How Unhittable Has Justin Verlander Been?

by Ian Casselberry on Aug 28, 2009 2:00 PM EDT in News Comment 16 comments

If you tuned into ESPN2's telecast of Monday night's Tigers-Angels game, perhaps you saw that Justin Verlander leads the major leagues in swinging strikes with 366.

Jayson Stark adds to that, reporting that Verlander also leads the majors in pitches fouled off, with 626. Those two statistics led Stark to the following conclusion:

He'll have thrown 1,000 pitches this year that the poor hitters out there swung at but didn't put in play. (For the record, he's fired 2,967 pitches in all.) Anyone else out there find that as mind-boggling as I did?

Maybe that's what Verlander was saying to Gerald Laird during their little verbal skirmish in the dugout on Monday night. (And maybe Laird could've countered with, "Oh yeah? I grip the ball with three fingers when I throw!" Hey, things get said when tempers flare.)

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I'm glad they got into a fight

In 2006 the Tigers reacted positively to an angry Leyland.

I would hope the same would be true in this instance. Hopefully Laird will continue to be a good defensive catcher, and Verlander will continue to win.

by actioncuse on Aug 28, 2009 3:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not me.

This doesn’t seem like the same situation. Leyland broke their backs for playing lazy baseball on getaway day…this more closely resembles the pressure (and tension) starting to mount due to a penant race. Hopefully I’m wrong.

by Mushy on Aug 28, 2009 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

there's a poll on BLS re: cy young

and as of the moment I voted, JV is leading with 40%.

by allikazoo on Aug 28, 2009 3:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

he is at 38% now

vote early, vote often!

by murrajo on Aug 28, 2009 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Who does Laird think he is, David Eckstein?

by 13194013 on Aug 28, 2009 3:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Greinke still deserves the Cy

But Verlander is second in WAR (wins above replacement) according to Fangraphs

BP is locked behind a subscriber wall, but these are their top pitchers in the AL:
Greinke
Hernandez
Jackson
Halladay
Verlander
Washburn.

So E-Jax does better, but the Tigers have 3 of the top 6 starters in the AL this year.

To be honest, this Cy race is a lot closer than MVP, and I don’t care at all who wins as long as it’s one of Verlander, Greinke, Jackson, Halladay or Hernandez. And if Sabathia gets it, I’m cutting myself.

President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.

by demondeaconsbaseball on Aug 28, 2009 3:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The MVP is not as close

While I agree that Mauer should rightfully be MVP if the season ended today, I have been surprised from looking over the discussions recently by how many people here act like Mauer is a foregone conclusion. Yes, Mauer leads in OPS (1.064), SLG (.622) , and OBP (.442) right now, but not by untouchable margins. Cabrera is 2nd (.986), 2nd (.578), and 4th (nearly 3rd btw, .407).

Ten days ago, Cabrera was behind Mauer in OPS by around a .150 margin. As of today, it’s .78. Very possible he’ll get even closer over the coming weeks. If healthy for the stretch, Mauer will end the season with 137 games played and Cabrera with 159. Realize that it’s much easier to lead in the categories Mauer does while playing a shorter season, this is a fact. If it comes down to Mauer leading these categories by slight margins at the end of the season over Cabrera (who will also probably eclipse Mauer in HRs and RBIs), then I’d give Cabrera the edge. Especially with the batting lineup he is currently carrying AND if the Tigers win the Central.

by ryan_matthews28 on Aug 28, 2009 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm worried about the arguing in the dugout with JV and G$

Since it has never been reported, what was actually said, it makes me wonder why not? I hope this doesn’t affect the relationship with pitcher and catcher. We’ll see Sunday

Tammy

by VegasTigers on Aug 28, 2009 4:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Leyland said on the radio Tuesday night that Verlander thought maybe the Angels were stealing signs. Laird took exception to that. That was the extent of it.

Bless You Boys

by Ian Casselberry on Aug 28, 2009 6:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The argument was no big deal at all.

Mack Avenue Tigers

by MackAveKurt on Aug 28, 2009 4:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It didn't look like a big deal to me, either.

More a case of two guys who were both ticked off with how poorly things had gone yelling at each other because it would have looked pretty odd for Verlander to be hollering at himself. If a baseball team is like a family, this was just two brothers arguing with each other over a game they were losing to those jerks down the street. :)

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle." -- Philo of Alexandria
(Currently, and sadly, on a self-imposed team-specific puck sabbatical.)

by Baroque on Aug 28, 2009 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs