Coco Demoted

Texas Rangers closer Francisco Cordero lost his job, after blowing his fifth game of the season on Wedneday. While he didn't break the one-month record of seven held by Bruce Sutter, the Rangers had enough..

Rangers officials decided that Cordero should not close and instead RP Akinori Otsuka should take Coco's place. Cordero will continue to pitch, but will do so in earlier innings.

Rangers manager Buck Showalter had been reluctant to change Cordero's role because he doesn't want Cordero to think the Rangers have lost confidence in him. But Showalter has to balance that against the needs of the team, and it makes no sense for the Rangers to use a closer who is having problems closing.

"That's the challenge," Showalter said. "You're trying to satisfy a lot of things. The bottom line is winning baseball games, and [right now] we're challenged with it."

Date

Fri 04/28/06, 9:20 am EST

Source

• http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/sports/baseball/mlb/texas_rangers/14450569.htm

Comments

PeanMajor Leaguer

1312 days ago

Score 0

I demoted him on my fantasy team waaaaaaaay earlier

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Bball3345Draft Pick

1312 days ago

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There's been something wrong with Cordero since late last year. He's hurt and/or his velocity has dropped.

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PeanMajor Leaguer

1312 days ago

Score 0

I wish that came to Drunken Pean's mind during his baseball draft

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Anonymous Fanatic #1

1312 days ago

Score 0

I thought for a while that he was hurt, but I'm really starting to doubt it. His velocity hasn't dropped significantly. As with Brad Lidge, it's location that's the real problem. I hesitate to call it psychological, because I think that card is way overplayed, especially with closers. But he is definitely having troubles throwing the ball where he needs to.

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