OT: Jose Valverde regains closer role with Tigers
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/jose-valverde-regains-closer-role-000750392--mlb.html
Any thoughts on this? Tigers re-sign Valverde after he pitches 3 shut out innings in single A. Leland says he will be the closer starting Wednesday night if the situation arises.
I really don't think I will ever be able to watch another 9th inning after the playoffs last year with Valverde.
Freep has more information, but I am not going to be the one who links it.
Low risk, high reward. Dotel and Villarreal have been ineffective so why not see what Rondon and Valverde have. Bullpen is still a weakness that will likely need a trade to solidify but there's plenty of time to see what the in-house options bring to the table.
I'm cool with it. I'm an all around fan of Valverde.
It's early in the season. They've played 18 games. Give it a shot. The guy was your closer on an ALCS and World Series team who flamed out late last year. Closers are head case guys anyway. He's shown over long periods of time that he could master the head case situation. Name a team that doesn't have Rivera that doesn't worry about its closer.
I think you get the point. Even look at Texas with Joe Nathan. Had an amazing year, but they're worroed about him.
Kenley Jansen had a remarkable year last year and the Dodgers went out and replaced him.
There are very few sure-fire closers.
April 24th, 2013 at 10:28 AM ^
Jansen was the closer last season even after the Dodgers acquired League, then in late August Kenley's heart condition reared its ugly head and they went with League and appear to be staying that course. I think it has more to do with them liking Jansen's stuff in the eighth inning than being enamored with League in the ninth.
I'd throw Aroldis into the mix as "surefire" -- ditto Jim Johnson, Papelbon, and Soriano (has always been fantastic when given the chance to be the closer).
Anyway, I hate Valverde's "look-at-me-I-need-attention-to-feed-my-stupid-ego" antics, but if he pitches in the ninth and the Tigers don't lose, that's all I care about.
I don't know if it aided him or not though. Saw him pitch years ago in DC and it is noticeable if you know what you're looking for. My buddy did not. When I pointed it out to him, he almost lost it.
Pretty much agree with WMUgoblue.
I cannot explain what happened to Valverde last year, but by all accounts, he is in better shape mentally and physically. I think the organization wanted this all along, but needed this year's bullpen to struggle to avoid much fan backlash. Though I am sure there will still be some. It will be interesting to watch, at the very least.
on the big stage is what happened. I could see it on his face the next night warming up in the bullpen that he had not shaken it off and was going to get rocked again. Truthfully, Leyland should not have pitched him that day. He will be as reasonably effective as he has always been, and now Tiger fans will realize that reliable closers aren't just growing on trees these days and perhaps to be thankful for a guy who gets it done most of the time. I think the Tigs were going to bring him back the whole time except at a discount and with a little more humility. A think a little less dancing is order for Papa with his revised understanding of how quickly he can get rocked. He should be fine though.
April 25th, 2013 at 12:51 AM ^
Just about any ML RP gets it done most of the time.
The difference between an average closer and Mariano Rivera is 1-2 wins a year, the only difference is Rivera will give you less heart attacks.
And just about any mediocre RP would be an effective closer.
Basically, a closer is one of the easiest positions to fill, equally as easy as filling in any of the other bullpen positions, and might as well grow on the trees.
I'd rather they give Valverde another shot than overpay for a mediocre closer. I can't figure out why people consistently bring up Street like he is a good option. His save percentage isn't great for his career.
April 23rd, 2013 at 10:59 PM ^
April 23rd, 2013 at 11:07 PM ^
Because save percentage isn't the same as saves.
April 23rd, 2013 at 11:21 PM ^
Closers on bad teams still tend to get around 30 saves a year. Bad teams have a lot less blowout wins so when they DO win they very often give their closers a save chance.
The big question that still kinda nags me: Why didn't a single team take a look at him? There are plenty of teams with worse bullpens than Detroit's. Maybe they didn't want to invest time and money into what they viewed as a project likely to fail?
I think the Marlins had interest at one point during the winter, I'm assuming Boras wanted more than they were willing to pay, then they moved on (as did the Tigers at the time) and he didn't have any other options.
the tigers are. One inning of single A ball and they run him up? Are you kidding me? Smokey and DD just could not help themselves. How many games does Papa Gascan blow before they finally move on? I'm guessing at least 5. What a joke.
We're 18 games into a fucking 162 game season. This is better than tinkering 18 games from October. Step back from the ledge.
When I first found out Valverde was back in the organization, I flipped my shit. However, after a few weeks of watching this bullpen trip over itself, and on many occasions lose games singlehandedly, I actually am a little happy to see Papa Grande back in the closer role. I kinda just threw up in my mouth a little bit saying that last part, but it's unfortunately true. Welcome back Valverde, don't screw up this second chance.
It can't be any worse than what they have? Hopefully in the offseason he met with some sports shrinks and got his head straight.
After the World Series I said at least we won't have to see Valverde in a Tigers Uniform again. Fate tempted.
April 23rd, 2013 at 11:57 PM ^
Papa Grande is my wife's favorite Tiger for this reason alone. All last season, whenever I was watching a game, she made a point of asking me to let her know when "the judo chop guy" was playing.
where you said you weren't going to link the freep article
April 23rd, 2013 at 10:06 PM ^
can't throw the split-finger fastball and can't control a slider or a curve, is gonna be the closer?
Well, my work prediction of AL champs and winners of 98 games just went out the window. Unless this has-been/never was regains all the pitches he had in 2011, this is going to be a long season.
Verlander might end up regretting his new contract.
has the 2nd best save % in the major leagues since 2006.
2nd to only mariano rivera.
so he had a rough playoffs last year, would we have been to the playoffs without his solid year closing games? (only blowing 5 saves)
April 23rd, 2013 at 10:09 PM ^
April 23rd, 2013 at 10:10 PM ^
April 23rd, 2013 at 10:17 PM ^
April 23rd, 2013 at 11:49 PM ^
April 23rd, 2013 at 10:38 PM ^
I'm willing to give him another chance.
April 23rd, 2013 at 10:47 PM ^
April 23rd, 2013 at 10:59 PM ^
April 24th, 2013 at 10:11 AM ^
...Valverde doesn't pitch from a windup; he always pitches from the stretch.
If your point is that Valverde gives up lots of SBs due to a slow delivery, you may be correct if talking about 2012. However, he was harder to steal on in the prior three seasons (link).
April 23rd, 2013 at 11:05 PM ^
I can't watch Grande on the mound. I'd rather see Denard up there.
April 24th, 2013 at 10:28 AM ^
Go watch a Yankees game then. They are always looking for fans like you.
April 23rd, 2013 at 11:34 PM ^
Maybe we should just change his nick name to "Big Daddy" and pretend last year never happened.