Cleveland’s Joe Borowski blows another one
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | R | H | E | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLEVELAND | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 0 | |||||
| Chicago (AL) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 0 | |||||
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Joe Borowski blew his fourth save of the season, as the Cleveland Indians lost to the Chicago White Sox 3-2 in 10 innings in Chicago. The loss puts the Indians 11 1/2 behind the first-place White Sox, and may be the straw that breaks the camel’s backs on the Indians’ season.
What’s left to say about Joe Borowski? The Indians had taken the lead over the White Sox in the 10th inning, when Casey Blake hit a home run over the left field wall. It felt a bit like 2007 again, with late inning heroics winning an important game for the Indians. Enter Joe Borowski, who seems to prove nightly that when the game’s on the line, he’s not up to the task. He’s 6-10 in save situation, and there’s a sick part of me that wants him to end up at 50%. Maybe that will shut up the Borowski-backers that keep bringing up 45 saves from last year. Of course, I don’t think we’ll have that problem.
He started off by getting Joe Crede to ground out, and striking out last night’s hero, Nick Swisher. Then came the normalcy we’ve all grown to loath in our ‘closer.’ Borowski immediately got behind Alexei Ramirez, who ironically, the Indians were scouting last offseason. Ramirez took a 2-0 pitch, and deposited just over the wall in left field. Once that happened, Borowski was finished. He gave up a single to the next batter, Dewayne Wise, who promptly store second. Orlando Cabrera then singled up the middle, scoring Wise, and ending the game.
It may have ended more than that.
If I were Cliff Lee, I’d be clamoring for a trade. He pitched eight innings, giving up a run and six hits. He walked one, and struck out three. It still amazes me every time the guy pitches. Last year, his starts weren’t worth a Biff Pocaroba playing card. This year, he’s a top three candidate to win the Cy Young award.
I saw a lot of proclaiming about Jhonny Peralta yesterday from a lot of the media outlets because he went 5-5. I heralded the 5-5, but couldn’t figure out why people were making more of it than that. It’s not like he was in the midst of a major return to form or anything. It seemed to me that the 5-5 was out of the blue, not a guy figuring out the clean-up roll. Well, yesterday he went 0-4 with 3 K’s. I guess the headlines in some of the media outlets should have been, “Peralta really hasn’t figured out anything.”
Casey Blake, on the other hand, went 3-4. He also rolled out the 10th inning homer, and has raised his average to .287. I can’t imagine Mr. Blake is going to be long for the duration here in Cleveland. Of course, knowing our administrative structure, they’ll wait until Blake is mired in an 0-30 slump before trying to make a move. You know, we still have a chance to turn it around and all.
Dos Rafael pitched in the same game, back-to-back, and didn’t give up a run, or a hit! They went an inning total, striking out 2. Hmmm, I wonder where we’d be right now if they’d have started the season that way. Wow, I’m starting to sound jaded…
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008 at 9:31 am and is filed under Casey Blake, Cliff Lee, Rafael Betancourt, Rafael Perez, Alexei Ramirez, Biff Pocaroba, Dewayne Wise, Tribe Loss, Kelly Shoppach, James Pete, Chicago White Sox, Joe Crede, Nick Swisher, Joe Borowski, Cleveland Indians, Jhonny Peralta, Orlando Cabrera, Tribe Report.
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3 Responses to “Cleveland’s Joe Borowski blows another one”
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Here is the most maddening part of it. When you saw Borowski warming up in the bullpen you knew what was about to happen. I knew what was about to happen. Paula Abdul knew what was about to happen. The whole f****ing world knew what was about to happen. And Wedge didn’t? Of course, he did. But he trotted Borowski’s sorry a** out there anyway. If all Managers do is manage by the book then why pay a Manager. You or I can read the book. Lefty against lefty. Send the guy that’s called a closer out there in the 9th when you have a lead regardless of how awful he is. Why not write a little algorithm and stick a laptop in the dugout? Then a player can walk over and punch a key now and them and…. Jesus H. Christ.
July 2nd, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Does the 2007 AL runner-up really suck this bad?!! I keep thinking they are going to turn a corner and start playing like the team from last year by running off a bunch of wins and getting into contention. But it just gets worse and worse every night. This Borowski guy, he’s not the only reason why the team sucks, but he sure as heck has proven that he doesn’t belong in the pen as a closer. What more will it take? Ughgh!
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Eric Wedge - courtesy of Wikipedia
made his managerial debut in 1998 with the Columbus RedStixx of the South Atlantic League, leading the Cleveland single-A affiliate to an overall record of 59-81. In 1999, he was the manager of Cleveland’s Carolina League affiliate in Kinston. His team took first place during the first half of the season with a 37-32 record and second place during the second half with a 42-26 record. After the season, he was named the Carolina League Manager of the Year.
The Indians promoted Wedge to manager of the double-A Akron Aeros in 2000. The Aeros finished the season 75-68, just missing the Eastern League post-season after losing a one-game playoff with Harrisburg. In 2001, he continued his ascent through the Indians’ managerial ranks, leading their triple-A affiliate, Buffalo Bisons, to a 91-51 first-place finish in the International League’s North Division and a berth in the post-season where they lost to Scranton-Wilkes Barre in the semi-finals.
Wedge again earned post-season honors when he was named the International League Manager of the Year and Baseball America’s Triple A Manager of the Year.
He returned at the helm of the Bisons in 2002 and again led them to the post-season, finishing 87-57 and second in the North Division. This time, they defeated Scranton in the semi-finals but were swept by the Durham Bulls in the finals. Wedge was honored with his third post-season award when The Sporting News named him Minor League Manager of the Year.
On October 29, 2002, Wedge was named the 39th manager of the Cleveland Indians.
….In the American League Manager of the Year balloting for 2005, Wedge finished as runner-up to Ozzie Guillén. {WHO WON THE SERIES!}
…..The 2006 season was a disappointing one for Wedge and the Indians.
….Wedge and the Indians had more success in the 2007 season going 96-66 and winning the Central Division Title for the first time since 2001. Wedge then led the Indians to beat the Yankees in four games to win the ALDS, and moved on to play the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS, where they lost in 7 games. Wedge received The Sporting News Manager of the Year Award and the MLB Manager of the Year Award for the American League in 2007.
{end of wikipedia}
Wedge has been the ultimate ‘promote from within’ manager - managed at all levels - and has now had the club since 2003.
His won loss 2003-2007 is - John Adams Drum roll - won- 415 - lost - 395
Manger of the year awards in the Minors - Manager of the year award in the majors.
1st post season run (’05) fades in the stretch.
1st post season appearance fades at Fenway.
The is a stark comparison to Wedge in the Minors and Wedge in the Majors. Gets awards but loses the big game. All guts no glory. He nursed the little duckies all the way to the big show. He’s a nice guy, good family man, solid baseball mind. He gives a servicable press interview.
So what! Five years in the show and we have to live through a god awful ugly implosion. This is painful stuff if your a fan.
We need to add a new epilouge to Wiki;
RIP ERIC WEDGE!
Can it get worse? It’s only July 2nd. 37/47 11+ games out. 78 games to go.
YES IT CAN GET WORSE - we have to live through 2006 all over again and muster the willing suspension of disbelief that this guy can deliver an improvement on 2007 in 2009.
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