Detroit's Valverde says he's ready to close again

Associated Press
Posted: October 21, 2012

DETROIT - Jose Valverde threw a few pitches during Detroit's workout, then returned to the dugout as upbeat as usual.

Valverde's role for the World Series still isn't clear, but the righthander doesn't seem to mind.

"I don't care. All I want is to be a champion," he said. "If I had to start, I'd do it."

Valverde has been Detroit's closer for three years and didn't blow a save through all of 2011, but this postseason has been ugly. He lost Game 4 of the division series against Oakland and gave up four runs in the AL Championship Series opener against the New York Yankees. The Tigers went on to win that game and sweep the series, but Valverde hasn't been used since.

The World Series begins Wednesday at either St. Louis or San Francisco. Valverde sounds confident he's made the necessary mechanical adjustments, and so does manager Jim Leyland.

"I think everybody's making too big of a deal of the Valverde situation. Valverde's going to be ready. There's nothing wrong with Valverde. He's going to be fine," Leyland said. "I got a kick out of it. Nobody wanted me to pitch him, but everybody asks me every day if he's going to be the closer. I don't know what they expect, but I'm going to just see what happens."

Leyland went with other options after Valverde's meltdown against the Yankees. Lefthander Phil Coke got the save in Games 2 and 3.

The more-flexible approach to the late innings allowed Leyland to use Coke in crucial spots against a New York lineup that has plenty of left-handed power. Against the Cardinals or Giants, Valverde might be back in his old role. Aside from Coke, Detroit's top relief options include righthanders Joaquin Benoit, Octavio Dotel, and Al Alburquerque.

Index by Keyword
|
Index by Date
|
About Philly.com
|
Contact Us
|
Terms of Use & Privacy Statement
|
Copyright 2013