Changing of the Guard?

It was almost as if it was already scripted. The train was a runaway, and there was no way that it could be stopped. David Ortiz blooped a single into left field to put the winning run on board. Then Manny, the thorn in Cleveland’s side since he left, put a baseball into orbit, and eventually it landed in the left field seats. It was one more heartbreak for the Indians, and another blown save by Joe Borowski.

It’s been almost a week since it happened. Torii Hunter blasted a grand slam off Borowski for his first blown save of the year. But since then there has been a low rumbling amongst broadcasters, reporters, and fans that maybe the Indians should go in a different direction at closer. After last night’s performance, those low rumbles have been amplified. Is it time for a changing of the guard at closer?

The average Tribe fan would jump up and say yes. But management feels the benchmark is mid-May before any team can successfully gage a player’s performance. But will it be too late by then? Borowski has been in the league thirteen years and has had varying degrees of success. He had a meltdown with the Cubs in 2004 after he saved 33 games the previous season. JoeBo had an 8.02 ERA before he was removed from closer of the Cubs. Then in 2005, he had a 6.55 ERA before being released by Chicago. Borowski rebounded that season with Tampa Bay going 1-5 but had a 3.82 ERA. He went to Florida in 2006, where he saved 37 games and ended the season with a 3.75 ERA. That leads us to last year where Borowski saved 45 games and ended with a 5.04 ERA. So it’s clear Borowski is not a pillar of consistency to begin with.

Today saw Borowski go on the disabled list with strained triceps. Borowski has been perplexed by a 5-7 M.P.H. drop off in his fastball. Location of his pitches has also been a problem. Borowski has already allowed four walks and seven hits in four innings. He also has given up eight runs. Is this a sign that an arm that has been taxed by thirteen seasons is done? Borowski did have an offer pulled by the Philadelphia Phillies due to concern with his arm, particularly his shoulder. Is his arm tapped out?

And what if he is done? Who do you replace Borowski with? No one has really stood out in the bullpen this far. Rafael Betancourt will get the nod, while JoeBo is on the DL. Betancourt hasn’t been exactly lights out. He has a 5.14 ERA and allowed four earned runs. Other viable options are relievers Jorge Julio and Masahide Kobayashi. Julio was a closer with the Orioles and had 84 saves over three seasons. Kobayashi is the all time saves leader in Japanese baseball.

So is this DL stint an audition period for other closers? If the front office is smart it is. The Indians have at least two weeks to get a look at there other options, and they hope maybe one of those option catches lightning in a bottle. But it is becoming apparent that they don’t want to put the ball in the hands of Joe Borowski again.