The Tigers are tied with the Twins with one game left. No team in the history of the game has blown a three game lead with four to play. Colossal Collapse. Devastating Defeat. Precarious Play. This could be the year history comes back to Detroit, again for all the wrong reasons. (eg. Riots of '67, Kwayme in '07, 119 loses in '03, and 0-16 last year, etc.) And the Tigers have been in first since May, until today that is. All year, Coach Leyland has refused to pitch his starters on short rest (less than 5 days), as he says he is looking "past this year." Just this year? What the fuck does that mean? When you've led the division for five months and in the most crucial game of the year you throw in Alfredo fucking Figero instead of your Ace (Verlander)on three days rest because you 're thinking of "past this year?" Awww, how considerate of you Jim. You should be worried about next year, because your career in Detroit might come to a sudden halt - again. Your team can't hit, your bullpen can't pitch and tonight, Figero gave you a solid 1 and 2/3 innings. Good performance in a pressure filled situation from an inexperienced 25 year old. Jack Morris in 1980 at the age of twenty five, threw 250 innings and completed 11 games. He went on to play 18 seasons in the majors, record 254 wins, almost 25 hundred strikeouts, was a four time World Series Champion and 1981 AL TSN pitcher of the year. Congratulations Jack! And congratulations Jimmy! Verlander is 26 years old and he's thrown 232 innings this year. Illich didn't spend millions just for the fans, contrary to what Sports Illustrated says. He wants to win too, and if it seems like you're not giving the team the best chance they have to win - his money will go elsewhere. As in not in your pocket. Someone on the radio mentioned that Bobby Valentine is on his way back from Japan, and looking for work. Hey Coach! Play the best you got. 'Cause that's all you got. You've been doing better than you should have all year, in a weak division, with little production and stayed mostly afloat until now. Why now, at the most inopportune of times do you go with the most unsafe, safest move in history? Figero for Verlander? Two wins versus 18? Unheard of nobody instead of a heard of somebody? A sub for your Ace? In 1972, 25 year old Nolan Ryan, then of the California Angels, threw 284 innings and won 19 games. He went on to throw 326 and 332 innings, respectively, the next two years. He ended his 27 year career at age 46 after throwing 5386 innings, 5714 strikeouts with 324 wins. When he was 43 he struck out 203 batters. And beat up Robin Ventura. In 1986, Roger Clemens, at a mere 24 years old threw 254 innings, went 24-4, won a Cy Young, MVP and went to the World Series. Though a career marred by steroids, infidelity and "misremembering" the "Rocket" had even more memorable moments - like 354 wins and 118 complete games. The Nolan Ryan "Express" had 222 complete games. Morris, 125. Times sure have changed. Back in the day of the real 'starter,' strict pitch counts and middle relief didn't exist - men finished what they started. Vaseline, mustaches, whiskey and chew. The traits of a real man. Today's seven inning + 100 pitches = pull + set up man then closer formula for pussies would have seemed pretty complicated and unnecessary to say, a Phil Niekro, Tom Seaver, Gaylord Perry, or the mecca of the most innings pitched and all things pitching - the award himself, Cy Young (7354). If a pitcher throws ten complete games a year his coach is deemed a reckless, no-feeling brute endangering his prized possession for a chance to win. WIN? Yes, WIN! That's why they play, that's why their paid, and that's why they should pitch when the entire season's on the line. The current emphasis placed on the well being of the 'starter' in today's game has gotten about as far away from the original one as possible. Yes, all the aforementioned greats were All-Star's and Champs and were just that - great. But isn't Verlander supposed to be just that as well - great? And sure, there are astronomical amount's of money involved in each and every sacred arm, but then again - they are getting paid (a lot), so they have to play (when most needed). And produce and recoup their worth in playoff baseball (or the entire season will be a waste).
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