It was a disappointing weekend series for the Chicago White Sox as they were swept in New York by the Yankees. In two of the three games, the Yankees won both games with walk-off hits in the bottom of the ninth. White Sox manager Tony La Russa has been criticized for not utilizing closer Liam Hendriks to start the ninth inning of both losses. Unfortunately for La Russa, his bullpen is without a proven high-leverage reliever outside of Hendriks.
Sunday celly 🤩 pic.twitter.com/5lcPElvR4L
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 23, 2021
Every Good Team Needs A High Leverage Reliever Outside Of Their Closer
A high leverage reliever is arguably one of the most vital roles in all of baseball. The role is a relief pitcher capable of being deployed in any situation, whether it is to record save, come on in middle relief or be a bridge to a closer in the ninth inning. The high-leverage reliever can pitch to any batter regardless of matchup preferences and still be effective. St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Andrew Miller is a prime example of a high-leverage reliever, as Miller has shown over his career that he can handle any situation.
What makes these types of pitchers so vital to a successful baseball team is that they allow flexibility in the bullpen and allow a manager to avoid using his closer in non-save situations all the time. A major league team that has an effective closer and high-leverage reliever are more dominant because it creates a high level of uncertainty for opposing lineups. Furthermore, it allows other relievers to develop a specific role and be utilized only in those specific roles, unless the situation becomes the crucial point in a game.
A perfect example of a bullpen having both an effective high-leverage reliever and closer was the 2016 Cleveland Indians team that forced the Chicago Cubs to an extra-innings game 7 in the 2016 World Series. The Indians feature Miller as their high leverage relief with closer Cody Allen, who saved 32 games while posting an ERA of 2.51 in 67 appearances during the 2016 season. The current Cardinals reliever allowed manager Terry Francona to use Allen as the team’s closer while Miller was used in any high-leverage situation during the playoffs, whether in the fifth-inning or ninth-inning.
Andrew Miller, 2016 postseason: 46.8 K%
Cody Allen, 2016 postseason: 44.9 K%— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) October 31, 2016
The White Sox had a similar reliever combination in left-hander Aaron Bummer and closer Alex Colome for the 2019 and the partial 2020 season. Bummer was highly effective as the team’s high leverage reliever in 2019 as he struck out sixty batters and posted a 2.13 ERA in 57 appearances. This pairing enabled Colome to be used strictly as the team’s closer as he recorded 30 saves.
Aaron Bummer in 2019: 22 IP, 4 ER (1.59 ERA), 9.53 K/9. Pretty good. #WhiteSox
— Chris Emma (@CEmma670) June 19, 2019
La Russa Doesn’t Have That Reliever On The Team Currently
What makes La Russa’s job hard right now is that the team currently doesn’t have a reliever in that role right now. That is forcing many to want Hendriks to be deployed in several ninth-inning situations to help send the game into extra innings. Although the All-Star closer is the White Sox’s best reliever, he has struggled in several handling high-leverage situations. Whether it was Sunday’s loss against the Yankees, when he walked Aaron Judge on five pitches to walk in the winning run, or in Cincinnati where he allowed the game-winning run to score in the 10th, Hendriks has struggled in non-save situations this season.
After the 2019 season, many expected Bummer to be the White Sox’s high leverage reliever for several seasons, but he has been inconsistent this season. Despite having not allowed a run in the eighth inning against the Yankee’s on Sunday, he allowed three base-runners to reach, loading the bases for Hendriks. If Bummer could be more consistent, it would provide more flexibility for the team in late-inning situations.
White Sox lose to the Yankees, 5-4, completing a three-game sweep
Homers from José Abreu, Yasmani Grandal and Andrew Vaughn showed some offensive life, but Yankees load the bases on Aaron Bummer in his second inning of work, and Liam Hendriks walks home the winner
Sox are 26-19
— James Fegan (@JRFegan) May 23, 2021
Chicago is limited with potential options in their bullpen as other candidates are better utilized for middle relief or are still unproven. Michael Kopech has had a terrific season so far as both a reliever and spot starter. The White Sox appear hesitant to use him in that role as he may be needed as a starter if any of the starting rotation pitchers go down with injury or struggle significantly. Garrett Crochet is another viable option as he served in the role towards the end of last season and was Rick Renteria’s high leverage reliever in the playoffs against the Oakland A’s. Crochet struggled to start this season and has pitched better of late but still hasn’t proven to be an all-situational reliever yet.
Michael Kopech was sharp in his first start of the season for the @WhiteSox:
3 IP
1 R
1 H
1 BB
4 K pic.twitter.com/fw5vGn8YHy— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 18, 2021
The lack of a high-leverage pitcher may cause general manager Rick Hahn to focus on available top-tier relievers once the trade market heats up in June. Quality relievers are available every season once the trade market heats up and the White Sox have the prospects to trade away to land a quality high leverage reliever.
It wouldn't surprise me if the White Sox go 6-1 in this upcoming week against St. Louis and Baltimore.
I'd still think they need another LH bat and reliever before the trade deadline.
— Josh Nelson (@soxmachine_josh) May 23, 2021
La Russa’s management of the bullpen needs to be better moving forward, but it won’t matter if he doesn’t have more than one reliever to go to in high-leverage situations. It can’t be Hendriks, as if he is used in every high-leverage moment of a game, including non save situations. The White Sox potentially run the risk of wearing him out. All of this can be resolved if Chicago can either develop or trade for a high leverage reliever that allows the bullpen to be set and provide much-needed flexibility.
