Simply Put: It's Time To Go to JJ Putz

Franklin Gutierrez stepped to the plate, ripped a single to center, drove in two runs, and was then mobbed by his teammates.

For the second time in as many chances, Bobby Jenks had let a game slip into the hands of the opponent in a save situation.

With the blown save, Jenks bumped his ERA over five to 5.09 and his WHIP moved to 1.58, the highest amongst any regular closer in baseball. In save situations, Jenks has had only four 1-2-3 innings in 23 instances.

Now his manager's confidence in him is just too low to go on. Ozzie Guillen has finally decided to pull Jenks from his closer's role. The potential replacements: JJ Putz, Matt Thornton, and Sergio Santos.

So which man should The Wizard of Oz choose?

While Sergio Santos has been a nice story and a solid reliever for this team, I just don't think it is a wise idea to thrust him into the closer's role just yet. He may have the best stuff in the bullpen, and it may very well be in the plans for young Sergio to be the closer down the road, but I don't think it would be fair to expect him to step in and close in a pennant race.

Keep in mind that Santos was a longshot to make the squad in spring training, and just over a year ago, he was playing shortstop. It would not be fair to expect that much of him, and he has had some control issues as of late anyway.

Hopefully, Ozzie recognizes this and keeps Santos in his current role as the team's true right-handed middle man.

Matt Thornton is one of the best left-handed specialists in the game today. In fact, if you give me the choice of any reliever in baseball to face a left-handed batter, I would choose Thornton over anybody.

Since he has been lights out at this for three seasons now, I don't think it would be smart to change it up. What happens if Thornton tries to close and fails? Will it shoot down his confidence and make him less effective in his lefty-specialist role?

However, you can make the case that he deserves a crack at the job since he has proven he can get big outs. It is a tough call, and I would not mind seeing Thornton in to close when the majority of the hitters due up are left handed. All in all though, I would be reluctant to deem him the full-time closer.

Then there is JJ Putz.

JJ currently holds the franchise record for consecutive scoreless appearances (25), as the last time he allowed a run was on May 7th against the Toronto Blue Jays. Also, Putz already has a closer's pedigree, as he put up 36 and 40 saves in 2006 and 2007, respectively.

Since those years, he has had injury troubles and elbow surgery. However, it seems to me that he has found his touch again.

Given the above paragraph and the fact that he is simply the hot hand, I think Ozzie should give JJ Putz the first crack at the closer's job. Sometimes going with the hot hand is just the best option available.

For example, take a look at the 2005 Chicago White Sox. Shingo Takatsu began the season recording 10 saves for the Sox before he lost his touch. When Ozzie made the change, he decided to go to Dustin Hermanson, who at the time had not allowed a run all season. He rode Dustin's hot streak all the way to 34 saves. When Dustin lost it late in the year, he decided to go to another hot hand in Bobby Jenks.

As White Sox fans know, the rest of the 2005 season is history.

Hopefully, Bobby can rediscover himself in seventh or eight inning duty and can be a solid contributor down the stretch. For now however, JJ Putz should be the closer for the 2010 Chicago White Sox.