One decision still haunts Leyland
New Hall of Famer Jim Leyland doesn’t have many regrets when it comes to his career. But there is one decision that still eats at him, and it involves the Red Sox.
In Game 2 of the 2013 American League Championship Series, David Ortiz came to the plate in the eighth inning with the bases loaded and the Red Sox trailing the Tigers, 5-1.
Leyland pulled Al Alburquerque and went to righthander Joaquin Benoit instead of lefthander Phil Coke. Ortiz drove a first-pitch changeup into the home bullpen for a grand slam as Torii Hunter tumbled over the wall giving chase.
“That’s on me,” Leyland said. “I’m not sure today if I made the right decision or not. I think I did because it was my best relief pitcher and the guy I felt could make the best pitch.”
Instead of a 2-0 series lead for the Tigers going back to Detroit, the Sox won that game in the ninth inning on Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s walkoff single and went on to win the pennant.
“That [Red Sox] team found a way to win,” Leyland said. “A lot of people said we should have beat them and we probably should have. But I never take anything away from the team that wins. I don’t like that. You respect somebody when they beat you.
“That was probably our best team in Detroit. But the Red Sox did go on to win the World Series. So it wasn’t like we were playing somebody who wasn’t any good.”
Leyland said the other turning point of that ALCS was Mike Napoli’s home run off Justin Verlander in the seventh inning of Game 3. The Sox held on for a 1-0 win.
“A lot of people talk about that. We blew the second game and I don’t disagree with that,” Leyland said. “But Game 3 was the game that killed us. That crushed us. That hurt bad.
“Oh, man, Verlander was good that night. But Napoli got him.”
Leyland was unfailingly honest over 22 seasons as a manager, telling players the truth whether they wanted to hear it or not. It earned him respect from stars such as Barry Bonds to the last player on the bench.
“If you mislead a player, you lose them forever,” Leyland said. “If you tell them the truth, you lose them for about 24 hours.”
Leyland is a character. He was in his 60s when he managed the Tigers and still wore spikes with his uniform. He smoked in the dugout, chewed out umpires, and had firm opinions.
Such as: Larry Walker was a better all-around player than Bonds.
“Walker had the most tools because he threw better than Barry,” Leyland said. “Walker was a great player. Run, throw, hit, hit for power, play defense. Yes, terrific.
“Bonds was an unbelievable left fielder even though his arm wasn’t the greatest. I’m not going to get into controversy on Barry. Personally, I think everybody thinks Barry Bonds is a Hall of Famer. But that’s left up to somebody else.”
Bonds called Leyland after the Hall of Fame announcement, and it was emotional.
“He said, ‘You’re going to make me cry,’ ” Leyland said.
Extra bases
Mookie Betts was a second baseman when the Red Sox drafted him in 2011 and played on the dirt as a minor leaguer from 2011-13 before shifting to the outfield. Now he’s going back. The Dodgers are planning to use Betts as their regular second baseman after he played 70 games there last season. “He’s a Gold Glover out in right field,” manager Dave Roberts said. “But I think when you’re talking about putting together a roster and someone who can be so offensive at second base, you can get more games out of him if he is playing second base.” Betts had a .987 OPS last season. The average second baseman was .724. What a huge advantage for the Dodgers, who will play Jason Heyward in right field. It’s also what Betts wants to do and the Dodgers feel it’ll cause less wear and tear on his legs. “A happy Mookie Betts, a guy that can post and play 160 games, it makes the Dodgers much better,” Roberts said. “So it’s pretty much a no-brainer.” . . . The Hall of Fame will host the East-West Classic at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown on May 25. As a tribute to the Negro Leagues All-Star Games years ago, more than a dozen former big leaguers are scheduled to participate, including Ken Griffey Jr. and Ozzie Smith as coaches. The game will coincide with a new exhibit at the museum honoring Black baseball. Former Yankees lefty CC Sabathia, who now works for Major League Baseball, is helping to organize the teams. As a father with baseballplaying sons, it’s important to him. “That’s the reason I want to be a part of it,” he said. “I went to Cooperstown two years ago when my son played in a 12year-old tournament. I wish I had gone when I was playing. It was so inspiring. The museum gives me goosebumps. We need to build the next generation of kids who love baseball.” Other players committed to the game include former Red Sox David Price and Chris Young, along with Prince Fielder, Ryan Howard, Adam Jones, and Dontrelle Willis. Go to baseballhall.org/east-west for tickets and more information . . . Happy birthday to Steve Renko, who is 79. The righthander was 134-146 with a 3.99 ERA from 1969-83. That included going 20-18 with a 4.15 ERA with the Red Sox from 1979-80. Renko took a no-hitter into the ninth inning at Oakland on July 13, 1979, that rookie Rickey Henderson broke up with a one-out bloop single. The Sox held on for a 2-0 victory. Renko and Fred Lynn were traded to the Angels before the 1981 season.