Bell still D-backs closer for time being

WASHINGTON -- Heath Bell is still the closer for the D-backs.

Unless he's not.

D-backs manager Kirk Gibson was asked Tuesday if Bell, who has allowed a homer in each of his last five appearances, was still his closer.

"You guys are all bent on who's the closer and this and that," Gibson said to reporters. "We're trying to win the game -- period. For all intents and purposes, he's our closer. Will he maybe not close tonight? Maybe not. We're going to do what we think needs to be done to win the game."

Gibson said that the team has detected Bell falling into some bad habits with his mechanics and he was expected to throw a bullpen session before Tuesday's game to try to iron it out.

"There's something that we see which we want him to try and correct," Gibson said. "When we feel like he's able to execute that, then I'll use him."

Closer J.J. Putz, who has been on the disabled list with a strained elbow, threw in back-to-back games Monday and Tuesday and is expected to rejoin the team when it gets to Atlanta on Friday.

Sooner rather than later, Gibson hopes to have his bullpen settled, something that, due to injuries and struggles, has not happened.

"You'd like to see more consistency," Gibson said. "Be able to assign roles and have guys be able to do what you ask them to do."