Jose Valverde has rather big expectations.
by Kurt Mensching on Feb 21, 2010 10:49 AM EST
in Detroit Tigers Links
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PrintIf I was a talking head on TV, I'd criticize the Tigers' new closer for obviously having no faith in his team's offense. I mean, obviously Jose Valverde must think the team can't score any runs if he believes he can rack up a save total of 47.
What?
Correction. 74.
But since I like to think we're all smart enough not to use Around The Horn logic, we won't -- WHAT? 74 SAVES?!
WHAT IS HE TALKING ABOUT?
Whoops. Sorry about that.
In his first day in camp, Saturday, Valverde spoke a bit with the media. He told them he wanted to continue wearing No. 47 like he did in Houston, but someone a bit more famous than himself already had laid a pretty good claim to that with his play in the 80s -- Jack Morris.
So scratch that "46" he's currently got on his back. Apparently Valverde would prefer to upgrade to 74.
And oh by the way, wouldn't it be great if he could get 74 saves to go with it? Actual quote:
"You know what? I can do maybe 74 here."
In 2007, he had 47 while wearing 47, so why not?
Well, I'm sure he's in the best shape of his life, so -- yeah, why not?!
But more seriously, Valverde told the press he thinks he can get 50 saves, which MLB.com's Jason Beck reports would set the Tigers' record while surpassing Todd Jones' 42. Seventy-four would surpass the previous major league record of 62 set by Frankie Rodriguez with the Angels in 2008.
Getting to 50 would involve the Tigers winning a lot of games by three runs or less. And given this projected offense, even with the addition of Johnny Damon, I believe Valverde is right. Detroit will certainly be in enough close games for him to get the opportunity.
Let's just hope they're on the the winning side in enough of those close games to give Valverde a chance to pile up some nice numbers.
A record 74 saves? Well, no.
But Valverde may have set a local record for spring training optimism.
Other stories to come out of Saturday's training camp:
- Detroit News: Jim Leyland gets best of birthday boy Justin Verlander
- Freep.com: Kenny Rogers back with Tigers as special instructor
- Freep.com: Tigers' Alex Avila happy, but there's a catch
- Freep.com: Scott Sizemore showing big-league confidence
- Beck's Blog: Too much pitching? Not according to Leyland
- Beck's Blog: Line of the day: Justin Verlander
- ESPN.com: Justin Verlander's competitive fire leads Tigers into Spring Training
And for your spring training photos needs, check out both Roger Dewitt's photo stream on Flickr,as well as Thomas Hagerty's work there for Lakeland Local. Both have been kind enough to let me use spring training photos of theirs on this site, so a big thank you to them.
And oh yes, ESPN was there during its spring training tour. Video proof: an interview with manager Jim Leyland:
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Nothing wrong with confidence and hope
The power of belief. If he can get 36-40 saves, we’ll be in great shape.
Because
Valverde has played in the NL, I cannot not say if I like him or not. But anything’s got to be better than Rodney. He drove me nuts last year. Maybe I won’t need the Ativan this season…
Welcome to Detroit, NO sissies allowed
Yup...
…When Zumy was pitching the 8th and rodney the 9th I was always nervous.
by BennieBladesFan on Feb 21, 2010 11:26 AM EST up reply actions
I won't miss the Rodneycoaster
But I will miss the picture. :(
Maybe we can still use it.
"While there's life, there's hope." --Cicero
USA! USA! USA! USA!
I thought it got retired
maybe not, we tried to talk Ian into sending it to the Angels blog but he seemed kind of protective of that shot…
Welcome to Detroit, NO sissies allowed
by Detroitchik on Feb 21, 2010 11:40 AM EST up reply actions
I don't want it on another blog
Better to just let it glide gently into a well-deserved retirement. I’m sure we will find something else soon enough – this group is nothing if not clever with puns and visuals.
"While there's life, there's hope." --Cicero
USA! USA! USA! USA!
We could certainly use it whenever the Tigers play the Angels and Rodney comes in to pitch
by SabreRoseTiger on Feb 21, 2010 11:59 AM EST up reply actions
thats an idea
like a homage, and sympathy for their fans, they have no idea. Poor people.
Welcome to Detroit, NO sissies allowed
by Detroitchik on Feb 21, 2010 12:30 PM EST up reply actions
poor people indeed
But it wouldn’t be good sportsmanship to giggle too loudly.
"While there's life, there's hope." --Cicero
USA! USA! USA! USA!
others should not have to suffer
it’s kind of sad
Welcome to Detroit, NO sissies allowed
by Detroitchik on Feb 21, 2010 12:56 PM EST up reply actions
I posted the rollercoaster on a friend's facebook
who is an Angel fan. she wasn’t very amused, probably not looking forward to the heart attacks
We can use the Picture...
….for Zumy though…We stil got him until he gets hurt anyway.
by BennieBladesFan on Feb 21, 2010 12:53 PM EST up reply actions
74 won't happen...
That’s a once every 25 years kinda stat. I’d be shocked if he saves 50.
However, we’re lucky because he doesn’t need to save 50! If he saves 40 we probably win the division, says the Department of Pulling Stats Out of My Butt.
I agree with Detroitchik, as long as he brings some stability to the back end I’m happy.
I'm excited about Valverde
74 is silly talk, but the man typically shuts ‘em down. Our 9th is a lock most days now. It’s a matter of building backward now, and I think we’ll find a good 8th inning man between Zoom, Coke, and Perry.
74
over the length of his contract here
by notagunslinger on Feb 21, 2010 1:29 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
2 years
37 saves each year? Not awful. Depends on how many saves he blows I guess.
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by handsomerob1 on Feb 21, 2010 1:59 PM EST up reply actions
That's what I was thinking...dude does have a two year contract
Rodney got to 37, blowing one save and the defense aided game 163 result.
Official BYB Juju Consultant...now accepting rally creature applications!
I don't think that's what he meant
based on the quotes and stories, I think he meant in one year and I’m sure he was saying it jokingly.
by Kurt Mensching on Feb 21, 2010 4:03 PM EST up reply actions
37/38
was by far Rodney’s best year. No way he does that again.
Check out Detroit4Lyfe
by handsomerob1 on Feb 21, 2010 4:05 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
yes, to both answers
@Kurt: I figured as much after seeing the context, the 2 year thought was my first reaction.
@hr1: I don’t think Rodney would have been nearly as successful this year, final result wise (ignoring all the twists and turns and hills that preceded the last out so often), but I think he could have made it back to the 37 save plateau. And I think Valverde can do the same, even if he does blow a few saves along the way. The Tigers won a goodly number of games in 2009 where they didn’t have save opportunities, and this year, with a diminished offense capability, some of those contests might result in additional save opportunities.
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That's what I meant
He won’t go another year only blowing one save. I hope Valverde can get to that level, especially with the contract he was given. We’ll definitely be in a lot of close games this year, but the question is whether we’ll be on the right side of those close games.
Check out Detroit4Lyfe
by handsomerob1 on Feb 21, 2010 7:01 PM EST up reply actions
the way I see it
Valverde won’t be as “good” as Rodney was last year but he’ll be better than Rodney would have this year.
by Kurt Mensching on Feb 21, 2010 7:19 PM EST up reply actions
I agree completely
I think Rodney’s season was a fluke last year
Welcome to Detroit, NO sissies allowed
Agreed
Few closers in baseball were as good as Rodney was last year. I’m a fan of signing Valverde…until the first blown save at least.
Check out Detroit4Lyfe
by handsomerob1 on Feb 21, 2010 9:31 PM EST up reply actions
I would reallt like to know how Valverde
does when its a non-save situation. Just curious. I know what Fernando did. I was not a fan of him being put on the mound when he didn’t need to be there.
Welcome to Detroit, NO sissies allowed
haha
poopz you and me both. Not even the ativan helped my nerves on those nights
Welcome to Detroit, NO sissies allowed
by Detroitchik on Feb 21, 2010 10:06 PM EST up reply actions
Ah, I almost forgot about those non-save situations
by SabreRoseTiger on Feb 21, 2010 11:02 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
now that's recable...
I’m loving seeing some of these old pics.
My Music: Now on last.fm!!
My Blog: Strike Three Mechanics
someone should do a
fanpost for last seasons pics, just pics… for old time sake
Welcome to Detroit, NO sissies allowed
by Detroitchik on Feb 22, 2010 12:10 AM EST up reply actions
I've asked Alli to do a post featuring gamethread memes and whatnot
to help newcomers get up to speed on our weirdness uniqueness.
by Kurt Mensching on Feb 22, 2010 12:29 AM EST up reply actions
Awesome
I missed a lot of the threads later on in the season last year.
Check out Detroit4Lyfe
by handsomerob1 on Feb 22, 2010 12:54 AM EST up reply actions
Going to need him
I see us being in a lot of close games this year, so I think Valverde and the entire pen will be of vital importance. I was a little uneasy about getting him at first, but he’s a top 10 closer. IF Joel can stay healthy all year and Perry keeps improving, the end of our bullpen has the chance to be dominating. Throw in Schlereth, Coke (maybe), Seay, and the rest of the guys, our pen could be a huge strength for us. And I know we’ll need him, but I still haven’t forgiven Minor for how he performed when he came into game 163 last year…
Geez
Imagine if Rodney had ever had 74 save opportunities………how awful that would been for our health? Even roller coaster girl wouldn’t have lasted the whole season.
Ugh, long weekend
How awful would that have been for our health? is how I meant to word it. I couldn’t even understand it when I read it back.
I understood it perfectly
I’m fluent in internetese
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