Grey Matter

I want to use yesterday's new about the Athletics bullpen woes as a jumping off point to discuss some interesting bullpen issues in the American League

In one auction this year, I did something I very rarely do: I purchased a front-line closer. That happened to be Huston Street at $22 in an AL-only league. Whenever I do that, and there is a clear backup option to that closer that can be had at a reasonable price, I purchase that player as well. $5 Justin Duchscherer was mine.

Not to stop there, I figured why not -- I'll drop a buck on Kiko Calero. At the time, Duchscherer was still not up to full speed in spring training. Someone said "$2." Oh, well.

Fast forward to last night where Street is on the DL, Duchscherer is unavailable, and a combination of Alan Embree and Jay Witasick blow a three-run lead in the ninth inning.

So what do we make of all of this?

Well, first Street is optimistic that he'll only be out the minimum 15 days after feeling an irritation if his ulnar nerve while throwing a changeup in his last outing. That may be very optimistic, considering Josh Johnson has the same irritation and has been on the shelf for the better part of two months and is not returning anytime soon. Indications are this irritation isn't as serious, but this could wind up being a more serious thing than people realize.

Compound this with the fact that Duchscherer is not 100 percent, either. The day before Street goes on the DL, Duchscherer speculated that he might need some time off due to an arthritic right help. Manager Bob Geren says that Duke will be given 2-3 days of rest and then be the interim closer. Sources within the organization tell me they would have placed Duchscherer on the disabled list to rest him more if they hadn't lost Street on Tuesday.

Duchscherer has had his won share of elbow issues in 2006 and spring training this year, but his hip has been a bigger problem. When healthy, there is no question he can do the job, but his hip makes it difficult for him to throw his cutter with the same bite as he normally does. His cutter is what separates Duchscherer, the late-inning weapon, from Duchscherer, the minor league journeyman. He's been getting by trying to throw more curveballs with middling results, especially as he doesn't locate that pitch nearly as well.

The A's called up Connor Robertson, who was an eighth-inning guy at Triple-A and he has to be considered a darkhorse if poor health and ineffectiveness continue to plague the Oakland pen.

It's a pretty messed up situation at this point, as if the A's didn't already have enough injury woes.