Jun 12, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland (10) walks to the mound to relieve relief pitcher Jose Valverde (46) in the ninth inning of the game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Fortunately for me, I didn’t see the game tying home run live. Missing the home run yesterday probably saved my television from having a shoe or something thrown at it, so at least my TV is in tact still. But the mob mentality has drawn me in at this point, and I don’t know if I can stand to watch Valverde for much longer.

How bad is the level of frustration with the Tigers closer right now?

So bad, that even Tigers radio analyst Jim Price was ranting about how the Tigers can’t continue doing what they are doing with Valverde. This guy is paid by the Tigers. Can you imagine Mario Impemba or Rod Allen openly questioning what the Tigers organization is doing with it’s closer situation? Not likely, that is why it was a little funny (as well as refreshing) hearing it from Price.

But I’m not trying to throw Jim Price under the bus. One, whatever you think of Jim Price as an analyst and announcer, he’s been around the game a long time, and does actually know a thing or two about baseball. Two, his main point was that the continued blown saves are going to affect the clubhouse in a negative fashion. Again, I didn’t see it, but it was said that the Tigers clubhouse seemed visibly frustrated.

Jim Price also alluded to the other problem with the Tigers closing situation. If not Jose Valverde, then who? Paraphrasing, Price was honest when he said he didn’t have the answer, and therein, lies the problem. Jim Leyland doesn’t have the answer. Dave Dombrowski doesn’t have the answer. And worse yet, an answer might not be coming for a while.

Now, Leyland has gone a bit overboard falling on the sword a bit about the closer situation. He has not been entirely subtle asking the media who he has that can do the job, effectively pointing a finger at David Dombrowski. A finger pointing that isn’t entirely unwarranted by the way.

The answer truly lies in a closer by committee approach, but Leyland clearly isn’t comfortable in that situation. In fact, he seems oblivious to all common sense when it comes to bullpens. His two worst bullpen guys, Phil Coke and Jose Valverde, see a good deal of the high leverage situations. Darin Downs, Drew Smyly, and Joaquin Benoit are the Tigers bullpen members that have performed the best in 2013. Finding ways to get your higher performers in the highest leveraged situations seems to make sense. To me at least. Jim Leyland just has to start thinking outside of the box, or stop reading baseball managing 101.

The Tigers have to mix and match until something either works itself out, or Bruce Rondon proves ready for the role, or Tigers GM David Dombrowski acquires a closer. Because right now, the only dancing Jose Valverde is doing is the move where he turns around really quickly and watches the baseball fly out of the park.

Tigers fans aren’t a vicious bunch, and a lot of times, I think most overreact. But this time, Tigers fans have it right. It’s time to try something different. It’s time the Tigers dance to the tune of a different closer.

In a farm system that is suffering from a lack of high end pitching right now, a trio of Latin pitchers in low class A West Michigan are providing a sliver of hope for prospect followers in Detroit. Endrys Briceno, Yorfrank Lopez, and Edgar De La Rosa, haven’t exactly posted eye-popping numbers so far in 2013, but development isn’t all about the numbers. It’s about seeing real improvements that could lead the Tigers to believe they have a usable player for the future or as a trade commodity.

As of late, all three of these youngsters have put together some strong starts.

Yorfrank Lopez, RHP, 22 years old

In Lopez’ last four starts, he has recorded four quality starts. In his last 26 innings, Lopez has only allowed five earned runs with a 3/18 BB/K ratio.

Edgar De La Rosa, RHP, 22 years old

In De La Rosa’s last four starts, he has recorded three quality starts. Those four starts span 26.2 innings in which De La Rosa has allowed 11 runs, striking out 18 over that time, and walking only five.

Endrys Briceno, RHP, 20 years old

Briceno has also recorded three quality starts in his last four, and three of them in a row. In those starts, he has gone a total of 22.2 innings while allowing just five runs. The one start that wasn’t quality was responsible for six walks, and Briceno did strikeout just 11 batters over that span. However, Briceno is showing tremendous ground ball tendencies at this point of the year, getting two ground balls for every one in the air.

All three of these guys are a long way from making a big league debut. In fact, all three are a long shot to make it at all, but Briceno and De La Rosa in particular do have a ceiling of a mid-rotation starter. Briceno maybe even more. Lopez is more of a back of the rotation candidate but he has at least put himself into the prospect discussion.

Still, given the rawness of these guys, it is nice to see the recent improvements being made, not only in results, but in ability to pitch and the sharpening of secondary pitches.

And for this farm system, any improvement is welcomed.

*If any of you are interested in getting a full scouting report on any of these players, I would be happy to write one up when I get the time. Just let me know in the comments section which you would like to see.

1. Houston Astros- Jonathan Gray (P) I don’t think the Adderall thing scares the Astros off. In fact, it might make it so they get Gray at a discount.

June 8, 2012; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Stanford Cardinal pitcher Mark Appel (26) prepares to pitch the ball in the third inning of game one of the Tallahassee super regional against the Florida State Seminoles at Dick Howser Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

2. Chicago Cubs- Mark Appel (P) Appel goes here because Gray went first. Two best players in the draft, and even if baseball doesn’t draft for need. The Cubs need good pitchers, so it’s a fit.

3. Colorado Rockies- Kris Bryant (3B)- I think Bryant is the best hitter in the draft, so why not if you’re Colorado?

4. Minnesota Twins- Reese McGuire (C)- This one really is a crapshoot, so I will go with a bit of surprise. Kohl Stewart is going here in most mocks.

5. Cleveland Indians- Braden Shipley (P)- Cleveland likes college players and Shipley is the best college pitcher at this spot.

6. Miami Marlins- Clint Frazier (OF)- Miami can afford to go the high school route, and Frazier I believe has a chance to be the best hitter out of the high school crop.

7. Boston Red Sox- Kohl Stewart (P)- Too much upside for Boston to pass on.

8. Kansas City Royals- Phil Bickford (P)- With Colin Moran still on the board in my mock, this is a surprise, but Bickford has a fantastic arm, draws Jared Weaver comparisons.

9. Pittsburgh Pirates- Colin Moran (3B)- I imagine Pittsburgh would be ecstatic with this scenario.

10. Toronto Blue Jays- Austin Meadows (OF)- Meadows has a ton of talent, and his athleticism is a Jays kind of pick.

11. New York Mets- Hunter Renfroe (OF)- I think the Mets go bat, and they go college. Renfroe is the best of what’s left.

12. Seattle Mariners- Trey Ball (P)- Most have Seattle on a couple of hitters, but in my scenario, the upside of Ball is too much to pass up.

13. San Diego- Dom Smith (OF/1B)- Smith is a pure hitter and I just have a feeling the Padres will add bats.

14. Pittsburgh Pirates- J.P. Crawford (SS)- Best high school SS prospect out there.

15. Arizona Diamondbacks- D.J. Peterson (3B/1B)- Peterson is another college bat that can hit a little bit, and could stick at third base.

16. Philadelphia Phillies- Austin Wilson (OF)- Phillies love themselves some tools, and Wilson has them.

17. Chicago White Sox- Ryne Stanek (P)- If we are going on talent, Stanek fits here.

18. L.A. Dodgers- Ian Clarkin (P)- The California lefty has been attached to the Dodgers for a while.

19. St. Louis Cardinals- Tim Anderson (SS)- Anderson is a perfect pick for an organization that believes they can develop. And the Cardinals can.

20. Detroit Tigers- Alex Gonzalez (P)- Tigers get a solid pitcher with mid-rotation upside out of Oral Roberts

21. Tampa Bay Rays- Aaron Judge (OF)- Judge is physically gifted, and the Rays seemed to get suckered in by these types of offensive talents.

22. Baltimore Orioles- Chris Anderson (P)- The hard throwing righty out of Jacksonville is a good fit in this slot, and could even go earlier.

23. Texas Rangers- Hunter Harvey (P)- Harvey is affordable but also has pretty massive upside. Two things the Rangers like.

24. Oakland A’s- Eric Jagielo (3B)- Jagielo can swing the bat and seems to fit the A’s profile nicely.

25. San Francisco Giants- Rob Kaminsky (P)- Giants should be ecstatic to get this guy here.

26. New York Yankees- Sean Manaea (P)- Do I really think Manaea will last this long? Probably not, but his talent means he might not sign.

27. Cincinnati Reds- Jonathan Crawford (P)- Crawford has really good stuff, but may ultimately end up in the pen.

28. St. Louis Cardinals- Nick Ciuffo (C)- Solid catcher that has some two way potential.

29. Tampa Bay Rays- Marco Gonzalez (P)- He gets overlooked, but gets a lot out of his repertoire.

30. Texas Rangers- Devin Williams (P)- Another Texas type. Athletic pitcher with a bit of buzz.

31. Atlanta Braves- Josh Hart (OF)- Braves like local guys. What can I say?

32. New York Yankees- Billy McKinney (OF) McKinney is one of the best high school hitters in the draft.

33. New York Yankees- Matt Krook (P)- Young lefty with good velocity.

34. Kansas City Royals- Alex Balog (P)- Balog would be a really good value here.

35. Miami Marlins- Kyle Serrano (P)- Serrano is a tough sign, but has talent to drafted much higher than this.

36. Arizona Diamondbacks- Jon Denney (C)- Denney goes a bit higher than this in most drafts.

37. Baltimore Orioles- Oscar Mercado (SS)- Mercado is a natural SS, but there are questions about the bat.

38. Cincinnati Reds- Andrew Thurman (P)- Thurman has solid middle of the rotation potential due to a varied arsenal.

39. Detroit Tigers- Hunter Green (P)- Green is a power lefty out of high school in Kentucky.

Well, there it is. Another mock draft that will likely be blown up by the 10th pick in the draft, as per usual when it comes to the major league baseball draft. But I had fun doing it. Hopefully, you had a little bit of interest reading it…