Closing Time for Joe Blow

The Indians placed closer Joe Borowski on the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday with a strained right triceps. Borowski, who somehow led the American League with 45 saves last year despite a 5.07 ERA, was on his way out the closing gig anyways. His 80 mph fastball (yes, it was a fastball) that he served up for Manny Ramirez in the ninth inning Monday night that landed in the seats sealed the deal. It was obvious that something was wrong with his arm since Borowski can usually deliver his ho-hum heater in the 88 mph range. It was also obvious, after blowing his second straight save opportunity and seeing his ERA inflate to 18.00, that “Joe Blow” was likely done closing games for the Tribe.

Indians manager Eric Wedge doesn’t exactly have thrilling solutions to replace Borowski as closer, so fantasy owners will need to take some fliers. The first guy who should be picked up and the first guy who will likely get a chance to save games for Cleveland now is Rafael Betnacourt.  As a setup man, Betancourt was fantastic last year, registering 31 holds and a 1.48 ERA.  But as a fill-in closer since 2003, he has been awful; he has blown 17 of 29 career save opportunities. Moreover, his stats this season include a 5.14 ERA and 1.71 WHIP.  Not good.   

Therefore, fantasy owners may also want to consider making a speculative pickup of Masahide Kobayashi, Jorge Julio, or Rafael Perez. All of them could get a shot at filling the Indians closer role should Betancourt’s struggles continue. Julio has 99 career saves, but in 2007 he blew all seven of the save opportunities he had for the Rockies and Marlins. I plucked Kobayashi out of the free agency pool in one of my leagues late last week just in case Borowski completely imploded. Before signing with the Indians this past winter, he averaged more than 30 saves a season over the last seven years in the Japanese Pacific League.  Even though Kobayashi apparently is not first in line to replace Joe Blow, I can either use him as trade bait or hold him on my bench in case he gets a shot to save games down the line.