The Cutoff Man: AL Championship Rings, Max Scherzer’s Story, and Possibly Finding a Closer

April 6, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers 2013 American League Championship ring behind a glass case before the game against the New York Yankees at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Ring Roundup – Bless You Boys

"Before the game on Saturday the Tigers were presented with their American League championship rings. And what good is having a giant, gaudy, impractical ring if you can’t show it off?!"

Sanitago will play next two days to ‘see what he’s got’ – Out Of Left Field

"“I haven’t really seen the effects of that so far. That’s why he’s playing the next couple of days. To see what he’s got,” said manager Jim Leyland, who penciled Santiago into the lineup Saturday at second base, and intends to play him at shortstop on Sunday.“He’s a big part of our team, and has been in the past. Did not have a good year last year. Started out OK in winter ball, but did not finish real good in winter ball. So we’ll just have to wait and see how that plays out.”"

Offense finds its groove — and Tigers might’ve found a closer – The Detroit News

"It has to do with the right-handed Benoit’s skill at pitching to left-handed hitting batters. It’s a talent you also need during the set-up eighth inning, which tends to be Benoit’s province, but Leyland will try and nurse the eighth with other combinations as the Tigers deal with their closer-deprived bullpen.Benoit has worked save situations before. He was the fill-in closer during his days with the Rangers when either Eric Gagne or C.J. Wilson needed a 24-hour vacation."

Max Scherzer: A brother’s passage – ESPN The Magazine

"By then, word had filtered among the crowd about Alex’s death. Brad and Jan saw the few Tigers fans at the game stand and applaud their son. “We had tears in our eyes,” Brad says. Max worked three shutout innings against the Pirates, then gave up a three-run homer to Andrew McCutchen. He battled back with a scoreless fifth. After the inning, Max sat alone in the dugout. His hair was soaked with sweat; he had never been this tired during a game. Physically, emotionally exhausted. One more inning, he told himself. That’s all I can give."