Verlander Always Looking For A Challenge
DETROIT (AP) - About seven weeks ago - amid perhaps the best stretch of his career - Justin Verlander took a break from overpowering opposing hitters to discuss a far more important task.
There was an interleague trip coming up, meaning the Detroit ace would have a chance to step in the batter's box and take a few cuts.
"Of course I'm excited about my at-bats," Verlander said with a cackle. "I'm long past due, especially with my swinging capabilities."
That's Verlander. The 6-foot-5 right-hander is enjoying the best season of his career. He's among the favorites for the Cy Young Award and a threat to throw a no-hitter seemingly every time he pitches.
Yet he seldom seems satisfied.
Whether he's on the mound, at the plate, teeing off on the golf course or just hanging around the clubhouse, Verlander is always eager to show off his ability, no matter the pursuit.
"He is very competitive off the field. We do the fantasy football league every year here, and not only with that, but hearing how he is on the golf course and stuff like that - it just kind of fuels Justin Verlander," Tigers catcher Alex Avila said. "What you see on the field - he's like that in anything he does. He wants to be as good as he can. That's definitely him and his personality."
Verlander was already one of the league's top starters when he arrived at spring training this year. He'd won at least 17 games four times and posted a career-best ERA of 3.37 in 2010.
Turns out the best was still to come.
In May, Verlander threw his second career no-hitter. Last weekend, he held the Angels hitless until the eighth inning. That victory - against fellow ace Jered Weaver - gave Verlander a 15-5 record and a 2.24 ERA heading into Saturday night's start at Kansas City.
"He's obviously matured leaps and bounds since he's come here, but that's to be expected," manager Jim Leyland said. "He's really getting closer all the time to figuring out the art of pitching, to go along with the great stuff he has."
Verlander is making his job look easy these days. No wonder he's so open to new challenges.
"I think that's always something that's a great attribute. To be ultracompetitive - that's something I feel like I use to my advantage," Verlander said. "I've always been that way, since I was as young as I can remember. ... Doesn't matter if I'm eating my food to running around the playground."
Verlander had a penchant for starting seasons slow, so he approached spring training this year with unusual fervor. He finished the exhibition season with a 0.96 ERA, and although he didn't dominate in April, his no-hitter May 7 at Toronto was the start of a nearly impeccable run. Since that day, he's 13-2 with a 1.69 ERA, 127 strikeouts and 19 walks.
Leyland says Verlander has learned to keep his emotions under control, saving his triple-digit fastball for when he really needs it. The 28-year-old Verlander says he's trusting his ability and his repertoire more.
"Growing up, you watch Major League Baseball, and it's the best hitters in the world, and then you get here, and maybe you're a little bit gun shy," Verlander said. "You just do what you've done your whole life, and you find out, that if you have the talent to get here, you'll be more than OK."
Verlander's maturity and focus were tested last weekend against Los Angeles. Weaver was ejected for throwing at a Detroit hitter in the bottom of the seventh inning. If Verlander had retaliated, he surely would have been tossed as well - with a no-hitter in progress.
Erick Aybar, the first Los Angeles batter of the eighth, tried to break up the no-hitter with a bunt. Verlander made an error on that play, and the Angels finally managed a hit later in the inning. Suddenly, the tying run was on second, but Verlander ended the threat by striking out Torii Hunter with a 101-mph fastball.
"I mean, that's unheard of, for a starter that late," Leyland said.
Verlander wasn't thrilled with Aybar's move and said so after the game. He's seldom shy about speaking his mind, but his competitive fire often has a playful vibe.
For example, as much as he likes to boast about his prowess at the plate, Verlander is still without a major league hit in 20 career at-bats.
It's a different story on the golf course, though. Verlander's handicap? It's not much different from his ERA.
"It's cyclical - I've gotten it down to like a 2 or 3," he said. "During the season I don't get to play that much, so it creeps up there a little bit. I'll start shooting in the 80s during the season, and in the offseason, if I shoot in the 80s, I'm (annoyed)."
Right now, of course, the offseason is the furthest thing from Verlander's mind. The Tigers are in first place and could end up playing deep into October for the first time since they went to the World Series in 2006.
Verlander won Rookie of the Year honors that season, but Detroit hasn't made the playoffs since. It's now up to a sharper, more polished Verlander to try to lead the Tigers back - and his teammates realize they're watching something pretty special when he takes the mound.
"In a game, it's all business. That's the right approach to have," Detroit right-hander Max Scherzer said. "He goes out there, and for eight, nine innings, he's battling through every single situation that he can. That's a tribute to him mentally, how good he is."
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
