Chicago White Sox Fantasy Baseball Closer Information and Depth Chart
| . | Closer | . | Set-Up | . | 2nd in line | . | 2014 Closer | . | Updated | |
| CHW | Addison Reed | Jesse Crain | Matt Thornton | Addison Reed | 5/15/13 |
.
Previous updates:
May 15, 2013
Chicago White Sox – Jesse Crain entered in the eighth inning to hold a two-run lead; he leads the league with 10 holds and has regularly performed in a set-up role over the last few weeks, while lefty Matt Thornton has been used more situationally. Hierarchy change: Jesse Crain to Set-up, replacing Matt Thornton.
April 7, 2013
Chicago White Sox – The Sox turned to Jesse Crain in a very important spot in the eighth inning on Saturday, and it seems that he has moved ahead of Matt Lindstrom in Chicago’s bullpen. Hierarchy change: Jesse Crain to 2nd in line, replacing Matt Lindstrom.
February 24, 2013
Chicago White Sox – Starting 2013 hierarchy: Closer- Addison Reed, Set-up- Matt Thornton, 2nd in line- Matt Lindstrom.
September 25, 2012
Chicago White Sox – After the White Sox grabbed the lead from the Indians in the bottom of the 8th, Robin Ventura sent lefty Matt Thornton out in a save situation in the 9th. Thornton gave up hits to two of the three batters he faced, so he was pulled for another lefty — Donnie Veal — who ultimately earned his first major league save. Although Addison Reed remains on the Hot Seat, it’s likely that this was just a reaction to an unexpected lead change. No hierarchy change.
September 19, 2012
Chicago White Sox – Matt Thornton pitched a clean 8th inning, then stayed on to face the first hitter of the 9th before giving way to Addison Reed, who recorded the final two outs. Thornton and Brett Myers are jockeying for the 8th inning role, but as a lefty, Thornton is probably more likely to pick up a random save here and there, given Robin Ventura’s recent tendency to play match-ups all the way through the 9th. Hierarchy change: Matt Thornton to Set-up, Brett Myers to 2nd in line.
September 16, 2012
Chicago White Sox – Addison Reed allowed three baserunners without recording an out on Saturday, and had to be bailed out by Matt Thornton, who picked up the save. Reed has now allowed multiple baserunners, and at least one run, in 7 of his last 9 appearances. Addison Reed to Hot Seat.
September 2, 2012
Chicago White Sox – Addison Reed pitched the 8th inning with the White Sox trailing 4-0, but he had not pitched since August 25. He is in no danger of losing his job, and was just getting some work in between save opportunities. No hierarchy change.
July 29, 2012
Chicago White Sox – Matt Thornton pitched the 9th inning in a four-run game yesterday, and has picked up two 7th-inning-or-later holds this week. Meanwhile, Jesse Crain has been a little shaky since returning from the DL, allowing 5 baserunners over 2.1 innings. Hierarchy change: Matt Thornton to 2nd in line, replacing Jesse Crain.
July 22, 2012
Chicago White Sox – The White Sox acquired Brett Myers from the Astros on Saturday, but Addison Reed will keep his job for the time being, said White Sox GM Kenny Williams. Myers will pitch in a set-up role and will get save chances on nights when Reed is unavailable. Also on Saturday, Jesse Crain returned from the disabled list. He, too, will factor in the late innings for the White Sox. Hierarchy change: Brett Myers to Set-up, Jesse Crain to 2nd in line.
July 13, 2012
Chicago White Sox – The White Sox are buying, and that’s potentially bad news for their solid, but young bullpen. They could look to acquire a veteran, and even though Addison Reed has only blown one save in 14 chances, the acquisition of a Huston Street or a Jonathan Broxton could mean Reed is pushed back to set-up duty. TRADE DEADLINE BUY: None. SELL: Addison Reed.
July 8, 2012
Chicago White Sox – Matt Thornton picked up the save yesterday as predicted in the vulture save watch. Addison Reed is still the closer and was just given the night off after pitching in the previous three days. No hierarchy change.
July 5, 2012
Chicago White Sox – Jesse Crain was placed on the 15 day DL with a shoulder injury. Matt Thornton piched the 8th and 9th innings of a tie game last night and will move back to the set-up role. Hierarchy change: Matt Thornton to Set-up, Nate Jones to 2nd in line, Jesse Crain to DL
May 31, 2012
Chicago White Sox – Jesse Crain continues to dominate hitters, with a 1.26 ERA and 0.91 WHIP, and he picked up his second consecutive 8th inning hold last night. Hierarchy change: Jesse Crain to Set-up, Matt Thornton to 2nd in line.
May 25, 2012
Chicago White Sox – Jesse Crain (1.59 ERA, 16 Ks in 11.1 IPs) logged his 5th consecutive scoreless outing since returning from the DL, pitching ahead of Matt Thornton and Addison Reed in the White Sox victory on Thursday. Hierarchy change: Jesse Crain to 2nd in line, replacing Nate Jones.
May 19, 2012
Chicago White Sox – Nate Jones pitched the 8th inning in a one-run game on Friday. While Robin Ventura still hasn’t declared that he’s moving away from the closer-by-committee he first established a few weeks ago, Addison Reed has been the only one getting save chances. Meanwhile, Hector Santiago has been relegated to an early innings/mop-up role, while Jones and his 99 mph fastball have been called on in some tight spots. Hierarchy change: Nate Jones to 2nd in line, replacing Hector Santiago.
May 16, 2012
Chicago White Sox – Hector Santiago pitched in the 9th inning on Tuesday when the White Sox were down 4 runs. Though he’s supposedly part of a closer-by-committee in Chicago, Addison Reed and Matt Thornton both seem positioned to get more opportunities than the young lefty. Hierarchy change: Matt Thornton to Set-up, Hector Santiago to 2nd in line.
May 11, 2012
Chicago White Sox – White Sox GM Kenny Williams told CSNChicago.com that Chris Sale was being moved back to the rotation. Apparently, after being sent to the bullpen, Sale called Williams and asked for one more shot at starting, and Williams agreed. Williams said that Addison Reed will be the closer. Hierarchy change: Addison Reed to Closer, Hector Santiago to Set-up, Matt Thornton to 2nd in line.
May 9, 2012
Chicago White Sox – Closer Chris Sale was summoned in the 8th inning on Tuesday, and was lifted in the 9th after surrendering the lead; Addison Reed eventually got the save in the 10th. Robin Ventura said after the game that he’d intended to use Sale for a 2-inning save and that the lefty was still the closer, but after the game, pitching coach Don Cooper had some cryptic remarks about Sale’s future. Cooper, speaking to the Chicago Sun-Times, likened Sale to Neftali Feliz, who the Rangers had given a few extra days between starts, and suggested that Sale could quickly and easily be moved back to the rotation. Sale also told the Sun-Times that he wants to start again, and if he does, Reed could be poised to seize the job. Even if Sale isn’t yo-yo-ed back, another bad outing or two could see Reed (0.00 ERA, 12 Ks in 9 IPs) surpass him. Hierarchy change: Addison Reed to Set-up, Hector Santiago to 2nd in line. Chris Sale to Hot Seat.
May 6, 2012
Chicago White Sox – Chris Sale doesn’t embark on his new role as closer until Monday, so the White Sox, up by one run in the 9th, called on Hector Santiago. But Santiago struggled, allowing two baserunners, and Addison Reed came in to bail him out for the one-out save. No hierarchy change.
May 5, 2012
Chicago White Sox – Chris Sale has been moved from the starting rotation to the bullpen and will immediately take over as closer. Chris Sale experienced elbow soreness after his last start and the White Sox decided a move to the bullpen would be better for his health. Sale will be given a few days off and will start closing on Monday in Cleveland. Hierarchy change: Chris Sale to Closer, Hector Santiago to Set-up, Matt Thornton to 2nd in line.
April 30, 2012
Chicago White Sox – Matt Thornton’s save last night against the heart of the Red Sox order was explained by Robin Ventura as a matchup-based decision. “Nothing against Hector, he still will be in there in the ninth.” Savvy fantasy owners know, though, that Santiago’s leash is growing shorter and shorter. No hierarchy change.
April 29, 2012
Chicago White Sox- Matt Thornton got the save today, working a perfect 1.1 innings with 2 Ks. Hector Santiago was warming up in the bullpen in the 9th but Thornton made quick work of the Red Sox to finish the game. Manager Robin Ventura backed Santiago after his last blown save on Wednesday, so it’s hard to say that Thornton is the new closer at this point. Thornton is having a great season and still may be worth having on your roster but it’s not clear if he will be getting all the saves in the future. Closer Monkey will continue to monitor the situation to see what Ventura has to say. No hierarchy change.
April 26, 2012
Chicago White Sox – Hector Santiago blew the save on Wednesday but after the game manager Robin Ventura said he would stick with Santiago as closer. Santiago is already on the hot seat so even with Ventura’s backing after the game, do not be surprised if a change is made soon if Santiago doesn’t figure out to stop giving up homeruns (He’s already given up 4 in 6 .1 innings so far this year). No hierarchy change.
April 17, 2012
Chicago White Sox – Hector Santiago had an ugly outing on Monday, allowing two HRs and blowing the save against the Orioles. It was Santiago’s first blown save this year, but he now has a 6.75 ERA. Given that he won the job at the 11th hour in spring training– and the fact that he’s now got a total of 6 MLB appearances in his career– Robin Ventura will have him on a short leash. Hector Santiago to Hot Seat.
April 7, 2012
Chicago White Sox- Hector Santiago closed out the White Sox victory on Saturday. The White Sox mystery closer has been revealed, though the young lefty was not the trendy choice until he was seen warming up in the bullpen for a possible save opportunity that never materialized on Friday. Jesse Crain seems to have fallen into a middle inning role, leaving Matt Thornton and Addison Reed to pitch the 7th and 8th. Hierarchy change: Hector Santiago to Closer, Matt Thornton to Set-up.
March 19, 2012
Chicago White Sox- The White Sox traded away closer Sergio Santos in the offseason and moved Chris Sale to the rotation. Manager Robin Ventura has not declared a closer yet but Matt Thornton and Jessie Crain are the early favorites with Thornton likely to get the first crack at it. Prospect Addison Reed might be the best arm in the bullpen so don’t be surprised if he is the closer before the end of the season. Starting 2012 hierarchy: Closer- Matt Thornton, Set-up- Jesse Crain, 2nd in line- Addison Reed.
Dec. 15, 2011
Chicago White Sox- Down the stretch in 2011, the White Sox split closing opportunities between Sergio Santos and Chris Sale. They’ve since traded Santos and announced that Sale will move to the rotation, which means a full revamp of the back end of their bullpen. The way it stands now, Jesse Crain will get the first crack at closing. Hierarchy change: Jesse Crain to Closer, Matt Thornton to Set-up, Addison Reed to 2nd in line.
Sept. 28, 2011
Chicago White Sox- The White Sox continue to share their 9th inning opportunities. After Sergio Santos got the save two days ago, they went to Chris Sale last night. Barring a lefty-heavy 9th inning, a save opp on the season’s final day should go back to Santos. No hierarchy change.
Sept. 21, 2011
Chicago White Sox- Sergio Santos was on the bench for the 9th inning last night after giving up runs in his previous two outings. Chris Sale picked up a 1.2 inning save, but barring another blown save, Santos will still get the majority of the remaining opportunities this year. No hierarchy change.
Sept. 5, 2011
Chicago White Sox- After getting knocked around a bit last night, Sergio Santos was yanked in favor of Chris Sale, who got the final out of the game and the save. Sale was brought in for a lefty, so this wasn’t a total vote of no confidence in Santos. Though this is clearly a platoon, Santos will still see more than half of the remaining save opps this season. No hierarchy change.
Sept. 4, 2011
Chicago White Sox- Sergio Santos blew the save last night, which means Chris Sale could be in line for more save opps. This was already a platoon that had Santos getting the majority of looks, but if he continues to falter, Sale could start seeing more chances. Also last night, Jesse Crain pitched the 7th, and has surpassed Matt Thornton on the depth chart. Hierarchy change: Crain to 2nd in line, replacing Thornton. Santos to “Hot Seat.”
Aug. 27, 2011
Chicago White Sox- Sale got the save last night, but it was a strategic move facing a lineup that hit righties hard. Santos is clearly still the first choice. No hierarchy change.
