Leyland Can Almost Look Past The Scoreboard To The Playoffs

It is, of course, baloney.

Players, coaches and manager do watch the scoreboard. They start watching the first game of the season and don't stop until the season is over.

Even Jim Leyland confesses to that.

So while he's operating on a day-to-day level, Leyland is also thinking of the big picture.

That's why, a few weeks ago, he sat down, took out his legal pad and sketched out his pitching rotation for the remainder of the season. Knowing, naturally, it was subject to adjustment.

Leyland set his rotation so ace Justin Verlander would have maximum exposure to the teams chasing Detroit in the AL Central standings, Chicago and Cleveland.

And surprise of surprises, it just happened to work out that Verlander would be available to pitch the final game of the season, against Cleveland, on short rest if need be.

Or, with the division clinched, he'll be held back to open the AL playoffs on extra rest.

There's a day off coming up Monday, so Leyland can give his entire rotation an extra day of rest before its next starts -- or not.

It might also allow him to revamp his staff to align his playoff rotation for the first round.

Funny how that just sort of happened to work out.

Rick Porcello got the start Monday against the White Sox, and while he wasn't fantastic, he didn't need to be. Porcello gave up three runs in 6 2/3 innings as the Tigers cruised to a 14-4 win for their 10th consecutive victory.

It's hard to imagine Leyland being too concerned about the scoreboard now, with the Tigers holding an 11 1/2-game edge on both the Indians and White Sox with 15 games to go.

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