Despite blowing 9 of 34 save opportunities in 2004, reliever LaTroy Hawkins will start the season as the Cubs’ closer after the job’s other likely candidate, Joe Borowski suffered a hairline crack in his right wrist while fielding a grounder.
Borowski (above, right) missed the 2nd half of ’04 with a bad shoulder and had recently undergone arthroscopic knee surgery. He’s not expected back for 3-4 weeks.