By MICHAEL J. HAPPY
FOXSportsDetroit.com
Traditionalists will scream that it can't be done -- the Tigers need a designated closer to win the World Series.
I don't buy it.
I think the Tigers can win it all even without a Valverde rebound or somebody else being able to step right into his cleats.
It's really down to this now: roughly 54 outs.
The Tigers' rotation is the best in the game. Their postseason ERA is 0.94, and barring an injury or epic collapse, Verlander, Fister, Scherzer and Sanchez are going to take the team deep into games.
If the Tigers' bats can scrape together just a few runs, chances are they'll have a lead going into the seventh inning most of the time.
So that means the Tigers have seven other pitchers in the bullpen to close things out -- getting six or nine outs to secure a victory. Needing just six victories to win their first World Series since 1984, that's -- at most -- 54 outs by the bullpen.
With the likes of Alburquerque, Dotel, Benoit, Porcello, Smyly, Coke -- and maybe even Valverde in the right spot -- they should be able to get those outs by committee, matching the pitcher with the situation.
It's not a textbook way of winning, but it's the Tigers' best chance to hold a parade on Woodward Avenue in early November.
