Borowski = Wickman = Mesa

It's been 49 years since the Cleveland Indians won a Championship and 10 years since their last appearance in the World Series. If 2007 is to prove to be the year for Cleveland, they have one major problem at the end of the rotation to overcome. Anyone who has witnessed Joe Borowski pitch the ninth inning this year with a two or three run lead understands exactly where I'm coming from.

Yes, it's hard to complain about someone who is leading the American League in saves with 40, but how many times can the Tribe get by with Big Joe loading the bases and giving up one or two runs before closing the game out? The Indians won't be playing the likes of the Royals, White Sox and Devil Rays in the playoffs. The Yankees, Red Sox and Angels will not let opportunities go by and offer a little more firepower as well. What's the Tribe's record against the latter three teams this year? The answer is 2-5 against Boston, 0-6 against New York and 3-3 against the Angels. Borowski's line in those 19 games - 1 loss, 1 save!

Cleveland fan holds their breath every time Borowski toes the mound. But, then again, Cleveland fans have been holding their breath with closers since 1994. That's the year Jose Mesa joined the Tribe. As with Borowski, Mesa put up great save numbers, but did it at the expense of an inflated ERA and a WHIP that makes all fantasy owners cry. This is a disturbing trend in Cleveland, one that the Atlanta Braves couldn't deal with, which led to the release of Bob Wickman in the middle of a pennant race. Tribe fans are extremely familiar with Wickman's closing issues, but hey, the saves were there right? Mesa, Wickman and Borowski are all the same person - plenty of saves but many more heartaches. I'm one Tribe fan that hopes Borowski doesn't lead to another heartbreak year for Cleveland fans.

So I ask, why will 2007 be different for the Tribe with Joe Borowski as their closer? A closers job is 3 up and 3 down. Remember, it was 10 years ago this October that Jose Mesa took the mound in the 9th inning of Game 7 against the Florida Marlins. How are the Borowski days of today any different than the Mesa days of old?