Mike Gonzalez blows another one

Going one out of three is good. If you're a hitter, that is. It's not so good when you're the closer.

For the second time in three appearances, Orioles closer Mike Gonzalez has blown a save opportunity.

To make matters worse, today's 7-6 loss to the Blue Jays came during the largest home Opening Day crowd (48,891) at Camden Yards. His first blown save came on Opening Day in Tampa.

That said, Orioles manager Dave Trembley says of Gonzalez that “he’s the closer.”

If you have a glass-half-full perspective, there won't be any more Opening Days in his future until 2010.

Either way, it might be wise to add Jim Johnson to your fantasy roster as a handcuff.

Orioles to use closer-by-committee approach (for now)

Per the Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Orioles manager Dave Trembley says that he will choose the O's closer based on the situation on a "day-by-day" basis.

In his first 24 save opportunities since being acquired from Seattle, George Sherrill converted 22 of those opportunities. Since then, he has blown six of his next 19 opportunities including last night's loss in extra innings.

"George will keep you on the tightrope more times than not," Trembley said. "There is not a whole lot of save opportunities for him that come rather easy, but I would admit that the location of some of his pitches haven't been as good as they were last year."

Trembley didn't specify which relievers would get save opportunities. Other options include Chris Ray, who was the team's closer in 2006 and 2007, as well as Danys Baez and Jim Johnson.