The title is a quote from color man Rod Allen at some point during the top of the 10th inning last night as the Tiger bullpen disintegrated. In the process a game that the Tigers had in control turned into a blow out. And it was set-up by a decision by Alan Trammell that didn’t work out.

Nate Robertson faced one of the most formidable offenses in baseball, and held them to two hits on 90 pitches through 8 innings. The offense scratched out a run in the 8th inning to give the team the lead with 3 outs to go. I remember thinking between innings about what move I’d prefer to see at that point – and not really coming up with a clear cut answer. On one hand you have a pitcher who has been stifling and efficient. But, he also benefitted from all of the really hard hit balls that night being hit right at people, and the last two outs of the 8th inning were caught on the warning track. His pitch count was low, but how many times can you count on him to get out hitters of the ilk of David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez (who both were due up the next inning)?

You also have a fairly unproven closer who has been both shaky and dominant at various points. This time of year is also a time to evaluate whether or not Rodney will have the stuff and make-up to be a closer. What better situation than protecting a one run lead against the 2-3-4 hitters?

At the time I remember thinking to myself that no matter what decision Trammell makes, it better work out because he’ll get killed for it if they lost.

Trammell decided to go with his closer Rodney who gave up the tying homer to Big Papi – and the subsequent bullpen implosion in the 10th pretty much sealed the Tigers fate.

Trammell didn’t make a bad decision last night. He made a decision that didn’t work out, but it wasn’t a bad decision. It was a decision that a manager of a good team could and would make without being questioned. The Tigers need to find out if Rodney can be a closer, and those are the types of situations he needs to face. And Rodney didn’t lose the game, he blew the save. It was the inability of the remainder of the bullpen to keep the game within reach in the 10th inning that ultimately cost them.

And before you jump on Trammell too much, look at the bullpen that he has been dealt at this point. Half of them weren’t even with the club at the beginning of the season. They have a hodge podge of journeymen arms and guys on the wrong edge of the prospect spectrum.

All that being said, I can’t help but wonder if the game was tied going into the 9th, if Nate Robertson heads out there again. I have a suspicion that he would have as Trammell tried to get him the win. If he was managing for his pitcher’s stats instead of the teams record, then I would have a problem with the decision because I want the guy out there who Trammell thinks has the best shot at getting 3 outs.

A sad, yet somewhat interesting note about the game is that the Tigers became only the 4th team to hit an extra inning grand slam and lose.

For another reasonable take, check out Sam at Roar of the Tigers.