Monday, March 7, 2011

Another Great deal by Kenny

Kenny Williams continues to look like a genius as this season moves on. Matt Thornton signed a deal that will keep him on the South Side through the 2013 season.  Over the past 3 seasons, Thornton has been nothing if not consistent. He has pitched about 60-70 innings a year, struck out 75-90, and had an ERA glued to 2.70.  I think the Sox got an absolute steal on this deal. 6 million a year for a reliever like this who pitches between 65-75 games a year.  A guy like Thornton who throws in the upper 90s and has a wicked slider is essentially unhittable.  While he held lefties to a BA of .175, righties did not fair much better against him hitting just .203.  He also doesn't walk anyone. For the past 3 season, he has had a 3.5 to 1 K/BB ratio.  With this guy in the back of the bullpen with Crain, Santos, and Sale, if Sox starters can get through 6 with a lead, games should be locked down.  To think the Sox were able to get this guy for Joe Borchard in 2006.  Borchard was already deemed a bust at that point and the Mariners decided to give away a 6'7 lefty who threw rippin gas for a washed up OF who had showed absolutely no promise.  I'd say that trade worked out for the Sox.
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6 comments:

  1. Lil RomanMarch 7, 2011 at 12:53 PM

    The Cubs would have tried to make him a starter...then changed their minds and moved him back to the bullpen...then would have tried to make him a starter again

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  2. Chet SteadmanMarch 7, 2011 at 1:25 PM

    Truth

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  3. JimMarch 8, 2011 at 9:50 AM

    Just an FYI, when Thornton was traded from the Mariners to the Sox, he had an ERA over 5 and his gas was completely out of control. I'm guessing the M's thought he wasnt fixable so they sent him packing for the guy who still holds the new Comiskey Park record for longest home run.

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  4. Chet SteadmanMarch 8, 2011 at 10:49 AM

    Gas is Gas. Point was, I'd rather have a big arm than a washed up stick. That long home run Borchard hit was one of 12 he hit with the Sox in 3 big league stints with the Sox. He also hit a whopping .191. Guys who hit .191 rarely figure it out, but a guy who throws in the high 90s.

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  5. JimMarch 8, 2011 at 11:58 AM

    "Guys who hit .191 rarely figure it out" ...dude, Friday night you were making a case that Carlos Pena could feasibly hit .240. He hit .198 last year. Where is the cut-off mark for guys to figure it out?

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  6. Chet SteadmanMarch 8, 2011 at 12:00 PM

    Career .191 hitter.....Pena is a career .240 hitter.....1 year anomaly is what I'm going with concerning Pena's BA

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