Coke succeeding as closer
By Dana WakijiFOX Sports Detroit
Detroit -- To say that Phil Coke has reversed his luck this postseason would be an understatement.
After striking out the side in the ninth inning of Game 3 in a losing effort, Coke's postseason ERA remained at 0.00 in nine appearances totaling 8 2/3 inning. He has struck out nine while allowing four hits.
In the regular season, Coke struggled, to say the least, posting a 2-3 record with a 4.00 ERA in 66 outings.
But Coke said he felt he had turned things around at the end of the season.
"I felt like it was building to what it's been," Coke said after Game 3. "I felt like I was making some really good pitches and getting buzzard's luck. It just wasn't going my way. That kind of stuff happens. You can't expect it to go your way every time. You do your best to impose your will, try to make things go your way. Sometimes you find yourself pressing a little too hard on yourself and making mistakes. When you make mistakes, it's tough to figure out what you're doing because you felt so good and all of a sudden things are in shambles and you have to figure out what's going on. Usually you're in your own way. I was able to step out of my own way and go about my business."
Coke said he felt like he had created some bad habits while playing catch before games and was carrying those bad habits into games.
"I was fighting arm angle, I was rushing in my front side, I was fighting flying open, I was fighting everything," Coke said.
Coke said he benefited from a couple of "phenomenal" conversations with pitching coach Jeff Jones.
"Anytime I'm throwing the ball, I'm making sure I'm getting over my front side, extending out in front when I'm releasing the ball and really getting good finish," Coke said. "When I'm doing those things, things go very well. When I'm not doing those things, things don't go very well."
Coke has also felt energized with the intensity of the playoffs.
"It's just a matter of making sure I'm able to be sharp with everything all the time," Coke said. "When you're at this level of the game, on this stage, you have to be sharp with everything every time you release the ball. You can't afford to make a mistake."
Closer Jose Valverde has not been able to find the form that helped him save 35 games this year and a perfect 49-for-49 the year before. Valverde's contract is up at the end of the season, which means the Tigers will need a new closer next year.
But it's not something that Coke is thinking about at the moment.
"That's so far in front, I don't even care to get into that," Coke said. "I always dreamt of being a baseball player. This just happens to be the job I'm doing right now."
Minor leaguer Bruce Rondon had 29 saves with Lakeland (15), Erie (12) and Toledo (2) this season so there's a chance he could be ready to close next season, although he'll only be 22 in December.