Borowski gets tepid backing from Baker.

Byline: Fred Mitchell

CHICAGO _ Joe Borowski is still the Cubs' closer. But manager Dusty Baker doesn't sound quite as emphatic about last season's surprise reliever who saved 33 games.

When asked if Borowski's status is shaky, Baker replied: "Don't rush. That's a premature decision, I think."

Borowski absorbed the loss Sunday when he gave up two runs in the top of the 10th to the Reds. But the leadoff single was a fly ball lost in the sun by Sammy Sosa. Some observers wondered why Baker didn't turn to Borowski on Saturday after starter Kerry Wood entered the ninth inning with 112 pitches.

"Woody is approaching the threshold that the great pitchers reach where you don't really need a closer anymore," Baker said. "I mean, it would have been (tough) taking Ferguson Jenkins out of that game. Or Bob Gibson or (Sandy) Koufax or Curt Schilling or Randy Johnson or Dave Stewart or Roger Clemens back in his day.

"That's a situation where you are trying to help Woody get to another point in his career where he can close out his own games. He was still throwing 97, 98 mph. Everybody takes it as a slight on Joe (Borowski). It has nothing to do with Joe. He doesn't enter this equation. I am trying to get Woody to a point of greatness where he can close his own game." ...

Some preseason baseball publications predicted the Reds would be the worst team in baseball. After the first two weeks of the season, Cincinnati (7-4) has a better record than the Cubs (6-6), who were predicted by several to win the World Series.

"Predictions don't affect me, because I know better," Baker said. "The Reds have a tough team. I told everybody before the season started that our division was going to be tough. The Reds, all they had to do was stay healthy."

After Sosa homered in the first and third innings, Reds manager Dave Miley had a decision to make in the fourth. With runners on second and third and two outs, he had starter Paul Wilson pitch to Sosa rather than walk him to get to Moises Alou. Sosa ended the inning with a groundout. Alou led off the fourth with a solo homer. "Their lineup is so tough," Miley said. "It's hard to find anyone you can walk. So many guys can hurt you. You just pick your poison." ...

For the first time in the series, there were no ejections. Baker, who was ejected Friday, hopes the umpires will hold no grudges. He said the relationship between players and umpires has changed since his playing days. "It's different now. Then, you could have a good argument. As long as you don't say a couple of magic words, you're going to remain in the game," Baker said. "The fans used to love it. Even some of the umpires used to love it. The whole thing has changed."

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