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Jose Contreras Is (on his way to) History

When you can't get anyone out, you talk to the glove

More photos » by Nam Y Huh - AP

When you can't get anyone out, you talk to the glove

The White Sox have now lost their last 8 games started by Jose Contreras, a streak which started before the All-Star break last season with a 22-hit loss to the Matt Harrison-led Rangers.

It's the longest such streak since... the Sox lost 9 straight Contreras starts in '07.

But that streak probably doesn't count. Contreras was removed from the rotation in the middle of that streak and actually earned a victory pitching out of the bullpen in an extra innings game. So it's actually the longest streak for a guy who made only appearances in the rotation since '06 when the Sox lost a retrosheet-era team record 10 straight Javier Vazquez starts. But Vazquez pitched pretty well over those 10 starts, with an ERA of 4.22. He just happened to be the recipient of 1.8 runs of support over those games including a 1-0 complete game loss to Kason Gabbard and the Red Sox.

Contreras... hasn't.


The End of Jose Contreras

W-L G GS CG SHO SV BS IP H R ER HR BB K ERA WHIP
2009 0-5 6 6 0 0 0 0 29.2 40 30 27 4 16 17 8.19 1.89
Losing Streak 0-5 8 8 0 0 0 0 35.1 53 37 34 5 18 21 8.66 2.03

The beat writers have been asking about removing Contreras from the rotation since his third start of the season. Looking at those numbers above, with Contreras showing no signs of improvement, control that can only be described as deficient, no forkball and only an occasionally passable slider, there's not much argument for keeping him in the rotation. Ozzie Guillen agrees:

"We are going to start somebody elese (sic) against Cleveland. We've got give days to figure that out (who).

"Jose feels bad, disappointed like everybody else. It's not fair to the club -- or to him -- to keep sending him out there," Guillen said, indicating the team will make a decision in the coming days once everyone has had a chance to discuss what's best for Contreras. "He's not happy with himself. He feels like he let the team down.

"We need to figure out how to get him back on track."

But a quick look at the pitchers who would be called upon to replace him, and you can easily see why the Sox have given Contreras so much rope.

  • Personal favorite Jack Egbert hasn't even been able to get AAA hitters out this season.
  • Lance Broadway -- NO
  • Aaron Poreda might be the best option, but he's still learning how to throw off-speed pitches in Birmingham, which is a good reason to ignore his stats and trust the Sox scouts. He'll be up when they say he's ready, or when the Sox feel he can learn on the fly at the big league level.
  • Clayton Richard seems like the most likely candidate, as the only member of this list who was legitimately competing for a starting spot in spring training. But Ozzie only used him for an inning tonight and might not want to move him for fear of having on one lefty in the pen.
  • DJ Carrasco is a nice low-leverage swingman who might be able to give you a decent start in a doubleheader or suspension situation, but you don't want to turn to his two-pitch repertoire every 5 days.
  • Scott Gregor has floated the name Carlos Torres, who's a guy I've paid zero attention to over the years. He's having a nice season so far in Charlotte, but, but, just ask Larry. I'm not really qualified to lodge much of an opinion here.
  • Others have speculated that Wes Whisler could be a candidate, but he doesn't have the minor league track record to suggest his good start to the season is anything more than a fluke.

Is this the end of Jose Contreras in White Sox uniform?

It would be foolhardy to give up on Contreras with nobody banging on the door screaming Look at me! I can get major league hitters out. And he can easily fill the Lance Broadway role of pitching only in blowouts (or the 11th inning of a tie game with a well-rested Bobby Jenks eating candy in the bullpen). So Contreras isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

Personally, I feel bad for Contreras. He struggled with some nagging injuries last year that took a few MPH off his fastball. He took a little break, and when he finally came back and appeared to be throwing well he blew out his Achilles. So he worked his ass off in the off-season to get back into shape and beat everyone's expectations by legitimately making the opening day roster only to lay an egg in each of the season's first 6 starts and be removed from the rotation.

Maybe he pushed too hard to get back from the injury. Maybe he just needs to work every other day in the pen to get the feel for his forkball and remember how to throw a well-located fastball.

Maybe he's done for good.

0 recs  |  Comment 20 comments |

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my heart

really wants Pedro Martinez, because you know, it’s Pedro.

by shaftr on May 9, 2009 12:47 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

trade count, egbert, torres, whisler and lillibridge for peavy

suffice it to say, i am, in fact, intoxicated. but at the moment fuck it, we need a pitcher.

i suck - the sox dont - SSH2005

by BoeJouma on May 9, 2009 2:29 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

maybe ask for hairston in the trade too.

maybe

i suck - the sox dont - SSH2005

by BoeJouma on May 9, 2009 2:32 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Uhm, can we get Swisher back?

He’s a better pitcher than Marquez.

Whatever they do…please don’t let it be Poreda. Don’t ruin him….

"Jenks, who was never afraid to say "no" to a hamburger..."

by BobbySouthSide on May 9, 2009 7:42 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

i say stick with contreras.

he has a better chance at turning it around than any of these options have at becoming mediocre this season.

Kenwo4life=ratings

by KenWo4LiFe on May 9, 2009 8:02 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I gott $20

that says Jose will be a valuable member of the starting rotation by season’s end.

Put him in the pen for a month. Let him work things out.

"I am not going out like SSH. "
by WTGTD, 12/3/08

by ballyb on May 9, 2009 8:11 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I like where your head's at, ballyb.

I like to spell my racial slurs correctly. Otherwise, I may come across as ignorant.

by homesickalien on May 9, 2009 10:20 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

i think that's his heart.

White Sox Minor League Updates: http://twitter.com/SouthSidelarry

by larry on May 9, 2009 10:26 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I heart bally.

The old lion, he.

We’re a pack of a-holes.
by rhythm on Apr 14, 2009 1:45 PM EDT

by winningugly on May 9, 2009 10:40 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

:D

I like to spell my racial slurs correctly. Otherwise, I may come across as ignorant.

by homesickalien on May 9, 2009 10:44 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, maybe so. But baseball requires that too. And I'm liable to use mine in sad times such as these.

I like to spell my racial slurs correctly. Otherwise, I may come across as ignorant.

by homesickalien on May 9, 2009 10:43 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

clayton it is ...

Lupe, release the balloons!

by LT_sox_fan on May 9, 2009 12:08 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Back to the Past
A familiar face was at the top of the White Sox lineup for Saturday night’s game against Texas: Scott Podsednik.

Podsednik was one of the many heroes responsible for the 2005 World Series championship, setting the pace for the rest of the lineup by getting on base and bothering pitchers. Podsednik was signed after his release from Colorado last month.

Chris Getz, who was battling a recent slump despite a .301 average as leadoff man, went to No. 2 and Josh Field, who had been second was dropped to eighth.

After three days of rest to rediscover his offensive stroke, Alexei Ramirez was slated for ninth as lefty John Danks took the mound against the Rangers.

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2009/05/scott-podsednik-to-lead-off-for-white-sox.html

The greatest trick the White Sox ever pulled was convincing their fan base that "Ozzieball" ever existed.

by The Wizard on May 9, 2009 2:37 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

pods 8, getz4, q7, jd9, thome, pk3, aj2, fields5, alexei6. Danks pitching

White Sox Minor League Updates: http://twitter.com/SouthSidelarry

by larry on May 9, 2009 4:18 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

4/19/08: The Soft Toss

http://deadspin.com/5246495/41908-the-soft-toss

The greatest trick the White Sox ever pulled was convincing their fan base that "Ozzieball" ever existed.

by The Wizard on May 9, 2009 2:39 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

When Is

Ben Sheets back from surgery again?…

by PaulieK14 on May 9, 2009 4:08 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Stick a fork in him! Bring on the Joker...

Replacing "Chicago Tough" with "Cuban Pride"

by Brush Back on May 9, 2009 4:14 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Steve Miller?

We’re a pack of a-holes.
by rhythm on Apr 14, 2009 1:45 PM EDT

by winningugly on May 9, 2009 9:14 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

1984?

"I’ll take the old gray lady over the peanut gallery on some cow town blog."
MadVillian

by blackoutsox on May 9, 2009 11:16 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Contreras, and tired of people defending Vazquez

    Contreras is probably finished, and Coop and the Sox have spent too much time trying to “fix” him.
    Vazquez stats always looked better than he pitched. He was a master at giving up the two -out rbi single in a close game and losing it totally after that.

by craftylefthander on May 11, 2009 3:22 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

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