SURPRISE, Ariz. _ The Rangers have no clear closer and the opportunity is wide open for comeback freak Tim Lincecum.
Just not to start the season.
After Lincecum threw about 40 pitches of live batting practice Tuesday for the second time in the last week, both he and pitching coach Doug Brocail acknowledged the Opening Day roster is not realistic.
"For what I'm trying to accomplish as a late-inning guy, I need to hit my spot more consistently," Lincecum said.
Lincecum said he wants another live batting practice session, which will take place Friday, before getting in a game. Brocail said he expects Lincecum to need about five to seven game outings to be ready to join the bullpen. One of those outings needs to be with no rest after pitching the day before. Lincecum has never pitched on back-to-back days.
One of the hitters who faced Lincecum, Tommy Joseph, was familiar with him. Joseph, claimed off waivers Monday from Philadelphia, had been in the San Francisco organization with Lincecum from 2010-12. Joseph, then a catcher, caught him and hit against him in spring training.
"He threw some pitches today that were good and tough to even make contact against or keep fair," Joseph said. "He threw a lot balls that started as strikes and ended up as balls and also pitches that stared off as balls and ended up strikes. He's going to want greatness; that's who is his. He showed today, though, why he is in play for a major role.
The Rangers still have not determined the makeup of the bullpen, but do not have a dedicated closer. Manager Jeff Banister will choose from options Jake Diekmam, Alex Claudio and Keone Kela to start the year. He declined to call the Rangers situation a "closer by committee," or to say if the Rangers would roll without definitive roles.
"That is a big decision for us," Banister said of the ninth-inning role. "I like the options. I feel we are better in that regard. When you don't have a guy who is established in the closer's role, it take some time to grow into that."
