The advantage in this game has shifted to the Tigers, because Jim Leyland is willing to use his closer and Ron Washington is not.
Will We See Neftali Feliz Tonight?
Granted, if their situations were reversed -- Leyland were managing in Texas, rather than Washington in Michigan -- they would almost certainly reverse their tactics, too.
But the fact is that Leyland just used his top reliever in the 10th inning, and Washington almost certainly will not. Which gives the Tigers a big advantage. Because as deep as the Rangers' bullpen is, Washington's already used three of his five best relievers and probably won't use one of the others (closer Neftali Feliz) until he absolutely has to.
Which might work out for him. But I can’t imagine many worse things than a manager losing an extra-innings game without ever using his best relief pitcher. Which reminds me of a few games that Washington managed, roughly one year ago ...
Whatever. It’s the bottom of the 10th, the score is still 3-3, and Scott Feldman’s pitching against the Tigers.
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