Verlander Allegedly Spotted Shopping With Kate Upton A Few Hours Before Dismal Outing
By: Evan Jankens
@kingofthekc
A Tweet was sent out Monday that allegedly placed Justin Verlander at the Starbucks at the tony Somerset Collection in Troy with Kate Upton just hours before his start against the Kansas City Royals.
Verlander gave up seven runs in six innings, which is not a good start by any pitchers' standards, especially an ace. He talked HERE to CBS Detroit's Ashley Dunkak about his recent struggles.
Now, we all know Twitter official isn't really "official" -- so it's no guarantee Verlander was right there at the exact moment the photo was uploaded to Twitter. But it could raise suspicions for those who think a bikini supermodel girlfriend could be pulling his focus off baseball.
Now, note that he could get from Somerset to Comerica Park in 20 minutes, and Verlander almost always walks into the ballpark with a Starbucks in hand. It doesn't necessarily mean he spent a game day shopping for luxury goods, debating Louis Vuitton vs. Gucci.
SPOTTING: Verlander and Upton at somerset mall..life=made pic.twitter.com/XHvbbpHWaE
— Maggie McElroy (@Maggie_McElroy) June 16, 2014
Some may question it, but I personally have no problem with this at all. Heck, for the first game as a manager I watched Brad Ausmus walk into the ballpark at 10 a.m. for a 1 p.m. game.
I don't buy the argument that Kate Upton is bringing him down. Here is my reasoning: Last year I could buy it if they were having a rocky time and it was in his head but there is no guy in the history of guys who is in a good relationship with one of the hottest women in the world and lets it distract him from the game. They appear happy -- so maybe it would only take his mind off his struggles.
In reality, maybe, just maybe, Justin just isn't the pitcher he once was. He's getting older, and it happens. It just doesn't usually happen as soon as you sign a monster contract.