Jeff Riger: If He Pitches, They Will Come
Detroit Tigers skipper Jim Leyland often talks about his ace Justin Verlander. From the roll that he has been on to the maturity that he shown this season, it's all good words about arguably the best pitcher in the game right now. But there is one statement that Leyland has said on multiple occasions that helps answer the one question that I have left about Verlander: is he a true superstar? Now Leyland will say that a true superstar will put more butts in the seats. But is it that simple? I think it is!
Let me take you back to the "good ole days" when we as a community did our baseball watching at Tiger Stadium. The teams were awful, the place was falling apart and the only reason to really show up to the yard was to see the latest prospect that ended up not panning out. But there was another reason to buy a ticket, whenever one of the best in the game was there you were there, well at least I knew I was there! From Ken Griffey Jr. to Roger Clemons to Ricky Henderson the list goes on and on of who I showed up to watch play. I remember it like it was yesterday. Bored on a random Tuesday night in the summer at about 3pm. I picked up my Tiger schedule and realized that the A's were in town and since tickets were always available I went to go see Mark McGwire. NOw back then I always wondered what it would be like to see a superstar for the Tigers instead of the best of the opposition and now I know.
Verlander is that kind of star right now! If you poll any Tiger fan around Detroit they will tell you that every time Verlander takes the mound they think something special will happen. Whether it's a no-hitter or just an old "run of the mill" complete game fans believe he Verlander is capable of it and that is why they show up! Right?
Verlander seems like he is on a mission right now. Over the course of his last 9 starts he is 8-1 with an ERA of less than one. He has done it different ways, from striking out a career high of 14 D-Backs hitters to needing 132 pitches to go 7 and two-thirds and beat the Red Sox, Verlander just doesn't lose.
Everybody seems to have their own reasoning on what makes Verlander so special but mine is the ability to get out of big jams. On numerous occasions when the ace claims he did not have his best stuff, he has been able to load the bases with one out or put guys on 1st and 3rd with no outs and then get out of the inning without letting in a run. His endurance is also impressive considering during that 9 game stretch he has gone at least 7 and two-thirds in every contest. Verlander also has 2 complete games in that span and 3 games where he lasted 8 innings.
Leyland was asked in his office on Thursday if he has managed a pitcher that has ever been on such a successful roll as Verlander? His response was no! He also referenced pitchers like Mark "the Bird" Fidrych and Fernando Valenzuela as having that ability to make people come and see them.
But does Verlander have that same ability? Well Friday night is a good time to find out. Verlander is on the mound against Gavin Floyd and the White Sox at Comerica Park. So here is the question, how many people are there to see the Tigers and how many people are there to see Verlander? I say about it's about 50-50. What about you?
Of course by the end of tonight's game I guarantee you that every fan in the place will have forgotten about the rest of the Tigers and be on their feet focused on Verlander. Well, that is if he continues pitching how he has recently.
Tell me, is Verlander a true superstar in your mind?
