Astrosportal.com | Houston Astros News, astros Scores, Game Recaps & Commentary - <div>BY STEVE KORNACKI Gazette News Service DETROIT -- Nothing is as demoralizing for a Baseball team as watching leads disappear in the late innings. Players trudge off the field after such losses, and they are hard to shake. </div>The Detroit Tigers blew 28 saves in 2008, with the vast majority coming after dependable closer Todd Jones' shoulder gave out in late July. Neither Fernando Rodney, Joel Zumaya nor Kyle Farnsworth proved a worthy successor to Jones, who retired as the club's all-time saves leader. Tigers manager Jim Leyland will use Rodney in some late-inning role and left-hander Bobby Seay will be in the bullpen. But other than that the relief pitching is in shambles. How can Detroit hope to compete if it isn't in the running for the prime free agent closers Francisco Rodriguez, Brian Fuentes and Kerry Wood? What hope does it have? More than you might think. Both the Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays had major bullpen problems at this time last year, and both finished second in their leagues with 47 and 52 saves, respectively. And they did it with makeovers involving castoff relievers or pitchers who blossomed after dismal seasons. The Phillies had only eighth-inning specialist Ryan Madson to count on, but added closer Brad Lidge, whose dependability had taken a significant hit in Houston, and sometimes-starter free agent Chad Durbin from Detroit. They picked up discarded southpaw J.C. Romero at midseason in 2007. Those transactions were the key to Phillies general manager Pat Gillick building a World Series champion. Lidge's 3.36 ERA and 19 saves in 2007 improved to 1.95 with 41 saves in as many opportunities in 2008. Then he went 7-for-7 in the postseason, falling to his knees after saving the Series clincher. "There are a lot of different ways to replicate what Philadelphia did," Tigers general manager Dombrowski said, "and that's what we are trying to do." One National League source said Detroit is "turning over every stone" in search of the right relief combination. Dombrowski is highly unlikely to enter the bidding on Rodriguez, Fuentes or Wood. Trevor Hoffman, with his declining effectiveness at age 41, doesn't seem like a good investment at the price he will command. So, a David Weathers, Chad Cordero (though, he's coming off shoulder surgery) or Brandon Lyon makes more sense for Detroit. Competition will be keen because Cleveland, Milwaukee, St. Louis, Texas and the New York Mets also are coveting closers. Free agents who could spruce up the bullpen while providing much-needed leadership include veterans Arthur Rhodes, ex-Tiger Doug Brocail and Darren Oliver. None of them made more than Brocail's $2.5 million last year, and remain effective despite advancing years. Detroit also has spoken with the agent for Los Angeles Dodgers setup man Joe Beimel, 31, who was 5-1 with a 2.02 ERA. Jeremy Affeldt became the first of 171 free agents to sign last week, and the ex-Cincinnati reliever got $8 million for two years from San Francisco despite registering not so much as one save last year. But he was solid, going 1-1 with a 3.33 ERA and striking out 80 in 78 1/3 innings. That signing provided an early gauge for the cost of signing setup relievers, but Tigers assistant general manager AL Avila said Thursday that discussions slowed as the week came to a close. Seattle's J.J. Putz, a Trenton native who pitched at the University of Michigan, and Colorado's Huston Street are intriguing trade options and proven closers. Putz had 40 saves as an All-Star in 2007 before getting only 15 in an injury-plagued 2008. Street, who had 37 saves in 2006, was traded this month by Oakland after losing his closer job to Brad Ziegler. But he was still 7-5 with a 3.73 ERA and 18 saves, while striking out 69 in 70 innings last season. And the Rockies are known to be including him in trade talks. Houston also appears to be shopping talented Jose Valverde, 29, who had 44 saves and struck out 83 in 72 innings. Valverde made $4.7 million in 2008 and won't come or stay cheaply.

BY STEVE KORNACKI Gazette News Service DETROIT -- Nothing is as demoralizing for a Baseball team as watching leads disappear in the late innings. Players trudge off the field after such losses, and they are hard to shake.

The Detroit Tigers blew 28 saves in 2008, with the vast majority coming after dependable closer Todd Jones' shoulder gave out in late July. Neither Fernando Rodney, Joel Zumaya nor Kyle Farnsworth proved a worthy successor to Jones, who retired as the club's all-time saves leader.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland will use Rodney in some late-inning role and left-hander Bobby Seay will be in the bullpen. But other than that the relief pitching is in shambles.

How can Detroit hope to compete if it isn't in the running for the prime free agent closers Francisco Rodriguez, Brian Fuentes and Kerry Wood? What hope does it have?

More than you might think.

Both the Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays had major bullpen problems at this time last year, and both finished second in their leagues with 47 and 52 saves, respectively. And they did it with makeovers involving castoff relievers or pitchers who blossomed after dismal seasons.

The Phillies had only eighth-inning specialist Ryan Madson to count on, but added closer Brad Lidge, whose dependability had taken a significant hit in Houston, and sometimes-starter free agent Chad Durbin from Detroit. They picked up discarded southpaw J.C. Romero at midseason in 2007.

Those transactions were the key to Phillies general manager Pat Gillick building a World Series champion. Lidge's 3.36 ERA and 19 saves in 2007 improved to 1.95 with 41 saves in as many opportunities in 2008. Then he went 7-for-7 in the postseason, falling to his knees after saving the Series clincher.

"There are a lot of different ways to replicate what Philadelphia did," Tigers general manager Dombrowski said, "and that's what we are trying to do."

One National League source said Detroit is "turning over every stone" in search of the right relief combination.

Dombrowski is highly unlikely to enter the bidding on Rodriguez, Fuentes or Wood. Trevor Hoffman, with his declining effectiveness at age 41, doesn't seem like a good investment at the price he will command. So, a David Weathers, Chad Cordero (though, he's coming off shoulder surgery) or Brandon Lyon makes more sense for Detroit.

Competition will be keen because Cleveland, Milwaukee, St. Louis, Texas and the New York Mets also are coveting closers.

Free agents who could spruce up the bullpen while providing much-needed leadership include veterans Arthur Rhodes, ex-Tiger Doug Brocail and Darren Oliver. None of them made more than Brocail's $2.5 million last year, and remain effective despite advancing years. Detroit also has spoken with the agent for Los Angeles Dodgers setup man Joe Beimel, 31, who was 5-1 with a 2.02 ERA.

Jeremy Affeldt became the first of 171 free agents to sign last week, and the ex-Cincinnati reliever got $8 million for two years from San Francisco despite registering not so much as one save last year. But he was solid, going 1-1 with a 3.33 ERA and striking out 80 in 78 1/3 innings.

That signing provided an early gauge for the cost of signing setup relievers, but Tigers assistant general manager AL Avila said Thursday that discussions slowed as the week came to a close.

Seattle's J.J. Putz, a Trenton native who pitched at the University of Michigan, and Colorado's Huston Street are intriguing trade options and proven closers.

Putz had 40 saves as an All-Star in 2007 before getting only 15 in an injury-plagued 2008. Street, who had 37 saves in 2006, was traded this month by Oakland after losing his closer job to Brad Ziegler. But he was still 7-5 with a 3.73 ERA and 18 saves, while striking out 69 in 70 innings last season. And the Rockies are known to be including him in trade talks.

Houston also appears to be shopping talented Jose Valverde, 29, who had 44 saves and struck out 83 in 72 innings. Valverde made $4.7 million in 2008 and won't come or stay cheaply.