I agree thornton always seems to walk some one or give something up way to many losses His pitches have no movement

His pitches have no movement.

Hmm...didn't seem to make much of a difference in all of those dominant years. I'd say location is probably the issue, just like it has always been in his losses.

Hi, OG! You're going to find people giving you all kinds of meaningless stats that'll convince you that MT's the GREATEST!! Resist their advances. Knew they were done for when he came into the game. Wonder what the season would have been like if lefty Danks had been healthy all year, and lefty Thornton had been out. Probably more complete games or at least 8 innings pitched, whereby you wouldn't need a shaky 35 y.o. reliever to come in the game in the first place. The only way that they're not going to keep trotting him out there in close games is if he gets hurt. Could the same guy who socked Youkilis in the eye after his HR do a better job on MT, please?

Think that about sums it all up with MT.

Thornton = 8 losses......enough said.... but its Ventura that keeps bringing this guy in when the game is on the line. Whats he going to do, say no I can't, the game is on the line. I know Ventura is a rookie manager with no coaching experience, but thats unacceptable right now. I don't give a rats booty how much he is getting paid. Losing the division championship is a lot more costly to this team than the money they are paying Thornton. There are 6 other relief pitchers in the pen. You need one to come in when your getting blown out, use him then .

Agree with you 100%, but, trust me, I'm the only one who'll agree with you. The you-know-who's want to play players who are in the midst of slumps or other poor production, instead of going with those who are doing well. Thus, we have to put up with a player who'll strike out 250 or more times, or a RELIEVER who might lose 10 games. They are going to swarm around you like a gaggle of hornets, but maybe I can run some interference. Keep the truth a-comin'!- Charley

Post All-Star 2 3 7.15 17 9 9 2 0 2 0 7 .354

basically a 7.15 era 17 hits in 11 innings and they're hitting .354 against him

SO he is pitching batting practice and just does not know it.

Wonder what his era is for the eighth inning or later

Matt is basically useless. Left handed hitters have a higher batting average than do right handed hitters against him. He might be ok in mopup duty. He is an accident looking for a place to happen. I really would like to see him in a SCRUB uniform next year unless he develops an out pitch like a forkball.

GO SOX!!!

You and Ceb can have a very knowledgable discussion on this subject.

You are getting more amenable as the season goes on, far unlike most of the other stats boys and their wannabees. Thanks for the compliment!- Charley

so you believe they should continue to use Thornton in the same manner they have been? Its not just a recent thing with him. he has 8 losses. In case you don't realize what that means is he lost 8 games. Let me ask you this. Lets say he only loses 3 of those 8 games, whats our lead in the division? A comfortable 7 games? Really???/ 7 Games? Yep. By the way, he has pitched 48 plus innings. 8 losses with jiust 48 innings pitched. Looking at it from that perspective, he doesn't even blelong on the team.

If they had a bunch of good alternatives, he probably wouldn't have to be leading the league in appearances. This is something generally not addressed. If Thornton is out of the role of pitching a ton of important innings, who takes those innings? Jones is basically overused already, and Myers and Reed pitch in the majority of games that Thornton does.

I remember a few years ago when he came in, I'd say here comes Matt "F*ing" Thornton. Now when he comes in, I say here comes "F*ing" Matt Thornton. The placement of that adjective says it all in how he's declined in that period.

Please see NSE's reply. It should help explain. In addition, they try to use Thornton with lefties and Myers and Crain with righties. They can't pitch every day. If someone like Septimo has a run of success, things could change but I wouldn't call him Mr. Reliable just yet.

8 losses in 48 plus innings to me is just too much risk. So you keep on this path and keep giving away games you should have won? They knew there was a glaring hole there. Yet Williams did nothing to plug it. I don't know who to bring in, but its just too risky to keep Thornton in that role. Others here have said he is pitching batting practice out there. I have to agree. His location is terrible and he doesn't have the overpowering speed anymore. His breaking balls are flat, not biting.

I am not going to say that Thornton has been great. Eight losses are a lot but he is almost always put in when the Sox are tied or ahead so he will normally get a no decision or a loss.

Almost every contender would like to improve their bullpen but there is not much out there that you would replace Thornton. You can't just get rid of guys who have been outstanding performers when they have a bad stretch because normally the alternatives are not as good. Regardless what others on the message board are saying, it is unlikely that many of them are a real authority about pitchers.

hahahahahahahah! I love it!
Nice to see all of the same old arguments for the guy!

I think Ventura should click his cleats and say; he's not a closer, he's not a closer, he's not a closer.

BTW, even Steve Stone thinks his role should change based on the latest outing. You know that small sample size! LOL

when did anyone claim the guy was a closer?

9th reed
8th myers

7th crain/thornton

who else would you want taking his spot? jones? the overworked guy with a 1.47 whip?

Santiago when he's recalled today!

BTW, maybe Thornton's worked too many innings! Hmm.. just a thought.

santiago is now a starter.