Borowski Goes On DL

Update: From the AP Reports

CLEVELAND -- Indians closer Joe Borowski has been placed on the 15-day disabled list after blowing a save and giving up a two-run homer in the ninth inning to Boston's Manny Ramirez in a 6-4 loss to the Red Sox.

The club said Tuesday that Borowski, who led the AL with 45 saves last season, has a strained triceps. He had been puzzled and frustrated by a significant loss in his velocity.

The club recalled right-hander Tom Mastny from Triple-A Buffalo.

With Borowski out, Indians manager Eric Wedge will likely turn to Rafael Betancourt as his new closer. Betancourt was one of baseball's top set-up men last season. He had three saves last
season and has 12 career saves.


By TOM WITHERS
AP Sports Writer

HALLELUJAH! Borowski goes onto the DL, and we'll see what Wedge does with the closer role. Now it's just a matter of making sure JoeBo doesn't come back in two weeks and is inserted right back in.

Boston 6, Cleveland 4

After a quality start by Jake Westbrook and Rafael Betancourt pitched the Indians out of a jam in the seventh inning, Borowski came in for the ninth with a one run lead. Any Tribe fan could see it coming.

Borowski gives up a double to Julio Lugo to start off the inning. Then an outstanding play by Casey Blake on a Coco Crisp bunt up the third base line gives the Indians one out in the inning, but Lugo moves up to third. Dustin Pedroia drives a ball deep to left field that easily scores Lugo to tie the game on the sac fly. Another Borowski appearance, another blown save. But that's not all...

Two outs in the inning and David Ortiz strolls to the plate. Ortiz was batting .085 on the year before his plate appearance, barely even making contact with anything all season. He bloops a single to left. Two outs, Ortiz at first. And this brings us to Manny Ramirez.

First pitch from JoeBo is a tantalizing 82-mph fastball right down the middle of the plate. Ramirez crushes it over the left center field wall. 6-4 Red Sox. Another win slips away.

For good measure, Borowski proceeded to serve up a double to Kevin Youkilis before finally being pulled by Eric Wedge.

Borowski's line for the game:

0.2 innings pitched, 4 hits, 3 earned runs, 0 strikeouts, ERA of 18.00

Enough is enough. Instead of punching a wall, I created this blog. It will be devoted to tracking and scrutinizing every single appearance Borowski has, good or bad. But as Indians fans know, even his "good" appearances will involve scattered walks and extra-base hits. Rarely a 1-2-3 inning.

With Rafael Betancourt in the bullpen, why leave every close game up to chance by bringing in Borowski? He must be benched. Buried in the bullpen. Only called on for work during blowouts.

This is an open forum for comments on his performances.

Bench Borowski.