Tigers manager Jim Leyland certainly has gotten his fair share of criticism since taking over the team back in 2006. Most of the criticisms surrounding Leyland stem from his in-game decision-making. Ironically enough the meat of Leyland’s criticism could be summed up entirely after what happened this past weekend during the series finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates which the Tigers won 2-0. Going into the 9th inning Leyland replaced a hot Rick Porcello who only allowed 1 hit in 8 innings in favor of closer Jose Valverde who came in to close out the 9th and seal the much-needed victory for the Tigers. After this, fans including members of the media began to question and criticize Leyland’s move of removing Porcello from the game in the 9th.
My question however to the fans and media members who disapproved of Leyland’s move is do you play and manage the game of baseball to get complete game shutouts or in the words of Herm Edwards, do you play (or manage) to win the game?
First, lets put things in perspective and get some of the facts out-of-the-way. Was Porcello well rested prior to starting this game?
Yes, Porcello had his last start skipped due to a rain delay.
Was Porcello cruising through the game?
Yes, like I previously mentioned he only allowed 1 hit through 8 innings, had a no-hitter through 6 and had a very reasonable pitch count.
However, lets look at the other side of things here. The Tigers were in the midst of a 5 game losing streak and close to being swept by a Pittsburgh Pirates team that hasn’t been competitive since the first Bush administration. The score was only 2-0 and the Tigers NEEDED a win in worst way. Lets also not forget that the Tigers were playing at PNC Park under National League rules meaning that Leyland had the option of pinch-hitting for Porcello in the top of the 9th which he did and should have done given the tight 2-0 score. So, do you play to win the game by putting in a position player for Porcello to try to pad the lead or do you have Porcello “hit” (and yes I know he had a base hit earlier in the game) and more than likely head to the bottom of the 9th with a slim 2-0 lead? Now even though Andy Dirks came in to pinch hit for Porcello and didn’t manage to add any runs to the lead, it was a move that had to be made given the situation and the circumstances. Lastly the Tigers have a pretty good closer in Jose Valverde of whom they should depend on to go out there and close out close games in the 9th. Porcello did everything you would love a starter to do which is manage to get the game to your closer in the 9th, which he did and the Tigers ended up winning the game.
Jim Leyland is a good manager with a very mediocre team right now. You are always hearing fans calling for his firing however if you do fire him mid-season the team will more than likely replace him with a current coach like Tom Brookens, Gene Lamont or Lloyd McClendon. Then after the season who do you hire to take over the team?
Unlike a lot of players on the Tigers’ roster Jim Leyland has a track record for success. He led the Pittsburgh Pirates to 3 consecutive NLCS appearances in the early 90’s, won the World Series with the Florida Marlins in 1997 and took a overachieving Tigers team to the World Series in 2006.
This current Tigers roster has plenty of holes, holes that you cannot fully blame on Jim Leyland. No manager is going to get a career .237 hitter like Brandon Inge to hit better, they arent going to be able to get Ryan Rayburn to field better and they wont be able to get Phil Coke to pitch more consistently. Jim Leyland is simply playing the cards he is dealt.
