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Fireballing lefty Matt Thornton is the highest ranking non-closer in Baseball Prospectus' opposition-adjusted win-expectation-based relief pitcher statistic WXRL. If that doesn't move you, his traditional stats should: 2.44 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 11.0 K/9, 4.2 K/BB. A former first-round draft pick and minor league starter, Thornton's wildness out of the Mariner pen led Seattle to trade him to the south side for Joe Borchard in March 2006, and he's been a Second City mainstay ever since. He had a breakout season at age 31 last year and has been even better this year, shaking the LOOGY role for proper setup work in early June. Since July 1, he's posted a 1.71 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and walked just four men in 21 innings for a staggering 6.5 K/BB.

5 months ago Ws05ring_tiny RWShow 86 comments 0 recs  | 

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Comments

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he has been good thats for sure.

I’m still not the biggest fan of his….. but he usually gets it done. Better than Liney at least

Kenwo4life=ratings

by KenWo4LiFe on Aug 21, 2009 9:57 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

he doesn't like Woody

more of a Buzz Lightyear fan

by Scotty Ballgame on Aug 21, 2009 3:22 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions   1 recs

for the record

I don’t find it strange or have a problem that you don’t particularly care for thornton. I’m pretty sure there were some players on the Sox at one time or another I didn’t really care for. Torres at this point inspires a whole lot of meh (plus a whole lot of let’s hope he does well) as did the likes of Everett and I’m sure some other players.

I was just curious if there was any particular reason, i suppose by your answer below its more just meh than it is anything he does that rubs you the wrong way

by jeeves on Aug 21, 2009 7:23 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

you really pick the wierdest folks to not be a fan of

Thorndog, Konerko and even Buerhle I believe.

"Oh well back to work"

by Tdogg on Aug 21, 2009 3:50 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

oh no i am ok with Buerhle for the most part.

Konerko is a bum. and i don’t have to be a fan of thornton…. he’s still a good pitcher just not one of “my guys”

Kenwo4life=ratings

by KenWo4LiFe on Aug 21, 2009 4:51 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Why wouldn't you be a fan of Easy Heat?

He’s got a cheap contract, cost us nothing to get him, one of the most reliable performers on the team, I see no reason to dislike the guy.

by Grinder in Training on Aug 21, 2009 3:50 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

he doesn't grunt and make goofy faces like Joba

Anybody who throws that hard should so more emotion

"Oh well back to work"

by Tdogg on Aug 21, 2009 3:57 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Racist.

(billyok or Trooper quote)

by homesickalien on Aug 21, 2009 4:10 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

haha

usually i am not a fan of the white guys i guess. I think it is all the love from the fans that they get over other players. I usually am a fan of the hispanic origin players. Ever since the days where I loved Ivan Calderon, Melido Perez and Skinny Sammy Sosa….

Kenwo4life=ratings

by KenWo4LiFe on Aug 21, 2009 4:53 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

rec'd

he was a solid ballplayer. He was pretty fast, had some pop and had Ice Cube hair. He also played a decent left field. I remember when he jumped on the ledge of the wall at Tiger Stadium and made what i believe is one of the fanciest catches of all time. (even though you don’t see it much- they actually showed it when MLB Network was about to start up)

Kenwo4life=ratings

by KenWo4LiFe on Aug 21, 2009 5:00 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

kenwo is 28 i think

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa... Time out Greenbay. Tell that fucking bullshit to the tourists

by onlysoxfaninboston on Aug 21, 2009 6:53 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

30 would be my estimate.

Cashing checks and having sex.

by MarketMaker on Aug 21, 2009 10:33 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

29 currently

30 in november. i expect a gift.

Kenwo4life=ratings

by KenWo4LiFe on Aug 21, 2009 11:53 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Are you registered on www.despair.com yet?

We’re a pack of a-holes. And my tradition of contributing absolutely nothing to this site... continues.

by winningugly on Aug 22, 2009 2:22 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

but i do like

Beckham, Garland, Gavin, AJ (sorta), Thome….. I don’t like Konerko because I think we should have won it in 2003 and he played like dog trash. I still think we should have kept Carlos Lee and traded Konerko for Pan in 2005. (I did shortly forgive him after his ALCS performance) but 2008 brought back all the bad feelings.

And i think that Rob Mackowiak and Brian Anderson continued to get pass after pass from a lot of sox fans because they were white players.

I don’t know why I am not a big fan of thornton. I just get an uneasy feeling when he comes in- and i really don’t know why because he has been really good.

Kenwo4life=ratings

by KenWo4LiFe on Aug 21, 2009 4:58 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

It does sometimes. Like if Kenny had

comped his entire salary after signing him to a 6 year 80 mil contract. Maybe Milwaukee would have given us pods then. Maybe.

by Pander on Aug 21, 2009 5:03 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

School cannot start soon enough.

We’re a pack of a-holes. And my tradition of contributing absolutely nothing to this site... continues.

by winningugly on Aug 21, 2009 6:43 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I was a big Calderon fan

he was absolutely part of what changed me from Brewers #1 to SOX #1. Nothing like gutsy play to back up all the gold chains, unlike for example a Kyle Farnsworth…

Best game I ever attended was the 163rd game last year.

by NorthSidePaulie on Aug 23, 2009 11:16 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

you know, there's this place called fangraphs

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa... Time out Greenbay. Tell that fucking bullshit to the tourists

by onlysoxfaninboston on Aug 21, 2009 10:29 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Was there more to that, or did you just discover it and wanted to pass the news along?

"I would literally vote for a horse if one were put on the ballot against Stroger."
"I would literally have sex with a horse before voting for Stroger."

by RWShow on Aug 21, 2009 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm waiting for someone to point out that Linebrink was supposed to be our set-up man

Worst. Contract. Ever.

The Chicago Bulls.....the more profitable Los Angeles Clippers.

by Ozzie Montana on Aug 21, 2009 10:50 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

friggin' replacement level reliever for 6 mil

we coulda had Uribe as a set up man.

THIS STORY ONLY ENDS ONE WAY

by colintj on Aug 21, 2009 4:11 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

have i ever mentioned how much i dislike that contract?

by larry on Aug 21, 2009 4:15 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

ugh i forgot about the no trade.

not that we’d be able to. fucking hell.

THIS STORY ONLY ENDS ONE WAY

by colintj on Aug 21, 2009 4:22 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

!@#$!#@

The Chicago Bulls.....the more profitable Los Angeles Clippers.

by Ozzie Montana on Aug 21, 2009 4:39 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

You think he would come back

and call an oops on that one? I know he sorta did in the posts , but yikes. It was obviously wrong then . . . and uber wrong now that we are 3/4 of the way through the season. AJ is having quite the year . . . the Sox will essentially be playing with house money on the last year of that deal.

"I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it."

by jc2313 on Aug 21, 2009 5:39 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Not sure.

Link?

We’re a pack of a-holes. And my tradition of contributing absolutely nothing to this site... continues.

by winningugly on Aug 21, 2009 6:43 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

okay I admit it

I wasnt over the top mad about it at the time. Boy was I WRONG.

"Oh well back to work"

by Tdogg on Aug 21, 2009 4:16 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Looks like a winning streak is about to start!

And I bet a lot of $ that there are a couple of nice e-mails in CHINA’s inbox from SBN when he returns…

;)

We’re a pack of a-holes. And my tradition of contributing absolutely nothing to this site... continues.

by winningugly on Aug 21, 2009 3:18 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

ah, the dinner menu

These events have me frightened and on the verge of evacuating my bowels.

by thatshortkid on Aug 21, 2009 3:57 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Can't see his crank.

Not afraid of him.

We’re a pack of a-holes. And my tradition of contributing absolutely nothing to this site... continues.

by winningugly on Aug 21, 2009 6:44 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Plus I just noticed is owner is wearing colored socks and sandals.

Tool. I can take him.

We’re a pack of a-holes. And my tradition of contributing absolutely nothing to this site... continues.

by winningugly on Aug 22, 2009 2:23 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'll take it any way I can get it. Thank you.

"I would literally vote for a horse if one were put on the ballot against Stroger."
"I would literally have sex with a horse before voting for Stroger."

by RWShow on Aug 21, 2009 3:54 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Fuckin a right!

(billyok or Trooper quote)

by homesickalien on Aug 21, 2009 3:02 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

So this bolsters the MVP argument.

Not.

We’re a pack of a-holes. And my tradition of contributing absolutely nothing to this site... continues.

by winningugly on Aug 21, 2009 3:11 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

"We're not Detroit!"

Oh, wait…

We’re a pack of a-holes. And my tradition of contributing absolutely nothing to this site... continues.

by winningugly on Aug 21, 2009 3:17 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

starter?

I wonder if they’d consider converting him back to a starter for ‘10. Maybe you don’t want to mess with a good thing, but a starter who can miss as many bats as Thornton probably has more value than an 8th inning guy.

Wasn’t there talk when he first arrived about converting him back?

by rhombusface on Aug 21, 2009 3:18 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

no thank you.

He’s fine right where he is.

"Oh well back to work"

by Tdogg on Aug 21, 2009 3:51 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

The only thing they'd do differently with him is make him a closer.

He’s not young.

"I would literally vote for a horse if one were put on the ballot against Stroger."
"I would literally have sex with a horse before voting for Stroger."

by RWShow on Aug 21, 2009 3:56 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm a big fan of Thornton. Hard throwing Lefty with great control who came over

after Seattle had given up on him and we turned a huge fail (borchard) into a huge win.

His delivery, his approach, everything about the guy is just cool.

by madvillian on Aug 21, 2009 3:24 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

boner jams

we are gonna skullfuck this guy - thecip

by BoeJouma on Aug 21, 2009 3:35 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I'm a tweener Matt Thorton fan.

I like him for one inning only, but as he has shown, he isnt as effective going more than 1 inning. I don’t get how people actually would want him to close games, when the only pitch he honestly throws is a fastball. Unless i see his slider start get more guys out, i only like him in 8th inning situations.

by No Pressure on Aug 21, 2009 3:40 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

whoosh?

Don't call it a comeback.

by Toonderstrook on Aug 21, 2009 6:36 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Large whoosh.

We’re a pack of a-holes. And my tradition of contributing absolutely nothing to this site... continues.

by winningugly on Aug 21, 2009 6:44 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

And turn the fucker green.

We’re a pack of a-holes. And my tradition of contributing absolutely nothing to this site... continues.

by winningugly on Aug 21, 2009 6:45 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

"I don’t get how people actually would want him to close games, when the only pitch he honestly throws is a fastball."

I don’t know maybe his high leverage line of

.225/.274/.270 HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT!

"Oh well back to work"

by Tdogg on Aug 21, 2009 3:54 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

u n' ur numberz.

Don't call it a comeback.

by Toonderstrook on Aug 21, 2009 3:56 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Its wierd

The only time he’s really had problems this year is when the score is 4 runs or more either way. Truly the anti Linebrink.

"Oh well back to work"

by Tdogg on Aug 21, 2009 4:05 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

i remember all too vividly one of the outliers.

i was at the airport bar enjoying the sox pummeling the cubs. then getz and liney showed up. and thorny got bitten by a super slumping soriano.

Don't call it a comeback.

by Toonderstrook on Aug 21, 2009 4:08 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

The Trop, 2008

10th inning walk-off. Outlier.

We’re a pack of a-holes. And my tradition of contributing absolutely nothing to this site... continues.

by winningugly on Aug 21, 2009 4:24 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions   0 recs

where'd you find that split?

THIS STORY ONLY ENDS ONE WAY

by colintj on Aug 21, 2009 4:12 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

b-ref

high leverage split

"Oh well back to work"

by Tdogg on Aug 21, 2009 4:13 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

You're right, he doesn't make things easy like Bobby Jenks

The Chicago Bulls.....the more profitable Los Angeles Clippers.

by Ozzie Montana on Aug 21, 2009 4:06 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I see what you did there.

"Baseball is like church. Many attend, few understand."

— Leo Durocher

by Chiburb on Aug 21, 2009 4:39 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Dotel has been quietly good lately also

Good August

"Oh well back to work"

by Tdogg on Aug 21, 2009 4:14 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

dotel has always been under appreciated IMO

The problem is that ideally to have a good bullpen you want one more high leverage guy than the Sox currently have. I was hoping Liney could be a 7th inning guy this year, but he sucks horribly and should never see high leverage unless Dotal/Jenks/Thornton are gassed or otherwise used.

One more good high leverage guy and this bullpen would be very good. Carrasco is probably one of the better front end guys of any team in the league.

Perhaps Pena will step up, but I haven’t been very impressed with him yet, he just seems to have mediocre stuff to me. I could be wrong though, we’ll see more next year

by madvillian on Aug 21, 2009 4:36 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I can think of more times he's helped than hurt the Sox

of course, being able to pitch more often would help, but hey, it’s not Detroit where Detroit=Linebrink

by Daniel Berlyn on Aug 21, 2009 4:46 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

He's hasn't even hit a batter yet this year

Ozzie needs to turn him loose next time we take one for the team. That’ll leave a mark.

by shumway on Aug 21, 2009 4:50 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

was just told that my mother is buying me a buerhle jersey for my birthday!

im thinkin ill get the black one, as i have a white konerko jersey already. fuckin awesome

we are gonna skullfuck this guy - thecip

by BoeJouma on Aug 21, 2009 6:05 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

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