<b>ITEM</b><div> A's right-hander Grant Balfour is scheduled to undergo right knee surgery to
repair a torn meniscus Thursday afternoon, leaving Oakland without its closer
for approximately four to six weeks.</div><div><br></div><div><b>LOSER</b></div><div> Berliners. Spurned in off-season efforts to trade fringe closer Grant Balfour, Berliners were banking on him to anchor 2013 bullpen. With the closer's career in jeopardy cold-hearted Winick now <b>WILL CUT THE CORD.</b></div>
<div><b><br></b></div><div><b>WINNER</b></div><div><b> </b>Riptorns. Flamethrower Ryan Cook (5) will regain 9th-inning role and will not relinquish it this time around. Rippers now wait for Mariano Rivera to announce plans so they can decide how long to extend David Robertson's contract as team's <b>FOUNDATION IS SETTLING.</b></div>