Who closes for Detroit next season?

[popeye]

Benoit?
Alburquerque?
Other(s)?

Thanks.

[Sour Masher]

Rafael Soriano?

[B-Fly]

Have they ruled out re-signing Valverde?

[popeye]

Have they ruled out re-signing Valverde?

To my knowledge, not officially. But I would be shocked if they re-sign him.

[TranaGreg]

Rafael Soriano?

I could see this.

[pjs24]

I could see this.

Would love it!

[pjs24]

Have they ruled out re-signing Valverde?

No, but it'd be a big surprise to me to see him back. I'd also hang myself. Benoit might get a shot, he's being paid a pretty penny. Or they could try Rondo, Al-Al or Villarreal. Plenty of power closer-esque arms in Detroit. ZERO need to re-sign someone who should be a 7th inning guy at best at this point. Hell, I'd rather see Dotel re-upped and put into the ninth.

[popeye]

I could see this.

I don't think Detroit would sign him to the type of contract he'll be looking for if he opts out of his current one with the Yankees.

[TranaGreg]

I don't think Detroit would sign him to the type of contract he'll be looking for if he opts out of his current one with the Yankees.

yeah, the more I look into the numbers the less I think Soriano is likely to move. he's due 14 million next year in NY; for a comparator, Joe Nathan signed with Texas last winter for 14.75 M - over two years! even Papelbon's contract at 50M over 4 years comes to 12.5M per ... so will someone be willing to give Soriano a 3 or 4 year deal - doubtful. So I take it all back ... I can't see it.

to the original question - if I were a betting man I'd go with Benoit.

[DMT]

What is up with Valverde dry-humping before every pitch?

[Don Quixote]

What is up with Valverde dry-humping before every pitch?

That's what dogs do.

[chancellor]

No, but it'd be a big surprise to me to see him back. I'd also hang myself. Benoit might get a shot, he's being paid a pretty penny. Or they could try Rondo, Al-Al or Villarreal. Plenty of power closer-esque arms in Detroit. ZERO need to re-sign someone who should be a 7th inning guy at best at this point. Hell, I'd rather see Dotel re-upped and put into the ninth.

Agree - Detroit has zero need to drop $10-14 mil/year into a closer with that roster of quality arms they already have. I don't buy the mantra "anyone can close" or even "anyone with talent can close", but I believe one of those guys would pan out well.

[B-Fly]

Yeah, I guess they probably won't bring him back.

[Judge Jude]

I have only been watching baseball for 43 years or so, but I cannot think of a dumber managerial decision than Leyland in that inning.

You are ahead 4-0, and have 4 or 5 relievers left.
The only one with even a slight chance of allowing 4 runs is Valverde.
Well, then we know which one to go with!

Then, once you can see that your hunch has failed and that the evil Valverde has returned a la Arizona, Houston, and Detroit, you allow him to walk Teixeira, then pitch to IBANEZ.

Even if you win the game anyway, you have (thankfully) lost Valverde for tomorrow, and maybe any other games at Yankee Stadium in the series (and maybe beyond the Bronx).

You have skipped the option of having a fresh, unscarred Valverde available for Game 2.
After having a 4-run lead.

The mind boggles.

[Vecmizer]

Its typical Leyland. He has put Valverde in that situation multiple times this year and the results are usually the same as tonight. Valverde can't pitch in those situations and Leyland can't learn from his mistakes.