GLENDALE, Ariz. -- That bullpen the Chicago White Sox rebuilt over the winter continues to leak oil, and Saturday’s 10-4 defeat to the Oakland Athletics was just the latest example.
The White Sox entered play Saturday with a 5.58 bullpen ERA that was not only second to last in the Cactus League, it was next to the bottom in all of baseball this spring. Only the Chicago Cubs’ 6.01 mark was worse.
Sore right arms to new closer (David Robertson) and their potential setup man (Jake Petricka) only partially explain what has gone wrong. While spring games can help to get unseasoned prospects some experience, it has been the guys with major league experience that are coughing up runs.
Right-handers Matt Albers and Maikel Cleto, both of whom looked headed for Opening Day roster spots, combined to give up eight runs Saturday. And they only recorded three outs between them. Cleto, who is out of minor league options, gave up six runs on four hits and two walks while retiring just one batter.
Cleto has an 11.74 ERA, and although the White Sox could risk losing his live arm if he doesn’t make the roster, it is starting to look like that is a chance they will have to take.
Petricka is only starting to play catch now, which is good news considering he had an MRI earlier in the week that came back negative for a serious injury. But with the start of the season barely over a week away, it’s starting to look unlikely that he will be able to start the season on time.
Robertson is scheduled to pitch in Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Indians, and more will be learned about his situation, including if he is able to pitch and how much. He has a 7.71 ERA over his five outings.
It’s a fine line when judging performances in spring training. Pitchers can end up with some inflated numbers when pitching to prepare for the season, rather than attacking hitters like they would in a regular game. There is also the warm dry air, and elevation of the desert, that tend to aid hitters.
But the poor group effort, like the one the White Sox’s bullpen has delivered, is too eyebrow-raising to dismiss.
The less direct manager Robin Ventura is on a subject, it usually means the more the situation is up in the air. And with the bullpen Saturday he was far from direct.
“With Robbie and Jake you want to see how they look, check their mannerisms and things like that,” Ventura said. “There are only so many guys we’ve got so I’m going to put somebody in there.”
If the White Sox are unable to get healthy quickly, they could be looking at bullpen issues early in the season. It’s the same situation they were in all of last season.
“Health is the first thing,” Ventura said when asked if there are any goals over the last week of spring training. “We need to get healthy first. And we want guys leaving here feeling ready to go.
“You always want to be sharp when you’re leaving here, you don’t want feel like you left anything here as far as touch, but we’ve done enough to do that. You want to leave here healthy, winning some games and guys feeling good about it.”