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 (ten months ago) Permalink
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 (ten months ago) Permalink
incredible game last night yet overshadowed (ahem) by Big Bart
― thots and players (rip van wanko), Monday, 16 April 2018 11:55 (ten months ago) Permalink
They had exactly the same Game Score: 86.
― clemenza, Monday, 16 April 2018 12:06 (ten months ago) Permalink
xxp Oh yes, the famous one-word nickname, Unit
― francisF, Monday, 16 April 2018 15:56 (ten months ago) Permalink
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 (ten months ago) Permalink
I don't understand the thread title!
― Van Horn Street, Monday, 16 April 2018 23:23 (ten months ago) Permalink
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 (ten months ago) Permalink
Almost up to 150 IP with the Astros--better right now than in 2011.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 2 May 2018 14:32 (nine months ago) Permalink
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 (nine months ago) Permalink
gonna need that gif'ed pronto
― na (NA), Thursday, 17 May 2018 19:14 (nine months ago) Permalink
i think ohtani got away with the check swing?
― mookieproof, Thursday, 17 May 2018 19:29 (nine months ago) Permalink
sigh, it was a simpler time...
― reggae mike love (polyphonic), Thursday, 17 May 2018 19:46 (nine months ago) Permalink
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 (eight months ago) Permalink
Four homers surrendered to the Tigers, the least-homering team in MLB.
RIP.
― Andy K, Sunday, 15 July 2018 21:27 (seven months ago) Permalink
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 (four months ago) Permalink
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 (four months ago) Permalink