Esto es un año nuevo, Papa Grande

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In 2011, Jose Valverde converted all 49 save tries in the regular season (allowing just 3 runs in the process), and added 3 more without fail in the postseason.

But in his first outing of the new campaign, he blew Justin Verlander‘s 2-0 lead in the 9th, allowing Ryan Sweeney‘s 2-out tying triple.

And this: The number of times during his magical march to the Cy Young & MVP Awards that Verlander left with a lead but didn’t cash a win? Yep, that would be zero.

Still, the Tigers and their fans walked off happy in the 9th on Austin Jackson‘s 3rd hit.

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Max

12 years ago

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. They fired the manager in Boston and they should have fired the bullpen. The new guys seem to have caught the kerosene attitude as well. No amount of fried chicken and/or beer can cover up this one.

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John Autin

12 years ago

Reply to Max

Wait, wasn’t that a fired BoSox reliever whom I saw locking down a 1-0 win for Philly today?

Editor

Doug

12 years ago

The trend continues. There were 6 blown saves on opening day in 2011, 7 in 2010, 8 in 2008, etc. Last year there wasn’t a blown save on opening day was 1983. Some opening day blown save oddities: Pitchers blowing saves, same team – 2 pitchers, 9 times, most recent: Chan Ho Park, David Robertson, NYY, 2010 Pitchers blowing saves, both teams – 3 pitchers, 2 times, most recent: Javier Lopez COL, Rudy Saenz, Trevor Hoffman SDP, 2005 – 2 pitchers (1 each team), 12 times, most recent: Jason Grilli DET, Jon Rauch KCR, 2008 A follow-up to the Ray… Read more »

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John Autin

12 years ago

Reply to Doug

Narleski blew the save….

Yeah, but nobody realized it yet!

Editor

Doug

12 years ago

Reply to John Autin

BTW, the White Sox beat Detroit 9-7 in 14 innings in that 1959 opener. This, despite going 1 for 16 with RISP. Only 5 of Chicago’s 9 runs were earned, though the Tigers committed only one error.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/DET/DET195904100.shtml

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Doug

12 years ago

Reply to Doug

And the very next year, the Tigers went 15 on opening day against the Tribe, to tie the then longest OD game.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CLE/CLE196004190.shtml

Hartvig

12 years ago

Reply to Doug

While this might make it just that much more difficult, I’m going to predict that this year Verlander becomes MLB’s first 30 game winner since another Tiger accomplished that feat in 1968.

Editor

Doug

12 years ago

Reply to Hartvig

That would take some doing, Hartvig.

Verlander has yet to have 30 decisions in a season, and has reached 35 starts just once. And, he already has a start without a win.

When McLain won 30, he had 41 starts and 28 complete games. Verlander has only once had more decisions (by one) than McLain had CGs in ’68.

Lawrence Azrin

12 years ago

Reply to Doug

30 Wins? – not gonna happen in todays game. Looking at the yearly Games Started leaders, it’s 34 or 35 after 1995, with a few 36’s tossed in. I figure the absolute fewest losses in a season would be three, maybe two, so that would mean a 30-2 W-L record, with four no “decisions”, and that just does not seem realistic. I suppose if you put a 1999-2000 Pedro performance with CC/Halladay durability, on the likes of the 1998 Yankees or 2001 Mariners, you _might_ approach 30 wins, but I don’t see it. AS #10/Doug states above, there’s just not… Read more »

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John Autin

12 years ago

Reply to Lawrence Azrin

Donning my Devil’s Advocate robe … It could happen, but it would take the most perfect alignment of performance and luck. The basis for my claim is Bob Welch’s 1990 season. Welch made 35 starts and went 27-6. The A’s won both his no-decisions; in those games, he allowed (a) 2 runs in 6.1 IP (left with a lead, Honeycutt blew it), and (b) 6 runs in 7 IP (he led 6-5 in the 7th but let in the tying run with 2 out). He also had one high-quality loss (2 runs in 7 IP). The 1990 A’s were an… Read more »

Hartvig

12 years ago

Reply to Hartvig

Oh ye of little faith… Even with 40 starts it’s still a long shot, of course, however Bob Welch did manage to win 27 for Oakland in ’90 with only 2 complete games and averaging 6 & 2/3rds innings per start in 35 starts so it’s not out of the question. Plus: 1) Detroit’s 4 & 5th starters are pretty shaky so it’s not out of the question that Leyland may elect to skip one or the other on occasion 2) like Oakland, the Tigers have a very potent offense 3) like Oakland, Detroit has a very good bullpen 4)… Read more »

Hartvig

12 years ago

Reply to Hartvig

Darn it, John. Great minds think alike.

I was busy typing up the same analogy at the exact same time you were posting yours.

Neil L.

12 years ago

Reply to Hartvig

You two are psychicly joined. 🙂

You mean you both thought of the 1990 Bob Welch season independently as it relates to Verlander?

Hartvig, I’ll give you both the great minds concession.

bstar

12 years ago

I’m not ashamed to ask; what is the translated title of this article?

Editor

Doug

12 years ago

Reply to bstar

This is a new year, Big Papa.

John Autin

12 years ago

Reply to Doug

Doug’s right, literally. But “Papa Grande” is Valverde’s “official” nickname, so I wouldn’t translate that into English.