Indians cut ties with Borowski

One season after leading the American League in saves, and nine months after striking out Jorge Posada at Yankee Stadium to clinch the Division Series for the Cleveland Indians, closer Joe Borowski was looking for work.

He'll be easy to identify. Just search for the guy who turned into a pumpkin.

The Indians designated Borowski for assignment because they no longer could live with his three losses and 7.56 ERA. Nothing personal here. It's just business.

A cold, cruel business – in case he needed any reminders.

Borowski saved 45 games last year, one short of Jose Mesa's club record. But what had he done for the Indians lately, besides blow four saves in 10 chances?

"No excuses. I take full responsibility for not pitching up to par, and this is what happens," he said. "Unfortunately, we as a team were not performing as expected. Changes had to be made, and I was a part of it. But I have no regrets. It is what it is. Nobody ever said this game is easy or fair."

Manager Eric Wedge wasn't ready to anoint Masa Kobayashi as the full-time closer, but he should get the first crack at the job – as soon as he's done tallying all the competitive-eating jokes that he's been subjected to since joining the team.

So just how long does it take him to devour the post-game spread?

The guy's fake laugh better be as good as his fastball.

Anyway, Wedge said "it won't just be Masa."

"I'll pick some spots to try other guys," Wedge added, "but Masa will get the bulk of them for now."
 
As The Sox Turn

The soap opera in Chicago continues to attract a large audience, though most fans probably hope it's not picked up for a second season.

Shortstop Orlando Cabrera already has locked horns with manager Ozzie Guillen about the team not supporting his protested scoring calls. Now he's engaged in a heated dugout argument with outfielder Jermaine Dye.

Can't they all just get along?

DeWayne Wise had to separate the teammates after Cabrera scored the tying run in the eighth inning and was confronted by Dye, who apparently didn't appreciate the shortstop stealing third base while he batted – and eventually struck out.

"It was a misunderstanding. A little bit of a misunderstanding," Dye said. "When you're together for so long, things like that happen, and after it was all said and done, we came up and hugged. It's over.

"He is a team player and, no matter if it's Orlando or some other player on the team, we go through times where we're together so long we're going to argue, fight. But you just get over it and talk it out, be done with it. It's a misunderstanding, that's all it was and we're fine."

Guillen tried to put his own, positive spin on the matter.

"You know why I like that? I don't see guys mumbling behind people's backs and stabbing teammates in the back," Guillen said. "If you want to say something, say it there and then we figure out things to settle down."
 
Tail of two Tigers

Miguel Cabrera, a disappointment since coming over to Detroit in the blockbuster trade with the Florida Marlins, had a sizzling five-game stretch. He homered one night, homered again the next, doubled in the 15th inning to ignite the winning rally, produced his first two-homer game while going 4-for-4, and hit a game-tying two-run homer in the ninth inning.

For those of you keeping score at home, that's 11-for-23 (.478), five homers and eight RBIs in five games.

Now for the flip side…

Pitcher Dontrelle Willis, acquired in that same trade and later demoted to Single-A Lakeland, where he hoped to finally locate home plate, received a cortisone injection in his right knee last week to relieve the pain from his patellar tendinitis that halted his throwing program. He's appeared in one game since being demoted more than a month ago.
 
Center fielder of attention

Forget those trade rumors involving Gary Matthews. Even if the Los Angeles Angels wanted to move him, and they'd probably love to get out from under the $50 million contract that still has three more years attached to it, he has a full no-trade clause.

More important, he apparently has no intention of waiving it.

"I'm happy here," he said. "This is rumor and talk and that's part of the job. I understand that. There is nothing better than waking up every morning and knowing I'm going to be playing in front of 40,000 cheering fans every night here, sitting in first place and with a chance to win a championship.

"Things could always be better in terms of the way I view my game and my daily goals, but in terms of where I go to work and what I'm doing, I couldn't ask for better."

Calling the PC police

A Kansas City radio station has produced "Mexicutioner" T-shirts in honor of Royals All-Star closer Joakim Soria, which aren't a hit with everyone, considering that Soria is shown wearing a big sombrero.

Tacky, at best.

Soria didn't give his permission for the station to use his likeness, but he seems fine with it. He's not just a good reliever, he's also a good sport.

"It's great," he said.
 
Still want to be a catcher?

Little League coaches who have trouble finding kids to volunteer as catchers might want to keep them away from the Royals' John Buck.

He's exhibit A why it's better to play the outfield. Or golf.

Buck is just now beginning to feel normal again after being nailed in the cup by a foul ball – no way that area is considered fair territory.

"After the game, I could barely walk because it was so swollen," Buck said. "I slept with ice on it. I woke up and I was back to normal size. I (passed) a little blood.

"I hope I never get one worse than that."
 
Desperate times

The Indians, looking for an eventual replacement for Cy Young winner CC Sabathia after trading him to the Milwaukee Brewers, signed free agent pitcher Jeff Weaver and assigned him to Triple-A Buffalo.

Yeah, that ought to do it.

Weaver last pitched for the Brewers' Triple-A affiliate in Nashville, where he was 2-4 with a 6.22 ERA in nine starts before being released on June 11.

Last year, Weaver was 7-13 with a 6.20 ERA for the Seattle Mariners.

"We're short on our starting pitching depth," Wedge said. "He helps us out there, and is an experienced guy."
 
Question of the Week:

Is there a reasonable explanation for why the Orioles have lost 14 straight Sunday games since winning their first one over the Seattle Mariners on April 6?

If so, please send it to manager Dave Trembley at Camden Yards. He'd love to know.

"I really haven't talked about it, but I'm aware of it," Trembley said. "I'd certainly like to get rid of it. I have too many friends e-mailing me and reminding me about it."

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