Welcome Home, Jay Frasor

I've been lobbying for years for the White Sox to pick up Jason Frasor and it's finally happened. The Sox traded for Jay and starter Zach Stewart from the Toronto Blue Jays and part with Edwin Jackson and Mark Teahen.

I'm one of the few White Sox fans who liked Teahen. He is a great guy and very funny, but he is overpaid for what he does and his style of play is very frustrating. Edwin Jackson is also a great guy and can go deep into games. The downside was a high pitch total and the potential for derailment at any time. The most annoying part is that they could have been so much more with a little consistency.

Alejandro De Aza was called up and is starting in center field today. This should help stabalize the outfield a little more. Teahen was a nightmare in the outfield and no picnic at the corner infield positions. This is definitely an upgrade.

Jason Frasor is a hard thrower, who knows how to get batters out. He should fit right in with what the ideal Sox bullpen should be.

Welcome to the White Sox, Jay! I'd say you'd love it here, but growing up in the south suburbs, you already know that.

Let's Compare: Jason Frasor

Are you a person that thinks that the current Topps monopoly is good for the hobby? Think again.

This is a picture of Jason Frasor's 2010 Topps card. It's a pretty nice shot of Jay in the middle of a pitch, in Oakland, on May 10, 2009.
I'm was psyched that Jay got into the 2010 Topps set somewhere, because Topps completely forgot him in 2008. Whoops!

Fast forward to 2011 and I become very excited to see Jay is in the 2011 Topps Series One set!

That is, until I see the picture Topps chose.
Look familiar?

Take a look at a side by side comparison.
It's not the same picture of Jay, but it looks like it was captured mere seconds later. You can tell it's the same game, on May 10, 2009, because the Cubs at the Brewers final score is still 4 to 2 in the Cubs favor and Jeff Suppan still started that game for the Brewers, Plus, Jay still has the same expression on his face. If it's not from the same pitch, it's definitely from the same game.

Like I mentioned before, this game was on May 10, 2009. Between that game and the end of the 2010 season, Jay has appeared in 117 games and pitched a total of 109.2 innings. Does anyone honestly believe that Topps couldn't find another picture of Jay in almost two years worth of games?

Yes, it is technically a different picture of Jay. That is the only saving grace though. This is just a hair better than what Topps routinely did the last time they had a monopoly on the hobby, when they would use the exact same picture year after year. Don't believe me? Check out the comparison of Sandy Alomar Sr.'s 1968 and 1969 cards.

Offseason Bullpen Relief

Bobby Jenks may or may not return next year. Matt Thornton may or may not be groomed for the closer role. The bullpen status for 2010 is currently up in the air.

Let's offer a solution. Regardless of how the Jenks and Thornton situations turn out, there needs to be a solid pickup or two for the bullpen. Might I suggest Jason Frasor?

Jason is currently with the Blue Jays. You know, the team that the White Sox liberated Alex Rios' contract from the payroll. I'm thinking that the Jays might be grateful to the Sox for picking up the albatross of a contract. Maybe they would be willing to part with Jason Frasor in a trade?

Frasor grew up in the Chicagoland area. He's got decent stuff. If the Sox part ways with Jenks, Jason could fill in the closer role or fill in Thornton's old role. If the Sox decide to keep Jenks, then he would slide into another hole in the bullpen. It's a win/win situation.

This could be the defining moment of young Frasor's career. It could be a nice homecoming for a local kid done good. Unlike Rob Mackowiak's return to the area, Jason has a defined role that is club ready. Think about it KW.