Posted on 08/23/2011 4:42:26 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
If the American League Central Division had a singular worry, it would have to be the imminent threat of its rising crime rate. This season, the division has had its fair share of brutal beatings, home-plate assaults and canon fire. Most of which have been perpetrated by Detroit Tigers potential Cy Young and MVP-winning ace Justin Verlander...
Heading into his Aug. 22 matchup against Tampa Bay, Verlander was on track to garner win number 19 on the season. After allowing a leadoff home run, the Tigers star showed little remorse, as he annihilated the Rays over seven innings of baseball domination. Verlander's performance, a one-hit, eight-strikeout masterpiece, set Detroit further ahead in the division standings, pushing it 5 1/2 up on Cleveland and Chicago...
Justin has the chance to not only win 20-plus games but also to do so before the end of August, which has not been done in almost a decade. His shot will come against the Minnesota Twins on Saturday, Aug. 27.
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.yahoo.com ...
I appreciate what you’re saying, but there are specialized awards in other categories, such as Gold Glove; it’s also not as if it’s unheard of (even among the Tigers) for pitchers to win MVP.
There is NO comparison.
BALONEY!!!
A good starting pitcher is involved in way more action than any hitter! The great ones face 800-1000 batters per year. No hitter gets up much more than 600 times.
Take Gonzales or Ellsbury from the Bosox, they're still in it. Take Verlander or Sabathia away, and the Tigers and Yankees suck. IMHO, the REAL MVP is often a pitcher.
:’) He’s got a nice clean motion, like hard-throwing but long-lasting pitchers have had in the past. And most of his numbers for this stage of his career are better than some of the top pitchers who have ever played. Both Nolan Ryan and Sandy Koufax had ball control problems early on, and Ryan played 27 years. He suffered a career-ending injury — on his second to last pitch. Then he threw one more. Koufax won back-to-back games in the World Series. Koufax won the Cy Young, Nolan Ryan didn’t. :’)
But back here on Earth, I think he’ll have a nice long career, and as long as he doesn’t get way too much money in small-market Detroit (and it’s getting smaller all the time) such that the team winds up suffering as a result (and that’s mostly mgmt stupidity, IMO) or worse yet, he gets traded to the Evil Empire, the Tigers have a bright decade ahead of ‘em.
I’ll be ducking down behind this upturned table if anyone wants me, but anyway, pitchers carry their teams; it’s still a team, but facing facts, infielders and outfielders spend most of their time standing around. ;’)
I’d rank a good catcher right up there on par with a good pitcher.
Me too. I’d like to see him with 24 or 25 wins, as well. :’) And of course, a couple of wins in the World Series.
The Catcher has a difficult job, helping manage the pitcher’s game (not unlike a caddy), as well as being a fielder, and goaltender. :’) IOW, I wholeheartedly agree.
Tigers have taken the lead in Tampa BTW
Alex Avila has been pretty damn valuable lately.
Most good starting pitchers a invoved in far more defensive plays, over the course of the season, than any other player than the catcher.
Think about it. The reason he is not an everyday players isn't because of lack of talent, but because his arm takes such a beating when he does play.
Most good starting pitchers a invoved in far more defensive plays, over the course of the season, than any other player than the catcher.
Think about it. The reason he is not an everyday players isn't because of lack of talent, but because his arm takes such a beating when he does play.
Thanks cripplecreek!
Its tight. Tigers with a 2-1 lead. Tampa at bat with the bases loaded with two outs. Perry just took the mound with Longoria at bat.
And Austin Jackson for that matter. Beating Cleveland a couple weeks ago started them on a roll, and I’d be surprised if they don’t have a ten game lead at 162.
Thanks for the ping; post; thread. HOORAY Justin Verlander! Go Tigers! (It’s getting to be a very exciting season...especially the way they swept Cleveland...not to mention Verlander’s performance last night...the acquisition...guys coming off the bench...Valverde...etc., etc.)
Thanks for the ping, grellis. I turned it on just in time to see the last out...a grounder to Cabrera at 1B. WOOOOHOOOO!
That said, Verlander is going to get the CY, and deserves it. MVP is a tougher call.
:’) This was called a “tough seven game road trip”. :’) I went offline last night becausee of a power failure, but the power came back on before 3:30 (when I woke up to pee).
Maybe not with the way people are leaving Detroit ...
Really?
http://www.illinoispolicy.org/news/article.asp?ArticleSource=4362
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