GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- One week before the season opener, Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker is leaning toward a closer-by-committee approach to replace Ryan Madson. The Reds learned last weekend that Madson has a torn ligament in his pitching elbow and will need reconstructive surgery, ending his season. Theres no one else on the roster with significant experience in the role. Left-handed set-up man Sean Marshall is the best alternative, but has never been a full-time closer. Baker wants to see how he handles pitching a full inning several days in a row. "I have to talk to the guys," Baker said. "I have to work it. You just dont throw somebody in that role. A closer ideally can go three or four days in a row, then might not get work for a week. There arent too many guys out there that have gone three or four days in a row. Ive been told about Marshall (that) you try to stay away from him three days in a row." Its a puzzle that is getting more complicated each day. The bullpen seemed to be vastly improved over last season when the Reds signed Madson to replace Francisco Cordero and traded with the Cubs to get Marshall, one of the best set-up men in the NL. They also had right-hander Nick Masset and left-hander Bill Bray returning for late-inning roles. Already, those plans are ruined. The bullpen took another hit on Wednesday when Masset was told hell have to start the season on the 15-day disabled list because of inflammation in his right shoulder that has sidelined him for most of March. Bray has been limited by a strained groin during spring training. With so many changes because of injury, Baker is inclined to see how the relievers respond in new roles before he settles on one of them as the primary closer. "We might have to go with the famous by committee -- which I hate -- until somebody will emerge," Baker said. "You hate to have to go through it until somebody fails, then give it to somebody else. Those are valuable games. It takes about 30 seconds to mess up 2 1/2 hours of work by somebody." Marshall pitched a scoreless inning on Tuesday, extending his streak to six scoreless outings. He agreed to a three-year contract extension during spring training that will bring him an additional $16.5 million. The Reds see him as a potential closer in years to come if Madson isnt available. Madson got a one-year, $8.5 million deal from Cincinnati. Theres a mutual option for next year at $11 million with a $2.5 million buyout. Marshall went 6-6 with a 2.26 ERA and a career-high five saves with the Cubs last season. He said no one from the Reds has talked to him about moving into the closers role sooner than expected with Madson hurt. "Obviously the job is available," Marshall said. "Id like the opportunity to pitch in that role, but its whats best for the team. If it is a closer-by-committee situation, that could work out good too, I think." Marshall is willing to work three or four days in a row if needed. "Ive definitely pitched at least three days in a row and been hot and ready to go for the fourth game in a row and felt good," Marshall said. "It depends on how many pitches Ive thrown in an outing. Ive had some success doing it. "If necessary, I think Im more than capable of doing it." The injuries to Madson, Masset and Bray could affect how the Reds handle left-hander Aroldis Chapman, entering his third season with Cincinnati. He was a starter in the minors in 2010, then was turned into a reliever at midseason to help the Reds win the NL Central title. He struggled with his control as a reliever last season, and the Reds planned to move him back into a starting role this year, perhaps letting him begin the season at Triple-A. The injuries in the bullpen could change those plans. Chapman would rather start than relieve. "Everybody has their preferences," Baker said. "But Im sure hed rather be in the big leagues. Im sure thats his preference. Almost all of the guys in there (clubhouse) were starters." Dwayne Allen Jersey . The assistants greeted Aldridge with compliments and high fives. Stotts had only one word for his high-scoring forward: "Thanks." Aldridge had 25 points and 16 rebounds in his return after missing seven games with a lower back contusion, and the Trail Blazers beat the Atlanta Hawks 100-85 on Thursday night to end a three-game losing streak. Adam Vinatieri Womens Jersey . -- Scott Kosmachuk scored four times and added an assist as the Guelph Storm downed the visiting Ottawa 67s 7-3 on Sunday afternoon in Ontario Hockey League play. http://www.authenticcoltsshop.com/Laron-Landry-Colts-Jersey . Jussi Jokinen skated across the front of the crease and roofed a shot over sprawling goalie Semyon Varlamov to give the Penguins a 3-2 win in a shootout on Sunday night. LaRon Landry Colts Jersey . Bedene replaced Dmitry Tursunov of Russia in the main draw and needed less than 2 hours to add to Davydenkos opening-round losses in Munich, Madrid and Rome. Seventh-seeded Viktor Troicki defeated Michael Russell of the United States. Ahmad Bradshaw Elite Jersey . Still, Juventus has an 11-point lead over second-place Roma and is 17 points ahead of Napoli with seven rounds remaining. In the 37th minute at the San Paolo stadium, Callejon beat Juve midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah to redirect a cross from Lorenzo Insigne from the edge of the box for his 12th goal since transferring from Madrid in the off-season.The NBAs life ban for Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling won swift support in Europe but also produced calls for soccer to show similar resolve against racism. FIFA president Sepp Blatter and UEFA president Michel Platini, via his spokesman, both voiced approval on Wednesday. Blatter tweeted: "Sport says no to racism. I fully support (at)NBAs decision to ban (at)LAClippers owner for life after his racist words." Patrick Vieira, a 1998 World Cup winner with France, also tweeted: "Well done to (at)NBA, another organisation dealing with racism in exactly the right way. I say again - zero tolerance." NBA Commissioner Adam Silver wants Sterling to sell as part of a series of sanctions brought against the leagues longest-tenured owner in response to racist comments in a recorded conversation. Silver banned Sterling for life, fined him $2.5 million, and said he will press the other team owners to support his desire to make Sterling sell. For some in Europe, the NBAs resolve was in stark contrast to soccer leaders failure to eradicate racism that has dogged stadiums and marred matches for decades. Just last weekend, a Villarreal season-ticket holder racially taunted Barcelona defender Dani Alves by throwing a banana at him. Retired British NBA player John Amaechi noted that players, executives and owners in the American league appeared united in their rejection of Sterling. "If they can do that to respond to a hateful private utterance, why the hell cant football do that to respond to repeated instances of hate-mongering?" Amaechi said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. "Its time that we started looking at some of the owners within other parts of sport," outside the NBA, he said.dddddddddddd"Theyre exactly the type of plantation mentality people who dont mind having black people working for them ... But God forbid that they want to come up to the big house." Amaechi said he doesnt expect the NBAs exemplary punishment of Sterling will jolt soccer into meaningful change. And Blatters tweet of support for the NBA was "not enough," he added. "If there was a poster-person for the words impotence and apathy, it would have his face on it," Amaechi said. "You know what theyre going to do? Theyre going to produce another pretty poster with platitudes plastered all over it. Theyre going to produce another campaign that has a black player stood next to a white player," he said. "Nothing substantive." FIFA and UEFA, the European authority, have toughened their sanctions for discrimination in the past year and prosecuted cases more quickly. A turning point in awareness of widespread problems with offensive abuse at matches came in January 2013 when Kevin-Prince Boateng, then playing for AC Milan, led teammates walking off the field to protest racist insults during an exhibition against a fourth-tier Italian side. FIFA and UEFA have ordered national and club teams to play matches in empty or partly closed stadiums as punishment for racial abuse incidents, but no World Cup or Champions League team has yet had points deducted or forfeited a match. Among the most severe judgments, FIFA has banned Croatia defender Josip Simunic for 10 matches -- including the 2014 World Cup -- for leading fans in chanting a Nazi-era nationalist slogan after a playoff victory against Iceland last November. Simunic has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. ' ' '
