Joe Borowski had the unfortunate distinction of serving up Barry Bonds’ 50th home run last season in his lone outing with the Cubs.
But as Borowski points out, that isn’t the only significant long ball attached to his name. In 1996 he gave up Todd Hundley’s 40th home run, which tied the single-season mark for catchers.
“I brought it up to him last year when he was rehabbing at Iowa,” Borowski said. “I said, `Hot Rod, I don’t think you realize this, but I gave up your record-tying home run when you were with the Mets.’
“He said, `No way. It was a 2-0 count, right?’
“Yeah, it was.”
“He goes, `Thanks for the fastball, bro.'”
Borowski could laugh about that Friday. Hours later he had something else to smile about.
Before their exhibition game with Arizona on Friday night, the Cubs optioned right-hander Carlos Zambrano to Triple-A Iowa. Opening Day rosters won’t be set until 11 p.m. Saturday, but barring an injury, Borowski will break camp as the team’s 11th pitcher.
It’s a triumph for the 30-year-old Borowski, who had been told Thursday that he was being sent down to Iowa. But after Zambrano’s dreadful performance later that day against the White Sox–he allowed six of the seven batters he faced to reach–the Cubs had a change of heart.
Borowski, who excelled at Iowa last season, won the job with a 2.25 ERA in 10 spring appearances. Zambrano, meanwhile, struggled with his command, allowing 21 runs and 14 walks in 13 1/3 innings.
“After his performance in winter ball, we projected him to be on the club,” Baylor said of Zambrano. “So he had to pitch himself off the club.”
And he did just that.
“He tries a lot of things, tries to make the ball sink,” Baylor said. “I told him the No. 1 goal should be throwing strikes. When you’re behind at this level, you pay for it.”
Borowski, who broke into the majors in 1995 with Baltimore, had excellent control last year at Iowa. He struck out 131 batters and walked 26.
When Kerry Wood went down with right shoulder tendinitis, Borowski was summoned to face the Giants on Aug. 11. He almost ended the second inning by striking out Bonds.
With the count at 1-2, Bonds nicked a fastball that Hundley couldn’t hold. One pitch later Bonds ripped a three-run homer, saddling Borowski with six earned runs in 1 2/3 innings.
Borowski was somewhat surprised when the Cubs pushed to re-sign him after last season.
“When you go up there and have a bad outing, you wonder if you’ll ever get the chance again,” he said. “I took it as a challenge to prove to them that their first impression was wrong.”
Baylor got burned in 2000 when he kept unproven lefty Danny Young after a strong spring. Young lasted three innings and was demoted with a 21.00 ERA.
Baylor is not anticipating a repeat performance.
Gimme the ball: Baylor’s new closer, Antonio Alfonseca, left his manager with a good impression after a meeting before Friday’s game.
Alfonseca told Baylor that he likes to go no more than two games without working.
“He likes to pitch,” Baylor said. “He likes to throw.”
Trading places: The Expos signed former Cubs outfielder Henry Rodriguez and released Lance Johnson, another former Cubs outfielder. No word if the team is trying to locate Brant Brown or Glenallen Hill.
SPRING REPORT
Cubs recap
SCORE: Cubs 7, D’backs 1.
SPRING RECORD: 12-20.
AT THE PLATE: Corey Patterson took over the team lead by hitting his sixth home run. Sammy Sosa, the next batter, then hit his sixth. Todd Hundley drove in two runs with a double.
ON THE MOUND: Kerry Wood needed 79 pitches to go five innings but allowed only one run on four hits and three walks.
IN THE FIELD: Second baseman Delino DeShields let a ball roll through his legs.
NEW IN BLUE: Antonio Alfonseca threw a scoreless ninth, giving up one hit.
NEXT UP: Vs. Diamondbacks at 2:05 p.m. Saturday in Phoenix. Right-hander Matt Clement takes the mound for the Cubs.
