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Joe Borowski (baseball)

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Joe Borowski
Borowski with the Cleveland Indians in 2007
Pitcher
Born: (1971-05-04) May 4, 1971 (age 53)
Bayonne, New Jersey, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
July 9, 1995, for the Baltimore Orioles
Last MLB appearance
July 1, 2008, for the Cleveland Indians
MLB statistics
Win–loss record22–34
Earned run average4.18
Strikeouts372
Saves131
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Joseph Thomas Borowski (born May 4, 1971) is a sports broadcaster for the Arizona Diamondbacks, as well as a former professional baseball right-handed relief pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball for the Baltimore Orioles, Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Florida Marlins, and Cleveland Indians.

Career

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High school career

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Borowski grew up in Bayonne, New Jersey, attended Marist High School and was an All-America selection in both football and baseball and a two-time All-State selection in both sports.[1] He attended Rutgers University in New Jersey.

Major League Baseball career

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Borowski was drafted in the 32nd round (823rd overall) of the 1989 Major League Baseball draft by the Chicago White Sox.[2] On March 31, 1991, he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Pete Rose Jr.[3] Borowski made his major league debut for the Orioles on July 9, 1995, against his former team, the White Sox. He tossed a scoreless ninth inning to close out an 11–2 Orioles win.[4] Borowski made six appearances for the Orioles in 1995, recording a 1.23 ERA.[5]

On December 17, 1995, Borowski was traded to the Atlanta Braves along with pitcher Chaad Stewart in exchange for starting pitcher Kent Mercker.[6] In Atlanta, Borowski split time between the majors and the Triple-A Richmond Braves.[7] He was later claimed off waivers by the New York Yankees on September 15, 1997.[5] He made one appearance for the Yankees that season on September 18 against the Detroit Tigers, recording the loss after allowing two earned runs and walking four batters in two innings in a 9–7, 11-inning loss.[8] In 1998, Borowski made eight appearances with the Yankees, going 1–0 with a 6.52 ERA.[5]

Borowski spent the 1999 season in the Milwaukee Brewers organization, going 6–2 with four saves and a 5.46 ERA in 58 games for the Triple-A Louisville RiverBats.[7] On November 9, 1999, he signed with the Cincinnati Reds, but was later released on March 21, 2000.[5] Borowski then spent the 2000 season pitching in the Mexican League for the Monterrey Sultanes and in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball for the Newark Bears.[7]

On December 11, 2000, Borowski signed with the Chicago Cubs.[5] Before his second year with the Cubs in 2002, Borowski had never appeared in more than 25 games, but when given a chance to appear frequently he did very well. Between his stints with the Yankees and Cubs, he worked as a fireman. In 2002, he went 4–4 with two saves and a 2.73 ERA in 73 games of relief.[5] The next year, he was converted to the closer role for the Cubs and was exceptional, going 2–2 with a 2.63 ERA and recording 33 saves in 37 opportunities, helping the Cubs win their division and reach the NLCS before being eliminated by the eventual World Series champion Florida Marlins.[5] In 2004, Borowski started the season poorly, going 2–4 with an 8.02 ERA in 22 games and recording nine saves in 11 opportunities.[5] In June, it was announced that he had suffered a partial tear in his right rotator cuff, which later ended his season.[9] During spring training in 2005, Borowski broke his wrist on a come-backer lined directly at him. After missing seven weeks, he returned to the Cubs on May 20.[10] He did not have his old closer job back, though, as Ryan Dempster had emerged as the club's new closer. On June 29, 2005, Borowski was designated for assignment by the Cubs, and he was subsequently released.[11] At the time, he had posted a 6.55 ERA in 11 relief appearances.[5]

On July 11, 2005, Borowski signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays,[12] who used him as a set-up man to closer Danys Báez. While with the Devil Rays, Borowski went on a tear, pitching a franchise record 21 scoreless innings, and is seen by many as the catalyst for the Devil Rays' second half turnaround, as his inspired performance helped stabilize the Rays' otherwise shaky bullpen. However, in his last 14 appearances, he gave up 15 runs, raising his ERA from 2.25 to 4.47.[13] Borowski was designated for assignment by the Devil Rays in early December, and then non-tendered by the team on December 22.[14]

On December 29, 2005, Borowski signed a one-year deal with the Florida Marlins.[15] He spent the season as the Marlins' closer, going 3–3 with a 3.75 ERA in 72 relief appearances while converting 36 out of 43 save opportunities.[5] After the season, Borowski agreed to a multi-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, but the deal later fell apart after concerns over the status of his right shoulder.[16]

On December 6, 2006, Borowski signed a one-year, $4.25 million contract with the Cleveland Indians that included a club option for 2008.[17] The signing of Borowski filled the vacant closer role for Cleveland. During the 2007 season, Borowski got off to a slow start as closer for the Indians, posting an earned run average of 13.50 in his first seven outings.[18] His struggles were capped off after surrendering six runs to the New York Yankees on April 19, 2007, in the ninth inning after coming into the game with a four-run lead. Borowski was not charged with a blown save in this outing, since a three-run lead or smaller is required for a pitcher to earn the save.[19] He finished the season 4–5 and led the American League with 45 saves in 69 relief appearances, but had an ERA of 5.07, which was the highest ever for a closer with 40 or more saves.[5]

On November 6, 2007, the Indians exercised Borowski's $4 million club option, opting to bring him back in 2008.[20] Had the team declined Borowski's option, he would have been paid a $250,000 buyout.

In 2008, Borowski got off to a bad start to the season. Putting up an 18.00 ERA with two blown saves through five appearances, he averaged a walk, two hits, and two runs per appearance.[21] Following another dreadful appearance in which he gave up three earned runs in 2⁄3 inning on April 14,[22] the Indians put him on the 15-day disabled list with a strained triceps.[23]

Borowski was designated for assignment by the Indians on July 4, and released on July 10, 2008.[24][5]

On February 24, 2009, Borowski announced his retirement.[25]

Personal life

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Borowski currently resides in Scottsdale, Arizona, with his wife Tatum and two sons Blaze and Ty.[1]

He accepted an award in 2004 from the Polish American Police Association as a distinguished Polish-American.[26]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Cleveland Indians: Media Guide 2007 (PDF). MLB Advanced Media. pp. p. 93. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 28, 2008. Retrieved May 3, 2007.
  2. ^ "32nd Round of the 1989 MLB June Amateur Draft". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  3. ^ Curry, Jack (April 1, 1991). "SIDELINES: HUSTLED OFF TO CHICAGO; Orioles Trade Pete's Son to Sox". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  4. ^ "Baltimore Orioles vs Chicago White Sox Box Score: July 9, 1995". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Joe Borowski Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  6. ^ "Orioles Trade for Mercker". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. December 18, 1995. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c "Joe Borowski Minor, Mexican & Independent Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  8. ^ "Detroit Tigers vs New York Yankees Box Score: September 18, 1997". Baseball-Reference.com. September 18, 1997. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  9. ^ "Closed out: Cubs' Borowski to miss 4-6 weeks". ESPN. June 12, 2004. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  10. ^ Sullivan, Paul (May 21, 2005). "Return perfect for Borowski". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  11. ^ "Cubs activate RHP Wood from DL, designate RHP Borowski". ESPN. June 29, 2005. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  12. ^ Topkin, Marc (July 12, 2005). "Rays sign reliever Borowski". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  13. ^ "Joe Borowski 2005 Pitching Game Logs". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  14. ^ Maffezzoli, Dennis (December 22, 2005). "Carter, Hall re-sign with Devil Rays". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  15. ^ "Reese, Borowski sign one-year deals with Marlins". ESPN. Associated Press. December 29, 2005. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  16. ^ Crasnick, Jerry (November 29, 2006). "Phillies back out of deal with Borowski after physical". ESPN. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  17. ^ Castrovince, Anthony (December 6, 2006). "Tribe locks up Dellucci, Borowski". Cleveland Indians. MLB.com. Archived from the original on December 9, 2006. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  18. ^ "Joe Borowski 2007 Pitching Game Logs". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  19. ^ Castrovince, Anthony (April 19, 2007). "Indians drop heartbreaker to Yanks". Cleveland Indians. MLB.com. Archived from the original on April 23, 2007. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  20. ^ Withers, Tom (November 6, 2007). "Indians pick up club option on Paul Byrd". USA Today. Associated Press. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved January 23, 2008.
  21. ^ Verified by ESPN.com
  22. ^ "Boston Red Sox vs Cleveland Indians Box Score: April 14, 2008". Baseball-Reference.com. April 14, 2008. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  23. ^ "Indians place RHP Joe Borowski on 15-day disabled list". Cleveland Indians. MLB.com. April 15, 2008. Archived from the original on April 21, 2008. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  24. ^ Nystrom, Thor (July 4, 2008). "Borowski designated for assignment". Cleveland Indians. MLB.com. Archived from the original on July 7, 2008. Retrieved July 4, 2008.
  25. ^ Hoynes, Paul (February 25, 2009). "Joe Borowski, former Cleveland Indians closer, says he's retired". The Plain Dealer.
  26. ^ "PolOrg - the Information Resource for Polonia Organizations". PolOrg. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
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