Comments on: Tigers skipper Jim Leyland keeping Jose Valverde at closer

By: historiophiliac

historiophiliac — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 21:11:02 +0000

I’m right there with you. You can see from my other comments that I am very unhappy with Valverde and frustrated that Leyland won’t keep him on a short leash. That’s Leyland’s MO and it drives me batshit sometimes. But, he’s probably looking at it less emotionally and in looking at the numbers, Valverde does have a good record. I think he’s cold right now, but you know how much my opinion counts. As this kind of behavior is not new for Valverde though, I tend not to see it as a meltdown — it’s his usual inconsistency (which is why *I* think we need a different closer — but again my opinion). If Leyland would just be willing to pull people earlier when they screw up, I think that would really deal with the situation. In do or die situations, you don’t wait to see if they can get themselves out of a pickle — you yank them and go with someone else. That’s a management issue.

By: Old Gator

Old Gator — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 20:35:01 +0000

I agree absolutely – as a general rule. However, this isn’t the regular season and there’s not much time to see if the massive doses of TLC are working their wonders on that imploded psyche. Probably better to step on some toes now and let them heal over the winter.

By: Old Gator

Old Gator — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 20:17:02 +0000

Heath Bell was so pleased that he threw his pitbulls a Chihuahua.

By: indaburg

indaburg — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 19:38:16 +0000

I saw the actual press conference on MLB earlier and Leyland said that Valverde definitely will not close tonight, although he still considers Valverde his closer. He also said he wasn’t going to say anything else until he’s had a chance to speak to Valverde directly. Leyland said that the tempo of Val’s delivery was off–too slow–and he and his staff were going work with Val on that. My interpretation is that Valverde is the closer in name only, and that the skipper will consider all options.

By: mybrunoblog

mybrunoblog — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 19:34:24 +0000

Drew Storen supports this move.

By: rodtorfelson

rodtorfelson — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 18:35:12 +0000

Actually, the reports out of Detroit say Valverde has been “indefinitely” removed as the Tigers’ closer.

By: pisano

pisano — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 18:30:53 +0000

I’m sure the Yankees hope he stays the closer,especially after last night, but if memory serves me right, I think they lit him up before.

By: historiophiliac

historiophiliac — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 18:17:56 +0000

Except that Leyland has shown that kind of loyalty to others on the team when they haven’t performed well either; others will surely recognize that they too have been recipients of his confidence. I didn’t really expect Leyland to ditch him completely, but just because the manager won’t rule out playing him doesn’t mean that the team won’t exercise some group pressure on him. Miggy was pretty pissed last night and players can’t help but be frustrated when their work is undermined like that. I fully expect that he will experience some “socialization” from the group. Still, what Leyland said was: I’m pulling him today and his future is uncertain. He said it nicely but Valverde will undoubtedly get the hint (or better, if he wants to play again). You don’t have to Valentine your players — particularly if you want them to improve.

By: bankboy2012

bankboy2012 — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 18:12:45 +0000

Well of course Valverde doesn’t deserve to become a dart board. He’s more of a pinata at this point, everyone’s hitting him.

By: tigers182

tigers182 — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 18:11:59 +0000

umm, what?!

By: iamthot

iamthot — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 17:57:05 +0000

Whatever Jimmy

By: Old Gator

Old Gator — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 17:56:15 +0000

Advantage Borg and Cardinals. I would really appreciate Leyland’s loyalty if I were his dog, but this guy is a one-man arson squad right now. If I’m a Tigger with sugarplum dreams of holding that big unwieldy trophy in my champagne-soaked arms, I don’t think I’d greet this heartwarming display of confidence with the same unabashed admiration.

By: thewhinebag

thewhinebag — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 17:54:19 +0000

“He doesn’t deserve to become a dart board.” Would be nice to hear this from Girardi re: A-Rod. Instead he perpetuates the scapegoat tag by pinch-hitting him every night.