A's demote struggling All-Star rookie closer
After a rough few weeks as closer, Oakland rookie Ryan Closer is out of the job, at least for a time.
Cook, an All-Star, had blown four saves in his previous eight outings -- and he allowed nine runs in eight innings in that stretch.
On Saturday, A's manager Bob Melvin said Cook's next appearance or two will be in less high-pressure situations. Melvin said he would like to get Cook some clean innings -- for him to succeed -- in some situations where the game is not on the line.
Melvin emphasized that Cook has not lost his job.
Melvin said he has several options to close in the bullpen, but he admitted he targeted Grant Balfour, who opened the season as Oakland's closer, for save situations Friday and Saturday. Balfour came into Saturday's game and recorded the save, the 18th of his career, most-ever for an Australian pitcher.
Melvin said he wanted to find Cook a "soft landing spot" to pitch in initially after the role change, but he got anything but that Saturday night: Cook had to come in with the game tied and a man at first in the seventh inning at Chicago.
Cook gave up consecutive singles, allowing the White Sox to take the lead. Batters are hitting .366 against him in his past nine outings, with four homers.
