Borowski looking good at AAA Iowa.

Joe Borowski made his debut with the AAA Iowa Cubs last night, and pitched a perfect inning with two strikeouts. Cubs Nation eagerly awaits his return.

And if you're wondering why JoBo's return is so desperately anticipated, take a look at what STATS, Inc. (via Cubs.com) has to say about current Cubs closer LaTroy Hawkins:

The folks at STATS, Inc., did a little extra research on LaTroy Hawkins and
pitchers and their effectiveness in the ninth inning. Since 1995, Hawkins is
17-for-30, or 57 percent, with a one-run lead in the ninth, while STATS,
Inc., says all pitchers in baseball have a 75.1 percent success ratio.

With a two-run lead, Hawkins has a 91.3 percent ratio, while the rest of
baseball is at 89.4 percent. And, STATS, Inc., says Hawkins has an 89.5 percent
success ratio with a three-run lead while other pitchers have a 95.5 percent
rate.

57 percent conversion rate with a 1-run lead? Terrible numbers, true, but it's worse than you think. He's only 7 for 17 as the Cubs closer in those situations - a wretched 41% clip. That means that during his stint as the Twins closer, he managed to go 10-for-13.... 76% - slightly above the league average! (And he still managed to get permanently bounced from that closer role.... the Twins may have been on to something.)

If Borowski returns and closes out games as he has in the past, it will be a shot in the arm for a Cubs team that desperately needs something - anything - to go right. As always, time will tell.