ARLINGTON, Texas _ The success of rookie relievers Evan Phillips and Cody Carroll on Friday night led to questions about the way manager Buck Showalter will fill the closer role over the final two months of the season.
"Right now, the challenge is being able to get to that situation," Showalter said. "It's like a step forward, a step back for a lot of guys _ some people I'd like to see in that situation. One, we've got to create that situation and sometimes you have to use some people you want to see in that situation to get to that situation."
Mychal Givens, who is the most experienced pitcher in the bullpen now that the club's top three short relievers have been traded, probably will get his share of the save opportunities in the near term. But Mike Wright Jr. and Tanner Scott have been mentioned over the past few weeks as possible closer candidates of the future.
"It's not something I'm going to announce and tell them and anoint them," Showalter said. "It's going to be kind of pick and choose, and we'll get enough looks at it to get a feel. What I really, more than anything, when this year's over, I want to be ahead of the curve on some things we have to make decisions about in the offseason.
"These opportunities are not only for the players but for us to see them in this environment, which is going to be gone at this point."
