Texas Rangers’ Ron Washington talks about putting Jose Valverde out of sight – MLB Playoffs
As the Texas Rangers’ manager Ron Washington talked about his team’s hitting and pitching line-up on Thursday, October 8 at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, the skipper talked about Jose Valverde.
The club is scheduled to face the Detroit Tigers at home for Game 1 of the American League Championship Series and the one thing they are aiming to do is put Jose Valverde out of the game.
Tigers’ closer has been phenomenal this year and his recent performance against the New York Yankees in the Division Series has put a lot of attention and focus on the team that is looking to give the Rangers a hard run for their money.
Valverde was 49-for-49 in saves for the regular season. The closer has also picked up two saves against the Yankees in the playoffs. His regular season earned run average was 2.24 while his post-season average stands at 6.00.
The Texas skipper picked Valverde for the All-Star Game and he compares the player to Yankees’ closer, Mariano Rivera.
"He knows how to get three, and that's what you want," Washington said. "Rivera knows how to get three. These are guys that have been doing it for a long time. It may not always be picture perfect, but they get three outs."
Rangers are planning to put the closer out of commission by availing a lead early on before he is brought in to attack the Rangers’ hitting line-up.
"What I'm thinking about is having the lead through six," Washington said.
Neftali Feliz has 32 saves in the regular season and he cropped up three saves against the Tampa Bay Rays in the Division Series. His earned run average so far is 2.70 and there is room for the young Rangers closer to look up Valverde.
Washington reflected on his club’s closer in comparison to Valverde and Rivera, in terms of their success, ability and patience in play.
"He's got some ways to go," Washington said."Those guys have been doing it a lot longer than Neftali, but Neftali always gets three."
Nevertheless, a duel between Feliz and Valverde will be the main talking point of many analysts in the sport.
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