NEW YORK - Before Sunday's 3-0 victory over the New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland had decided that Jose Valverde wouldn't close, if needed, in Game 2 of the AL championship series.
However, Leyland said Valverde will keep his closer role, for now.
"I guess that sounds like I am mud watching, but I am really not. I still consider him the closer, but he will not close the game," Leyland said. "We will do some work with him."
Valverde allowed a tying two-run double to Oakland's Seth Smith on Wednesday in Game 4 of the AL division series as Detroit lost 4-3, then gave up two-run homers in the ninth inning to the Yankees' Ichiro Suzuki and Raul Ibanez in Saturday's ALCS opener. Detroit rebounded to win 6-4 in 12 innings.
After converting all 49 save chances during the 2011 regular season, the 34-year-old right-hander was 35 for 40 this year.
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The Nix is in
When Jayson Nix signed a minor-league contract with the New York Yankees in the offseason, starting at shortstop in place of Derek Jeter in the postseason was hardly in his mind.
Still, throughout the year he was always prepared for the moment he might have to play.
"These are the things I have to consider," Nix said before Game 2 of the AL championship series on Sunday. "A certain guy goes down, I'm up. If Robbie (Cano) goes down or Derek goes down or Alex (Rodriguez) goes down, I've got to play."
Nix said Jeter, who broke his left ankle in Game 1 and is out for the postseason, texted him Sunday morning to wish him well.
"He just said good luck. He said he believes in me, and go get 'em," Nix said.
Giants coach injured
SAN FRANCISCO - San Francisco Giants first base coach Roberto Kelly will miss at least one more game of the NL championship series with a concussion after being hit in the back of the head by a foul ball in batting practice Saturday.
Giants manager Bruce Bochy said before Game 1 against St. Louis that Kelly remained at home recovering a day after being hit by a ball off the bat of Buster Posey. Bochy said Kelly did not sleep much Saturday night and might come to the stadium to be checked out by the training staff.
Assistant batting coach Joe Lefebvre will take over Kelly's duties for at least the first two games of the series.
