By Sean McAdam
CSNNE.com
DETROIT -- You can't always be perfect.
????
Tom Gordon found that out the hard way in 1998. Jose Valverde learned it Wednesday night.
????
Gordon was a striking 46-for-46 in save opportunities during the regular season that year, then picked the worst possible time to blow his first -- in Game 4 of the American League Division Series against the Cleveland Indians.
????
He came in for the 8th inning as Jimy Williams asked him, for the first time all year, to get a six-out save. Gordon got through the eighth fine, then allowed two runs in the ninth, ending the Sox' season.
????
There were striking similarities with Valverde last night. Like Gordon, he had successfully converted every save chance in the regular season. Like Gordon, he was sent out for a second inning by his manager.
????
And like Gordon, Valverde tripped in his second inning of work, bringing his team to within one loss of winter.
????
True, it wasn't a save situation as Valverde entered a tie game, 3-3.
????
But in a somber Detroit clubhouse, after Valverde had yielded a run-scoring single to Mike Napoli and a three-run homer to October's newest hero, Nelson Cruz, the feeling was the same.
???
Unbeatable all year, fallible when it counted most.
????
"We were down two games to one," shrugged Jim Leyland of his decision to go with Valverde for two innings. "You have to give it your best shot. That was our best shot."
There's no arguing with Leyland on that count. He's been into his bullpen earlier than he would like in most games in this series and he had little faith in Al Albuquerque, who was not-so-effectively wild while taking over for starter Rick Porcello in the seventh.
????
After two innings from Joaquin Benoit, he went with Valverde. Both, he later, acknowledged, are "pitching on fumes and heart."
????
Even by the industry standard for closers, Valverde is an eccentric. In the Division Series, he pronounced the Yankees done after the first game, then saved two of the Tigers' three wins to make his prediction a self-fulfilling prophecy.
????
Following Wednesday's loss, he sat in his chair in front of his locker and discussed what might be the next-to-last loss of his team's season with a casual air, as if he had just spit up a lead in the Grapefruit League.
????
No, he wasn't tired. No, he isn't doing anything different in the post-season.
????
The pitch to Cruz was a sinker, he revealed, pretty much where he wanted it.
????
"He went and got it," said Valverde, adding a small chuckle as an afterthought, an audible what-can-you-do. "Nothing I could do."
????
He regretted only the outcome.
????
Had the Tigers done a better job with some opportunities, or perhaps not run into some outs on the bases -- Austin Jackson was gunned down trying to steal second in the bottom of the 10th; Miguel Cabrera was cut down trying to score on a flyout to right in the eighth -- Valverde might not have been asked to pitch a second inning.
????
Maybe the series would be tied. Maybe Valverde's season would still be unblemished.
????
He vowed to be ready for Game 5 Thursday night and said he had great faith in starter Justin Verlander to present him with a late-inning lead.
????
Salvation could be only 24 hours away. Such is the life of a closer in the post-season.
????
Few remember the converted saves in October. The blown ones, however, become parts of baseball history: Donnie Moore. Calvin Schiraldi. Dennis Eckersley.
????
Even the great Mariano Rivera has been on the mound when two Yankee seasons have come crashing down.
????
But if Jose Valverde was worried about joining them in infamy, he was hiding it well Wednesday night.
???
Gordon didn't get another chance in 1998. His late-inning stumble was the last game of the year for his team. Jose Valverde has some margin for error, which is handy when you find out that you can always be perfect.??
Sean McAdam can be reached at smcadam@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow Sean on Twitter at http://twitter.com/sean_mcadam.
russell simmons russell simmons joseph kony joseph kony 9 9 9 delmon young sprint
No comments:
Post a Comment