When the final pitch was thrown on a tense night in Seattle, the hopes and dreams of the Detroit Tigers came crashing down, leading to many sleepless nights ahead for the team and its fans as they reflect on their season that could have been. But while fans are left wondering about what might have been, manager A.J. Hinch remains firm in his surprising decision regarding ace pitcher Tarik Skubal.
After an intense 15-inning battle that culminated in a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat to the Seattle Mariners in Game 5 of the AL Division Series, Hinch stated that it was an “easy decision” to replace Tarik Skubal after six stellar innings. This match, which was filled with drama and emotion, left fans on the edge of their seats, but the manager seems resolute, believing that pulling Skubal was the right move.
Upon pulling Skubal, the game took a sudden twist. The Mariners quickly responded by tying the game at 2-2 in the seventh inning and ultimately triumphed with a walk-off single from Jorge Polanco in the gripping bottom of the 15th. Despite the outcome, Hinch expressed no regrets, asserting that Skubal had given his all on the mound. "He gave us everything he could," Hinch remarked in a post-game conference.
Hinch monitored Skubal’s performance closely. After the fifth inning, he checked in with his star pitcher about how he felt both physically and emotionally. Both acknowledged that Skubal had one last inning in him, which made the decision easier for Hinch. Throughout his time on the mound, Skubal showcased his dominant form by allowing only one run and two hits while amassing an impressive 13 strikeouts, setting a new playoff record for the most strikeouts by a starter in a winner-take-all postseason game. At one moment during the game, he struck out seven consecutive batters, exemplifying his incredible skill.
The Mariners, despite struggling to connect with Skubal's fastball, managed to extend his pitch count to 99 by the end of the sixth inning. The spark for Hinch's decision was a pivotal moment—a 101-mph four-seamer that zipped past superstar catcher Cal Raleigh for a swinging strike three. Hinch interpreted this as a signal that Skubal might be losing steam. "He emptied his tank and obviously was emotional coming off the mound, and I think that signals exactly where we were in the game. He gave us everything he could," he explained.
The decision to pull Skubal was made with the awareness that in his last few outings, Skubal had pitched on regular rest and had consistently gone deep into games. Hinch confidently stated, "It was an easy decision." However, the unpredictability of baseball remained. After Skubal's departure, the team had to rely on seven different pitchers over the next nine innings, raising questions about the potential outcomes had Skubal remained in the game, especially considering he had exceeded seven innings in his previous postseason starts.
While the bullpen managed to give up only two earned runs during that extended play, Hinch decided he wouldn’t dwell on what might have been. It was a crushing defeat, yet one that he felt at peace with. “That was an incredible win for them,” he mentioned regarding the Mariners. “Which means it was an incredible loss for us. But I wish them well in the next round. They earned it, and that was an epic game.”
Now, the Seattle Mariners look ahead to the American League Championship Series (ALCS), making their first appearance there since 2001 as they prepare to face the Toronto Blue Jays in a much-anticipated Game 1 at Rogers Centre this Sunday night.
