to bridge the gap to Duke and Robertson, there could be some issues this season.