Fire still burns for Wick: Indians' reliever returns

The 36-year-old re-signed with the team in the off-season for one more year.
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (AP) -- For now, the retirement gifts are still wrapped. The thanks-for-the-memories party is on hold for at least another year.
After nearly calling it quits at the end of last season, closer Bob Wickman decided he hadn't thrown his final sinker for the Cleveland Indians. And anyway, he didn't want to miss out on all the fun.
"We're right on the verge of something here," Wickman said. "I wanted to be a part of it."
Last September, Wickman wasn't sure what he wanted to do and considered retirement.
He had missed the first three months of the season with a strained elbow ligament, the lingering effects of reconstructive "Tommy John" surgery in 2002 that caused him to sit out the 2003 season.
Unsure
The 36-year-old was unsure of his baseball future, right up until the final out of 2004.
For the Indians' final series in Minneapolis, Wickman brought in his family from Wausaukee, Wis., to see what he thought was going to be his last days as a major leaguer.
"Everyone was there, grandma and grandpa," Wickman said. "It was going to be the last game. I told them, 'This might be the last one guys. Let's hope I can get in.' "
Wickman was handed the ball by manager Eric Wedge and closed out a 5-2 victory over the Twins for his 169th career save.
"I knew Wedgie was going to pitch me," he said. "He knew and I kind of knew that it might be it."
But deep down, Wickman was leaning toward coming back. In the final month of the season, his arm felt better than it had since surgery. His fastball began to pop again and his bread-and-butter sinker began biting like it used to.
"On that last road trip it felt really good," he said. "Then in Minnesota, I don't know if it was somebody upstairs giving me one last shot or whatever, but I felt better than I had in the two previous years.
"I threw the ball where I wanted it, and that's when I started to think, 'I can't let this go.' "
Wickman had come too far to give up. As long as his right arm didn't ache, he felt he could help the Indians.
Questions
Still, he wasn't sure Cleveland was interested in him. He entered free agency and was happily surprised when other teams inquired about signing him. The Indians, though, were at the top of his list even though he may not have been No. 1 on theirs.
The club, which lost too much ground in the AL Central while Wickman was out, pursued Troy Percival and Armando Benitez, but couldn't afford either. Wickman was always a backup plan, and in November, the Indians signed the right-hander to a $2.75 million deal that could be worth $3.5 million with incentives.
"It meant a lot that this team had faith in me," he said. "There were better offers, but it's not all about better offers. I've played with three organizations and the grass isn't always greener on the other side."
Wickman's return last season fixed Cleveland's bullpen, which blew 21 saves in the first half and ended the season ranked 12th in the AL. With Wickman, the bullpen saved 19 of 28 chances and the Indians went 25-5 when he appeared in a game.
Wickman no longer worries that his next pitch could be his last. If he blows out his elbow again, he won't have any regrets.
"It's full go," he said. "I want Wedgie to pitch me three days, give me two off. That's what I hope for."
Wickman is prepared for this to be his last season, and he hopes it can be a special one. The Indians have been rebuilt and have a good chance to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2001.
"We can do it this year," he said. "If not, and I'm not around next year, I can feel a part of it when I'm sitting home and saying, 'You know, I might have helped those guys.' We're right on the verge."