Chance for Jose Valverde to put things back on track – MLB Update
Jose Valverde is an extremely talented pitcher. It will not be wrong to say that he is one of the best closing pitchers in the American League right now. The right hander produced several match winning performances last year to help the Detroit Tigers win
the American League Central Division title.
However, things have turned out to be slightly different for him this year. Manager Jim Leyland never expects the relief pitchers to blow a save. However, that is what Valverde has been doing all through the 2012 season.
He has already blown 5 saves in 40 chances, compared to the 49 saves in 49 opportunities he achieved last season. According to sources, Valverde is working hard on his fitness and throwing technique these days.
''Leyland knows what he's doing. He's been doing it for a long time,'' the reliever said in a post game interview. ''If he wants to put me in the eighth, in the seventh, I'll be there to support my team.''
''Just going to play it by ear, see what happens,'' Leyland said. ''I don't really have any definite information on that yet. We'll just see how the game plays out, who's coming up. Like I always say, I hope we have that to worry about. If we do, we'll come
up with somebody.''
Valverde watched the footage of his meltdown against the New York Yankees in American League Championship Series Game 1 and he realised his lower body is not functioning the way it should be. Tigers’ pitching coach Jeff Jones is working hard with Valverde
these days.
Leyland is convinced that Valverde will surely get his mechanics back in shape after the bullpen sessions he is having with the coaching staff. Valverde was replaced by relief pitcher Phil Coke in Game 2 and Game 3 of ALCS against the Yankees.
Valverde has the ability to pitch effectively against both right handed and the left handed batters. It will be interesting to see if Leyland decides to bring Valverde back into the closing role in the upcoming best of seven games World Series against the
San Francisco Giants.
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