Danny Kolb was moved out of the closer's role by Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox on Wednesday, a day after the right-hander was charged with his third blown save and his fourth loss.
"We're going to put Kolb in the middle somewhere for a while and let him work on some stuff," Cox said before the Braves' game against San Diego. "We'll do the closing by matchups and whoever's rested and things like that."
Kolb (1-4) blew a save for the third time in 13 chances on Tuesday night by allowing three hits and two walks in the ninth as the Padres rallied from a 2-1 deficit to a 3-2 win.
"He needs to get his control a little bit better and a pitch or two better," Cox said. "He's got them, but he hasn't been throwing them."
San Diego's rally on Tuesday night spoiled a strong effort by Atlanta's John Smoltz, who allowed just one run on four hits in eight innings.
THOME IN REHAB: Jim Thome, out since May 3 due to a strained lower back, went 2-for-5 Wednesday in an extended spring training game. The Philadelphia Phillies first baseman singled twice, grounded out twice and was struck out once as he batted third in every inning against the Devil Rays. Thome is expected to play another extended spring game on Thursday before possibly being activated by the Phillies for their weekend series in Baltimore against the Orioles.
Thome, hitting .203 with one homer and 12 RBIs, was bothered by back problems during spring training and left a game against Florida on April 30 with lower back spasms.
Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said he would use Thome as a designated hitter for the Orioles series that begins Friday.
A'S TO PLAN FOR NEW STADIUM: New Oakland Athletics owner Lewis Wolff announced Wednesday the formation of a venue and design development committee to prepare a plan for a new stadium.
"The formation of this committee is an important step in the ongoing process of securing a baseball-only facility for the A's in the East Bay," Wolff said in a statement. "They are starting with a blank canvas. I'm confident this group will produce a design that will be state-of-the-art while keeping with the traditional look and feel of a ballpark."
Team president Michael Crowley will head the committee, whose prototype will not specify a site for the new ballpark. The A's currently share the Oakland Coliseum with the NFL's Oakland Raiders.
Wolff, a Los Angeles real estate developer, and his ownership group purchased the A's in late March. Wolff is the managing partner.
Wolff was hired by the A's in 2003 as vice president for venue development to help find a new stadium. He is a former part owner of the NBA's Golden State Warriors and the NHL's St. Louis Blues, and a longtime friend of baseball commissioner Bud Selig.
MARTINEZ GETS CORTISONE SHOT: Pedro Martinez had a cortisone shot in his right hip and was pushed back in the New York Mets rotation to Sunday's series finale against the New York Yankees.
Martinez, who was scheduled to pitch Friday, said he had soreness in the hip during his last two starts. He was given the shot Tuesday.
Victor Zambrano will start in Martinez's place in the Subway Series opener against Kevin Brown. Kris Benson will pitch Saturday against Randy Johnson, and Martinez will face Carl Pavano on Sunday.
INDIANS PLACE CRISP ON DL: Indians outfielder Coco Crisp was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday after spraining his right thumb while sliding into third base.
Jody Gerut, who hasn't played in the majors since tearing a knee ligament in September, was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo to replace Crisp, who may need three weeks to fully recover.
Crisp bent his thumb back in the first inning Tuesday when he was thrown out trying to stretch a double in Cleveland's 13-5 win.
PADRES ACTIVATE BLUM: Padres infielder Geoff Blum was activated from the disabled list Wednesday in time to start at second base against Atlanta in place of injured Mark Loretta.
Loretta remained on the 25-man roster while the Padres determined the severity of his sprained his left thumb. He was hurt diving into first base while beating out an infield single in the third inning of Tuesday night's 3-2 win.
Loretta had an MRI exam Wednesday morning.
"We've got all the results," manager Bruce Bochy said. "It's just a matter of which way we go, whether we wait three, four days and see where he's at, or DL him.