Tigers Notebook: Patience Indicated

Detroit Bullpen

Not Ready for Prime Time?

Brayan Villarreal came up last year and has shown some moments of
brilliance, but also has let the opposition creep in and steal the game.

Patience is Indicated.
Or should we say,"Patients are Indicated?"

It's not time to panic, yet.  But sitting at 4-4 and barely one game out of the basement in the standings, the Detroit Tigers have not exactly lit up the scoreboard when they had the chances to, and then the bullpen has been looking like they are all 'Doppelgänger' for missing "crazy man" José Valverde (who just cleared Customs).

Jim Leyland pulls starter Rick Porcello in the 6th inning.

Rick Porcello pitched decently enough and when he ran out of steam after loading the bases Tuesday in the 6th inning at Comerica, he left it to Darin Downs with a cushy 6-1 lead.  That did not last.  Toronto scored all 3 runs.  It gets worse.

Brayan Villarreal walks another batter.

Brayan Villarreal comes on in the 7th and proceeds to walk three straight batters.  The Blue Jays tabbed 4 more runs.

Octavio Dotel finished the game with 3+ innings and
gave the mound to Phil Coke in the 9th.

The damage having been done, Octavio Dotel (the oldest Tiger on the roster) came on to stop the bleeding when Toronto was already ahead 8-6.  He gave up no more runs and only was tagged for 2 hits and a walk, but also had 3 strikeouts.

Phil Coke comes in to finish the game.

Which left it to Phil Coke.  The same man who is tied for the MLB lead in blown save opportunities.  He did not pitch badly, however.  In fact, he had two strikeouts and gave up no hits.  But he did not get the save.  There were no more Tiger bats willing to change the score on the board on the outfield wall.  And that is how it ended.  A whimper in the drizzle.

Have Faith.  It's still early.  And a bit chilly.

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 GO TIGERS!!