"It's not my decision," Cordero said, once again finding himself surrounded by reporters after another blown save in the Rangers' 6-4 loss to the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday. "I don't know what they are going to do. I'm not in a position to decide that, the way I've pitched."

The way he's pitching has become the No. 1 burning issue on the Rangers.

Cordero was an All-Star reliever in 2004, but that's becoming an increasingly distant memory.

Now the Rangers are confronted with the possibility of having to make a change on who they use to protect a ninth-inning lead after Cordero set a Major League record with his fifth blown save in April. Akinori Otsuka, closer on Japan's World Baseball Classic team, could get a shot soon.

Cordero, trying to hold a 4-3 lead in the ninth, gave up a leadoff home run to Dan Johnson and then the Athletics won it in the 10th on a two-run single by Jay Payton off reliever C.J. Wilson.

The Rangers keep hoping that Cordero will be the closer he once was, but that's getting hard to sell to themselves and to their fans. There were 23,756 at Ameriquest Field and not many were thrilled when Cordero jogged in from the right-field bullpen at the start of the ninth.

"I'm aware ... everybody here is aware we've had a problem," manager Buck Showalter said. "It hurts. But guys are rallying around each other and Coco. But at some point you've got to get a return.

"If we want to be a good club and get where we want to go, we have to figure that out."

Kevin Mench hit a grand slam in the fourth inning to set a club record with a home run in six straight games. But that ultimately didn't matter.

Johnson was the guy who had hit a two-out game-tying double off Cordero on Tuesday night. This time he jumped on a 2-1 fastball and drove it into the Rangers bullpen in right-center for a game-tying home run.

"A fastball, down the middle," catcher Gerald Laird.

"I'm sure Coco is taking this hard," outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. said. "He's picked us so many times before."

As to what will happen in the future, Showalter said, "We hope to get to that point on Friday and then make a decision."

Showalter said the Rangers will use their day off on Thursday and a flight to Cleveland to discuss it. It won't be their first meeting.

Showalter discussed the situation late into the night after Tuesday's game with general manager Jon Daniels, pitching coach Mark Connor and bullpen coach Dom Chiti.

Showalter and Connor met with Cordero again before Wednesday's game. Cordero was told that a change in his role might be a possibility at some point. He is now blown five saves in eight chances.

"It's my job to do that," Cordero said. "That's why I'm here. I'm going through a tough time. I know I'm a better pitcher. They know I'm a better pitcher, too.

"I'm thinking positive. I'm sure this is going to end and I'm going to have a great season. The team is going to have a great season."

The Rangers don't want to change closers. Antonio Alfonseca and Otsuka have both pitched well as setup relievers and the Rangers' bullpen fits better if Cordero can close. But they can't wait forever.

Otsuka and Alfonseca have closer experience but Showalter snapped, "There is a reason why they're not closing anymore."

Ninth-inning losses can be draining but Cordero's teammates try to stay staunchly behind him.

"I feel for him," shortstop Michael Young said. "He's a great friend and teammate. Knowing him, he's going to come out of it. Just relax, don't think and just cut it loose. It happens to everybody. I was telling him a few years ago we got to Mariano Rivera a couple of nights in a row and they were booing him in Yankee Stadium. It happens to the best."

Connor conveyed the same thoughts.

"I want him to focus on making one pitch at a time," Connor said. "Sometimes it looks like he's trying to make 10 pitches and pressing to a certain degree, trying to make the perfect pitch. It's hard to do this with a lot of tension, it's hard to do anything with a lot of tension. He's pressing because he expects a lot out of himself."

So do the Rangers. They are not getting it.

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.