After last night I’ve seen enough of Joe Borowski. If Eric Wedge continues to use him as the Indians’ closer it might wind up costing him his job. Borowski has pitched in 18 games for the Indians this season and he is 1-3 with 6 saves, a 7.56 ERA and a 1.92 WHIP. Borowski has pitched in 87 games for the Indians in the last two seasons and he is 5-8 with 51 saves, a 5.57 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. The Indians should give Japanese import Mashide Kobayashi a chance to close instead of Borowski. He has pitched in 38 games for the Indians this season and he is 4-3 with 4 saves, a 3.15 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. The start of rebuilding the Indians’ bullpen is getting rid of some of the trash in it and it all starts with Borowski who should be released.

UPDATE: The Indians have finally got rid of Joe Borowski as they designated him for assignment today. He will likely have a hard time finding another job as he has been absolutely awful this season for the Indians. Good Riddance!

The Indians were hoping that Rafael Betancourt would pitch good enough while Joe Borowski was out that he would get to keep the closer’s job but it just didn’t happen. Betancourt often looked like a deer in headlights on the mound with the games outcome in the balance. He has pitched in 19 games for the Indians this season and he is 1-2 with 4 saves, a 6.88 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP. He will likely slide back into his set up role in front of Borowski now that he has been activated from the D.L.

C.C. Sabathia appears to be putting to much pressure on himself as he is in his free agent walk season. Sabathia has started 5 games this season for the Indians and he is 1-3 with a 10.13 ERA and a 2.17 WHIP. C.C. has allowed 36 hits, 5 homers and he has walked 16 batters in only 24 innings. He has whiffed 25 batters in 24 innings which shows that his stuff is still good, but he needs to start pitching instead of just throwing.

With the emergence of lefty Aaron Laffey in the starting rotation late in the season it will be interesting to see if the Tribe is willing to move Cliff Lee or Jeremy Sowers. Cliff Lee rubbed the Indians the wrong way this season as he tipped his cap to fans after a pathetic performance that earned him a 1-way ticket to Buffalo. Still, he doesn’t make a ton of money and he’s still young so the Tribe will likely be able to find him a home. Lee has pitched in 129 games (125 starts) in his career and he is 54-36 with a 4.64 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. Jeremy Sowers can’t throw hard enough to dent a couch and that’s allright if you have the moxie of Tom Glavine, Jamie Moyer or David Wells…..but Sowers doesn’t. He has started 27 games in his career and he has two complete game shutouts already which completely baffles me. He is now 8-10 with a 4.80 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP in his career. Look for someone to be willing to trade for Sowers as he had big-time success in the minors.

The Cleveland Indians have sent Cliff Lee to the minors.  He has been horrible this season and he has been especially awful in his last three starts in which he has given up at least 7 earned runs in each one.  He has started 16 games this season and he is 5-8 with a 6.38 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP.  In 91.2 innings Lee has allowed 105 hits, 16 homers, walked 35 batters and whiffed 60.  The Indians have recalled reliever Edwin Mujica to help out in the bullpen until Lee’s spot comes up again next week.  Mujica has pitched in 30 games in AAA ball this season and he is 2-1 with 13 saves, a 5.79 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP.  Mujica also has had a rough time with the Indians as he has pitched in 5 games with them and he is 0-0 with a 10.97 ERA.  The Indians will likely bypass promoting Jeremy Sowers and call up 21 year old lefty Aaron Laffey when Lee’s spot comes up unless they trade for a veteran starting pitcher by then.  Laffey has pitched in 19 games (18 starts) in AA+AAA ball this season and he is 11-4 with a 2.94 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP.  In 113.1 innings this season he has allowed 104 hits, walked 24 batters and whiffed 85.