Jose Valverde: “It’s over for the Yankees”

Put your pitchforks down, because Valverde wasn’t taunting or being provocative. He was just being Jose Valverde, which we are coming to learn is a thing. Half joking, half wishful thinking, but generally not caring.

Still, he did say it, and it’s rather fun to see someone eschew the “we gotta play ‘em one game at a time” card:

“It’s over for the Yankees. No more. One hundred percent. I want it over, because I want my team in the second round.” ... “Is this a prediction, or your hope?” Valverde was asked by a reporter. Valverde reached out and good-naturedly put his hand on the shoulder of the reporter and said, “What do you think?”

It sounded more like a man blowing off some happy steam after a tough save in which he threw more pitches than he’s used to throwing.

Although, I suppose I’d be less inclined to take that as a joke if he said it following a Tigers’ victory tonight because A.J. Burnett would have to start the elimination game for the Yankees tomorrow in such an event. God, that has to happen. For the love of all that is holy, that has to happen.