Closer David Robertson not that 'terrible,' White Sox GM says

GLENDALE, Ariz. — White Sox pitchers and catchers reported to spring training Friday. For closer David Robertson, the first order of business was putting last season behind him.“Last season is gone. I felt like last season I pitched terrible,” Robertson said. “I had a lot of horrible outings. I let some situations slide by and made some mental errors out there and threw some pitches that I should not have thrown and I cost us a lot of games. I look around and come in and see the starters’ faces when they have thrown eight innings and I blew it there in the ninth. I hope this year I’m on top of my game and get the job done for these guys.”Robertson ranked sixth with 34 saves among American League closers but his 83 percent save percentage nags at him. He met the Sox’ expectations, though, after he was signed to a $46 million, four-year contract last offseason. He pitched to a 3.41 ERA, struck out 12.9 batters per nine innings, posted a 1.17 WHIP and held hitters to a .219 average.“I appreciate the fact that Robbie holds himself to an elite standard and isn’t satisfied with his performance and probably by a larger extent the team’s performance [76-86] last year,” general manager Rick Hahn said Friday. “That said, in my opinion, he had a very solid season. Many of his peripheral numbers were very consistent with what he had done in the past. A few ill-timed late-game home runs that cost us here and there probably stand out in his mind, but that does happen over the course of the season. I respect the fact that he expects more of himself, and I think that’s a common thread throughout the clubhouse right now.”Robertson is the highest-paid piece of a bullpen that appears to have depth with right-handers Nate Jones, Zach Putnam, Jake Petricka, Matt Albers and lefties Dan Jennings and Zach Duke behind him. There are other pitchers in camp who can provide depth.“We were a pretty tough bullpen last year towards the end of the season,” Robertson said. “I think this year we are going to be a lot better. Obviously if everyone stays healthy and we start the season the right way and everyone pitches the way they are capable of, we are going to be a tough opponent.”