Chicago White Sox: Who's Pitching the 9th?

The Chicago White Sox are in a similar position in regards to their bullpen situation as they were a year ago at this time. Who does new manager Robin Ventura call upon to secure the final three outs?

In 2011, Chicago signed right-handed setup man Jesse Crain and gave an extension to Matt Thornton. Thornton, a long-time pillar of the White Sox relief corps, was slated to close in the spring but faltered early and often in the first month.

Second-year hurler Sergio Santos was given the ball in the ninth starting in May and picked up 30 saves on the season. After signing him to a three-year contract, Kenny Williams traded the converted infielder to Toronto.

This puts Chicago back to square one.

To have any chance of competing in 2012, the White Sox need to have a solid option for Ventura to use throughout the season. Here are some potential candidates who may compete for the job.

Matt Thornton

After three rock-solid campaigns as the setup man, Thornton struggled in April when given the additional pressure of the ninth inning.

Despite being the primary closer in the early going, he didn't register his first save until May 11th. By the end of April, he was 0-2 with a 8.64 ERA and three blown saves.

From May 1st until the season's end, he posted a 2.45 ERA and had 20 holds, just one short of his 2010 total. Thornton is still an important part of the bullpen, though that may best be served in his role as setup man.

Jesse Crain

Crain was one free-agent signing who performed to expectations. The 29-year-old reliever posted a career-best ERA of 2.62 in 2011, winning eight games and providing consistency in the seventh and eighth innings.

Crain has quietly thrown his hat into the ring as far as a change in role is concerned.

"They know how I feel about getting an opportunity, but I can’t control that,’’ Crain said Wednesday in the Chicago Sun-Times. “I’m sure they have someone in mind they want that to go to. I’m going to work hard, let them make the decision and hopefully it’s the right one.”

Crain has just four saves in his eight-year major league career. On the other hand, maybe he picked up a trick or two from Joe Nathan, who was an elite closer in Minnesota while Crain was there.

Addison Reed

Reed, a 6'4" right-hander with a fastball-slider arsenal, struck out 12 batters in 7.1 innings after he was called up in September. If he throws well in spring training, he might get the call.

Reed has a 1.41 ERA through his minor league stops in 2011. The 2010 third-round pick started last season in Kannapolis (low Single-A ball) and finished it with the White Sox.

Could that meteoric rise continue with a spot at the end of Chicago's bullpen?

The Scoop from Coop

White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper appeared on the Mully and Hanley Show on WSCR-670 AM last month and weighed in with the following:

"

“Matt (Thornton) certainly is capable,” Cooper said. “I think you got Addison Reed as a kid that is going to work into it. You can’t name is him (yet.) Jesse Crain is a guy that’s more than capable. We’ll figure it out. Nobody last year was thinking it was going to be Santos. Things get worked out. I’m a believe that they’ll show you who needs to be in there at that time.”

"

In other words, we'll find out on Opening Day, and maybe even later.

To me, Crain is a safe bet to start the season in the ninth inning role. Thornton is less replaceable right now as a lefty setup man, especially with Chris Sale pegged as a starter in 2012.

Still, like Cooper says, it will likely sort itself out come April.