Leyland shows shades of Sparky; Game One views
By Punch N. Judy
BaseballBigMouth.com baseball news
Much like another old grizzled manager from the Tiger’s past, Jim Leyland has been saying all year that it’s the players who deserve credit for the team’s turn around.
When the inevitable comparisons are brought up between this Tiger team and the 84’ edition, the discussion starts and ends with the men who fill out the lineup cards. Sparky Anderson was very much a realist, (sometimes annoyingly so) a guy who had been around long enough to know that the managers job is sometimes more baby-sitter than tactician – especially in the push-button world of the American League. Leyland responds in kind when asked questions about the fortunes of this year’s club.
Prior to the final game of the year, (in which Detroit blew a 6-0 lead and the division) Leyland responded curtly to the question of what the Tigers needed to do to win that day’s game: “If Bonderman gives us six good innings we got a good chance, if he don’t we’ll probably lose, simple as that.” Maybe Leyland is little more on the gruff side, but still the message is the same: A manager can’t toe the rubber or swing the bat. He can only try to put his club in the best possible position to win.
Game One ALDS – Detroit vs. New York
Last nights Tiger-Yankee game didn’t diminish this writer’s view that the Detroiters have more than a legitimate chance to advance to the American League Championship Series. On the contrary, I thought with a break or two, (and the umpire not squeezing Nate Robertson’s strike zone) the Tigers easily could have won what might appear to have been a blow-out. The big Yankee third – which essentially was the ballgame – could have easily been avoided had Robertson fielded Johnny Damon’s dribbler and the umpire had done his job by ringing up Derek Jeter on two pitches that looked down the middle. If Detroit can somehow win tonight lookout.
Minnesota vs. Oakland
The A’s flew into town safely under the overconfident Twins radar. After years of round one disappointment, Oakland looks poised for an upset. With Frank Thomas locked in and the underrated A’s pitching staff healthy for the first time this year, the Twinkies may regret looking past this series and a possible tilt with the Yanks.
Game One NLDS – St Louis vs. San Diego
The Padres post-season struggles continued yesterday when they barely showed up against Cards righty Chris Carpenter. Add a disappointing outing by their own ace Jake Peavy and its not hard figure out why Albert Pujols and company rolled. Speaking of Pujols, the legend continued to grow when the slugger took a Peavy fastball into the seats after Mike Piazza misplayed a foul pop that even a first – year little leaguer could have handled. Why this guy is still catching in the first place is beyond me.
Problems in Queens
When El Duque rendered himself unavailable by pulling a calf muscle, I believe he effectively put the last nail in the Mets playoff coffin. New game one starter John Maine is little more than a journeyman, while the rest of the staff isn’t a heck of a lot better. The Dodgers on the other hand head into this series riding the wave of momentum generated from a pennant race that took the last day of the season to decide. Expect the Mets to die with barely a whimper.