No "certainty" for this scene in postseason


 

It went just fine for Joe Nathan and the Tigers Monday at Arizona. The Tigers' bullpen set up perfectly to protect starter Justin Verlander. Al Alburquerque got Arizona's best hitter Paul Goldschmidt to ground into a force to get out of a jam in the seventh, Joba Chamberlain and Nathan pitched the scoreless eighth and ninth innings, protecting a one-run lead and preserving the Tigers' second victory in a row. Cleveland lost. The Tigers are now back to 6 1-2 games up in the AL Central again.
But, honestly, do you envision that bullpen holding up that way in the postseason against the A's or the Angels or the Orioles or the Blue Jays or the Yankees or the best of the National League? I don't.I think this weekend at the Angels will be telling, especially in regard to their bullpen with Huston Street compared to that of the Tigers. In my opinion, the Tigers definitely need an insurance policy for Nathan.
He's a "maybe" and a "perhaps" at this stage. He might get it done. Then again, he might not. It's kind of like a game of chance.
The Tigers shouldn't be fooled by one night, or a couple. They need to add as much "certainty" to the equation as possible.

My column. Matthew Stafford, the Lions and why there are no more excuses: http://www.theoaklandpress.com/sports/20140721/matthew-stafford-detroit-lions-and-why-there-are-no-more-excuses-pat-caputo-says

My column. Why the Tigers can't win the World Series without making significant moves at the trade deadline: http://www.theoaklandpress.com/sports/20140720/detroit-tigers-cant-win-world-series-without-significant-trade-deadline-moves-pat-caputo-says