Unless you're the Team USA pitching coach.

On a daily basis, Marcel Lachemann is calling his hurlers' respective pitching coaches, giving them a gauge on how they're doing and, most importantly, finding out what each of their limitations are going into the World Baseball Classic.

He said it's the most pressure-filled job of his life.

"The pressure is in the sense of, yeah, you have to get them enough work, you don't want to overwork them, and ... if anyone got hurt in this thing, I'd feel horrible," said Lachemann, who has spent time as pitching coach for the Angels -- where he also managed -- and Marlins and Rockies. "It's just like when you're taking care of your grandkids. You don't want it to happen on your watch.

"I have more concerns and more things to think about with this staff than any staff I've had during the regular season, by far."

Most of the 11 relievers for the U.S. are one-inning pitchers, and most of their respective clubs want them to be limited to that and don't want them throwing back-to-back days this month. To try to work off that, manager Davey Johnson will take an approach he's taken with most of the international teams he's coached and split the bullpen up into two groups -- with each group being alternated game by game.

On Wednesday, for example, Johnson used LaTroy Hawkins, Scot Shields, J.P. Howell, Joel Hanrahan and J.J. Putz in a 6-5 loss to the Blue Jays in Dunedin, Fla. Against the Phillies on Thursday, Johnson used Heath Bell, John Grabow, Matt Thornton, Brad Ziegler, Matt Lindstrom and Jonathan Broxton.

No closer has been set, no specific roles have been given, and everybody's going to have to be on their toes.

"Just be ready at all times," said Howell, who's used to being flexible with his role, considering Rays manager Joe Maddon doesn't like giving relievers labels either. "I think the main thing is, with a group like this, I don't know if you can make a bad phone call out there. It's just whoever is ready to go that day. Game 1 will dictate what happens down the road."

With Team USA holding a workout Friday in Toronto, Johnson and his staff will have an extra day to reshuffle the relievers into the two groups for the opener against Team Canada on Saturday at Rogers Centre.

The most important thing for them is to split up the three lefties -- Howell, Thornton and Grabow -- and the potential ninth-inning candidates -- Broxton, Lindstrom, Putz and Ziegler.

"We've got three or four options [at closer]," Lachemann said. "We're still trying to feel it out. They're all capable. It's all a question of who's farther along."

Angels closer Brian Fuentes, who opted to skip the Classic's first round, could join Team USA if it advances to the second round. But until that time comes, Broxton -- who converted 14 saves for the Dodgers in '08 -- is perhaps the most capable ninth-inning man of the group.

But with 70-pitch limits on starters for round one, and the caution of keeping guys healthy for their respective clubs, a lot of relievers are going to see action during games. And everybody needs to have an open mind.

"You just have to go with it and be ready at all times," Broxton said. "Everybody here is just unbelievable. You wouldn't be here if you weren't."