Every player headed for the HOF deserves his own thread. Go make a Robinson Cano thread, someone.
Verlander's turnaround seems real. Or if you simply look at 2014 as a blip, he never really went away. He's now 7-0 with Houston, 32 hits in 60.2 innings, 77 K against 10 BB (not counting the postseason). For his career, he's in the neighborhood of Halladay.
Verlander: 190-114, 3.44, 1.179 WHIP, 3.16 K/BB, 124 ERA+Halladay: 203-105, 3.38, 1.178 WHIP, 3.58 K/BB, 131 ERA+
Clear advantage Halladay, and it's doubtful Verlander's career rate states are going to end up better than where they are now. But if he stays relatively strong for another two or three seasons, Verlander's HOF resume will be solid.
― clemenza, Monday, 16 April 2018 11:26 (two years ago) link
Icky old-school appreciation:
http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/23174792/justin-verlander-last-dying-breed-mound
"The ace starter, the workhorse, the guy who can lift a team on his back and carry it across the finish line -- one-name guys like Gibson, Unit, Rocket, Koufax, Verlander -- these are the legends of the game."
Three surnames and two nicknames. I don't think he really understands the "one-name" concept.
― clemenza, Monday, 16 April 2018 11:45 (two years ago) link
incredible game last night yet overshadowed (ahem) by Big Bart
― thots and players (rip van wanko), Monday, 16 April 2018 11:55 (two years ago) link
They had exactly the same Game Score: 86.
― clemenza, Monday, 16 April 2018 12:06 (two years ago) link
xxp Oh yes, the famous one-word nickname, Unit
― francisF, Monday, 16 April 2018 15:56 (two years ago) link
He understands half the concept. If you say Elvis, Marilyn, Jackie, Beyonce, or LeBron, I know who you're talking about. And, it's true, if you say Koufax, I know you mean Sandy Koufax the baseball player, and not certified accountant Fred Koufax from Lansing, Michigan.
― clemenza, Monday, 16 April 2018 16:30 (two years ago) link
I don't understand the thread title!
― Van Horn Street, Monday, 16 April 2018 23:23 (two years ago) link
I think it's worth remembering that the Tigers had Scherzer, Verlander and Price (and Porcello) in their rotation at one point.
― Van Horn Street, Monday, 16 April 2018 23:27 (two years ago) link
Almost up to 150 IP with the Astros--better right now than in 2011.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 2 May 2018 14:32 (two years ago) link
Justin Verlander Breaking Ohtani's Ankles with an 88 mph Slider. 🤢Pitcher-on-Half-Pitcher Crime. 👮‍♂️🚨🚔 pic.twitter.com/6Otnryc715— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 17, 2018
― na (NA), Thursday, 17 May 2018 19:12 (two years ago) link
gonna need that gif'ed pronto
― na (NA), Thursday, 17 May 2018 19:14 (two years ago) link
i think ohtani got away with the check swing?
― mookieproof, Thursday, 17 May 2018 19:29 (two years ago) link
sigh, it was a simpler time...
― reggae mike love (polyphonic), Thursday, 17 May 2018 19:46 (two years ago) link
Another strong start. Puzzling pitch count, though: 111 over 6.2 innings, but low hits (5), walks (0), and strikeouts (5). A lot of foul balls, I guess.
― clemenza, Tuesday, 29 May 2018 02:22 (two years ago) link
Four homers surrendered to the Tigers, the least-homering team in MLB.
RIP.
― Andy K, Sunday, 15 July 2018 21:27 (two years ago) link
Justin Verlander just compared himself to Dory of 'Finding Nemo': "Keep swimming. Just keep pitching."— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) October 12, 2018
― mookieproof, Friday, 12 October 2018 20:20 (two years ago) link
Posnanski has Verlander #92 on his 100-greatest countdown (and managed to sneak in a photo of he and Kate Upton engaging in a little no-you're-schmoopy).
― clemenza, Saturday, 13 October 2018 19:10 (two years ago) link
I noticed Verlander is 27-10 with the Astros, which is the same record as Carlton in '72 (famously, with the last-place Phillies). A comparison:
Carlton VerlanderIP: 346.1 305.1H: 257 216K: 310 401BB: 87 56HR: 17 42ERA: 1.97 2.36
IP: 346.1 305.1H: 257 216K: 310 401BB: 87 56HR: 17 42ERA: 1.97 2.36
Huge advantage for Carlton in HR; huge advantage for Verlander in strikeouts. After you make all the adjustments for era, park, etc., Carlton's WAR was 12.1, Verlander's 10.0--he's basically (with a World Series winner, yes, rather than a last-place team) put together Steve Carlton's 1972 over two seasons.
― clemenza, Sunday, 12 May 2019 13:20 (one year ago) link
A little Monday-morning quarterbacking here, but what exactly was it that gave Verlander such pause about going to the Astros? Was it all the young talent and playing for a potential dynasty that he was worried about?
― clemenza, Wednesday, 22 May 2019 18:15 (one year ago) link
2800 strikeouts
― mookieproof, Sunday, 26 May 2019 19:26 (one year ago) link
He went off on Manfred and the baseball a few weeks ago. Something from Posnanski this morning:
Back to Verlander: He has now allowed 31 home runs this year — an astounding 1.64 homers per nine innings. He also has a 2.81 ERA. These two things happening concurrently does not compute. Here are the best ERAs for pitchers who have allowed 1.6 or more homers per nine innings:
1. Justin Verlander, 2019, 2.812. Mike Fiers, 2018, 3.563. Ramon Ortiz, 2002, 3.774. A.J. Griffin, 2013, 3.835. Bert Blyleven, 1986, 4.01
From 2005-15, Verlander's HR/9 rate was 0.8 (ERA, 3.52); 2016-18, 1.2 (ERA, 2.97); this year, 1.6 (ERA, 2.81). That's bizarre.
― clemenza, Saturday, 17 August 2019 13:41 (one year ago) link
He's given up three in a game four times this year.
Obviously...he's leading the league in WHIP!
When he pitched for Detroit, it used to be way more doubles than home runs but the numbers have gotten closer since he was traded and this year it's 31 HR, 23 2B.
― timellison, Saturday, 17 August 2019 16:41 (one year ago) link
tbf, houston's a more homeriffic park than detroit
(and also the ball is juiced)
― mookieproof, Saturday, 17 August 2019 20:52 (one year ago) link
Taking this weirdness to the next level: complete game two-hitter, 11 strikeouts, no walks, 99 pitches...both hits HR, loses 2-1.
― clemenza, Thursday, 22 August 2019 02:38 (one year ago) link
didnt throw a single pitch w a runner on base
― johnny crunch, Thursday, 22 August 2019 02:53 (one year ago) link
That is an insane all time loss.
― earlnash, Thursday, 22 August 2019 03:46 (one year ago) link
According to sports betting sites, it was the biggest single game upset in 15 years.
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Thursday, 22 August 2019 06:08 (one year ago) link
I noticed this weird headline last night on The Detroit Free Press (slightly altered this morning): "Vintage Verlander pitches Tigers to 2-1 victory in Houston." Maybe that's behind this unfortunate story:
http://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2019/08/22/houston-astros-detroit-free-press-justin-verlander/2081318001/
Just what baseball needs, a shot of Donald Trump.
― clemenza, Thursday, 22 August 2019 14:32 (one year ago) link
The Tigers beat Justin Verlander again. They continue to win the trade.— anthony fenech (@anthonyfenech) August 22, 2019
― Andy K, Thursday, 22 August 2019 14:56 (one year ago) link
lol this guy should really stop talking
― brimstead, Saturday, 15 February 2020 18:41 (one year ago) link
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/baseball/mlb/justin-verlander-donation-coronavirus-relief-1.5522293
Whatever you think of him, that's great.
― clemenza, Sunday, 5 April 2020 00:24 (ten months ago) link
Tommy John
― Andy K, Saturday, 19 September 2020 17:30 (five months ago) link
Worth it financially: set to make $33M next year. Is it worth it beyond that? His HOF induction is a lock, he plays for a despised team, and I'll stop there.
― clemenza, Saturday, 19 September 2020 19:08 (five months ago) link
Re the HOF: while he benefitted in terms of run support and probably a few extra wins, I assume the sign-stealing doesn't stick to Verlander the way it will with Altuve or any other hitter.
― clemenza, Saturday, 19 September 2020 19:15 (five months ago) link
He probably won’t be back until the last month of next season. And he’ll be going on 40 in the 2022 season. If he’d been mediocre I could see him hanging it up, but I feel like he’s got to feel like he has a few years left in him.
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Saturday, 19 September 2020 19:18 (five months ago) link
has anyone else had TJ at age 37?
― mookieproof, Saturday, 19 September 2020 21:17 (five months ago) link
Moyer had it at like 47!
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Saturday, 19 September 2020 22:15 (five months ago) link
I've no doubt he'd still be effective at 40, I'm just not sure why he'd push himself to get there (beyond the obvious incentive of the big payday...I'm so clueless about contracts; I assume he forfeits the money if he were to retire?).
― clemenza, Sunday, 20 September 2020 01:14 (five months ago) link
Yup. But if he w aged to retire I’m sure the team could work with him to renegotiate since they’d want to avoid paying that full salary (opting to defer likely) while he’s hurt.
But I totally get why someone would want to keep playing baseball as long as possible. A) you’re playing baseball. B) it’s all you know, life after any career can be scary. C) you’re playing baseball!!! Who wouldn’t want to play ball as long as possible?!
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Sunday, 20 September 2020 01:20 (five months ago) link
most successful big leaguers are insanely competitive; i'm sure he's no different
― mookieproof, Sunday, 20 September 2020 01:28 (five months ago) link