Valverde

[black_magic]

Did anyone catch what his contract numbers were?

3 mil. 2 guaranteed, i think

 

[TrustMeIamRight]

I don't know what Valverde did in the offseason, but his fastball went from 90-91 at the end of last year to consistently throwing 93-94-95 now.

Valverde actually looks like the guy who saved all those games for us and not the batting practice pitcher from last year.

 

[themuzzer]

I don't know what Valverde did in the offseason, but his fastball went from 90-91 at the end of last year to consistently throwing 93-94-95 now.

Valverde actually looks like the guy who saved all those games for us and not the batting practice pitcher from last year.

Hold the phone.......That was one game, I want him to be that 2011 closer just as much as the next guy, but it was a prime setup for him......

Slow yo ro MikeD

 

[TrustMeIamRight]

Hold the phone.......That was one game, I want him to be that 2011 closer just as much as the next guy, but it was a prime setup for him......

Slow yo ro MikeD

i'm definitely not say he IS the same guy from 2011. i'm just saying he has the velocity back that was missing at the end last year. time will tell if he can continue to be the tigers closer, but i know he has looked better than any option the tigers have had so far this year.

 

[dougplayer]

papa grande is back baby!!!!! 2 saves in 2 saves OPs....now we need to get rid of Coke. papa still needs a little work on his victory dance...he will be doing it a lot this season

 

[themuzzer]

i'm definitely not say he IS the same guy from 2011. i'm just saying he has the velocity back that was missing at the end last year. time will tell if he can continue to be the tigers closer, but i know he has looked better than any option the tigers have had so far this year.[/QUOTE

I will 50 percent agree with you.......Drew Smyly can do it too.....JL just doesn't want to use him in that capacity.....


What's Drew's role? He's not long relief....Hell he pitched to two guys yesterday.....It's not closer? It's not SP..........What's JL doing to this kid?

 

[TrustMeIamRight]

I will 50 percent agree with you.......Drew Smyly can do it too.....JL just doesn't want to use him in that capacity.....


What's Drew's role? He's not long relief....Hell he pitched to two guys yesterday.....It's not closer? It's not SP..........What's JL doing to this kid?

Smyly is definitely a starting pitcher, no chance he is ever closing for the Tigers or any other team.

Smyly's problem right now is -- he is too good to send down to Triple A, yet Detroit doesn't have a spot in the rotation for him (though I would rather have him as the 5th starter than Porcello). Leyland is just using him whenever they can, whether it be against left handed hitters or long relief (which he did against LAA).

It is a nice problem to have for Detroit. If any of their starters get hurt -- Smyly will just step into the role.

 

[Iffster]

You are right Muzz....JL should just stick the kid in the pen and forget he is there. :rollseyes:

I would like him to be in Toledo getting regular innings....but right now, he is one of the better relief pitchers Detroit has. If Coke and Downs were more dependable, maybe some time in AAA might benefit him. (However...I am sure Smyly would rather pitch a few innings week in the majors....than go back to Toledo.)

 

[Coach_Ed_LPW]

Papa Grande and Rondon in the bullpen. Seems like we are better for it. Hopefully Jose keeps his stuff this year and Rondon improves as the season moves on.

 

[broncosmitty]

I'm still happy with Papa at the back end of the bullpen. Even if he couldn't throw a strike to 56 year old Jason Giambi.

 

[Howie115]

Back to being "CaCa" Grande, for now.

 

[kengel6]

He threw only fastballs yesterday. The word is out on this guy, and the WORD ain't Thunderbird. Can he throw the deuce? What happened to the split finger pitch of 2011?

 

[MiamiVice]

All this guy has to do is get the tigers to the trade deadline or close to it... if he can do that.. they will get reinforcements... Its almost a given that a closer will be traded to the tigs at some point this season... its just a matter of who falls out of contention and what they want for him.

 

[gvsulaker82]

uh oh he screwed up..here come the pitchforks. Everyone was ready to toss porcello in the trash a few weeks ago as well.

 

[Cleaves2000]

I like porcello, but you can throw fat ass out the door....

Throw fuggin strikes you fat mutha fucka!

Walk bourne to leadoff the 9th? Walk 42 yr old giambi?

Im still sticking to my prediction at beginning of the year. Tigers get papelbon at trade deadline. Hopefully a little earlier now.

 

[gvsulaker82]

yeah I don't much care for valverde either..but really this would be dombrowskis fault. He went into the season expecting a rookie to nail down the closers job on a world series contender. Not the brightest move. Anyhow its one blown save. I'm not ready to nail him to the cross yet.

 

[Iffster]

Papelbon has Detroit on his 'no-trade' list. He is also owed $13mil in 2014, 2015, and 2016 (if his option vests for that final year). But Philly might be looking to dump salary this summer.....so, even with the no trade clause, it could happen.

 

[Winged_Wheel88]

yeah I don't much care for valverde either..but really this would be dombrowskis fault. He went into the season expecting a rookie to nail down the closers job on a world series contender. Not the brightest move. Anyhow its one blown save. I'm not ready to nail him to the cross yet.

Bingo.

I didn't blame Todd Jones for his last year, either. He knew he was all used up and wanted to go home but Dombrowski talked him into staying.

As for nailing Valverde to the cross, I did that last year. I'm out of nails. Anytime he blows a save now, I'll see Dombrowski on the mound...not Valverde.

 

[Cleaves2000]

One blown save becomes 2 then 3 before you know, its snowballing. Closing games is tough mentally. So hopefully that BS doesnt mess with his confidence. But i dont know. We will soon find out when he trots his fat ass gut with his lil chicken legs back out to close a game.

I dont look at contracts or no trades, dont even kno where to look or have the time to find what teams are on someones no trade clause....just feel when a team wants to shed payroll and they are out of contention and a team needs a player, most of the time it works out.

The tigers WILL add bullpen help come july. Whether its a closer or not, we will soon find out.

 

[Howie115]

Just to show that Valverde's struggles late last year aren't unique for a closer ... Fernando Rodney was all-world last year (48 saves, 0.60 ERA). He blew his 3rd save of the season last night, and his ERA is up to 5.28.