The Cubs Chronicle

These ‘pens are mightier (Jacob Luft, SI.com, 5/25/2004)

SI.com’s Jacob Luft on teams, including the Cubs, that are using their best relief pitchers in the setup role rather than the closer role:

Conventional wisdom states the better pitcher should be the closer. He should have the fat contract, the heavy metal intro song and be doused with gold, frankincense and myrrh, right?

Nope.

Whether they planned it this way or not, the Astros have the ideal situation with the back end of their bullpen: two ace relievers, with the more dominant one as the setup man. This allows manager Jimy Williams to bring in Lidge when he needs him most, the seventh- or eighth-inning jam with runners on base and a lead to protect. Then Dotel can come in with a clean slate in the ninth to pad his all-important save totals.

The Astros aren’t alone in their good fortune. Here are some other teams that use their best pitchers in the high-leverage situations instead of anointing them the “closer” and letting them gobble up easy saves:
. . . .
Chicago Cubs Closer: Joe Borowski Ace reliever: LaTroy Hawkins Comment: At least the Cubs have the salaries right: Hawkins makes $2.7 million compared to Borowski’s $2 million salary. Hawkins has been well worth it, posting a 0.72 WHIP and .150 batting-average against.

Of course, after last night’s game one performance – “[the] wors[t] closing performance since [Scott Lange] walked five straight batters to blow the softball game Tuesday” – Borowski’s ERA now stands at 8.20 in 18.2 innings. Dusty Baker may be forced to elevate someone else to the closer’s role soon. Hopefully Hawkins isn’t demoted from the setup role, though, where he’s more valuable (despite his game two performance last night).

One of Borowski’s problems has been the huge increase in his walk rate. 15 walks in 18.2 innings this year. Control had been a key part of his success in 2002-03. Note that I predicted an increased walk rate when news of his loss in velocity was first reported back in March:

Borowski throws two pitches – a fastball and a slider. He doesn’t have a sinker or changeup that would allow him to be effective (or at least as effective as he has been) without a low 90s fastball. Additionally, he already lives by painting corners. A slowdown in his velocity may lead him to try to paint the corners even more, meaning an increased walk rate.

While we’re looking for Borowski’s missing velocity, be on the lookout for Derrek Lee’s power.