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Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Plain Dealer: Borowski says he ‘had nothing’

Joe Borowski doesn’t know what’s wrong. One day he feels like he can throw the ball through a brick wall.

“The next day, I feel like I’m throwing through water,” said Borowski.

...Borowski met with Tribe manager Eric Wedge, General Manager Mark Shapiro and the team’s medical staff after the game to discuss the condition of his right arm and shoulder.

“I hope we can pinpoint something,” said Borowski. “Right now, it’s driving me crazy. I’m grasping at straws. Maybe it’s something. Maybe it’s nothing.”

..."I had nothing,” said Borowski. “I was stuck in one gear.”

Manny Ramirez seemed stunned by the pitch Borowski threw him.

“It seemed like a fastball,” he said. “It was something like 80 mph. Maybe it was change-up. It was right there.”

Repoz Posted: April 15, 2008 at 01:35 AM | 21 comment(s)
Related News: General, Cleveland

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1. Tony H. Posted: April 15, 2008 at 12:53 AM (#2744399)

Well, he finally got something right. He had nothing.

Thing is, he hasn't had it all year. His velocity has been down since the first game of the season. He was a bad pitcher last year, and if he's lost 3-4 mph on his fastball, he's not even a decent AAA pitcher.

What I wouldn't give to see Raffy Betancourt or Jensen Lewis closing close games...

2. Dan Posted: April 15, 2008 at 01:04 AM (#2744402)

What was his velocity like in his first few outings? Surely it wasn't this bad, was it?

3. Dr. Leo Spaceman Posted: April 15, 2008 at 01:05 AM (#2744403)

The first time I saw 83 mph I figured it was a change-up. Second time I figured the NESN gun was messed up. Then when he kept doing it, and Remy even noticed it, I basically said "Jackpot" and watched the 9th unfold. Borowski's toast (well, officially now).

4. ?Donde esta Dagoberto Campaneris? Posted: April 15, 2008 at 01:08 AM (#2744404)

Last week, against the Angels, he was firing it up there at about 83, 84. Although velocity picked up as the pitches got nearer to Torii Hunter's bat. So he's got that going for him, which is nice.

5. Dan Posted: April 15, 2008 at 01:09 AM (#2744406)

Oh, I knew it was a fastball from the first one, I was just shocked at how bad it was.

Fangraphs shows his average fastball (excluding tonight) at around 84 MPH so far this year. He was even a little bit off that tonight, I think. In any case, he looks like he's toast. He put up a 5 ERA last year with an 88 MPH fastball, so it's not as if he has any margin for losing his stuff.

6. Tony H. Posted: April 15, 2008 at 01:12 AM (#2744407)

What was his velocity like in his first few outings? Surely it wasn't this bad, was it?

Yep. It's been way down all year. Well, I don't remember exactly about the very first Chicago series but since then he has had nothing.

Here's an article about it from a week ago.

on edit: Also, I obviously cannot stand Joe Borowski as a pitcher right now (or ever with the Indians for that matter), but he does seem like a helluva guy and I really feel bad for him. He just sucks as a major league pitcher.

7. BeanoCook Posted: April 15, 2008 at 01:28 AM (#2744413)

Indians fans, why isn't Betancourt the closer? Is Kobayashi for real?

8. Tony H. Posted: April 15, 2008 at 01:46 AM (#2744422)

Betancourt had a stint as closer a few years ago that failed miserably. Wickman was hurt and both he and David Riske failed in that role (and Jason Davis briefly had the job, my how his fortunes have changed!), and it seemed to sour the front office on Betancourt as the closer. Obviously I think most Indians fans would be elated to see Betancourt as closer...

Don't know regarding Kobayashi. I'm not an expert, but his stuff does not look overpowering to me. I think he's going to live and die with his command.

9. IronChef Chris Wok Posted: April 15, 2008 at 01:54 AM (#2744425)

Kobayashi Theatre should be fun

10. Trevor Crowe T. Robot (Dan Lee) Posted: April 15, 2008 at 02:09 AM (#2744430)

I'm not an expert, but his stuff does not look overpowering to me. I think he's going to live and die with his command.

I completely agree with Tony. Looks like Kobayashi can pitch a bit, but he doesn't look to me like much more than an average-ish reliever.

It's really amazing - apart from a couple years of Mesa and one year of Mike Jackson, the Indians have never had a lockdown closer who comes in and blows people away. It's always been guys like JoeBo, Wickman, Doug Jones, Steve Olin...guys who throw 87-91, don't get oodles of strikeouts, and are completely hittable.

11. BeanoCook Posted: April 15, 2008 at 02:13 AM (#2744432)

As a Brewers fan, I must say, I loved Doug Jones as closer in 1997. Check out those numbers, amazing he did it with a fastball 81, change up 69. Has there ever been a more unlikely dominant season years after a players prime?

12. BeanoCook Posted: April 15, 2008 at 02:17 AM (#2744433)

Doug Jones 1997. Age 40.

36 Saves. 2.02 ERA, 80 1/3IP, 82/9 K/BB ratio. $600,000 salary. Has any FA ever delivered such value? Oh, his OBP was 1.000 too!

13. NTNgod Posted: April 15, 2008 at 02:18 AM (#2744434)

As a Brewers fan, I must say, I loved Doug Jones as closer in 1997.

What, his long stay on the '82 team didn't catch your attention?

14. Trevor Crowe T. Robot (Dan Lee) Posted: April 15, 2008 at 06:29 AM (#2744453)

Tom Hamilton last night on the Indians Radio Network: "I'm guessing, Mike, that's the fastball?"

When you have to guess whether or not it's a fastball, your team has a big, big problem.

15. bunyon Posted: April 15, 2008 at 07:00 AM (#2744458)

Yeah, he seems like a good guy. So it's shame he's not that good (anymore). It's too bad, too, for the Indians that he isn't a bad guy. Maybe if he was an ass, they wouldn't have kept him in the closer's role long enough to blow a pennant.

16. zonk Posted: April 15, 2008 at 07:55 AM (#2744483)

I guess three resurrections is about the limit for junkballing pitchers who are good guys nonetheless.

When it comes to closers who top out in the mid 80s - Trevor Hoffman wants everyone to know THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!

17. Smiling Joe Hesketh Posted: April 15, 2008 at 08:41 AM (#2744523)

Borowski had nothing last night, but it's worth noting that the defensive alignment behind him cost him two baserunners. Lugo's hit is a line drive out to Blake if they're playing standard D instead of no-doubles, and Ortiz' popup is an out if they aren't playing such a radical shift and if Dellucci isn't at the warning track.

Manny's ball was an entirely different kind of out, however.

18. John DiFool2 Posted: April 15, 2008 at 08:46 AM (#2744532)

Kobayashi Theatre should be fun

The Wickman Maru scenario is unwinnable.

19. willcarrollsux Posted: April 15, 2008 at 09:52 AM (#2744599)

I remember reading an article a few weeks ago in which Borowski was going on and on about how it doesn't matter if you have great stuff, to be a closer you have to be a real man. There are all sorts of candy-assed losers with mere "great stuff", but only real men like Borowski can get it done.

So I'm not sure why it should matter if he "had nothing".

To be fair, he didn't use those exact words ("real man" and "candy-assed losers" and so forth), but that was definitely the vibe.

20. Pasta-diving Jeter (jmac66) Posted: April 15, 2008 at 01:03 PM (#2744815)

I guess you've heard that the Tribe just DL'd him

good face-saving for everyone

("OK listen Joe, your arm hurts, got me? It hurts like hell, unnerstand?")

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Plain Dealer: Borowski says he ‘had nothing’

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