Ever since completing an undefeated regular season last November, the past five months for the Notre Dame Football program have been a nightmare. First, it was the absolute beat-down by the hands of the Alabama Crimson Tide in the BCS National Championship Game on January 7, 2013. Second, was the Manti Te’o saga that captivated the sports world about a week later. Third, was the rumor that Head Coach Brain Kelly was bolting for the NFL after just three years a Notre Dame. Although the last one never actually happened, it did send rippling effects to the recruiting war that was about to end. Now, there was another bombshell dropped over the weekend. Starting quarterback Everett Golson has been suspended for the fall 2013 term for violating an academic policy. Notre Dame has been mum on the situation due to privacy laws, but Golson did confirm the report a couple of days ago. Golson stated that he had been suspended for the 2013 season due to “poor academic judgment”, and that he aims to return to Notre Dame for the spring semester in
2014.
What does this mean for Everett Golson and Notre Dame?
For Everett Golson, his collegiate career has certainly taken a hit, but it is not over. Golson will attempt to be reinstated into the university this winter, and he should have an opportunity to be re-enrolled if he can show that he has matured and learned from the mistake that he made. If Golson does return to school in 2014, then he will have a shot to regain his spot of the team. It is hard to predict what the quarterback situation will look like in 2014, but I can guarantee that Head Coach Brian Kelly will not simply hand Golson the starting role upon his return. Golson will miss all of summer and fall practices, leaving him with plenty of work to catch-up on. With Andrew Hendrix eligible for a fifth year in 2014, and incoming four-star freshman Malik Zaire entering his second season with the program, Golson will have his work cut-out to return atop of the quarterback depth chart. If Golson cannot return to Notre Dame in 2014, then he will likely enroll at another school and begin his career elsewhere. Hopefully, Golson can recover from this mistake, and he can still have a successful collegiate career regardless of where that occurs.
For Notre Dame, the Fighting Irish will simply have to move on from the loss of Golson. Brian Kelly has always preached the mantra of “Next man in”, so one can assume that Kelly has already started to figure out a plan for the 2013 season. The obvious choice to start at quarterback is Tommy Rees. Rees is entering his last season of eligibility at Notre Dame, and he has 18 starts under his belt. During his three-year career at Notre Dame, Rees had completed 403 passes in 634 attempts (63.6%) for 4,413 yards, 34 touchdowns, and 24 interceptions. Those numbers are not great, but they are not bad either. The biggest thing going for Rees is his knowledge of the offense and his career win-loss record. Rees is 14-4 as a starter, and he also came off the bench to help lead the Irish to victories in three games last season. Right now, I would be shocked if Rees is not the starter to begin the year. Whether or not he starts every game or plays every snap is another story.
The other two scholarship quarterbacks are fourth-year junior Andrew Hendrix, and early-enrollee freshman Malik Zaire. Zaire may be the most talented quarterback on the roster, but I would be very surprised to see him play this season. Kelly was planning on red-shirting Zaire this season, and I doubt that those plans will change despite the Golson news. Kelly has the experience in Rees, and he also has another veteran in Hendrix. To me, Hendrix is the wild-card in this situation. Hendrix has two years of eligibility remaining, and he has the athletic ability that Kelly wants at the quarterback position. Now, I do not think that Hendrix will or should start over Rees, but don’t be surprised to see Hendrix on the field early and often in 2014. While I am not a fan of a true two-quarterback system, it may be necessary this season. Rees is solid pocket-passer, but he has absolutely zero athletic ability in terms of avoiding a sack, or running the ball from the quarterback position. With Golson, Kelly had the best of both worlds in one player. Now that he no longer has that, look for Kelly to utilize the strengths of both Rees and Hendrix to win as many ballgames as he can.
The loss of Golson is certainly a blow for the Irish, but it should not ruin their 2013 season. Notre Dame should still have a strong defense, and they had a legitimate chance to return to the BCS National Championship Game next season with Golson at quarterback. While those dreams may have been squashed with Golson no longer with the team, I still expect Notre Dame to win 9 or 10 games and compete for a spot in a BCS bowl game.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Urlacher Set to Retire
About a week has passed since the news broke via Brian Urlacher’s Twitter account that he plans to retire after a 13-year career in the NFL. Two months prior to that, the Chicago Bears and Urlacher were unable to reach an agreement on a free-agent deal, thus ending Urlacher’s career as a Bear. As a Bears fan, I was upset that a deal could not be reached, but I understood both sides of the story. While Bears would have liked to have Urlacher back for another year, they realized that he was now just a shell of his former self and was no longer a dominant player. The Bears were prepared to offer him what they thought was a fair amount of money in a one-year contract, but Urlacher disagreed. Urlacher felt that he was worth more than the one-year, two-million dollar deal the Bears offered him, and he declined to sign the offer sheet. Whether it was Urlacher’s pride, or that he believed his career as a Bear should have earned him more money and one more year on a contract, I respected his decision to move on with his career. With that being said, I still felt a little uneasy about the thought of Urlacher putting on another NFL jersey, especially the rumored division rival Minnesota Vikings. So, whether it is selfish or not, I am glad to hear that Urlacher has decided to retire, rather than play for another team.
With Urlacher’s retirement meaning that he will end his career by playing for only one team, he has now accomplished something quite rare these days. With free-agency allowing many star players to switch teams often in their careers, or former star players refusing to call it quits, playing for one team for an entire career has become a pre-historic thought. Joe Montana with Kansas City Chiefs, Brett Favre with the New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings, Jerry Rice with the Oakland Raiders and Seattle Seahawks, and now Peyton Manning with the Denver Broncos are just a few examples of Hall of Fame caliber players finishing their careers in different cities. While none of those players have had their career images tarnished or diminished by playing for a different team, it does remove them for a special class of players. There is something pure, traditional, and historic about an athlete playing for only one team in his career. Barry Sanders retired a few years early in his career with the Detroit Lions, John Elway with the Denver Broncos, Dan Marino with the Miami Dolphins, Ray Lewis with the Baltimore Ravens, and now Urlacher will join that exclusive group. All of these players have made or will make it to the NFL Hall of Fame, but only the latter group will go into Canton wearing just one NFL hat.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
With Urlacher’s retirement meaning that he will end his career by playing for only one team, he has now accomplished something quite rare these days. With free-agency allowing many star players to switch teams often in their careers, or former star players refusing to call it quits, playing for one team for an entire career has become a pre-historic thought. Joe Montana with Kansas City Chiefs, Brett Favre with the New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings, Jerry Rice with the Oakland Raiders and Seattle Seahawks, and now Peyton Manning with the Denver Broncos are just a few examples of Hall of Fame caliber players finishing their careers in different cities. While none of those players have had their career images tarnished or diminished by playing for a different team, it does remove them for a special class of players. There is something pure, traditional, and historic about an athlete playing for only one team in his career. Barry Sanders retired a few years early in his career with the Detroit Lions, John Elway with the Denver Broncos, Dan Marino with the Miami Dolphins, Ray Lewis with the Baltimore Ravens, and now Urlacher will join that exclusive group. All of these players have made or will make it to the NFL Hall of Fame, but only the latter group will go into Canton wearing just one NFL hat.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
Friday, May 24, 2013
Are the White Sox Ready to Breakout?
The Chicago White Sox record currently sits at 21-24, and they are in fourth place (5 games back) in the American League Central Division. At three games under .500, the White Sox still have some work to do before they can think about contending for a playoff spot. But, there is hope. While the Sox have gotten off to a slow start through the first 45 games, the next 32 games should present plenty of opportunities to add to the win column. Here’s a look at the next 32 games on the White Sox schedule:
May 24-26: 3 games vs. Miami Marlins (13-34)
May 27-28: 2 games vs. Chicago Cubs (18-28)
May 29-30: 2 games at Chicago Cubs (18-28)
May 31-June 2: 3 games at Oakland Athletics (25-23)
June 3-5: 3 games at Seattle Mariners (20-27)
June 6-9: 4 games vs. Oakland Athletics (25-23)
June 10-12: 3 games vs. Toronto Blue Jays (20-27)
June 14-17: 4 games at Houston Astros (14-33)
June 18-20: 3 games at Minnesota Twins (18-26)
June 21-23: 3 games at Kansas City Royals (21-23)
June 25-26: 2 games vs. New York Mets (17-27)
If you have been following along, the White Sox will be facing an opponent with a current losing record in nine of the next eleven series (25 of 32 games). The only team with a winning record that they will face is the Oakland A’s, which will be twice. In all, the combined winning percentage of White Sox opponents during this stretch sits at a dismal .401%. So, there is certainly a chance for the White Sox to make up some ground on the rest of the teams in the division, as well as the American League. Whether or not that will happen remains to be seen.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
May 24-26: 3 games vs. Miami Marlins (13-34)
May 27-28: 2 games vs. Chicago Cubs (18-28)
May 29-30: 2 games at Chicago Cubs (18-28)
May 31-June 2: 3 games at Oakland Athletics (25-23)
June 3-5: 3 games at Seattle Mariners (20-27)
June 6-9: 4 games vs. Oakland Athletics (25-23)
June 10-12: 3 games vs. Toronto Blue Jays (20-27)
June 14-17: 4 games at Houston Astros (14-33)
June 18-20: 3 games at Minnesota Twins (18-26)
June 21-23: 3 games at Kansas City Royals (21-23)
June 25-26: 2 games vs. New York Mets (17-27)
If you have been following along, the White Sox will be facing an opponent with a current losing record in nine of the next eleven series (25 of 32 games). The only team with a winning record that they will face is the Oakland A’s, which will be twice. In all, the combined winning percentage of White Sox opponents during this stretch sits at a dismal .401%. So, there is certainly a chance for the White Sox to make up some ground on the rest of the teams in the division, as well as the American League. Whether or not that will happen remains to be seen.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
Beckham's Return Will be Welcomed
Gordon Beckham is currently on a rehab assignment in Triple-A, and he could return this weekend. Beckham has been out since April 10th after fracturing the hamate bone in his left wrist. Beckham suffered the injury while swinging the bat in a game versus the Washington Nationals. After undergoing surgery to remove the fractured bone, he was given a recovery time of 6-8 weeks.
Prior to the injury, Beckham was off to a nice start early in the year by going 6-for-19 with a RBI in seven games. During his current five game rehab stint, Beckham has 7 hits in 22 at-bats with two RBI. Hopefully, Beckham will continue to hit when he is most likely activated from the disabled list this weekend because the Sox are still in a desperate need of some offense. Beckham will likely hit 8th or 9th in the batting order upon returning, but with a couple solid weeks of hitting, he may find himself hitting 2nd in the lineup. The White Sox currently don’t have an ideal two-hole hitter with Jeff Keppinger’s horrid start to the season, so the need is there. Alexei Ramirez has been hitting second recently, but everyone knows that his free-swinging approach and low on-base skills profiles more as a 6th or 7th hitter. In addition to the potential offensive production, Beckham will immediately provide an upgrade defensively at second base. The White Sox have struggled defensively this season, so it will be nice to have another reliable fielder up the middle.
With Beckham returning to his spot as the team’s starting second baseman, the White Sox will have an interesting decision to make. While Beckham has been out, Keppinger has received the majority of the starts at second base with Conor Gillaspie manning the hot-corner. When Beckham returns, the Sox can opt to go with Gillaspie, Keppinger, or a platoon at third base. Gillaspie has been the better hitter of the two, batting .276 with three home runs and 8 RBI. As mentioned, Keppinger has been terrible this season with a .204 average, one home run and 12 RBI. Neither player provides the power and run production that a team would want from a corner infielder, but the Sox don’t have any other options.
If the Sox choose to stick with Gillaspie, then they will be playing a utility bench player $3.5 million and potentially $12 million over the next three seasons. Obviously, the Sox hope Keppinger will start to hit (and he should), but right now they have to play the hot hand with Gillaspie. In my opinion, the Sox will probably opt to go with a platoon for the time being. The left-handed hitting Gillaspie will likely see the bulk of the starts versus right-handed pitchers, and the right-handed hitting Keppinger will start versus southpaws. That may be the best decision right now, and it could be a way to maximize both players’ value.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
Prior to the injury, Beckham was off to a nice start early in the year by going 6-for-19 with a RBI in seven games. During his current five game rehab stint, Beckham has 7 hits in 22 at-bats with two RBI. Hopefully, Beckham will continue to hit when he is most likely activated from the disabled list this weekend because the Sox are still in a desperate need of some offense. Beckham will likely hit 8th or 9th in the batting order upon returning, but with a couple solid weeks of hitting, he may find himself hitting 2nd in the lineup. The White Sox currently don’t have an ideal two-hole hitter with Jeff Keppinger’s horrid start to the season, so the need is there. Alexei Ramirez has been hitting second recently, but everyone knows that his free-swinging approach and low on-base skills profiles more as a 6th or 7th hitter. In addition to the potential offensive production, Beckham will immediately provide an upgrade defensively at second base. The White Sox have struggled defensively this season, so it will be nice to have another reliable fielder up the middle.
With Beckham returning to his spot as the team’s starting second baseman, the White Sox will have an interesting decision to make. While Beckham has been out, Keppinger has received the majority of the starts at second base with Conor Gillaspie manning the hot-corner. When Beckham returns, the Sox can opt to go with Gillaspie, Keppinger, or a platoon at third base. Gillaspie has been the better hitter of the two, batting .276 with three home runs and 8 RBI. As mentioned, Keppinger has been terrible this season with a .204 average, one home run and 12 RBI. Neither player provides the power and run production that a team would want from a corner infielder, but the Sox don’t have any other options.
If the Sox choose to stick with Gillaspie, then they will be playing a utility bench player $3.5 million and potentially $12 million over the next three seasons. Obviously, the Sox hope Keppinger will start to hit (and he should), but right now they have to play the hot hand with Gillaspie. In my opinion, the Sox will probably opt to go with a platoon for the time being. The left-handed hitting Gillaspie will likely see the bulk of the starts versus right-handed pitchers, and the right-handed hitting Keppinger will start versus southpaws. That may be the best decision right now, and it could be a way to maximize both players’ value.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
Danks Set to Return
On Friday, left-handed starter John Danks will make his season debut for the White Sox versus the Miami Marlins. Danks has not pitched in the majors since May 19th of last season, and he underwent season-ending shoulder surgery on August 6th. Danks was attempting to come back from the injury this spring and start the year in the rotation, but his velocity was down following the surgery. After undergoing more throwing programs and rehab, the Sox and Danks believe that his velocity is where it needs to be for him to be effective.
Danks is coming off of a disappointing 2012 campaign where he struggled mightily prior to be injured. In nine starts Danks went 3-4 with a 5.70 ERA in 53.2 innings pitched, and he carried an uncharacteristically low 1.30 (30K/23BB) strikeout to walk ratio. Danks has never been considered either a “strikeout pitcher” or “control artist”, but his numbers last year were significantly lower than his career averages. Danks owns a respectable career 2.30 strikeout to walk ratio; averaging 6.9 strikeouts and 3.0 walks per nine innings. Last year’s 5.0 K/9 and 3.9 BB/ suggests that Danks’ performance may have suffered from trying to pitch through the injury.
In four minor league rehab starts, Danks has posted a 2-0 record with a 3.18 ERA in 22.2 innings pitched. Unfortunately, Danks appears to still be having issues with his control by issuing 13 walks and recording only 15 strikeouts. Those numbers resemble the walk and strikeout rates that plagued Danks last season, so hopefully he will regain his prior form very soon. We will get our first chance to see that tonight.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
Danks is coming off of a disappointing 2012 campaign where he struggled mightily prior to be injured. In nine starts Danks went 3-4 with a 5.70 ERA in 53.2 innings pitched, and he carried an uncharacteristically low 1.30 (30K/23BB) strikeout to walk ratio. Danks has never been considered either a “strikeout pitcher” or “control artist”, but his numbers last year were significantly lower than his career averages. Danks owns a respectable career 2.30 strikeout to walk ratio; averaging 6.9 strikeouts and 3.0 walks per nine innings. Last year’s 5.0 K/9 and 3.9 BB/ suggests that Danks’ performance may have suffered from trying to pitch through the injury.
In four minor league rehab starts, Danks has posted a 2-0 record with a 3.18 ERA in 22.2 innings pitched. Unfortunately, Danks appears to still be having issues with his control by issuing 13 walks and recording only 15 strikeouts. Those numbers resemble the walk and strikeout rates that plagued Danks last season, so hopefully he will regain his prior form very soon. We will get our first chance to see that tonight.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Pitchers Need More Protection
In light of J.A. Happ’s recent head injury from a line drive off the bat of Desmond Jennings, it is time for a change. I’m not just overreacting to one isolated incident because head injuries for pitchers are becoming more common. Last year, it was Brandon McCarthy (like Happ, a fractured skull). In 2011, it was Juan Nicasio (fractured C-1 vertebrae). In 2008, Chris Young (another fractured skull). Unfortunately, these have not been the only head injuries suffered by pitchers. I understand that injuries are a part of the game, and that pitchers know the inherent risks when they take the mound, but these injuries may be preventable to some degree. With new technology and innovations in materials, padding, and protective headgear, Major League Baseball needs to act now, before it is too late.
Over the past few years, MLB officials have been experimenting with new ideas in hopes of coming up with a solution. Now, unless MLB ever decided to put up the cage in front of the mound like teams do in batting practice, head injuries will never be eliminated. Since I don’t think that ever will or should happen, pitchers will always be at risk of getting drilled by a line drive. Because of that, MLB has been testing products designed to significantly reduce the amount of impact a batted ball makes on a human head.
One of which is a padded liner for baseball hats that is made out of Kevlar. Kevlar is a synthetic fiber that is used in a variety of items such as racing tires, motorcycle safety gear, bulletproof vest, and other military grade armor. At first, one may think that the padding would be heavy or obtrusive to a pitcher, much like a batting helmet. However, Kevlar is a light-weight material and when fitted inside a baseball cap, it would only weigh about five ounces. So, how does it help prevent damage done by a 100+ MPH baseball? When a batted ball strikes Kevlar the material absorbs the force and impact of the object and distributes it evenly throughout the head, thus greatly reducing the damage done to the point of impact. Think of it being like a bulletproof vest. When a person gets shot while wearing a bulletproof vest, they still feel an impact, but it is greatly reduced. So, head injuries like a bruise or minor concussion may still occur, but that is a lot better than fracture skulls and excessive bleeding.
Head injuries will always be a part of the game for pitchers, but they don’t have to be as significant and dangerous. MLB owes it to their players to use any technology that it can to help prevent such traumatic injuries. Hopefully, MLB will find a product that they feel comfortable with to implement in the near future. It would be a real shame to see another one of these injuries or possibly even a death occur knowing that something can be done.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
Over the past few years, MLB officials have been experimenting with new ideas in hopes of coming up with a solution. Now, unless MLB ever decided to put up the cage in front of the mound like teams do in batting practice, head injuries will never be eliminated. Since I don’t think that ever will or should happen, pitchers will always be at risk of getting drilled by a line drive. Because of that, MLB has been testing products designed to significantly reduce the amount of impact a batted ball makes on a human head.
One of which is a padded liner for baseball hats that is made out of Kevlar. Kevlar is a synthetic fiber that is used in a variety of items such as racing tires, motorcycle safety gear, bulletproof vest, and other military grade armor. At first, one may think that the padding would be heavy or obtrusive to a pitcher, much like a batting helmet. However, Kevlar is a light-weight material and when fitted inside a baseball cap, it would only weigh about five ounces. So, how does it help prevent damage done by a 100+ MPH baseball? When a batted ball strikes Kevlar the material absorbs the force and impact of the object and distributes it evenly throughout the head, thus greatly reducing the damage done to the point of impact. Think of it being like a bulletproof vest. When a person gets shot while wearing a bulletproof vest, they still feel an impact, but it is greatly reduced. So, head injuries like a bruise or minor concussion may still occur, but that is a lot better than fracture skulls and excessive bleeding.
Head injuries will always be a part of the game for pitchers, but they don’t have to be as significant and dangerous. MLB owes it to their players to use any technology that it can to help prevent such traumatic injuries. Hopefully, MLB will find a product that they feel comfortable with to implement in the near future. It would be a real shame to see another one of these injuries or possibly even a death occur knowing that something can be done.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
Monday, May 6, 2013
Gavin Floyd to Undergo Tommy John
On Monday, Gavin Floyd’s 2013 season came to a disappointing end. After being injured following a pitch on April 27th, Floyd has received three opinions on his right elbow. The reports have indicated a tear in the ulnar collateral ligament along with a torn flexor muscle in his right arm. Floyd will undergo Tommy John Surgery and have his flexor muscle repaired. He is expected to be out for 14 to 19 months, thus ending his season and likely his White Sox career.
For Floyd, the timing of the injury couldn’t be any worse. Floyd is set to become a free-agent following the 2013 season, and he was hoping to earn a multi-year deal this winter. Now that his 2013 season is over, and most of his 2014 season is in jeopardy, Floyd will no longer be a hot commodity this offseason. At age 30, Floyd’s career is not over, but he may have lost his last chance to sign a three or four-year deal. Assuming Floyd recovers in 14 to 19 months, he will likely sign an incentive-laden one-year contract when he is ready to pitch. If all goes well, Floyd may be able to return around the all-star break in 2014, but realistically he won’t be able to make an impact until 2015.
For the White Sox, losing a reliable starting pitcher like Floyd is never good, but they may have the depth to withstand the blow for this season and in the future. Assuming John Danks can return in a couple weeks, the White Sox will have what they believe are six major-league starters. Chris Sale, Jake Peavy, John Danks, and Jose Quintana would seem to have the first four spots locked down. When Danks returns, manager Robin Ventura may have a decision to make between Dylan Axelrod and Hector Santiago for the fifth starters’ spot, but that is a good problem to have. Either way, the Sox should have five starters that they feel confident sending out there every day. Since Floyd was set to be a free-agent after this season, the Sox were unlikely to re-sign him with Sale, Peavy, and Danks all under high-priced contracts. In addition, Axelrod and Santiago appear capable of starting, so spending money on a free-agent pitcher would not be wise. With that being said, it is still a shame that Floyd’s season and potentially career with the White Sox is over. Hopefully, the Sox will be able to overcome the loss, and Floyd will find his way back into a major-league starting rotation in 2015.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
For Floyd, the timing of the injury couldn’t be any worse. Floyd is set to become a free-agent following the 2013 season, and he was hoping to earn a multi-year deal this winter. Now that his 2013 season is over, and most of his 2014 season is in jeopardy, Floyd will no longer be a hot commodity this offseason. At age 30, Floyd’s career is not over, but he may have lost his last chance to sign a three or four-year deal. Assuming Floyd recovers in 14 to 19 months, he will likely sign an incentive-laden one-year contract when he is ready to pitch. If all goes well, Floyd may be able to return around the all-star break in 2014, but realistically he won’t be able to make an impact until 2015.
For the White Sox, losing a reliable starting pitcher like Floyd is never good, but they may have the depth to withstand the blow for this season and in the future. Assuming John Danks can return in a couple weeks, the White Sox will have what they believe are six major-league starters. Chris Sale, Jake Peavy, John Danks, and Jose Quintana would seem to have the first four spots locked down. When Danks returns, manager Robin Ventura may have a decision to make between Dylan Axelrod and Hector Santiago for the fifth starters’ spot, but that is a good problem to have. Either way, the Sox should have five starters that they feel confident sending out there every day. Since Floyd was set to be a free-agent after this season, the Sox were unlikely to re-sign him with Sale, Peavy, and Danks all under high-priced contracts. In addition, Axelrod and Santiago appear capable of starting, so spending money on a free-agent pitcher would not be wise. With that being said, it is still a shame that Floyd’s season and potentially career with the White Sox is over. Hopefully, the Sox will be able to overcome the loss, and Floyd will find his way back into a major-league starting rotation in 2015.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Injuries Give Santiago Another Shot to Start
White Sox pitcher Hector Santiago entered the 2012 season as the team’s closer, a very surprising decision at the time. After struggling to shut the door by blowing two saves in six opportunities, Santiago was removed from the closer’s role as April ended. For most of May and June, Santiago was used primarily as a set-up man and middle reliever. Having not pitched more than 2.2 innings in an appearance for the first three months of the season, Santiago saw his role shifted once again to more of a long-relief pitcher. During July and August, Santiago pitched at least three innings in five of his eleven appearances, thus showing the White Sox that he had the stamina to possibly be a starter. In September, Santiago got his first shot to start, and the lefty made four starts in the final month of the season. Since his arm was not fully stretched-out for his first few starts, Santiago was only able to pitch 12.1 innings in his first three starts. Obviously, that is not the type of production the White Sox would want from a starter, but Santiago did have to build up his pitch count in order to go deeper in games. On October 1st, Santiago made his final start of the season, and he showed the White Sox what he is capable of doing over the course of a game. That day, Santiago pitched seven scoreless innings, giving up just one hit, one walk, and striking out 10 Cleveland hitters. That performance highlighted Santiago’s short “audition” as a starter, where he compiled 26 strikeouts in just 19.1 innings pitched. Santiago ended the stretch with a 2-0 record and a 1.86 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP, showing the White Sox that he is fully capable of being a starter in the future.
Heading into spring training in 2013, the White Sox were still hoping to have a healthy John Danks join Chris Sale, Jake Peavy, and Gavin Floyd as the team’s first four hurlers. Many people, including myself, believed that Santiago should have a shot to compete for the fifth starter’s spot with Jose Quintana. Here’s an excerpt from a blog that I wrote in February:
“Peavy, Sale, Danks, and Floyd should lead the White Sox starting rotation, but a fifth member is needed to round out the staff. Last year, lefty Jose Quintana came out of nowhere to secure a starting rotation spot throughout most of last season. Quintana pitched extremely well over his first two months of action, but leveled off in the 2nd half of the season. Considering he was claimed off waivers from the New York Yankees, I would expect Quintana to be closer to the average pitcher we saw late in 2012, as opposed to the all-star caliber starter we saw early. Either way, Quintana still can be effective enough to be a fifth starter in the American League. In 2012, lefty Hector Santiago was a closer, set-up man, long reliever, and a starter. This season, Santiago will have a chance to win the fifth starter’s spot. Santiago made a few starts down the stretch in 2012, and was able to strike out 26 batters in 19.1 innings as a starter. Santiago throws a little harder than Quintana, and in my opinion he also has better off-speed pitches. With Santiago’s ability to throw in the low to mid 90s, an above average change-up, and a nasty screwball (that acts as a right-handed pitchers’ slider), he appears to be better suited to put away hitters from both sides of the plate than Quintana. It will be interesting to see how both southpaws perform in the spring, and who ends up winning the job.”
After the first month of the season, it appears that sticking with Quintana was a wise choice. I was worried about his 5.01 ERA in 79 innings after the all-star break, but so far Quintana is proving his doubters wrong. With a 2-0 record, 3.58 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and a 22:7 K:BB ratio, Quintana seems to be on his way to having a fine season. If this pace continues, I will be the first to admit I was wrong about Quintana.
As spring training progressed, it became more apparent that John Danks would not be able to join the White Sox rotation to begin the year. The obvious choice to fill-in for Danks was Santiago, but Dylan Axelrod’s strong spring gave him a chance instead. With Danks’ status uncertain, manager Robin Ventura may have opted for Axelrod to keep the rest of his pitching staff’s roles more permanent. Instead of having Santiago begin the season as a starter and shift back to the bullpen once Danks returned, Ventura likely went with Axelrod to keep Santiago’s role the same. That way, when Danks was ready to return, the White Sox could simply send Axelrod to the minors. In essence, the Sox would only be changing the role and status of one pitcher, as opposed to two. Once again, with how Axelrod has performed, I can’t complain with the decision. While Axelrod is still winless on the year, his 3.60 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 35 innings indicate that he has been a quality starter more times than not.
Regardless of the success of Quintana and Axelrod, Santiago was still passed up to be a starter twice. But, due to another injury to the starting rotation, the third time may prove to be the charm. With Gavin Floyd out indefinitely, and Tommy John Surgery very likely, Santiago has found himself in the rotation alongside of Quintana and Axelrod for the time being. Santiago’s first start was a successful one, pitching 5.1 innings of one-run ball versus the hard-hitting Texas Rangers. He allowed only four batters to reach base, and struck out six to pick up the victory. Danks is currently on a rehab stint and may be back in the rotation in a couple weeks, so Santiago’s opportunity could be short-lived once again. The White Sox could choose to insert Danks in Floyd’s spot and keep Axelrod in the rotation. However, Santiago still has a chance to make an impression and leave Robin Ventura with a difficult decision. Given his skills and success as a starter early his career, I fully expect Santiago to force Ventura’s hand to leave him in the starting rotation for good.
Either way, Santiago has already proven to be a valuable member of the White Sox pitching staff with his versatility and overall effectiveness.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
Heading into spring training in 2013, the White Sox were still hoping to have a healthy John Danks join Chris Sale, Jake Peavy, and Gavin Floyd as the team’s first four hurlers. Many people, including myself, believed that Santiago should have a shot to compete for the fifth starter’s spot with Jose Quintana. Here’s an excerpt from a blog that I wrote in February:
“Peavy, Sale, Danks, and Floyd should lead the White Sox starting rotation, but a fifth member is needed to round out the staff. Last year, lefty Jose Quintana came out of nowhere to secure a starting rotation spot throughout most of last season. Quintana pitched extremely well over his first two months of action, but leveled off in the 2nd half of the season. Considering he was claimed off waivers from the New York Yankees, I would expect Quintana to be closer to the average pitcher we saw late in 2012, as opposed to the all-star caliber starter we saw early. Either way, Quintana still can be effective enough to be a fifth starter in the American League. In 2012, lefty Hector Santiago was a closer, set-up man, long reliever, and a starter. This season, Santiago will have a chance to win the fifth starter’s spot. Santiago made a few starts down the stretch in 2012, and was able to strike out 26 batters in 19.1 innings as a starter. Santiago throws a little harder than Quintana, and in my opinion he also has better off-speed pitches. With Santiago’s ability to throw in the low to mid 90s, an above average change-up, and a nasty screwball (that acts as a right-handed pitchers’ slider), he appears to be better suited to put away hitters from both sides of the plate than Quintana. It will be interesting to see how both southpaws perform in the spring, and who ends up winning the job.”
After the first month of the season, it appears that sticking with Quintana was a wise choice. I was worried about his 5.01 ERA in 79 innings after the all-star break, but so far Quintana is proving his doubters wrong. With a 2-0 record, 3.58 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and a 22:7 K:BB ratio, Quintana seems to be on his way to having a fine season. If this pace continues, I will be the first to admit I was wrong about Quintana.
As spring training progressed, it became more apparent that John Danks would not be able to join the White Sox rotation to begin the year. The obvious choice to fill-in for Danks was Santiago, but Dylan Axelrod’s strong spring gave him a chance instead. With Danks’ status uncertain, manager Robin Ventura may have opted for Axelrod to keep the rest of his pitching staff’s roles more permanent. Instead of having Santiago begin the season as a starter and shift back to the bullpen once Danks returned, Ventura likely went with Axelrod to keep Santiago’s role the same. That way, when Danks was ready to return, the White Sox could simply send Axelrod to the minors. In essence, the Sox would only be changing the role and status of one pitcher, as opposed to two. Once again, with how Axelrod has performed, I can’t complain with the decision. While Axelrod is still winless on the year, his 3.60 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 35 innings indicate that he has been a quality starter more times than not.
Regardless of the success of Quintana and Axelrod, Santiago was still passed up to be a starter twice. But, due to another injury to the starting rotation, the third time may prove to be the charm. With Gavin Floyd out indefinitely, and Tommy John Surgery very likely, Santiago has found himself in the rotation alongside of Quintana and Axelrod for the time being. Santiago’s first start was a successful one, pitching 5.1 innings of one-run ball versus the hard-hitting Texas Rangers. He allowed only four batters to reach base, and struck out six to pick up the victory. Danks is currently on a rehab stint and may be back in the rotation in a couple weeks, so Santiago’s opportunity could be short-lived once again. The White Sox could choose to insert Danks in Floyd’s spot and keep Axelrod in the rotation. However, Santiago still has a chance to make an impression and leave Robin Ventura with a difficult decision. Given his skills and success as a starter early his career, I fully expect Santiago to force Ventura’s hand to leave him in the starting rotation for good.
Either way, Santiago has already proven to be a valuable member of the White Sox pitching staff with his versatility and overall effectiveness.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
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