Tigers left fielder Craig Monroe can switch gears as effectively as a professional driver.
Before Monday’s workout, Monroe spoke in witty tones about how the Tigers needed to stick to their aggressive ways against the A’s crafty left-hander Barry Zito.
“If I wanted to walk, I’d be a mailman,” Monroe said. “We’re an aggressive team. Sometimes it works for you, sometimes it doesn’t.
“In these games we understand you have to be patient. But we didn’t get here by being patient. We got here by swinging the bat and being aggressive, and why change that?”
Monroe struck out 126 times during the regular season, but he actually took a 3-1 pitch for a strike before drawing a walk Tuesday night that led to two more runs during a three-run, fourth-inning rally that knocked out Zito in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series.
Monroe was one of the Tigers’ best clutch hitters during the regular season, as evidenced by his game-winning grand slam off Javier Vazquez on July 19 that pushed the White Sox 4 1/2 games back in the American League Central.
But his walk–one of three the Tigers drew against Zito–showed a willingness to adjust.
And it further illustrates the postseason provides a different landscape and a greater sense of urgency than the regular season. Just ask the New York Yankees.
