The Tigers had a great opportunity to close out the A’s on Wednesday and become the first team to punch their ticket to the ALCS, but they couldn’t get the job done late in the game. Detroit took a 3-1 lead into the ninth before outfielders Seth Smith and Coco Crisp combined for three RBI to lead Oakland to a thrilling walk-off win.
It was the type of loss that makes a team dread having to talk to the media, but as professionals they have a responsibility. Miguel Cabrera apparently decided he wasn’t going to fulfill his, which irritated pitcher Octavio Dotel since the Triple Crown winner is supposed to be a clubhouse leader. From Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com:
Third baseman Miguel Cabrera entered the scene, he playfully slapped a pair of male reporters on their rear ends and smirked. It appeared the Triple Crown winner was already over the loss and ready for Thursday’s finale. But the mood in the clubhouse took a serious turn and tension surfaced when veteran Octavio Dotel told Cabrera to address the media because it was his job as the leader of the team
Cabrera turned down all interview requests and sat at one of the tables in his dress clothes with his arms crossed. Dotel, still in uniform, sat at the other table and shook his head.
Players have different ways of dealing with losses, but Dotel has a point. If Jose Valverde has to speak to the media after blowing his biggest save opportunity of the year and having pitchers from other teams mock him on Twitter, Cabrera should be able to say a few words. In any event, it’s safe to expect exactly zero carry-over from the situation when the Tigers take the field for the series finale on Thursday night.
Photo credit: Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE
