Jose Valverde Rumors & News

I was set to write that Papa Grande Jose Valverde was doing enough. Your closer doesn't have to be your best pitcher, he just has to get the job done. He's probably coming into an inning with no one on the bases and a lead that he should be able to protect. Jose Valverde fits that bill pretty well. And yet ... Watching Valverde pitch has required a bit of suspension of disbelief at times. He keeps chucking the same fastballs and batters keep hitting into outs and all is well -- except those five walks in his last five appearances anyway. As I started to look at the numbers -- small sam...

A day after Justin Verlander flamed out in a much-anticipated showdown, Rick Porcello pulled off what Detroit's ace couldn't and shut down the red-hot Texas Rangers in the Tigers' 2-1 win Friday night. Detroit Tigers' Andy Dirks is tagged out at home plate by Texas Rangers catcher Geovany Soto in the third inning Friday.AP Photo  ARLINGTON, Texas -- There was a pitchers' duel in Texas after all. It just came a day later than everyone expected. A day after Justin Verlander flamed out in a much-anticipated showdown, Rick Porcello took a sh...

The week of May 10th through the 16th that featured an early showdown in Detroit between the Tigers and the Cleveland Indians was actually sort of a mundane week in the AL Central. Yes, the Tribe won a road series from the Tigers when Jose Valverde walked Michael Bourn and then allowed the only hit he has surrendered so far this year to blow a save. The Tribe would take the game on a two-out hit from Mark Reynolds an inning later. Cleveland and the Chicago White Sox were the AL Central teams to post a winning record on the week, both 4-3. Otherwise the division as a whole was treading ...

Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com cited a source that said the Tigers are looking hard for bullpen help via the trade market. Jose Valverde has three saves in four opportunities this season. Is he the answer as the closer for the Detroit Tigers?AP File Photo The Detroit Tigers have done their fair share of bullpen shuffling already this season. According to a CBSSports.com report, the Tigers are still seeking additional help. Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com cited a source that said the Tigers are looking hard for bullpen help via the trade market. If the Tiger...

Tigers links: Detroit Tigers' Jose Valverde quite a resurrection story ESPN, Jerry CrasnickI was going to say something snarky, but then Valverde closed Tuesday's game with some effective splitter action and it might have actually given me hope. A little. Just a little. Torii Hunter's new approach produces big results ESPN, David SchoenfieldYeah, I think we'll keep him. Torii Hunter has ended Tigers' right-field anxieties The Detroit News, Lynn HenningDon't let the headline fool you. There's some Valverde hate in here, too. Tigers do drills to avoid collisions like Monday's that cost t...

From Ramon Santiago to Joaquin Benoit, the bottom of the batting order and the back end of the bullpen contributed a lot to the 6-2 win over the Houston Astros. Jose Valverde celebrates Tuesday night after putting the finishing touches on a 6-2 win over the Houston Astros.AP Photo DETROIT -- The starting rotation is rock solid. Barring injuries, it will remain one of the best in baseball. The starting pitchers for the Detroit Tigers are going to get theirs. The top five batters in the batting order are impressive. When healthy, the Tigers match up with an...

Bullpens are volatile by nature. If these pitchers were perfect, they'd be starters. But year after year, it seems like Jim Leyland gets more than his fair share of headaches from these seven. Recently, Leyland has been faced with problems such as injuries to Phil Coke and Octavio Dotel, undefined roles for Al Alburquerque and Drew Smyly, and the always-controversial Jose Valverde. On his first appearance since his DL-stint, Phil Coke retired both batters he faced. His ERA remains ugly at 7.45, but his Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) at 3.82 shows that he has been unlucky. Octa...

Although it's only one blown save, some people are reading it as a sign that there will be many, many more blown saves for Jose Valverde down the road. What's your take? DETROIT -- You didn't expect him to go 49-for-49 again, right? Jose Valverde blew his first save Sunday afternoon. Like I said in today's column, it was bound to happen sooner or later. Even the best mess up now and again. Atlanta's Craig Kimbrel has blown three already. Tampa Bay's Fernando Rodney, two. Those two were arguably the best closers in their respective leagu...