Turnbow poised to assume closer role

[645]

The Official Site of Milwaukee Brewers: News: Milwaukee Brewers News

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Brewers manager Ned Yost is convinced that Derrick Turnbow can succeed in a return to the closer's role if two things happen:
Turnbow must cut down his walks.

And fans need to give him a break.

"I wish everybody would just leave the kid alone," Yost said on Wednesday at the Winter Meetings, where he gave an impassioned defense of the criticism that has been aimed at Turnbow.

Turnbow is the leading candidate to return in 2008 to the ninth-inning role he lost midway through the 2006 season to Francisco Cordero. In 2007, Cordero's only full season with the Brewers, he set a franchise saves record and then bolted via free agency to Cincinnati.