Wasted Opportunity

Yes, the title of this post could likey be attributed to several different topics at this point in the day.  But while the Cavaliers’ loss resonates, I’m talking about an opportunity that opened its door about a month ago.  An opportunity that we had for someone else to step up, fill in the gaps, and prove that they were, in fact, better than the man ahead of them.

And that man is Joe Borowski.

For an entire off-season, and even the first few weeks of this year, Tribe fans were pounding the table on a changing of the guard at the end of the bullpen.  Though Borowski was one of the best at closing the door last season (from a saves total standpoint), we had Rafael Betancourt coming off of one of his best seasons as a pro.  We had Jensen Lewis, an up-and-coming middle-reliever with pinpoint accuracy and hellacious movement on his fastball.  We had Rafael Perez, a lefty specialist in present day, but the possible closer of the future.  Oh, and we added one of the best closers in Japan in Masa Kobayashi.  Though he will be turning 32 years of age this weekend, there was some thinking that he could step in as needed to close out games.

But all of this was for naught.

Betancourt did pick up four saves.  But he also blew one, and didn’t exactly help his cause in tied contests.

Lewis recorded a blown save and a loss over the last month, tossing 15 innings and allowing 13 hits and three runs. 

Kobayashi appeared to have a leg up on the competition until his blown save and loss against the Reds – of course, thanks to a meatball served up to Adam Dunn.

Perez still can’t seem to shake the lefty-specialist role, going 1-1 over the last 30 days.  Although, if you look past his terrible games against Minnesota and Kansas City, Perez was actually very solid in the middle innings.  Over the last 10 appearances, Perez tossed seven innings of five-hit ball, with zero earned runs, seven strikeouts and three walks.

So where does this leave us?  Back with Joe Borowski, that’s where.  As mentioned late last week, JoBo will be making a rehab appearance tonight for the Lake County Captains.  And while it was Borowski’s job upon his return, wouldn’t it have been at least interesting to have a viable option?  You know, just in case? 

I guess the more things change, the more they stay the same.  Take your Tums folks, because the ninth inning will continue to not be too easy on the stomach.

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