Without Tsao, closer role in flux again

[unremitting (unremitting)]

Without Tsao, closer role in flux again
Fuentes to see most save opportunities for Rockies
By Thomas Harding / MLB.com

DENVER -- One struggling month into the season, the Rockies' bullpen finds
 itself back where it started the season. Closer Chin-hui Tsao is back on the
 disabled list with shoulder soreness. Left-hander Brian Fuentes is filling
 in as closer, but manager Clint Hurdle would like to find a right-handed
 option. If you've heard that before, you have; this was the situation on
 Opening Day.

After making his 2005 debut on April 13, Tsao (1-0, 6.55 ERA) went 3-for-4 in
 his save chances. Other relieves had blown all eight save chances going into
 Friday night's game against the Diamondbacks at Coors Field. The nine total
 blown saves led the Majors and was a key reason Colorado entered the night
 with the National League's worst record at 9-23.

The closer job has been in flux since Jose Jimenez, the most successful closer
 in Rockies history, struggled in the role during the 2003 season. Tsao
 appeared to be as close as the Rockies could come to an answer until he
 experienced tightness in his last two appearances.

In his last outing, when he blew a save but got the decision in Colorado's
 6-5 victory over the Braves on Wednesday, Tsao's fastball velocity dipped
by about 10 mph. When Tsao cut short a throwing session and walked off the
field, worriedly stretching and shrugging the shoulder, the Rockies were left
 making other plans for the ninth.

"We just don't see how it makes any sense if there's any discomfort at this
 point in time to crank him up to throw again [on Saturday]," Hurdle said.
 "He'll stay on the strengthening program with the medication that he's going
 to be on, and hopefully this will get him through it."

Head trainer Keith Dugger said Tsao would be evaluated on Friday night by
the Rockies' medical staff. An MRI for further findings could be in Tsao's
 future.

Tsao had been one of the Rockies' top starting pitching prospects, but
 repeated health concerns -- starting with an elbow surgery in 2001 and
 continuing last season and this with repeated shoulder woes -- led Colorado
 to make him the closer, in hopes of getting the most out of him.

Health has been elusive for Tsao this season. He has hit 100 mph on some
 deliveries this season, but Hurdle has had to be careful with his workload
 and communicate with him about health issues the whole time.

"He has an intense desire to go out and fulfill his role," Hurdle said.
 "If you could see his face when he came in -- regardless of the language you
 speak, emotions are hard to mask."

Hurdle was intentionally vague about who the candidates are for the
 right-handed closer option, although he did rule out Byung-Hyun Kim.
 While it's true Kim pitched five strong innings in a spot start on Wednesday,
 Hurdle sees little sense in throwing him into the closer role until he
 demonstrates consistency.

An option sometime soon could be Scott Dohmann, who saw some ninth-inning
 work early this season but pitched himself into a demotion to Triple-A
 Colorado Springs. Possibly closer to being ready for ninth-inning work is
 onetime Tigers top pick Matt Anderson, who has been the closer for Colorado
 Springs.




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