“A good percent of the time, he will be the guy,” said Guillen of Thornton, who won the closer’s job over rookie Chris Sale. “In my opinion, with Sale, we [would] have to put a lot of things on his shoulders, not because this kid pitched well last season, but we would put a lot of pressure on him to be the closer.
“Matt Thornton earned it. We have a lot of confidence. He is the guy I think can do the job better.”
Hopefully this doesn’t mean much, good percent sounds good, and Kenny’s bullpen flexibility theory prevails.
UPDATE: Padilla @ ESPN:
Guillen did give himself some wiggle room, though, to make a change later in the season.
“I talked to Thornton and I said he would get more than the chance to be the closer,” Guillen said. “Obviously when you’re closing, I talked to him about it, a good percent of the time, he will be the guy.”
I would like to see him close unless he is needed in the 6th 7th or 8th inning in a close game and a left handed batter up, because he is one of the best in that position.
Comment by Anonymous — March 20, 2011 @ March 20, 2011 11:14 am |
yeah, if he’s needed before the 9th, he should be used
Comment by The Wizard — March 21, 2011 @ March 21, 2011 12:15 pm |