Todd Jones must go
posted in 2008 season, Chicago White Sox |White Sox 6
Tigers 5
I hate being right. I hate knowing just how this is going to play out because I’ve seen this show, and it’s a rerun. Nate Robertson pitched, maybe not a gem, but a pretty darn good game. He left with a 4-1 lead and a pair of runners on. And the bullpen blew it for him. Todd Jones was a strike away from getting out of the game, and, whoops, in typical Jonesian style, he can’t get the out. He’s struggled mightily lately. The Tigers don’t have the luxary to give away games, and they gave one away. Zumaya’s as guilty as Jones. And Pudge’s boneheaded throw into left field didn’t help either. So, yes, it’s a team loss.
BUT
Todd Jones is an epic fail of a closer. Why he’s allowed to keep plying his wares, I have no clue. But I’m really getting sick of watching it.
When I saw your predictions for each game I thought the most likely of those to come true was your one for tonight. That sucks.
It sucks that the Tigers lost but more than that, it’s how they lost. I think we’d all feel a lot better if the Tigers lost 10-4 tonight. Then you just chalk it up to a bad night.
Tonight you could chalk it up to a major weakness that has been ignored for years now: Todd Jones. The guy is a disaster and he took a lot of wind out of the teams sails tonight because he is lousy at what he does.
The White Sox OWN the Tigers. FACE IT. You paper champions were the greatest thing on Earth before the season, but my boys are showing you all what’s really up! White Sox in 08 baby!!!!
Give Adam a beer helmet. Put it on my tab.
And Adam, what role did you play in the victory? Nice hit…wait. That was Jermain Dye. Get over yourself buddy, the team wins, not you.
I volunteer my foot to kick Adam in the nuts.
Ya Adam never take credit for something your favorite team does on the field. Anyhow, Im usually a Jones defender but tonight was just the last straw. I was there. Cheering, going crazy on the home side dugout seats. One last strike then a single. Not a problem, typical jones rollercoaster ride right? Wrong!! A monster 2 run homer just completely killed a game we needed. Jones I’m afraid must go the way of the Borowski(sp?). Release him and use Dolsi, Zoom zoom(wasnt at all good tonite or for that matter since he got back), and Rodney. Right now as much as I hate to say it, Rodney looks the the option to go to.
Also Its looking more and more like we need to spend the money for K Rod this winter if not we are screwed for next year as well…..
This was particularly crushing to me because famously, I was one of Jonesie’s biggest defenders.
I still think that he was unfairly maligned for a lot of his career, but at this point he’s clearly washed-up and over the hill. Normally I am of the mindset that when a closer fails, you have to put him back out there (after all, even the best of them do blow saves from time to time), but Todd is just getting lit up out there.
Sucks to see because I’ve always liked him as a player (good clubhouse guy, spoke his mind, hard not to root for a guy with so little talent hanging on as long as he has) but the team has to win games, and you have to go into the 9th inning expecting a win.
Unfortunately, there are no obvious answers.
That’s OK, Joe. I challenge anyone to come up with another closer for the Tigers. Zumaya couldn’t stop anyone from scoring. Rodney did fine, but a few games previous people (not me) were ready to DFA him.
Of the three, I trust them all pretty much equally, which is to say, not at all. Any given night could be 1-2-3 or a disaster.
I think Dolsi is a possibility. I have no idea if he’s ready for that role yet but he might actually be the best answer. Rodney looked like the guy last year but I’m not sure. I still think Zumaya would be more valuable as a set-up guy.
I really wish this team had held on to Tim Byrdak and Chad Durbin. Neither were closers but they’d go a long way towards helping this bullpen out. I think we can safely say that the bullpen is now the weak link that might prevent this team from making a true run at the division. I’m pretty satisfied with the offense and the starting pitching has been tremendous. *sigh*
Long term, I actually do think Dolsi should be favorite for the closer’s role. This year, I don’t know. I suppose he can’t muck it up any worse than anyone else. With Rodney and Zumaya included, the Tigers have 3 fine, yet inconsistent pitchers. Heck, I guess, despite my annoyance with him, Jones even fits in as the fourth. If we’re talking results oriented, they’re all more or less the same pitcher. They just differ how they go about getting three outs or fans’ wrath.
Tonight game is a must win yeah boys?
It’s not MUST win but it’s pretty high up the “really want to win” scale given tomorrow isn’t exactly a guaranteed win either
So now it’s up to Zach? Is there a bartender in the house?
As a follow-up, I think I will be fine with Rodney closing. He showed in previous years that he has the stuff to do that. If he can get the control back he should do the job.
Long term, I probably like Dolsi more for that job but I don’t think it’s fair to put it on his shoulders at this stage in his career. Let him set up for a year or two first.
I think Zumaya’s best role for the future is to continue to set-up. I think he’s more valuable in that role and it might suit him better than closing too.