Valverde's meltdown could mean a new closer for Tigers

• Tigers closer Jose Valverde allowed a pair of two-run homers, blowing a four-run lead in the ninth
• Valverde notched 35 saves in the regular season
• Other options for Detroit include Al Alburquerque, Octavio Dotel and Drew Smyly

NEW YORK – One year ago, closer Jose Valverde was 49-for-49 in converting save opportunities as the Detroit Tigers made it all the way to the American League Championship Series.

In Game 1 of the 2012 ALCS, Valverde didn't technically blow a save chance when he allowed four runs in the bottom of the ninth and enabled the New York Yankees to force extra innings. But unless he can regain his confidence – and his teammates' confidence -- he may have done something even more damaging.

Although the Tigers came back to win the series opener 6-4 in 12 innings, Valverde's difficulties closing things out could force manager Jim Leyland and his coaching staff to consider removing Valverde from the closer's role.

"We really want to put our heads together and discuss it first," Leyland said in his postgame press conference. "It is a very legitimate question, but I don't have an answer for you at this time."

Called upon to protect a 4-0 lead against a team that had shown little signs of life on offense, Valverde allowed pair of two-run home runs, including game-tying blast from designated (clutch) hitter Raul Ibanez that brought the Yankees back from the dead.

Still tied, Leyland turned to Octavio Dotel for 1 1/3 innings and rookie Drew Smyly for two more. Both kept the Yankees from scoring any more runs.

"No one gave up, no one put their heads down when we lost it in the ninth," said Smyly (1-0) said. "We just had to keep going out there, pick up Valverde and keep fighting."

Blown saves in April can be easily overlooked in the context of a 162-game season, but in the playoffs there's far less little wiggle room.

In his last two postseason appearances, Valverde has allowed seven hits and seven earned runs – while recording just four outs.

Meanwhile in the Tiger clubhouse, the players voiced support for their closer.

"I just think he's an inning away from getting his confidence back, finding his groove and definitely helping our bullpen," said catcher Gerald Laird.

"I asked him in the shower, 'Are you OK?' and he said he's fine," said Dotel. "Things don't go right for him right now. Hopefully things change in the next couple days."

Valverde, for one, is ready to go right back out there. "I have confidence for me and for my team and I'll be there to close to support my team."

But with the stakes raised in the postseason, can Leyland afford to go back to Valverde with the game on the line again? He says he'll have an answer tomorrow afternoon before Game 2.

Valverde led the Tigers with 35 saves during the regular season – no one else had more than two -- but his declining dominance in the ninth inning has been cause for concern for quite some time.

Of the 17 American League closers this season who had double-digit save totals, Valverde's 3.78 ERA was the third-worst.

And while closers typically rely on the strikeout to get out of those late-inning jams, the 34-year-old Valverde's whiff rate per nine innings has declined each of the past six seasons to a career-low 6.3 K/9 this season.

With the ALCS rosters locked in place, here are Leyland's options:

-- Right-hander Al Alburquerque: He was outstanding in a setup role last season, posting a 1.87 ERA in 43 1/3 innings. However, he's coming back from elbow surgery and only joined the Tigers in September. Still, he allowed just one earned run and struck out 19 batters in 14 2/3 innings during the regular season and the playoffs.

-- Right-hander Octavio Dotel: The 38-year-old got the final out in the ninth after Valverde's meltdown and pitched a scoreless tenth in Game 1. He does have closing experience with 109 career saves. However, he struggles against left-handed hitters (they hit .288 against him in 2012, compared to .197 for right-handers) -- and the Yankees are much more dangerous when they're hitting from the left side.

-- Left-hander Phil Coke: The former Yankee had one save during the regular season. He held lefties to a .263 average during the regular season and .233 for his career. He does struggle against righties, however, so don't look for Leyland to match him up against switch-hitters Mark Teixeira or Nick Swisher.

-- Right-hander Joaquin Benoit: The most frequently used Tiger reliever during the regular season and the playoffs, Benoit had a 3.68 ERA during the season. But he allowed 14 home runs in 71 innings, something a closer cannot afford to do.

-- Left-hander Drew Smyly: He got the win in Game 1 with two solid innings of work. Though the Yankees had made several substitutions, Smyly's effective outing could make him the X-factor.