Why is Valverde popping off

[biggunsbob]

http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/....detroit-tige rs

Why do you give the other team bulletin board material.. It is ok to be confident but please keep it to yourself and out of the media.

NEW YORK -- How's this for a guarantee?

After closing out the Detroit Tigers' win over the New York Yankees in Game 2 of the ALDS on Sunday, closer Jose Valverde believes the Tigers are a lock to win the series.

"I think the series will finish in our house," Valverde told ESPN Deportes' Enrique Rojas and other outlets. "They have a good team, but the series is not (coming) back to New York."
Olney: No Laughing Matter
After escaping a ninth inning jam in Game 2, Tigers closer Jose Valverde made a prediction he'll have a chance to fulfill, ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney writes. Blog

The Yankees and Tigers are tied at 1-1 in the best-of-five series. The teams split two games in the Bronx. Game 3 is scheduled for Monday in Detroit. It will be a duel of aces -- Detroit's Justin Verlander and New York's CC Sabathia.

"We have a big advantage," Valverde said. "We have Verlander ready for tomorrow. In the bullpen, we are ready."

Valverde made a similar guarantee in interviews given in English but said that he was joking. He did not say he was joking in the interview with Spanish-speaking outlets.

Valverde entered Game 2 in the ninth with Detroit up, 5-1, and quickly made things interesting.

The closer allowed a solo homer to Nick Swisher to lead off the inning. Jorge Posada then followed with a triple to deep center. After a Valverde walk to Russell Martin, Andruw Jones drove in Posada with a sacrifice fly, cutting the Tigers' lead to two runs.

With a heavy rain falling, Valverde struck Yankees' captain Derek Jeter out on a 2-2 fastball. He then appeared to get a game-winning pop-out in foul territory off the bat of Curtis Granderson, but catcher Alex Avila slipped on the surface of the on-deck circle and failed to make the catch.

ALDS: Tigers vs. Yankees
Complete coverage of the Tigers-Yankees matchup. More

 

[cmlfactor]

I don't like when players from other teams make these gradiose "guarantees" and I especially don't like guys from MY teams doing it...probably even more so in the latter situation...It's just stupid and poor sportsmanship. Now we have every team and their fans gunning for us the rest of the playoffs because of one cocky jerk-wad's statement. I might even be more lenient had he pitched a shut-down dominant 9th last night, but he didn't. He brought the winning run to the plate in a bandbox. Not smart. Jose, shut up and pitch.

 

[biggunsbob]

I don't like when players from other teams make these gradiose "guarantees" and I especially don't like guys from MY teams doing it...probably even more so in the latter situation...It's just stupid and poor sportsmanship. Now we have every team and their fans gunning for us the rest of the playoffs because of one cocky jerk-wad's statement. I might even be more lenient had he pitched a shut-down dominant 9th last night, but he didn't. He brought the winning run to the plate in a bandbox. Not smart. Jose, shut up and pitch.

Yup I agree with you totally...

 

[jdbaker1]

The Big Potato needs to shut up and just get outs, baseball may not be like other sports when it comes to needing to get pumped up to play well but still, what the hell are you thinking.

 

[turok]

Didn't like what he said, b/c yeah, it is opponents' BB material, BUT Valverde certainly has proved that he can put his pitching behind his mouth(and his antics on the mound too). One bad blown save that changes the outcome of a postseason series can change all that, so better to just keep his yapper shut.

 

[Mitchrapp]

Doesn't bother me.

 

[jmakula87]

I really don't think teams and fans are going to be gunning for us solely because of what Valverde said.

I mean are teams really going to be trying harder against us, focus on each at bat more against us? This is the playoffs and everybody is as focused in as can be.

Valverde is very cocky, and I'm sure he really does believe that we will win the next two, and obviously it is probably better to just keep your mouth shut, but this isn't going to affect anything in this playoffs.

I'm sure the Yankees aren't saying, "Oh man, that Valverde, we are going to make sure Tigers aren't going to win the next two because of what he said."

Like I said, I would rather have Valverde not be talking like that, but I think this is getting blown out of proportion big time, and I hope that other teams fans are "gunning" for us. I don't care at all what they say or think, and anyways most people are probably hoping that he is right. The Tigers definitely have support from tons of baseball fans since they are playing against the Yankees.

I really don't think that this will change anything about the series with either team in it, or any teams in the future.

 

[Mitchrapp]

I can just imagine,'Tigers winning 2-1 Valverde comes in and Cano is at the plate "damn you Valverde I'm going to try and get on base against you now." Lol.

 

[beez]

I odn't care in baseball. Baseball is one of those sports that once the 1st pitch happens it's so slow that all that bulletin board material goes right out the window. Hard to stay amped up and angry though an entire game. Doesn't mean I like that he spouted off but I don't think it helps the Yankees at all. Now football and basketball I'm completely on the other side.

 

[Mitchrapp]

If you can't get amped to stop Valverde from doing his leg kick at games end, this won't matter.

 

[Thumb]

Just after the All-Star break Boesch guaranteed the Tigers would win the Central.

Sometimes it's about instilling confidence and pride toward your teammates.

I have no problem with what Valverde said.

 

[packersfantheo]

I like it. Winners are a little cocky.

 

[mjsb2]

You guys realize this is the playoffs right?

You honestly think the Yankees could be any more motivated to win then they were before the series started?

That's just silly.

 

[stonecold2136]

I remember back when LoMas Brown said the Lions would win a playoff game in Philly.....The lions were crushed and he looked like a fool who could not back up his words.

 

[jmakula87]

You guys realize this is the playoffs right?

You honestly think the Yankees could be any more motivated to win then they were before the series started?

That's just silly.

Haha, that's what I was saying. It is ridiculous to think that this is bulletin board material, or anything that could inspire anybody who is playing in the playoffs.

 

[doinwork83]

Theyre going to be calling him Pappa Damus after game 4!

 

[turok]

Making guarantees has come back to bite players in the ass, and they have motivated other teams/players, as well as their antics, I seem to remember a Yankees player (just can't remember his name, but it will come to me), and I will post a link (if there is one due to it being so long ago), but he derisively mentioned Fidrych's talking to the ball and mound-grooming...damn I wish that I could remember...oh wait...maybe it was their catcher who died in that plane crash, Thurman Munson.

Yup, link below, but the article doesn't mention exactly what Munson said about "The Bird".

"After the game, reporters asked the rookie what he thought about the disparaging comments Yankees catcher Thurman Munson had made about him earlier in the day. With complete sincerity, Fidrych replied, "Who's Thurman Munson?"

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/alex_belth/08/04/five.phenoms/1.html

 

[kalinecountry]

Valverde backed it up in a semi-roller coaster mode.
But he backed it up.

 

[fedexgooch78]

did i see correctly that the yankees are sending burnett out there tomorrow? talk about waving the white flag....

 

[turok]

did i see correctly that the yankees are sending burnett out there tomorrow? talk about waving the white flag....

ahem...