WHY VALVERDE NEEDS TO EAT CROW

Jose Valverde has a big fat mouth and he should pay. It’s all over the Internet today. He made a statement, and while he was “half joking” or he's just “Valverde being Valverde”, there is no doubt, it’s time for the Yankees to step it up.

Valverde was at his locker yesterday and suggested that the Tigers would not be back in New York, “It’s over for the Yankees,” Valverde said, “No more. One hundred percent. I want it over, because I want my team in the second round.”

So what does that do? Well, it puts the Tigers on notice for one. Now they have to win. It also amps up the New York Yankees who now have less pressure on themselves than the Tigers have. See, when a teammate makes a statement against another team, whether or not they are “representing” the team is irrelevant, they wear the uniform. Valverde wears the Tigers uniform. He's become the voice of the team. Look at history.

Benny Agbayani in 2000 made a bold statement against the Yankees in the World Series when he was with the Mets. Good old Benny told the world that the Mets were going to beat the Yankees in 5 games. Read it HERE. The Yankees won that World Series last time I checked.

In 2009, Jimmy Rollins talked trash and predicted a Phillies Championship. He too said the Phillies would win in 5 games. Read it HERE. The Yankees were World Series champs in 2009.

Now, enter Jose Valverde, who nearly blew the game for the Tigers yesterday, but eventually got the save. Yes, he was feeling good, he was feeling cocky, but one thing you never do is talk out of turn. It’s bad luck, it puts pressure on your ball club, and it changes the vibe in the clubhouse. Hopefully it does and New York prevails, then Valverde can eat crow, like Agbayani, like Rollins.

Look, I like our guy on the mound in the Motor City tonight. CC Sabathia is and always has been good on short rest and while Justin Verlander is great, this is uncharted waters for him. I feel good about our chances tonight.

Perhaps Valverde is half right. Maybe the Tigers won’t be back in New York… maybe just maybe, the Yankees will win the ALDS in the Motor City. That’s not a threat or a joke… that’s just a Yankee fan rooting hard for his New York Yankees.

Please comment, we have DISQUS, it's easier than ever. Let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.