NEW YORK -- Yes, the Tigers hack. They admit it. But in the city that never sleeps, they're not going to wait around for the sake of waiting.

They've heard the questions all summer long about their lack of walks -- though the Mariners have ensured the Tigers that they don't sit last in the American League -- and their 12th-place standing in on-base percentage. They haven't heard much about ranking 23rd in the Majors in number of pitches seen, if only because it's a tougher stat to look up.

But more recently, the Tigers are defending their aggressive style at the plate, from the manager who once bemoaned too much early-pitch hitting earlier this summer to the players.

"I pretty much know what we got," manager Jim Leyland said, "and I feel real good about it. I think we're a real good team. We're probably not as good at making contact in some situations as other teams, but we are what we are and I feel pretty good."

Leyland has talked more than once lately about the fine line between improving patience and taking away his team's aggressiveness. When asked about the difference, he points to a piece of advice that Hall of Famer Ted Williams told him years ago: The key to hitting is waiting for a good pitch to hit, and then not missing it.

Some of the players have noticed that difference, too.

"I don't like us being [too] patient, to be honest with you," Brandon Inge said. "I know there's a difference between patience and just being straight passive, and I think we kind of cross the line from time to time. We try to be patient. We try to see some pitches. And when we're doing it, some of the balls that we would be smoking earlier, we kind of take for strikes instead of whacking that.

"It's a fine line. It really is. Each person's different. That's the only thing I worry about sometimes. I like being aggressive. Of course, we're going to swing at some bad pitches from time to time, but when you get teams that throw strikes, we'll tear them up because we're being aggressive. We just go out there and attack them."

Wednesday's day-night doubleheader might have been a prime example of that. The Tigers had some early outs against Game 1 starter Chien-Ming Wang, and Magglio Ordonez had a first-pitch fly out on Scott Proctor's only pitch of the game in the eighth. They worked just three three-ball counts against Game 2 starter Jaret Wright, and two of them ended in strikeouts. Yet their game-winning rally in the ninth was fueled by two walks against Proctor.

The key at-bat wasn't as much Monroe's game-winning homer as it was a two-out, nine-pitch at-bat from Curtis Granderson, the AL's leader in strikeouts. Granderson fouled off three straight 3-2 pitches before drawing a walk to extend the game for Monroe, who hit a first-pitch hanging slider deep to left.

"We don't take too many pitches," Monroe said after the game. "We're a swinging team. Sometimes it gets us in trouble. Today, it worked. The good thing for me is that I got into a good hitting position, and I was ready for any pitch -- fastball, slider, whatever. And it was a pitch over the middle of the plate that I didn't miss."

The Tigers were held to two solo homers through their first eight innings Thursday before making things interesting with a ninth-inning, two-run shot. Though Leyland said the offensive output needs to improve, he added the approaches have been fine.

"We had pitches to hit," Leyland said. "We just didn't hit them."

Ledezma likely for Sunday: After watching Wilfredo Ledezma hold New York's powerful lineup to just two hits over 5 1/3 innings on Wednesday night in Game 2 of the doubleheader, Leyland said he's leaning towards the left-hander as his likely starter for Sunday night's game against the Angels.

"That's not 100 percent," Leyland said, "but it's probably about 90."

Ledezma would have to start on three days' rest for that game. He threw just 68 pitches on Wednesday, though Leyland said a potential Sunday start did not factor into his decision to pull Ledezma with one out in the sixth. Rather, he thought Ledezma was out of energy after pitching aggressively to the Yankees much of the night.

"He did a fantastic job," he said. "This is not an easy lineup to manage against."

Of all the pitchers on this staff, Ledezma might have progressed the most. He was an early cut during Spring Training, in part, because he struggled to attack hitters and work efficiently. He was called up to the big club only when the Tigers needed another left-handed reliever in their bullpen.

"I think he's got enough equipment to start," he said. "Hey, I love it. The way I look at it is, we found another potentially real good left-handed starting pitcher."

Perez injures wrist: Though Neifi Perez was 1-for-9 for the series when Leyland pinch-hit for him with Sean Casey in the ninth inning Thursday, his offensive struggles weren't the primary reason. Perez, who started at shortstop, was battling an sore hand suffered on a bad hop during pregame batting practice.

Perez played every game in the series and has had just one game off since joining the Tigers August 20 in a trade from the Cubs. He'll have his hand examined Friday, but he said it wasn't serious.

Regardless, however, Omar Infante could see more time in his place.

"I'm assuming Infante will get some more playing time," Leyland said, "and he probably would have. But if we're putting the lack of offense on Neifi Perez, we're looking in the wrong area."

Polanco progressing: Both Leyland and Placido Polanco said they're hoping the second baseman can return to action in as little as two weeks. Polanco says his separated left shoulder feels good and he's doing well on his exercises.

When he does return, Leyland said he might keep Craig Monroe in the second spot while Polanco works his way back into action again.

Footnote on Grilli: Jason Grilli's first-ever pitch at Yankee Stadium was his only pitch on Wednesday night, but it was enough to earn him a victory in the ballpark where he watched games as a college student at Seton Hall University. But that wasn't the only thing he took out of the old ballpark.

After the celebration had ended on the field, Grilli went out, scooped up a mound of dirt, and put it in a jar. He's been doing this at every ballpark he's pitched in since the Minor Leagues for a collection he has with his father. Yankee Stadium was one of the few ballparks left that he needed to add.

Now, Oakland's McAfee Stadium is the only American League ballpark he needs to add. Coincidentally, if the standings remain this way at season's end, the Tigers would meet the A's in an AL Division Series.

He's gonna make his dreams come true: Leyland's isn't normally a celebrity-watcher, but he got a kick out of seeing former TV star Penny Marshall on the Yankee Stadium video board. Marshall starred on the series "Laverne and Shirley" in the late '70s and early '80s.

"I wanted to go say hi to Penny Marshall right in the third inning last night," Leyland said. "I loved 'Laverne and Shirley,' but I didn't have the guts to go over there. Plus, we were down a run, and it wouldn't have looked too good to [team owner Mike] Ilitch if I was over there shaking Penny Marshall's hand."

Coming up: The Tigers return home to begin a three-game weekend series with the Angels on Friday night at Comerica Park. Kenny Rogers (14-6, 4.02 ERA) will look for his fourth consecutive victory, but he'll have to outpitch Ervin Santana (13-6, 4.34) to do it. Game time is 7:05 ET.