Rock, Paper, Scissors? Jose Valverde (notes) asks this question every day at least a dozen times, usually more. Sometimes he does it in Spanish - Piedra, Papel o Tijeras? - And usually it does with the stern gaze of a police officer interrogates a suspect before he cracks facade laugh.
"Everyone is Bullpen as bad," said Valverde. "The Bullpen is so boring. You must do something. And so we're playing."
Of course, Valverde will be the one to bring rock-paper-scissors game stodgy old. If baseball is a Norman Rockwell painting, Basquiat Valverde, an enfant terrible, whose antics, no matter how they dare to disrespect the order of play, go without penalty because of his talent.
What this season as much as any other is on display. Valverde saved his game for the 33rd consecutive Detroit Tigers on Thursday night, another event of departure in a career full. Valverde Top 20 saves, all but one came after he entered the game with a two or three years. During his last 13 times, nine came to an end game, and in them only five men arrived at the base.
After each one, especially on 06 July, which marked a punch, the right hand Valverde is a dance. Their templates vary. Elementary go and beat his chest and yell like Tarzan. It will take a knee as a player who just scored a touchdown and meow. It is therefore, just to play patty-cake with the mound. After the withdrawal of Valverde Miguel Montero (notes) last season, bowed and took off his hat.
Montero, his former teammate with the Arizona Diamondbacks, said "the way it works - it is not true," among others, to verbalize what seems like a common sentiment on the Valverde 33. And for those who are familiar with Valverde, it can be.
"I hated the 'Tigers ace Justin Verlander (notes), he said. "When I was in Houston, beat one night and we danced around. It was like the man who does not think it is? Do not know, did not know that was a good guy, so I do not like."
Now in its ninth season, Valverde is very familiar with the name, face, holding things and get away with whatever was in the past has been interpreted as a celebration totally unnecessary spat on appropriate behavior. In what is and does. Now, with Valverde has often said, is intended to be disrespectful, opponents believe it is enough to treat it as such.
"This is something he has always done," said Jeff Jones, the pitching coach and former Tigers Bullpen their coach. "The other team realizes he does not seek to display . It's just his way. There have been some cases where it happened to us that the opposition has asked if he bothered. No, it's just an accepted thing. "
Variance shows that it is more organic than Brian Wilson (note), crossing his arms and staring at the sky or jumping trio adorable little ones. However, this is baseball. There are limits. Valverde can be blended with a lap from time to time, but if I had to come and do a push-up or leave a Sharpie to sign the final result or the moon on the wrong people, the point of view it may be Montero more inclined now.
"You can think whatever you want about me," said Valverde. "I like my game. I have my game. Danzo. I dance, my team and my fans. Another thing is, as many batters hit home runs, and stay at home base? No one says anything those guys. See what Sammy Sosa did. The people loved it. Why?
"You have to enjoy the game that you sign when you are 18 years and since then his company."
Business took a little to gain for Valverde. After years of on-and-off closures, he locked the office in Arizona in 2007, spent two successful years in Houston and has signed a two-year agreement with the Tamil Tigers. His sleeves often come with a handful of beta-blockers, but Valverde has mounted the ninth well enough this year to a streak-blown d'économiser not more than three times longer than the others, 10 of Los Angeles Dodgers' Javy Guerra (notes).
"This is my baseball," said Valverde. "I do not want him to touch him. The ninth inning is mine. I could not dance after the eighth round. When I was introduced to Matt Mantei, I did not like the eighth. I felt better, more comfortable in the ninth. I get angry. "
What makes Valverde save situations, the better. When he leaves the bullpen, it prevents water from spitting on the right, left, and then in front of him crow hops and starts his run in. Everyone welcomes the arrival of Papa Grande, formerly leader Jim Traber thought meant Diamondbacks Big Daddy. It turns out that "dad" in Spanish, the potato, which is how Valverde was the Big Potato.
No one to crush this year, either. To save the situation, struck out batter inning and a 0.55 ERA - has allowed two runs, both working at home alone. Valverde throw his fastball nearly three quarters of the time after relying mainly on his split finger fastball last season. It evolves. Take a pitcher better, hopefully.
Until someone forces him to change anything else, and Valverde can continue to ask his friends the same question six relief. Rock, Paper, Scissors? They will smile as they always do, High Five him, as is customary before a shoot, and hope like crazy, they beat two out of three.
It's no fun losing to a potato. Even a dance, exuberant, game-saving one.
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