Osuna to become "The Closer"

Written by: Keith "Grizz" Crear | SFL Photographer/Sports Blogger

The Astros announced today that Roberto Osuna will be the primary closer for the rest of the season, manager A.J. Hinch said Today Hinch said on SiriusXM's MLB Network Radio that talked with Hector Rondon, to discuss plans to use more of him in the seventh and eighth innings going forward.

 Hinch said, "I wanted Hector to know that I'm gonna start to use more in the seventh and eighth, which means that Osuna's going to get the majority of save opportunities. But I need to use him in creative ways, too,"

 "I think you'll see that happen where Rondon gets some right matchups in the seventh and eighth and [Ryan] Pressly will be somewhere in there and [Collin] McHugh will be somewhere in there and Osuna will close the door, which is how this bullpen's built."

 It seems Hinch is trying to get sway from the defined cliche roles in the bullpen.

 "Sometimes when you name the closer you limit yourself as to like, 'OK, you have to have the lead and you have to be within three runs and it has to be in the ninth inning,' and I think it makes for bad decisions for managers," he said.

 The Astros acquired Osuna from the Toronto Blue Jays before the trade deadline . That trade deal included former Astros closer Ken Giles. The controversial trade move drew heavy pushback because Osuna was serving a 75-game suspension under MLB’s domestic violence policy. Lets just see how "The Closer" will perform in his new uniform.