Turnbow poised to assume closer role

[645]

The Official Site of Milwaukee Brewers: News: Milwaukee Brewers News (http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071205&content_id=2318638&vkey=news_mil&fext=.jsp&c_id=mil)


NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Brewers manager Ned Yost is convinced that Derrick Turnbow can succeed in a return to the closer's role if two things happen:
Turnbow must cut down his walks.

And fans need to give him a break.

"I wish everybody would just leave the kid alone," Yost said on Wednesday at the Winter Meetings, where he gave an impassioned defense of the criticism that has been aimed at Turnbow.

Turnbow is the leading candidate to return in 2008 to the ninth-inning role he lost midway through the 2006 season to Francisco Cordero. In 2007, Cordero's only full season with the Brewers, he set a franchise saves record and then bolted via free agency to Cincinnati.

[brewcrew82]

It's all well and good to say that us fans need to give him a break, but they need to keep him on a short leash if he is the closer. They can't just give him the job and then keep trotting him out there after multiple rough outings and expect him to snap out of it eventually.

I, personally don't like the idea of having him as a closer. He was effective in 2005, I'll give him that but since them he has done little to instill confidence in his abilities to close out a tight game.
If this team is serious about contending they really need to replace Cordero with a PROVEN, reliable closer.

[645]

Yeah, I posted this for I know it would get some discussion and I don't mind for Turnbow is effective most of the time other then a few patches of games here and there.

I don't mind giving it too him under the understanding when he blows a few games in a row that he will be removed and that they will go back to him once he works though the issues.