Detroit and Cleveland Can't Win
Todd Jones and Joe Borowski are Disasters
It is unconceivable that the Tigers will go with Todd Jones and that the Indians will go with Joe Borowski if they hope to be taken seriously.
The Detroit Tigers lead the Central Division by 1 /2 game over the second place Cleveland Indians, and while each has a good chance of winning the American League pennant, that will not occur unless each gets a closer. It is unconceivable that the Tigers will go with Todd Jones and that the Indians will go with Joe Borowski if they hope to be taken seriously. Todd Jones has converted 23 of 27 save opportunities. He has allowed 44 hits in 37 1/3 innings, walking 15 and striking out 21 with a 5.06 ERA. Those are numbers that used to get a pitcher a ticket to Triple A. Borowski is not much better. He has 25 saves in 28 save opportunities, but has allowed 43 hits in 34 2/3 innings with 29 strikeouts, 8 walks, a 2-3 record, and a 5.45 ERA.
The Save Statistic is Misleading
A team cannot expect to hold many leads if the pitcher expected to protect a lead for one inning has an ERA over 5.00 and allows more hits than innings pitched. The "saves" statistic is one of the most misleading of all measures of a pitcher's effectiveness and value. A pitcher can enter the ninth inning with a three run lead, retire only three of eight batters, and get a save (you figure out how that can occur).
He Blew the Game But Not the Save
On April 19, the Indians were leading the Yankees, 6-2. Joe Borowski came in to pitch the ninth inning. He retired Robinson Cano on a fly to center fielder Grady Sizemore. Melky Cabrera grounded out to shortstop Jhonny Peralta for the second out. Then Boroswki’s nightmare started. Josh Phelps hit a home run. Jorge Posada singled and Johnny Damon walked. Borowski had faced five batters and retired two of them. Derek Jeter singled home Posada and Bobby Abreu singled home Damon. It was now 6-4. Borowski had retired two of the seven batters he had faced. Alex Rodriguez hit a game winning three run home run. An amazing performance, but what is even more extraordinary is that Borowski was NOT charged with a blown save because he entered the game with a four run lead, and that is not a save situation. He blew the game, but wasn't charged with a blown save. Nice.
Jones and Borowski Don't Measure Up
Todd Jones and Joe Borowski are journeymen. Jones has been a relief pitcher his entire major league career, which began with the Astros in 1993. He has pitched for the Astros, Tigers, Twins, Rockies, Red Sox, Reds, Phillies, Marlins, and the Tigers again. The fact that so many teams didn't retain Jones' services reveals volumes about his value. He is not a strike out pitcher and has a career 1.410 WHIP (walks and hits allowed per innings pitched). Compare that to a premier closer such as Billy Wagner (1.000), Jonathan Papelbon (.971), Trevor Hoffman (1.034), Francisco Rodriguez (1.063), or Mariano Rivera (1.042). Admittedly, great closers are hard to find, but Jones' statistics don't come close to the best.
Joe Borowski started his major league career with the Baltimore in 1995. He has pitched for the Braves, Yankees, Cubs, Devil Rays, Marlins, and Indians. Like Jones, Borowski is not a strike out pitcher. His lifetime WHIP is 1.357, and his lifetime ERA is more than 4.00. The Tigers' and Indians' rivals for the pennant all have outstanding closers. The Angels have Francisco Rodriguez, the Twins have Joe Nathan, the Mariners have Joseph Jason Putz, the Red Sox have Jonathan Papelbon, and the Yankees have Mariano Rivera. The Tigers and Indians should make the playoffs, but unless something is done to replace the pitcher they bring in to close out games, they will be able to watch the World Series at home.
References:
Joe Borowski at Baseball-Reference
Borowski Blows it at Cleveland Indians site
