Zumaya is the closer, (was) now has changed!

Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Zumaya is the closer, for now
Health concerns are behind right-hander, but Rodney, Farnsworth still will have their chances.
Tom Gage / The Detroit News

CHICAGO -- It might last one game, it could last longer and, who knows, if he pitches well it could be permanent but Joel Zumaya was moved to the closer's role for the Tigers' game Tuesday night against the White Sox.

"If we have a lead in the ninth inning, that's who will pitch," manager Jim Leyland said, after finding out that Zumaya's recurring arm discomfort is no longer an issue.

"He's fine."

Zumaya might not be the Tigers' only closer, though. When asked if he would still use Fernando Rodney in the closer's role, Leyland replied: "Sometimes. It could also be (Kyle) Farnsworth."

At the head of the list for the opener of the White Sox series, however, was Zumaya.

Leyland spoke of making changes after Sunday's loss in Tampa, but his batting order on Tuesday night didn't disclose anything that could be construed as even remotely close to permanent.

Including Ryan Raburn in left field.

Raburn did, indeed, start in left against White Sox right-hander Gavin Floyd but that was because he went into the game 5-for-12 in his career against Floyd, and also because, as Leyland said, "I have to play him sometime."

So he went with the track record.

Raburn had had some success against Floyd, while the two other candidates for left, Marcus Thames and Matt Joyce, hadn't.

Thames was 0-for-3 against Floyd and Joyce was 0-for-2.

"He's hit him good, and he knows him from the minors," Leyland said of Raburn, "plus he needs to get in a game.

"That's my lineup. I'm not going to explain my lineup.

"What you see on the wall, write it down, and take it up to the booth."

Monthly honors

It was no surprise, based on his July stats (.330, eight home runs, 31 RBIs) that Miguel Cabrera was named American League player of the month.

"He should be," Leyland said of Cabrera being named.

"He'll be player of the month a few more times before his career is over. He'll probably be player of the year at some point."

The last Tiger to win player of the month honors was Magglio Ordonez last August.

Around the horn

Don't discount the possibility that Cabrera's home run at Tropicana Field on Sunday, the one that hit the catwalk, was hit so high and would have traveled so far had it not been rudely interrupted that it might have cleared the left-field roof at Tiger Stadium.

Yes or no, manager.

"It might have," Leyland said.

... Make no mistake, the Tigers are looking forward to getting home after this series .

They also are looking forward to that upcoming stretch of 20 home games in their next 26 games.

Leyland isn't about to declare it as the answer to the Tigers' problems.

"It'll be good to be home," he said, "but it's only an advantage if you play well.

"If you don't, it isn't."

... Sox manager Ozzie Guillen was suspended two games for his incendiary comments after Sunday's brawl with the Royals.

It might have been more, probably four games, if umpire Gary Cederstrom hadn't apologized for a wrong decision made by his crew about whether the Sox had thrown at K.C.'s Miguel Olivo on purpose.

Among what Guillen had to say in the wake of the brawl was a veiled threat: " Be ready.

"I signed a five-year deal with this club, and we're going to play Kansas City a lot."

... With both starting shortstops from there, Edgar Renteria of the Tigers and Orlando Cabrera of the White Sox, this is a big series for baseball fans in Colombia.

In fact, all three games are being televised there.

... According to Nielsen Media Research, the Tigers' primetime telecasts from March 31-July 31 have averaged an 8.0 rating (154,000 households), the highest rating in Detroit's designated market area.

WXYZ's (Channel 7) prime time programming at 5.6 during the same amount of time ranks second.

You can reach Tom Gage at tom.gage@detnews.com

Zumaya closer? This really worked today....

It is like no one wants to be closer


We need Todd Jones

who is gonna close now?

omg, this one tonight really hurt.....

for closer!

08/05/2008 8:38 PM ET
Tigers use trio to fill closer's role
Rodney, Zumaya and Farnsworth to split closing duties
By Jason Beck / MLB.com

CHICAGO -- Not only was Joel Zumaya available in the bullpen for the Tigers' series opener against the White Sox on Tuesday night, he was available for a save situation. On another night, manager Jim Leyland said Tuesday, Kyle Farnsworth could be available to close down a win.

Leyland didn't use the term "closer by committee," but his message was clear that he could work a trio of late-inning relievers into the closer's role. It really isn't much different than what he said on the topic last week, except that the recently-acquired Farnsworth is now added into the mix.

The ninth-inning save opportunities last week went to Fernando Rodney, who gave up a game-tying run Wednesday night at Cleveland before battling his command and walking in the winning run Sunday at Tampa Bay. He rebounded to toss three hitless innings with five strikeouts on Tuesday to keep the game tied.

Leyland said Rodney will still close on occasions.

"Sometimes," Leyland said.

Other times, he said, "It could also be Farnsworth, could be Zumaya."

Leyland had suggested last week that Zumaya could have some save opportunities depending on the situation, so that part wasn't new. How those chances will be divided depends in part on their availability. Zumaya's arm has been a worry for the past week or so, starting with tightness in his triceps last week before he felt discomfort higher up in his arm after pitching Friday. He was held back from pitching Saturday and Sunday as a result.

Even before the soreness, however, the Tigers have tried not to overextend Zumaya, who missed the first 2 1/2 months of the season following shoulder surgery last fall. Likewise, the Tigers can't afford to press Rodney, who was likewise out until June with shoulder issues that began in Spring Training and lingered into the season. That means workloads are being watched closely.

"We still have to get them through," Leyland said.

Zumaya has one save this season, that one coming June 30 at Minnesota. He took a one-run lead into the ninth inning July 19 at Baltimore following a scoreless eighth before a Ramon Hernandez solo homer tied the game.

Todd Jones, who was pulled out of the full-time closing role before going on the disabled list but was still available to close on occasion last week with shoulder tendinitis, owns 18 of the Tigers' 22 saves entering Tuesday. Freddy Dolsi has two, while Rodney and Zumaya have one each.

Farnsworth closed for the Tigers for a stretch in 2005, recording six saves before saving 10 more for the Braves following a Trade Deadline deal to Atlanta. He saved one game for the Yankees this season before returning to Detroit in last week's Ivan Rodriguez trade.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Zoom can't be trusted as a closer.

Rodney is iffy - he was great on 8/5 - and is sad he did not close.

Farnsworth is still mad about the trade and looks to be deliberately trying to lose!

Dolsi is iffy.

Jones is still the best bet, once he gets back, but has really pissed me off that he was injured, but would not let the team know. Can he be trusted anymore!

Seay is our best chance, but not considered by the smoking man!

This just makes me want Leyland gone, all the more!

I can thinkof ANOTHER Trio that might do just as well....

"Hello....Hello....Hello....!!" LOL (nyuk, nyuk)