CLOSE THE DOOR!

Today's loss made me absolutely sick! Sick! Just absolutely inexcusable. Yeah Rios gave the game away with a throw that would be worthy of a 9:15 PM Thursday Night softball game at Clarendon Park centerfielder, but the truth is, Rios should have never been in that position in the first place. Rios as well as his other teammates should know that a three run lead is safe when the closer is put in the ball game. That didn't happen today though did it?

It's decision time for Bobby Jenks. While I'm not ready to committ to Sergio Santos as the full time closer, I'm very confident Jenks is no longer able to be trusted as the closer of this team anymore especially when J.J. Putz or Matt Thornton are right there for you. Sorry guys, but this isn't 2005 and more importantly this isn't the 2005 version of Bobby Jenks.

The first thing that people must remember is that Jenks didn't start out as the closer of that team. That was Shingo Takatsu (remember him?). After that, it was Dustin Hermanson until his back gave out. THEN Jenks took over. So it's more than realistic for a team fighting for the postseason to change closers in the middle of the season.

The second thing people need to understand is that the 2005 version of Bobby Jenks had a fastball that routinely touched 98 MPH, and consistently threw his curveball and slider over for strikes. The 2010 version of Bobby strains to throw 96 MPH and when he hits 96, it's usually for ball one. He can't locate his curve and slider for strikes and when he does they are hangers which are appropriately killed. I don't want to hear about 20/22 save conversions being an acceptable ratio. Jenks is just not reliable anymore, and if he can be moved (which I don't think is possible) it should happen.

If not, he can sit right next to Scott Linebrink in the bullpen and take comfort in the fact that he won't be used in any significant games.