Thank You Joe Borowski
At this time time last year, after watching Joe Borowski allow the Yankees to come back from a four run deficit in the ninth inning, I penned An Open Letter to the Cleveland Indians. Here’s some of what I wrote:
Because honestly, and I don’t believe I’m overstating the case, it’s hard to believe Borowski’s on a major league roster. Nothing he threw looked like major league stuff, and certainly not closer level. I wanted to grab a bat, which means Borowski had nothing to offer Arod except batting practice. Borowski would have been better off setting the ball on a tee or tossing it underhand and praying for a miracle.
Your fans, and the rest of the Indian team, the ones that fought for that 6-2 lead, deserved better. Not necessarily a win, but at least a chance. Today, with your hopes on the shoulders of a completely overmatched Borowski, those chances were slim and none.
Tonight Borowski, inexplicably still the Cleveland closer, did the same for Boston. His pitches floating over the plate at 84 miles an hour the Indians once again gave away a game that was there’s for eight innings. Manny, who crushed a go ahead two run homer off Borowski, couldn’t even tell if the pitch was a fastball or change-up.
Like a fastball. It was something like 80. Or a change. It was right there.
I was thrilled with Boston’s comeback, but I’ll repeat what I said a year ago. It’s inexcusable for a team with as much pitching talent as Cleveland to have Joe Borowski closing. Boston fans would revolt.
Other thoughts:
- Until Lester decides that he’s going to throw strikes he’ll never be any more than a mediocre pitcher. He’s showed no improvement from a year ago; he might be worse. Add to this performance Dice-K’s miserable showing last night and you have to wonder if the Red Sox coaches got anywhere with these two over the winter.
- Julian Tavarez getting out of a bases loaded one out situation and two plus innings of shut out ball keyed the victory. I have a spot for Tavarez so I was happy to see him do well. Can you imagine Snyder doing the same? Me neither. Still a good decision.
- Varitek has left 10 men on base over the past two games. The black hole is growing.
- The rumors regarding Manny rededicating himself over the winter have been vindicated. He’s a “bad” man. I absolutely love watching him play and dread the day he’s not in a Red Sox uniform.
Somehow I doubt we’ll see Joe Borowski tonight.
