Bobby Jenks had tied together three consecutive three-up, three-down saves before blowing Thursday's opportunity.
My feelings are the same as they were before, which were the same as they were before. I don't really care who pitches the ninth inning as long as leads keep getting there.
Ozzie Guillen reacted differently this time:
"You know what?" Guillen said before a long pause. "Ask Bobby what he wants to do. I don't know. I don't say we've lost confidence, but when your closer gives up one run (that's acceptable).
"The last three times he blew the game, he gave up three or four runs. Right now, I don't know yet. Like I keep saying, when Bobby's the closer, our bullpen is better. But right now, I've got to wait and see what I'm going to do for next couple of days."
It's hard to find a common thread besides crappier pitches. His previous blown save had taken place on zero days' rest, but he was well rested in the debacle against Minnesota.
His fastball was slower against Detroit, clocking only 94.7 m.p.h., after he had average 97, 96 and 96 in his three successful saves. He also threw four different kinds of pitches against the Tigers.
But I like the theory evenyoudorn (great name) threw out there in the last discussion: Day games. Updating the numbers he gave:
- Day Jenks: 1-2, 9.18 ERA, 9/11 SV, .329/.402/.479
- Night Jenks: 0-1, 2.28 ERA, 14/15 SV, .218/.284/.287
Day Jenks also blew the save tagged to Sergio Santos against Minnesota, which should make him 9-for-12.
Usually there's nothing to day/night splits but small sample size issues, but given that Jenks is damn close to unknowable, it might make sense to try finding performance hints wherever they might exist.
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Minor league roundup:
- Jacksonville 3, Birmingham 2
- Charles Leesman was OK: 5 1/3 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K.
- Kyle Bellamy threw a scoreless inning, with a walk, hit and strikeout.
- Justin Greene hit his first Double-A homer, a solo shot.
- Christian Marrero went 1-for-4 with a strikeout.
- Great Falls 11, Missoula 1
- Ross Wilson went 2-for-4 with a walk and an RBI.
- Andy Wilkins singled, walked twice and struck out over six PAs.
- Charlotte vs. Toledo SUSPENDED
- Winston-Salem vs. Frederick PPD
- Kannapolis vs. Greensboro PPD
- Bristol vs. Johnson City PPD
