Rob Parker

You can question Leyland's calls, but they all have worked out well

You can question Leyland's calls, but they all have worked out well

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Tigers manager Jim Leyland was at it again Wednesday.

Leyland, the mad scientist of the major leagues, was mixing and matching and making some fans, no doubt, crazy with major lineup changes in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series against the Oakland A's at McAfee Coliseum.

Given the success he had enjoyed thus far in the postseason, you had to give Leyland the benefit of the doubt -- even if you weren't keen on Leyland's pitching decisions as far as who started what game in the first two series.

In reality, it was hard to argue with Leyland -- who has a good chance of being named American League manager of the year -- because just about everything he has done has worked out.

For sure, Leyland had managed just about as well as his team had played.

That's why fans should've figured that either Alexis Gomez or Neifi Perez was going to wind up doing something big.

Shakin' it up

Enter Gomez, who had two hits, including a home run and four RBI. Gomez enabled the Tigers to score an 8-5 victory and take a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

"You made me look good," Leyland said to Gomez in the interview room after the game.

With first baseman Sean Casey out -- he could miss the rest of the ALCS because of a torn calf muscle suffered in Game 1 -- shortstop Carlos Guillen started at an unfamiliar position -- first base. Leyland also went to his bench and grabbed two seldom-used players.

Perez got the start at shortstop. Gomez was inserted as the designated hitter, replacing Marcus Thames.

For both reserves, it was their first action in the 2006 postseason. Gomez last played Sept. 28, going 0-for-2 against the Blue Jays. Perez pinch hit Oct. 1 in the Tigers' last game of the season.

Guess again

"I'm going to make my decisions," Leyland said. "I've always said that I manage for the fans, I don't manage with them."

For sure, no fan would have selected Gomez's bat to replace Casey, who was hitting .350 in the postseason in the third spot in the batting order.

But Gomez, batting eighth, came through.

The big blow was his two-run homer in the sixth inning, giving the Tigers a 7-3 lead. During the regular season, Gomez hit .272 with one homer and six RBIs.

"I said I was going to be ready," Gomez said when he found out he was going to be in the starting lineup.

"I tried to do my best to help my team and it happened tonight."

Hence, Leyland wound up looking like a genius. If neither had come through and the Tigers had lost, the moves would have been questioned.

If you haven't trusted Leyland by now, you better get on board.

You can reach Rob Parker at rob.parker@detnews.com.