I hope we lose tomorrow

[tigermud]

I agree since Jose has stopped using the splitter this season his struggles have just escalated.

he's only effective if his location is 100% spot on given the lack of any secondary pitches, not a recipe for closer success

 

[thehippo73]

What makes anyone in this organization think 95% fastballs at 94-96 is a closer anyway?

He might have gotten someone out with 94-96. He was 90-92 last night.

 

[hungry]

Really we had only 2 pitchers last night (Porcello and Smyly) that was even available to come in last night if we pulled Jose. Not sure you would want to put in either of those pitchers in for Jose in a closing situation.

when it was 3-3, it was no longer a closing situation.

 

[af1991]

Really we had only 2 pitchers last night (Porcello and Smyly) that was even available to come in last night if we pulled Jose. Not sure you would want to put in either of those pitchers in for Jose in a closing situation.

Why not? I would personally shut down Benoit, Coke, and Valverde and use Dotel, AA, Porcello, and Smyly to close games from here on out. At least Porcell and Smyly haven't proven they will crumble in the 8th and 9th innings....can't say the same our current bullpen.

 

[@Stakesarehigh]

the loss last night is on Valverde not Jim.

There isn't anyone else on the team that is ready to come into that situation regularly. Now I can see the Tigers grooming Al for the role but as of these playoffs Jose is the guy.

Blame DD for bringing him back I guess but he had a solid year last year (despite the rollercoasters) and getting an experienced closer for his money was not a bad deal.

with that said I cannot see Detroit bringing back Jose and if Benoit continues to regress you have to demote him to the seventh at least. Coke too has been a trainwreck since the break and has allowed 24 baserunners in his last 10 innings.

So in summary this mess is on DD to fix.

 

[cmlfactor]

I think next year unless we sign a free agent closer that Villareal should take the 9th...Benoit will still be the 8th probably cuz Jim is so damn stubborn (if he's still around). AlAl for the 7th.

 

[tinselwolverine]

Anyway...after two Central Division Championships in a row, Smokes ain't goin' anywhere, regardless of what happens tonight, despite what anybody who isn't Dombrowski or Mike Ilitch might want.

 

[Thumb]

To the OP: I hope you now get rectally impaled by a flying manhole cover.

 

[Mitchrapp]

"Sonnett was just upset. He wanted them to win.

 

[boogerlovejoy]

the manager isn't the problem.

^^^^^^^^^^^ this ^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[boogerlovejoy]

I really do , that way it will assure that old , senile bastard gets his ass canned...im so disgusted with this team and the way he manages im sick to my stomache.

Fuck you. Don't watch the ALCS and don't post here!

 

[Mitchrapp]

Not much of a welcome for 'Sonnett. He's been here, 1 day? Lol.

 

[spockmaster]

Dear nsonnett,

Go fuck yourself and die.


Thanks,
the rest of us here

 

[byco42]

I don't think nsonnet is coming back to this thread; but I suggest we hound him at every opportunity on all others.

 

[kalinecountry]

Frustration from this season, and the past culminating............

Sighs of relief that the Tigers won,

in different forms of anger at the op,

it is looking like Leyland can return if he wants,

what kind of welcoming committee is this,

and this all goes out the window if they lose the ALCS.

 

[beez]

I wouldn't be surprised if Jimmy is retiring after this year. He's old, he's been hearing it from the fan base, I haven't heard of any contract talks which previously seemed like they were always done mid-end of regular season... not saying he will but I don't think it's an unlikely possibility.

 

[hungry]

I wouldn't be surprised if Jimmy is retiring after this year. He's old, he's been hearing it from the fan base, I haven't heard of any contract talks which previously seemed like they were always done mid-end of regular season... not saying he will but I don't think it's an unlikely possibility.

He's already told the press that he wants to continue managing. That was the end of the conversation as of this week. Now that they are in the ALCS, expect that he'll be the Tigers manager next year, for better or worse.

The OP didn't get his wish and none of us that want Leyland gone are going to get ours.

 

[zoombabyzoom]

I'm fine with Leyland, the team doesn't make the playoff without him. Is there a better manager out there in my opinion? Sure, I bet there is. But, the players on this team love him and play for him, and like it or not he managed this team into the playoffs.

 

[tigerfan2272]

The biggest part of being a manager is to get your 25-40 players to come together as a team and respect you as a leader. Leyland has passed that with flying colors in his years here. We almost never have in house fighting which is a huge plus for him. A smaller part (but more visable part) is making moves in games. The reason I consider it smaller is because good teams can work around a few mistakes and still win. So does Leyland make it harder at times to win games? Yes. Are they so bad that the team can't win with him managing? No. Working all of those ego's is a very underrated thing that many managers are unable to do.

 

[hungry]

I'm fine with Leyland, the team doesn't make the playoff without him. Is there a better manager out there in my opinion? Sure, I bet there is. But, the players on this team love him and play for him, and like it or not he managed this team into the playoffs.

This team should be able to make the playoffs with one of Jeff Dunham's dummies as manager.