When under pressure or up against a deadline, creativity is often a necessary characteristic. Time is limited, choices are dwindling, and one must think on their feet to find a solution to a seemingly impossible problem.
But then there are times when no such imagination is required. The situation is uncomplicated and the best option is right in front of your eyes.
The second scenario is a difficult one to goof up. You just make the easy, obvious selection and go about your day. Trying to reinvent the wheel when no such ingenuity is required will only muddy the waters further.
The Detroit Tigers begin their 2013 post season run this Friday night in Oakland. The team’s offense is sputtering, entering this tournament fresh off a no-hitter at the hands of Anonymous Henderson Alvarez of the hapless Miami Marlins. The strength of this ball club will be its starting pitching.
There have been two stars among that group throughout the year.
Scherzer Almost a Sure Cy Young Winner
One is Max Scherzer, an almost sure-thing Cy Young winner, the only 20-game winner in all of baseball. He started the All-Star Game for the American League. When he pitches, the offense usually hits, and the Tigers usually win. He made 32 starts this season, and his squad was victorious in 25 of them.
But maybe if you wanted to throw a curve ball at the Athletics, you’d open with Anibal Sanchez.
After all, he did pace the AL in ERA and was about as steady as any pitcher from April through September. Without an overwhelming fastball or 12-to-6 curve ball, Sanchez just finds a way to keep piling up zeros on the scoreboard. By the end of his outing, you can almost guarantee the opposing team will have 0 to 2 runs. It is very hard to imagine Sanchez getting whacked around in a playoff game after being a model of consistency all summer long.
Scherzer and Sanchez have been a two-headed monster atop this rotation in 2013. While Scherzer would be the more traditional choice to start Friday night in Oakland, you’d have to respect and consider an argument for Sanchez.
Verlander Was a Little Off
Then there is Justin Verlander. The face of the Tigers’ staff over the last half decade, he just wasn’t quite the same this year.
The once unhittable heater was getting laced to all parts of the park. The breaking ball didn’t seem to have the same snap. Control was an issue. For the first time in his career, he went the entire season without a complete game. It was hard to put your finger on exactly why this was happening, but regardless, it was clear that teams had begun feeling more confident against # 35.
It’s not to say that Verlander was a substandard performer this year. He finished with a strong September and has not allowed a run in his last 13 innings. His overall numbers would be desirable for 80% of the pitchers in the league.
But Verlander is different.
He expects to be the very best of the best, and anything short of that is considered coming up short. If there was ever a playoff year for Verlander to lay in the weeds, build a little chip on his shoulder, and come out firing bee-bees as the favorite-turned-underdog, it would be this one.
Jim Leyland, however, might very well see things differently. By some indications, the skipper may very well hand the ball to Verlander in Game One. This would in turn mean that Verlander will be the only Tigers’ starter to pitch twice assuming the series goes a full five games. Such a decision would be gutsy, and more based in loyalty than logic.
Who Would Oakland Prefer?
Sometimes you have to ask yourself, “If I am a member of the Oakland Athletics, and the series is starting Friday night, who would I rather see on the mound?”
“Would I like to see Max Scherzer, the optical assassin, the Cy Young winner, a guy that has been pitching with supreme confidence for six straight months?”
“Or would it be preferable to face Justin Verlander, our nemesis from last October, but a guy that has lost some luster since then, and tends to get a bit rattled when there is traffic on the bases?”
To a man, deep down, I would think Coco Crisp and company would choose to see Verlander on the hill. There just seems to be a confidence that opposing hitters take to the plate against JV in 2013 that has not been there in years past.
Leyland, however, may very well point to history with Oakland as his rationale. Verlander pitched twice in last year’s ALDS, allowing one run in 16 innings, with the Tigers winning both games. Hard to argue with such results.
But look a little deeper and you realize Verlander has been quite wobbly throughout his career in the playoffs. Prior to last year, Verlander had made seven post season starts and allowed at least three runs in every one of those games (not including a rain-shortened 1-inning performance). This is not Sandy Koufax or John Smoltz we’re talking about here. Verlander may very well be on his way to a hall of fame career, but at this point, it will not be due to October heroics.
The conversation about which Tiger starts which game is not just a fun debate that makes for good talk radio. It means something. The first game in a short series is crucial. It sets the stage for everything to follow.
Steal Home Field Advantage?
If the Tigers go into Oakland and steal away home field advantage on opening night, the fresh-faced A’s could get flustered. But go in and get rolled 7-2, all of a sudden the Tigers look creaky and the youngsters feel invincible.
Nobody is diminishing the brilliance by Justin Verlander during last year’s matchup with Oakland. He appeared twice and was nothing short of dominant. But things can change quite a bit in 12 months, and in this case, they have.
Max Scherzer has become the lead dog of the 2013 Tiger rotation. He has been the best guy the entire year, and should be treated accordingly. You want to maximize your chance for victory, and having your top pitcher on schedule to throw twice does just that.
Should Max be the guy for Game One, there will be those that wonder how such a thing will affect Verlander’s mental state.
“Won’t this perceived demotion crush his soul and make it impossible to achieve peak performance in his subsequent start, whenever that may be?”
Baloney
Balogne. Or baloney. However it’s spelled, I’m not buying it.
The 1929 Philadelphia Athletics were an astonishing 104-46. They were heavily favored to defeat the Chicago Cubs in the World Series. The rotation was stacked, from Hall of Famer Lefty Grove to 24-game winner George Earnshaw. So who did Connie Mack summon to kick off the Fall Classic? None other than journeyman Howard Ehmke, a 35-year-old afterthought that had only started a handful of games all year.
The trickery worked like magic. Ehmke stymied the Cubs in the opener, then Earnshaw and Grove teamed up to deliver a Game Two win. The Athletics won the series in five.
Long story short, Grove and Earnshaw did not sulk or let the surprise rotation spoil the party. They were professionals and took care of business when their number was called.
Verlander is no different. I trust that a player of his caliber will understand such a decision and be able to rise to the occasion regardless of the date or venue of his designated start.
The American League’s best pitcher in 2013 plays for the Detroit Tigers. Let him pitch as soon and as often as possible.
Simplicity is genius.
