Re: Detroit Tigers 2010: Streaker is going to buy me some beer
I would understand if Perry came in with a 2-run lead and gave up the game-tying bomb within 3 batters. Let's say, a walk, a groundout, and he leaves a slider up in the happy zone and someone crunches it. Fine. Blame the bullpen. It's a helluva lot easier to swallow.
That isn't what happened. Leyland had ample time to come to the conclusion that Perry didn't have it yesterday, and even had two pitchers ready to go. Why he allowed Perry to continue absolutely blows my mind. Ryan Perry never should have been in the game with runners on 2nd and 3rd, with 1 out while the score was still 4-3. He should have been gone at that point. Zumaya and Coke were ready in the pen. This was a managerial ****-up, plain and simple. One that could have been avoided, and one that should have been avoided, even with Perry's struggles.
There's a difference between starting a fire, and allowing it to burn down half the city. Perry started the fire, but Leyland waited until we were all in flames before he called the fire department.