Jose Valverde has excelled in his closers role for the Tigers in 2010 AP Photo/Paul Sancya
Without a doubt one of the biggest strengths of the 2010 Detroit Tigers is their amazing bull pen. Closer Jose Valverde is leading that effort, and has allowed just one earned run in 21 appearances so far in the 2010 season.
While that is great, and Valverde has done a great job as the Tigers’ closer, he is now very close to setting a team record. Valverde has not allowed a earned run in 19 appearances. That is the fourth longest streak in Tigers team history and just three appearances shy of the record set by Todd Jones.
Jones set that record in 2000 when he went 22 straight appearances without giving up an earned run. The second longest streak of this type was set by Bobby Seay who went 21 straight appearances without giving up an earned run in 2009.
It seems that early on in his Tigers career Valverde is making a strong bid to join the list of Tigers all time great closers. Of course that list starts with one Willie Hernandez, continues with Mike Henneman, and currently ends with Todd Jones.
Related Links:
• Detroit Tigers news and notes
• Pride of the Tigers
• The History of Detroit Sports
• MTR baseball.com
Comments