Comments on: The Story of Bobby Jenks

By: MikeS

MikeS — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 21:07:44 +0000

Yeah, When Thornton gives up the lead in the 8th, it’s a blown save because technically it’s a save situation. He wasn’t going to get a chance at that save because Jenks is pitching the ninth. There is no such stat as a “blown hold” but that’s what it really is.

Also, as a Sox fan, it seems to me that Thornton (and Dotel) are used more when they really need a strikeout – guys on base or in scoring position, less than 2 out – rather than to start an inning. So there is less margin for error than for a closer who almost always starts the inning with the bases empty and can give up a hit or walk without it hurting the team.

By: Eno Sarris

Eno Sarris — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:33:43 +0000

If you add holds and saves together, Jenks’ comparable success rate is 85%, however, so now we are talking some sort of shortcoming on Thornton’s part. Looking at performance against leverage might help with Thornton, it seems, but I still think Thornton’s overall performance says that he can succeed no matter what frame he’s pitching in. At the very least, it’s obvious that Thornton has improved his clutch numbers and is doing better in higher leverage situations this year. Let’s see how he does in the highest leverage situations now that Jenks is out.

By: JCA

JCA — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:17:15 +0000

Should holds figure into the calculation? Those are save situations where he did his job. He’s had 56 save situations in the past 2 years and had a hold or save in 46. That’s a 80+% success rate.

By: The A Team

The A Team — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:16:59 +0000

The Thornton situation reminds me a little of Madson in Philly. The main excuse to keep Lidge as the closer (11 BS and counting) is that Madson is better suited for the 8th and doesn’t handle the pressure of the 9th…

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:51:41 +0000

As a White Sox fan, I’d like to see someone consistent at closer and let Thornton pitch the setup — so he can pitch in more “important” situations.

By: Eno Sarris

Eno Sarris — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 01:36:33 +0000

Sure, that’s one of many problems with citing his blown saves. That occurred to me as I was citing the other problems with citing those blown saves, but the main point is that Thornton looks like the real deal.

By: Bryz

Bryz — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 01:34:48 +0000

The only problem with citing Thornton’s 2-12 and Bell’s pre-2009 2-14 in save situations is that non-closers commonly have more blown saves than converted saves because they are subjected to more opportunities to blow saves than actually earn them.

By: Eno Sarris

Eno Sarris — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 01:34:47 +0000

What do you mean by ‘this’? Clarify and I’ll be glad to respond.

I would think the average fan thinks Jenks is a great closer and Thornton might not be able to handle the role, but I don’t think that’s the case.

By: joe

joe — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 01:26:40 +0000

Of course this is obviously through the eyes of the average fan or manager, right?