Miller: Five things to know
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Well, will you look at this. Here he comes again. Joe Borowski, baseball's Accidental Closer.
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| Eric Wedge is counting on Joe Borowski this season. (Getty Images) |
"I've had it my entire career," Borowski was saying of people doubting him on another chilly spring morning here. "It does bother me, but it doesn't. It motivates me a little more.
"I love rubbing it in people's faces. That's a great feeling."
A week ago, the guy was supposed to compete with Keith Foulke to close games for Cleveland in 2007. This was to be no small thing this spring for a team that ranked as one of the most disappointing in the majors in 2006, because the Indians bullpen was to leads last summer what a magician is to a rabbit.
Then Foulke stunned everybody Friday by announcing his retirement.
So the Indians, after rubbing the disbelief out of their eyes and checking their options, called Borowski in for a meeting. General manager Mark Shapiro and manager Eric Wedge went over a few things, and then basically told him, "By the way, Keith retired, so we guess you're our guy."
Another funny hop in a career, another round of questions from the "What -- HE'S the closer?" chorus.
"Of course you want to be politically correct in what you say," Borowski says. "I've done it before, and I have no doubt I can do it again.
"It's not like I'm coming in here like, 'Oh, I hope I get it.' I have no doubts."
Which makes Borowski, 35, unique among those watching his situation. But what's new?
The guy makes his living by making other people nervous. Club officials, fans, ballboys. You name it. He never begins the season as Plan A. But he sure has a knack for becoming Plan A.
In 2003, Antonio Alfonseca was going to open the season as the Chicago Cubs closer, but he got hurt in spring training.
