Comments on: Jose Valverde falters and Rangers take 3-1 lead in ALCS

By: damnyankee13

damnyankee13 — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 19:16:24 +0000

What? no dance? Real closers dont need flash, like Mo

By: Francisco (FC)

Francisco (FC) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:31:52 +0000

I stand by my comment. Just the fact that you have two inept hitters coming up means you should make every effort to get a speedy guy in third (or at least someone faster) and maybe make a surprise suicide squeeze bunt, or hopefully they make contact to get the sac fly or chopper or whatever. By leaving Cabrera Leyland was counting on those guys doing exactly what you said they were incapable of: Hitting!

Here’s one more angle: you know the Rangers bullpen has more depth. You know your own Bullpen is gassed. If you’re going to gamble, go for all the marbles, try to shorten the game and win it in the 8th.

By: foreverchipper10

foreverchipper10 — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 15:29:47 +0000

A little presumptious saying that they shouldn’t have used Feliz since they will be playing the next two days.

By: leylandhater

leylandhater — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:41:29 +0000

Tigers should decline to pickup his option for 2011. Then again this is the same DUMB organizaion that gave Leyland and extension for nothing. Fully expect that we see an 10 year deal for Dombrowski

By: natstowngreg

natstowngreg — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 13:04:06 +0000

Plus, the Tigers were facing a possible 3 games to 1 deficit, and it wasn’t like Leyland had a lot of good options. Credit to the Rangers, and Nelson Cruz in particular, for coming up with the big hits.

By: joreaze1987

joreaze1987 — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 13:01:54 +0000

I am so disappointed that people are pegging this on Valverde…How about putting the blame for the loss of Game four where it belongs….LEYLAND!!!!….Too many ridiculous decisions/calls from him to even list here….

By: philliesblow

philliesblow — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 12:02:21 +0000

Not pinch running was the correct decision. You have to consider the situation. Delmon Young was up and he’s turned into a strike out machine. Following him was Alex Avila who also isn’t hitting. Odds were better than even that both strike out and now your best hitter is out of a tie game. Other than Austin Jackson, there is no real speed on the Tigers. Cruz made a great throw. He was also fortunate that the fly ball was in front of him so his momentum was coming to the plate. If he had to go toward right center Cabrera would have had a better chance to beat the throw.

By: polegojim

polegojim — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 05:26:17 +0000

Yes, Cabrera should’ve held and when Anderson was stealing, a fake bunt should’ve been attempted to obscure the throw……..BUT

Lots of second guessing in baseball – in the end, the Rangers got it done. Congrats to them.

We’re still alive and need to simply focus on game 5.

Let’s Go TIGERS, dig deep.

By: tacklemeelmo

tacklemeelmo — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 04:31:23 +0000

It’s up to each person to decide what “overusing” is, but I’m just saying Valverde on threw 8 pitches in his first inning tonight.

By: Francisco (FC)

Francisco (FC) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 02:47:57 +0000

It wasn’t the only questionable decision. Are there no pinch-runners in Detroit? Cabrera should have been substituted for a runner on 3rd and 1 out. If you score, then you only worry about the next three outs. Runs were at a premium. In the end Cabrera’s big bat was a non-factor later in the game.

By: jimbo1949

jimbo1949 — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 02:47:09 +0000

Won’t use Verlander on short rest, but will overuse Valverde? Well, I guess he knows his players better than anyone.