Joe

Borowski

He walked two and didn’t strike out anybody, throwing 15 strikes and 12 balls. Borowski will need to fine-tune his control before returning to the Cubs.

Borowski has been out since early June with a partially torn right rotator cuff. It’s not certain whether he will pitch again this season.

Borowski has been out since early June with a partially torn right rotator cuff. The Cubs still don’t know if he’ll pitch again this season.

Borowski does not feel his arm is in pitching condition and doubts he will be able to return to the Cubs’ bullpen this season.

Borowski is already signed for 2005, so he’ll probably claim a spot in the Cub bullpen. The team isn’t counting on him to regain his previous form, though. “It’s a little hard to tell how he will come in,” GM Jim Hendry said. “We certainly hope Joe comes back, but I’m not going into the season assuming he’s going to be throwing 92-94 mph again. You can’t look in a crystal ball and assume someone is going to automatically come back the way you would like him to.”

Borowski could be back by the end of the month the way the Cubs need experience at the back end of their bullpen.

Borowski is expected to be ready for spring training. He’ll also be coming back from a partially torn rotator cuff next year. Not much should be expected.

''Joe’s slider looked sharper than before,’' Baker said. ''I haven’t seen his split-fingered fastball yet, and that’s a very important pitch for him. The main thing is for Joe to be healthy.’' We’re still not optimistic about Borowski reemerging as an above average reliever, but if he’s throwing 92-94 mph, then there is a chance.

''Our trainers say Joe is coming along fine and that he has 90 percent of his strength back,’' GM Jim Hendry said. It’s too bad 90 percent may be as good as it gets. There’s a chance Borowski will get a chance to move back into the closer’s role even if he doesn’t pitch that well -- never underestimate Dusty Baker’s loyalty to his veterans -- but not much should be expected.

Borowski still has a partially torn rotator cuff, and it’s doubtful that he’ll ever get back to where he was two years ago. There’s a chance he could close at some point, but we’re not optimistic that he’ll be any good.