Jose Contreras earned his first career save yesterday as the Phils hung on to top the Brew Crew. I guess it’s a good thing the Cuban native can tell his grandkids about, especially since he said he’d never be a reliever.

However, nobody should feel remotely comfortable if he is the closer for the rest of the year should Brad Lidge not recover from elbow inflammation that resulted in him rejoining the DL. Closing takes a special mindset, and Contreras has yet to display the ‘it’ factor. He walked the first batter he faced yesterday.

Jose Contreras appears to be the Phillies closer until further notice. Is he a long-term solution?

Sure, Contreras has a .68 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 15 appearances this year. Sure, he has taken the role vacated by Chan Ho Park and run with it so to speak. However, that is precisely the problem we should all have with Contreras being viewed as a closer right now.

If Contreras is the the guy you bring in to shut down the ninth inning, you become even thinner in the middle innings. Who takes Contreras’ role? Who eats up those innings?

The Phillies bullpen is held together by black electrical tape these days. The team must address this and get a legit, experienced closer before it’s too late.