And so was the Royals' relief corps. Dotel's new role helped solidify a bullpen that had seen several different closers in the first two months of the season. In April, KC's relievers blew several saves and ranked near the bottom in the Majors.

They improved in May, but since June 1, the bullpen has been one of the best. Dotel's return has provided set roles for everyone: Joakim Soria becomes the setup man, David Riske takes the seventh inning, Zack Greinke dominates hitters in a 3-to-12 out stretch, Jimmy Gobble retires left-handers and Joel Peralta and Neal Musser eat quality innings in long relief.

"It always helps to have an established closer no matter what team you are on," Riske said. "You can't teach that experience as a closer and to have an arm down there that has had success like he has, it's been huge for the bullpen."

Since May 30, the bullpen has recorded a 2.62 ERA. Dotel has a 3.55 ERA and eight saves, Greinke has a 2.79 ERA, while Riske (1.15) and Soria (0.00) have been incredible. More importantly, KC, 19-35 entering June, is 17-14 since then and has nearly pulled out of the cellar in the American League Central.

"The bullpen has been lights-out," Brian Bannister said.

It wasn't that case in the first month of the season. With Dotel out with an oblique injury and roles not firmly established, a shaky corps struggled. Soria emerged as the closer, but his new role exposed the middle relief and setup roles. Things started to transform when Greinke moved from the starting rotation to the bullpen.

"You know as a pitcher, as a reliever, then you have to pick it up," Riske said. "If things aren't going good and you are letting some wins get away, you know. You know you have to pick it up."

From May 11 (the day after Greinke's first appearance) to May 30, the bullpen compiled a 3.84 ERA. Once Dotel returned, though, everything has changed.

"Everyone is throwing strikes and is being really aggressive," Riske said. "We struggled in the first month, but it just took guys a little while to get going and usually in a bullpen it usually takes one or two guys in a bullpen that is struggling a little bit and everyone went through a little funk, but everyone kind of found it at the same time and we have been going with it, so it's been fun."

It's been so good that the team didn't want to mess with it when starter Scott Elarton was injured in the St. Louis series June 18-20. Greinke and Soria, two starters turned relievers, were not even considered as possibilities.

"We don't want to mess with the strength of our team," manager Buddy Bell said.

Instead, they left Greinke and Soria -- two of the biggest surprises in baseball this season -- in the bullpen. Greinke, a former No. 1 overall pick, began the year as the No. 3 starter. After compiling a 1-4 record, 5.71 ERA and 20/11 strikeout-to-walk rate in 34 2/3 innings as a starter, he was moved to the bullpen.

And the results have been extraordinary. After Wednesday night, he is 3-0 with a 3.27 ERA and a 35/7 strikeout-to-walk rate in the bullpen. The right-hander, who suffered through personal problems over the past few years, is dominating hitters with a 97-100 mph fastball and a good curveball. Bell said Greinke has "Verlander" stuff, a reference to Tigers ace and no-hit man Justin Verlander.

"My stuff is way better now [in the bullpen]," Greinke said. "It's not even a comparison. I just pretty much throw everything as hard as I possibly can and I don't know how many people actually do that, but I have never done that before, at least on a consistent basis."

He is also exuding a little swagger and enjoying the game a lot more.

"Their staff has done a good job with [Greinke] and he has his confidence back and he has got his game together," Mariners manager John McLaren said. "When you are an opposing team and you are bringing that kind of stuff in from the bullpen, you are actually sometimes bringing in better stuff than the guy who started the game. That's pretty good."

Since June 8, Greinke has emerged as one of the best relievers in baseball, working anywhere from one to four innings an appearance.

"He can pitch long or short, he is really an amazing guy," Soria said.

It's a weapon that few other teams have, a weapon that has a 1.04 ERA and an 18/2 strikeout-to-walk rate in his last 17 innings. Greinke is more comfortable in the bullpen and has changed his style some.

"I have just maybe getting ahead in the count better, that might be a difference," he said. "Just even if it is the same pitch, hitters hit the ball better when they are ahead in the count versus when they are behind the count. I have been getting them out with the first pitch instead of the last pitch.

"I am using my breaking ball more early in the count than I was in the past, because I probably throw that easier for strikes than I throw my fastball for strikes."

Soria (2.27 season ERA) and Riske (2.29) have been solid all season, but both have been terrific recently. They often form the bridge from the starter to Dotel -- and rarely see any problems. Riske has a 0.62 ERA since May 1, while Soria has fashioned a 0.52 ERA in his last 15 games.

"Dotel looked like the old Dotel," McLaren said. "I don't know if he was any better when he was going 'Hells Bells.' I saw him hit 98 [mph] a couple times and you could tell that he was confident out there, and that's a big part of his game. I have always liked Dotel and I have always thought that he was a good competitor."

And helps the bullpen -- turn its season around.

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