Chris Spurling was optioned to Triple-A Toledo on Thursday to make room for closer Todd Jones, who is returning from a pulled left hamstring.  Jones will be active in Friday night’s series opener with the Seattle Mariners.

This move came as a surprise to me, as Spurling was so strong last season and was (not unlike Fernando Rodney or Jamie Walker) pretty much guaranteed a bullpen spot entering spring training.  Still, Spurling has struggled early this season, giving up 4 earned runs, including 2 homeruns in his 7 innings (6 appearances); Spurling had also recorded 2 strikeouts and 2 walks.  I was thinking that either Jordan Tata, who was called up when Jones went onto the DL, or Jason Grilli would have been sent down.  Both are young pitchers who can be used in long relief situations and are prospective starters.

Chris Spurling was to have been used in the middle-relief/set-up role.  Joel Zumaya, who has been dominant in his appearnces thus far, seems poised to step into Spurling’s role.  If the 2006 Todd Jones turns out to be anything like the 2005 Todd Jones, then I like the sounds of a Zumaya-Rodney-Jones, 7-8-9 combo.