Detroit Tigers’ closer Jose Valverde hoping to shut his critics – MLB Update
Detroit Tigers’ closer will have another chance to prove himself during the best of seven games World Series Championship. According to a leading sports website, Valverde is taking part in Tigers’ routine training sessions.
After throwing a few pitches during the workout on Saturday, Valverde made his way back to the dugout with a very usual optimistic look on his face. However, taking into account his poor performance in Tigers’ Game 1 of American League Championship Series
against the Yankees, his role for the World Series final is not clear yet.
Tigers led the score 4-0 going into the ninth inning in Game 1 of ALCS. Valverde gave up two back-to-back home-runs to help Yankees force the game into the extra inning. Tigers eventually held their nerves to clinch a thriller but Valverde was immensely
criticised for his lack of concentration.
''I don't care. All I want is to be a champion,'' he said. ''If I had to start, I'd do it.''
''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,'' Manager Jim 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.''
Since making his debut for the Tigers, Valverde has given some terrific results as a closer. Showing the world the stuff he is capable of, he did not blow a single save through all of 2011.
However, this post-season had brought poor results for Valverde. He was hit hard in Game 4 of American League Division Series against the Oakland Athletics and then he gave up four runs in one inning against the Yankees.
Valverde was lucky though as the Tigers went on to win both post-season series. It will be interesting to see if Valverde can make the most of available opportunities during the World Series to impress the skipper Leyland.
Detroit is waiting to see which team they will be facing as the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals are still battling it out.
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