Chin-Hui Tsao Named Rockies Closer

Well, that was quick. The Rockies announced today that Chin-Hui Tsao will be their closer to start the season.

He said he wanted to make a difference," Rockies pitching coach Bob Apodaca said. "He understood the ninth inning, the finality of it. He felt he wanted to be that guy, the pitcher that makes the difference."

Manager Clint Hurdle was less than adamant about the decision, noting that Tsao was the closer "to start the season", adding that "he's established the fastball. We know the velocity is there. He's got to find a way to maintain it from first pitch to last pitch of the inning -- the top-end velocity, not work into his velocity, which he has had a history of doing. We told him how important it is to put away the first hitter, being able to throw a secondary pitch the first pitch of an at-bat or behind in the count."

So Tsao is closing, with Fuentes setting him up. No word on who else will make the Rocks' bullpen, but this closer battle is, for the time being, over.