The nature of losing the World Series is to pick apart what went wrong, and in the Detroit Tigers' case, there was plenty from which to choose. But there was a sense, in a somber Tigers' clubhouse after a 4-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night, that there could be return engagements ahead.
"We've got a lot of good young players here," said 23-year-old right-hander Justin Verlander, who started and lost Game 5. "We're still learning. We can be back."
The Tigers' core likely will remain the same, based on young starters such as Verlander, Jeremy Bonderman, Nate Robertson and Zach Miner, along with top draft pick Andrew Miller.
"I told those guys when they're ready, push me out the door," 41-year-old lefty Kenny Rogers said.
But even as he pointed out that the Tigers went from 71-91 in 2005 to the World Series this season, Manager Jim Leyland was realistic.
"We're going to have to make a few changes," Leyland said. "If you want to continue to get better, you've got to make progress in those areas, and hopefully we can get back."
Polanco comes up empty
The misery never ended for Tigers second baseman Placido Polanco, who was the MVP of the American League Championship Series but went 0 for 17 in the World Series. Polanco had 19 plate appearances in the series.
"What can you do?" Polanco said. "Kill yourself? It's over."
Polanco drew a walk off Cardinals closer Adam Wainwright in the top of the ninth, putting the tying run on base, and he hit a couple of balls hard in Games 4 and 5, including a ball leading off the eighth in which his best friend -- Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols -- made a spectacular, diving, rolling play.
"I hit a couple of balls this series when I hit it, I thought, 'Oh, yeah, that's a base hit,' " he said.
Pitching decision
Another topic Tigers fans will discuss in the offseason is whether Leyland should have pitched Rogers -- who didn't allow a run in 23 postseason innings -- in Game 5 in an effort to extend the series. Leyland defended his decision to go with Verlander before the game, saying the Tigers had to win three anyway, and admitting he wanted to protect Rogers from having to pitch at Busch Stadium -- where he would have been received poorly.
Even after the loss, Rogers said he had no problems with the decision, calling Leyland "the best manager I've ever played for." He added, "I'd never think twice about what he decides." . . .
Center fielder Curtis Granderson said he was dealing with his mishap just fine, thank you.
"I'm part of history," he said, smiling. "Any way to be a part of it."
A day after he slipped and fell trying to track down a fly ball off the bat of St. Louis Cardinals shortstop David Eckstein -- a play that led to a key Cardinals' rally in the seventh inning of Game 4 -- Granderson was able to shrug it off.
"I think everybody was expecting me to go ahead and have a breakdown from it," Granderson said. "But it's over."
