Second Guessing Jim Leyland

By: Jeff Riger

Wednesday was a good day for the Tigers but at the same time a frustrating one for skipper Jim Leyland.

The Tigers beat the Angels 7-2 and there were really a lot of good things that came out of the game. Doug Fister pitched 8 innings of 2 hit baseball, the Tigers hit up a very good pitcher in CJ Wilson for 7 runs and the likes of Ryan Raburn, Gerald Laird, Danny Worth and Jhonny Peralta got starts.

Well it was that last part that irritated the Tigers veteran manager...

It all started in the skipper's pre game session with the media where one longtime journalist asked Leyland about a bunting situation that happened back in Sunday's game in Baltimore. There were runners on 1st and 2nd with nobody out and Leyland decided to bunt Ramon Santiago. Considering the pitcher on the mound at the time was very erratic, numerous readers of the journalist questioned the move and in turn Leyland was asked to explain himself 4 days later.

"This is the place that loves to bunt" Leyland said. The manager went on to say "Ramon Santiago bunts and they're upset that you bunt him? That's beyond my wildest (expletive) dreams to be honest with you. My wildest (expletive) dreams ever! That is beyond my wildest (expletive) dreams. The city of the bunt!"

Needless to say, Leyland was miffed.

Of course the second guessing continued as the media wanted to know why Jhonny Peralta was starting? Peralta was 1-14 against Angels pitcher C.J. Wilson going into the game and went hitless; however he did score a run and worked a walk.

"Don't worry about the lineup, don't worry about it! Have their fun and do whatever they want to do" the skipper said. Leyland went on saying "tell them (fans) if they have a suggestion who they want me to play tonight to send it in, mail it in. I would love to hear it."

Fast forward to the end of the game where I asked Leyland about winning while playing some of the questioned players from the pregame? I know that Leyland feels it necessary to play every member of his team and get everybody involved, he has said so many times over the years. It was a feel good question in my opinion as his team just beat a very good Angels squad playing guys that the fans didn't want to be on the field. However there was nothing feel good about the skippers response.

"I made a decision today after talking to you guys before the game that I'm not going to discuss my lineup with anybody anymore. It's going to be posted and you guys can look at it and people can have fun with it but I'm not going to explain on a daily basis why I play certain people, it's really a waste of time" said Leyland.

Leyland went on to explain himself a bit saying "people act like when you are playing somebody that you have 30 guys. You don't have 30 guys, you only have 4 extra and one of them is a catcher. I want to be fair to the people because their passion is so great here but it's not like you have 7 guys to choose from."

Of course Leyland also refused to talk about his lineup last season but that eventually changed as the year went on.

So for all the people that claim the media isn't asking certain questions because they are afraid of the skipper, this blog is proof that, that is not the case. The media asks, sometimes the manager gets irked and doesn't answer.

Listen to the entire postgame comments about not discussing his lineup below. Leyland does actually explain his lineup after swearing that he will not.