BOSTON -- Even before watching his team lose another game largely because of his middle relievers' inability to get key outs, manager Dave Trembley took responsibility for the team's bullpen problems and said he plans to tinker with some roles.
While Trembley said that no final decisions have been reached, he acknowledged that the club is considering pushing long reliever Rob Bell back to more of a setup role and calling up top prospect Garrett Olson to join the rotation. That would allow Trembley to use current No. 5 starter Brian Burres out of the bullpen.
He also said he is considering naming a full-time closer to replace injured Chris Ray, rather than relying on a closer-by-committee approach. Jamie Walker and Chad Bradford have been in the closer's role since Ray has been out, severely weakening the Orioles' middle relief.
"It seems like right now the inning that's the Achilles' heel is the seventh," Trembley said. "I've got to find a better way to get three outs in the seventh no matter who it is. If I can get three outs in the seventh, it will clear up some other questions."
Bell couldn't get those outs yesterday afternoon as he entered a tie game in the seventh and gave up four runs, though Trembley and catcher Paul Bako said that the veteran right-hander deserved a far better fate. A night earlier, Paul Shuey and John Parrish faced four batters in the seventh and couldn't get an out as the Orioles blew a 3-1 seventh-inning lead.
Trembley said that there were no immediate plans to make roster moves and that the changes would come from shifting roles. But it's possible that the latest bullpen implosion could prompt a more extensive overhaul and accelerate Jim Hoey's return to the majors.
However, Trembley said that he'd definitely like to get away from using Walker and Bradford to close games, which likely could lead to Danys Baez being named the full-time closer.
"I don't really like to keep going to Bradford and Walker," Trembley said. "That's not what their role is. They've done it, but I still think in the long run, it's going to catch up to you if you continue to do it."
Trembley said that Burres will definitely start tomorrow night against Tampa Bay, but a decision may be made shortly thereafter about his future in the rotation. Olson is 2-0 with a 0.43 ERA in three starts for Triple-A Norfolk since his demotion. Trembley said that Olson has the team's attention and if a move is made, it shouldn't be taken as a demotion for Burres.
