Any inside scoop? Will Showalter give him one more chance? I think he is about to turn it around. I think these are like spring training struggles and the ST injury and WBC just have him a month behind schedule. Three up three down next time. Anyone agree?

If it's three up and three down, let him prove it in a mop up role. He's blown enough saves already. Otsuka and Alfonseca have pitched well, they can stand in for a week or two.

No scoop though. Showalter did say after the game there comes a point where you need to see results, and they're going to discuss it. When someone asked him about Alfonseca and Otsuka's closing experience, he said there's a reason why they aren't closing anymore. That doesn't sound like a ringing endorsement of the replacements.

I figure they let Coco get another shot. I think if he blows either of the next 2 save opportunities, I bet he's out of the closer role.

I wouldn't release C.J. Wilson. I would stop using him in tied-game situations and would also consider sending to OKC for a while.

C. J. Wilson has a lifetime ERA of 7.26, and Colby Lewis once had a winning season at 7.30, so the Rangers probably feel that Wilson can win for them yet.

Scenarios like this one make me appreciate Ozzie Guillen's management of the White Sox last year quite a lot. Guillen went through a whole string of closers last year, didn't agonize over it, just used them while they worked and found somebody else when they stopped working. All this drama about what it takes for Mr. X to be a closer as opposed to Mr. Y is goofy. If you can pitch a good seventh or eighth inning -- admittedly, a big "if" -- you can absolutely pitch a good ninth.

I tend to agree, BDC.

hmmm?

Even if some pitchers can’t handle the closer’s role, that wouldn’t apply to Alfonseca because he’s been one before.

otsuka handled the closers role in japan and in the wbc.

Coco: What the hell's going on out there?

i hurt my finger. i'll be back, soon.

otsuka handled the closers role in japan and in the wbc.

I though Ohtsuka pitched in Korea?

I though Ohtsuka pitched in Korea?

japanese league stats

otsuka handled the closers role in japan and in the wbc.

Yeah. He would be fine for the job as well. Either is a better candidate at this point in time than Cordero.

Otsuka's funky motion would make me never want to put him in a game with runners already on base - not sure if #1 setup men face more of those situations than closers, but I'd certainly think so. So maybe Otsuka would be the best candidate more because of what he can't do than what he can.

i heard otsuka was named the closer.

He was. Post up on Primer Newsblog and here.

Is Prof Hat formerly Spivey?

Yes.

WTF? Cordero used in a game trailing by one in the 8th inning? Someone needs to teach this jackass Showalter something about leverage situations.

Because if you think pulling him from the closer role to play him in close noncloser situations is going to make much of a difference, you can drown yourself in a toilet right now Showalter.