Brandon Lyon Is out of the Doghouse

Abut a month ago Jim Leyland addressed his feelings for reliever Brandon Lyon.  He talked a bit about Brandon, and about his dream for the back end of the bullpen: “My dream would be to use Lyon in the seventh inning with the lead against right-handed hitters and Bobby Seay with the lead against left-handed hitters, and to use Zumaya as a setup man on a consistent basis in the eighth and Rodney in the ninth. That would be my dream.”

My thoughts when I first read that were anything but dreamy. At this time Brandon Lyon was sporting a 6.43 ERA. He was throwing batting practice during games on a regular basis.

I had dreams for Brandon Lyon, alright: Release him, put him on a raft, and push him out to sea; trade him or put him in the same black hole where Maggs’ lost his bat. 

Seriously, when he was signed he was to be our new closer? At this point Brandon Lyon was closing the games for the opposing teams, giving up runs like a crazy. Apparently, he thought he was a Detroit Lion, not a Detroit Tiger, or even a Brandon Lyon for that matter.

You get the picture; you lived through the nightmares just as I did. We all remember his Tiger debut in Toronto: two walks, three hits, three earned runs and one heart-breaking home run.

So what has Brandon been up to lately? Very quietly, Brandon Lyon has been earning his way out of this Tiger Fans' doghouse. In his last nine appearances (a span of 14-and-one-third innings) he has allowed just one run. During that span he has walked only four and given up just five hits, while striking out 10.

I almost hate to praise him because of Murphy’s Law. However, I believe in giving credit where credit is due. Your ERA is now 4.08 and you now appear to be serviceable. I no longer hate you, Brandon Lyon.

Keep up the good work!