Francisco

Cordero

Cordero has been nothing short of brilliant this season and barring an injury should be able to add at least two saves to his current season total of 42.

''It felt pretty good,’' Cordero said. ''We’ll see how it feels tomorrow, throw again and see how it goes after that.’'

If he does pitch this winter, it probably won’t be until the second half of the season. Cordero had a 2.98 ERA and struck out 89 batters this season. He should go into next year as the Rangers’ closer.

“He’s certainly our leading candidate, and we hope that’s how it evolves,” manager Buck Showalter said. Cordero would have to collapse in the spring to lose the job. Jeff Zimmerman, coming off 2 missed seasons, is likely the only other candidate.

He has proven he can be an elite closer and the Rangers will now have to pay him as one.

The Rangers’ closer wants to pitch in tonight’s game, but AL manager Joe Torre is always mindful of other teams’ concerns, and may hold Cordero back this evening.

After retiring the only batter he faced in the eighth, Cordero started the ninth by giving up a triple to Todd Helton on a ball misplayed by center fielder Tony Gwynn Jr. However, he never let the Rockies hit the ball in play they needed to score the tying run. He struck out Yorvit Torrealba, walked Brad Hawpe, struck out Luis Gonzalez, walked Choo Freeman and struck out Cory Sullivan to end it. Such is life with Cordero as a closer. He’ll get the job done most of the time and have plenty of fantasy value over the final third of the season.

Cordero entered with a 4-3 lead and retired Aaron Miles, David Eckstein, and Chris Duncan in order to give the Brewers the victory. Derrick Turnbow threw two-thirds of an inning without allowing a baserunner before Cordero entered, but the former Ranger will have to pitching himself out of closing duties at this point.

Before getting pulled, Derrick Turnbow retired two batters while allowing a solo homer and walking two. Cordero was worked in all three games since he was acquired from the Rangers, allowing one hit and one walk in 2 1/3 scoreless innings. Since he’s pitching better than any other reliever on the roster, he might now become the favorite for saves in Milwaukee.

Dan Kolb, Matt Wise and Brian Shouse will serve as setup man while Turnbow is bumped to middle relief for the time being. If Cordero just keeps pitching like he has the last three months, the job should be his for the rest of the year.