M’s Guardado eager to return to closer role

SEATTLE – These are uneasy days for Eddie Guardado.

He wants his closer job back with the Seattle Mariners, but he knows any public displeasure would disrupt one of the best things about the team right now.

J.J. Putz, a good buddy, has converted all four save opportunities since he replaced Guardado, including Sunday when he finished off the Mariners’ 10-8 victory over the San Diego Padres.

“J.J. is doing a hell of a job,” Guardado says.

But he also wants to be a closer again and if it doesn’t happen here, then he would consider the chance to do it somewhere else.

“I know it’s early to be saying this, but I ain’t going to be on a losing team,” Guardado said. “I want to win just like everybody else. I’m getting older. We all play this game for one reason, to put that ring on our finger. I see Carl Everett wearing his World Series ring, and that makes you kind of jealous.

“I think I can help this team, whether it’s closing or setting up. I’m the last person who wants to cause havoc or be a disruption.

“But I know I can still close. I have no doubt about that.”

From the day he pulled the closer job from Guardado, manager Mike Hargrove said it was a temporary move. He repeated that Sunday, even after Putz recorded his sixth save in seven opportunities.

“The situation is still what it was before,” Hargrove said. “J.J. is doing a good job right now and we’ll just leave it at that. Eddie Guardado is still a very valuable part of this team and our bullpen. At some point in time, we’d like to get him back into the closer role. I really think we have a better bullpen if Eddie can be the closer. But it’s nice to know that we can go with J.J.”

It already has been a tough season for closers. Guardado, Billy Wagner of the Mets, Brad Lidge of the Astros and Chris Reitsma of the Braves have each blown three saves and found their jobs in jeopardy.

Guardado’s last stand occurred May 3 at Chicago, where Pablo Ozuna’s two-out, two-run homer in the ninth inning tied the score and led to a 6-5 White Sox victory. Hargrove pulled the closer job from Guardado after that game.

Hargrove said it was a temporary move and that Putz, Rafael Soriano and George Sherrill would share closing duties until Guardado straightened himself out.

With Putz having become one of the most dominant relievers in baseball, there’s been no indication of a change back. He has allowed two runs in his past 21 1/3 innings over 19 games.

Guardado hasn’t allowed a run in his past six outings. Where that gets him, he isn’t sure.

“I don’t know anything,” Guardado said. “They haven’t told me anything. Have I been throwing the ball better? Yeah, I’ve been throwing great. Whenever they call me, I’ve got to be ready.

“I’m against the wall now, but I’ve been against the wall before. All my career I’ve dug myself out of holes. This is another hole to dig myself out of.”