Over the next few days, maybe
longer, pundits will opine about the unfortunate turn of events for the Tigers
during the American League Championship Series.
In case you missed it, the Boston Red Sox were successful in
slamming the door on Detroit’s hopes for a World Series appearance. We had
every reason to hope for games in October. An incomparable starting pitcher
rotation boasted (1) a Cy Young prospect, (2) the lowest ERA in baseball, and (3)
one who is arguably the all-around best pitcher in the Majors. Even against the
best winning record in baseball during 2013, the odds seemed to be in favor of “our”
boys.
Some will say that Manager Jim Leyland
is at fault, and a case can be made against his unrelenting dedication to a
philosophy that favors pitch count over almost anything else. Why is it that Scherzer has not pitched a complete
game in over 170 starts? When the bull pen showed itself to be weak and
unpredictable, why didn’t Leyland leave his starters in so they could either
pitch out of a jam or make it worse and take responsibility for losses? They
are grown men and they would have stood up to that. I’ve voiced these questions too, so I stand
accused. In the end we can’t get inside the mind of the manager, but if we
could I think we’d find a simple explanation: He plays percentages, based on what
he believes to be good evidence that his hurlers are only good to a point,
namely 120 or so pitches. He is
predictable.
But I won’t put the blame on
Leyland for being consistent when I know that every sport demands consistency
of performance from its gladiators, the ones who put it on the line day after
day, season after season and must pay the unfortunate price of disapproval of
fans or worse, job loss when they lose. I
won’t blame this manager for doing what everyone knows ahead of time he will
do. We have watched his ways closely since he came to Detroit and lest we
forget, led the Tigers to the Fall Classic in his first season. Oh how we loved him then! So when he did what
he did this year (and before) and it didn’t turn out as we wanted, who is to
blame? Is it the manager himself, or the ones who hired him and have supported
him all along? If I’m looking for blame, I have to go above his head.
Nor can I blame the players. That
is a pursuit that is both easy and unrewarding. It’s easy because no matter where
the fault lies, we all can make a case for our personal choice, and argue over beer
until closing time. It’s unrewarding because no one wins those debates. No, I won’t look for blame, and here’s why:
No matter who we are, only those who put it on the line day after day can say
what it’s like to be in their shoes. No one can tell us what it’s like to be Prince
Fielder, to take Detroit by storm in his first year and then fall back to
(only) his career average in the midst of a family crisis. None of us knows
what it’s like to be Justin Verlander, to have everyone expecting you to be
perfect every time you take the mound. None of us knows what it’s like to play
with Cabrera’s or Avila’s daily pain, to risk further injury out of sheer
passion for the game they love. We don’t know what’s in Miguel’s mind lumbering
down to first on a ground ball to deep short. In spite of how it looks, I happen
to believe he’s screaming inside and would give anything to run flat out. If
you love this game, you know what I’m talking about. To pull the plug on him is
to remove life support. And unless we have been there, none of us knows what it’s
like to be called into a game from the bull pen with all the mess created by
someone else staring at you. Are your shoulders that broad?
I am looking for a little respect for my heroes who make summer afternoons and evenings so enjoyable. I have nothing but gratitude for these men. Yes, they
are well paid, but in the end they can’t even take all the blame for a
senseless system that has run a muck by financial craziness. Yes, it costs way too much for a ticket to the
park. Don’t even mention the hot dogs. But all of us who are fortunate to attend
games are apparently willing to continue to pay whatever it costs. Are we not accessories?
Baseball is a game and you either
love it or not. But here’s the point: We don’t judge people for their opinions
about baseball. Why do we bring such judgment upon the ones who in the vast
majority of instances bring such high quality performance? These are athletes,
coaches and mentors who have achieved a level of which the rest of us can only
dream. If we are going to judge the
players, judge them on character. Judge them for not living up to professional
ethics. Judge them for behavior unbecoming of role models for our kids. But
when it comes to performance, unless you think you can do better, lay off.
Nobody’s perfect, and nobody is more embarrassed or frustrated when things go
bad than the players, coaches and manager. I’ve noticed that when they are
interviewed after a game, they repeatedly express appreciation for their fans.
They praise the city of Detroit and her fans. Yet too often what they get in
return is childish banter in social media. It’s useless because it lacks the
whole body of knowledge that resides inside the clubhouse and on the field (if
we know so much how come we aren’t on the field). Never, I mean never, have I
heard one of them bite the hand that feeds them. You want an example of a prima
donna? I give you fans who complain and think we deserve more than what is
humanly possible. Give me a break. Better yet, give them a break.
If you love the game, then you can’t
wait for next year. All others may feel free to put a lid on it.
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